Astrophysics for People in a Hurry: MicroBlog 1

     When I first picked up this book, I thought that it would be easy to understand, since it said it was one of the more easy to understand books on Astrophysics out there. After the first chapter though, I was beyond confused, and although it was interesting information, it was clear that I was going to need to employ some special reading strategies to truly comprehend what I was reading. Some of the strategies I am currently using are:

Note Taking:
     While reading I decided to jot down some stuff about what I was reading. I usually do this after every page. I start by writing down what the page covered and then try to summarize some of the information, and if I can't summarize it, I will re-read the page and try to get a basic understanding. Although this helps me on some pages, I realize that I will not completely get everything the book is talking about, and that leads me to my next strategy.

Independent Research:
    Some of the things in the book are very intriguing, but the book only skims over some of these topics. In these cases I jot down the concept. So far I have compiled a pretty long list. On my free time I then go through this list and attempt to get a solid understanding about some of the topics. This research also leads me to learning about other things that I hadn't thought about reading about. By doing research apart from he book, I better understand some of the things the author talks about, and it makes reading more enjoyable. It also increases my knowledge about astrophysics, which was the main reason for reading the book in the first place.

Dictionary:
     Many of the terms in the book I also don't understand. In fiction stories, I am usually able to use context clues to get a decent understanding of what the author is trying to say. In non-fiction though, terms often require a dictionary to understand them. By having my computer next to me whenever I read, I am able to look up words and concepts I don't already know about. Although it may sound simple, by having the dictionary right next to me it encourages me to look stuff up and understand it, not just skim over it.

     While reading non-fiction, I have noticed that it requires some different strategies than I am used to. I am discovering what works best for me, and by experimenting with these strategies, I am bettering my understanding of the book. I have been able to follow along as Tyson talks about topics such as Cosmic Microwave Radiation, Einsteins Theory of Relativity and Gravitational lensing. These topics are brand new to me, but my strategies help me to understand them.