About The Smallest Lights in the Universe. In this “bewitching” (Anthony Doerr, The New York Times Book Review) memoir, an MIT astrophysicist must reinvent herself in the wake of tragedy and discovers the power of connection on this planet, even as she searches our galaxy for another Earth. “Sara Seager’s exploration of outer and inner space makes for a stunningly original memoir. The Smallest Lights in the Universe is a beautifully written memoir by MIT astrophysicist Sara Seager. There are so many aspects of this book that I loved: the life of an astrophysicist, work-home balance, parallels about the universe and space exploration with life. The Smallest Lights in the Universe is an eloquent, poetic, and beautiful story. Sara Seager writes with grace and style about her loves, her losses, and her joys. She also illustrates what being a woman in STEM is like and brings a strong voice to us all. I was sad when I finished this book.
The Universe Light Speed
The Smallest Lights in the Universe takes us on a journey through many pivotal moments in Seager's personal life and career. As a child, she loved astronomy and the fantastical ideas about life beyond our own planet. She shares her love of nature and some of the barriers she had to overcome in her career.
Life was not easy. Seager grew up in a dysfunctional family that included a stepfather she called 'the monster' and an enabling mother. She spent her weekends with her biological father, a physician, who understood her and encouraged her love of the stars. As a female in science, Seager was constantly having to prove herself to keep her position in the field. This was tough because she was socially awkward, and no matter how hard she tried, she struggled to fit in. Some consolation came when, as an adult, she was diagnosed with autism and learned coping mechanisms.
Her husband Mike, a writer, editor and true advocate of her career, worked from home and was a commited house husband most of their married lives. Then he came down with a rapidly progressing stomach cancer. With only a few months to live and a body ravaged by chemotherapy, Mike wrote her a guide to life without him. It included everything from the grocery stores he uses to the hardware stores. Just a few days shy of her 40th birthday, he died. Seager was now a widow with two small children.
The stars had always been her closest friends and the place she could look to for help and consolation. They had taken her away from her dysfunctional childhood and they helped her cope while Mike was dying. Neither the stars nor her husband's thoughtful guide could tell her what to do next. She did the only thing she knew how to do: research. Not long after Mike's death, Seager uncovers a group of ladies who call themselves 'The Widows Group.' They became her anchors.
The Smallest Lights in the Universe is a refreshing read about someone who is successful in her field and yet struggles with a self-doubt and the awareness of not fitting in. Seager is very honest throughout the book and she really captures how research and discovery can be equally frustrating and rewarding at the same time. Her style of writing held my attention most of the time. It is an honest, deeply personal account of pain, struggles, achievement and joy, and an insightful account of her life and work of an astrophysicist. It gave me some understanding of the complicated aspects of space.
I have to say that I found some of The Smallest Lights in the Universe difficult to read. Seager's narrative style is very engaging but her explanations of concepts in planetary science moved to the verge of 'too much' or overwhelming. When she explained her projects I got lost in the technical details. If she had simplified her language a little more, I think she would reach and engage a wider readership.
My favorite message from the Seager's story was 'those tiny lights.' These were what gave her a mental escape as a child and focus as a young woman. They led her to form strong connections with nature here on Earth, the universe and her future husband. Those stars could take her away from him but helped heal her when he died. They gave her perspective when she carried on for her children. The stars remained true as she found the courage to start again.