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The Universe in Verse: 15 Portals to Wonder through Science & Poetry
The Universe in Verse is an ode to wonder and an exploration of the human search for truth and meaning. Poetry and science, as Popova writes in her introduction, "are instruments for knowing the world more intimately and loving it more deeply." In 15 short essays on subjects ranging from the mystery of dark matter and the infinity of pi to the resilience of trees and the intelligence of octopuses, Popova tells the stories of scientific searching and discovery. These stories are interwoven with details from the very real and human lives of scientists—many of them women, many underrecognized—and poets inspired by the same questions and the beauty they reveal. Each essay is paired with a poem reflecting its subject by poets ranging from Emily Dickinson, W. H. Auden, and Edna St. Vincent Millay to Maya Angelou, Diane Ackerman, and Tracy K. Smith, and is stunningly illustrated by celebrated artist Ofra Amit. Together, they wake us to a "reality aglow with wonder."
112 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2024
261 people are currently reading
10264 people want to read
About the author
Maria Popova
32 books1,709 followersMaria Popova is a reader and a writer, and writes about what she reads on Brain Pickings (brainpickings.org), which is included in the Library of Congress permanent digital archive of culturally valuable materials. She hosts The Universe in Verse—an annual charitable celebration of science through poetry—at the interdisciplinary cultural center Pioneer Works in Brooklyn.
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April 1, 2025
‘To live wonder-smitten with reality is the gladdest way to live’ writes Maria Popova. Think of the awestruck bliss of losing oneself in the vastness of a night sky alight in the twinkle from countless distant stars, the humbling majesty of a mountain range looming over the horizon before you, the beguiling depths of the ocean, the infinity of the cosmos, the magic of a perfectly tuned phrase striking chords on your heartstrings like a symphony. Bridging the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual awe of science and poetry comes The Universe in Verse: to Wonder Through Science & Poetry from Maria Popova. Imagine a galaxy awhirl in grammar, a sunrise as a sonnet, a verse unfolding like a map through genetic codes and you’ll arrive at something akin to the nearly ineffable beauty concocted here. Popova, the Bulgarian-born poet, essayist, and creator of Brain Pickings (which later became The Marginalian) crafts cosmic joy through her poetic examinations of science under a spotlight of poetic insights from a lovely range of poets. Pairing scientific discoveries, theories, and events with poems from writers like Tracy K. Smith, Mary Ruefle, W.H. Auden, Jane Hirshfield, Marie Howe, or Edna St. Vincent Millay, among others, and with stellar artwork from by Ofra Amit, this is a delightful collection that looks at how, in our ‘yearning for permanence in a cosmos governed by incessant change,’ science and poetry are similarly paired as tools for understanding the human condition and the world around us.
‘When we come to it
We, this people, on this wayward, floating body
Created on this earth, of this earth,
Have the power to fashion for this earth
A climate where every man and every woman
Can live freely without sanctimonious piety
Without crippling fear
When we come to it
We must confess that we are the possible
We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world
That is when, and only when
We come to it.
—Maya Angelou from A Brave and Startling Truth
Popova comes strong with gorgeous prose in this collection of 15 creative nonfiction essays on science and poetry. She looks into scientific discoveries amd inventions we have ‘hanging as eternal beauty / in our collective memory’ as Maya Angelou wrote, essays on the beauty of the natural world full of plants, mountains, rivers, and ‘all this resinous, unretractable earth’ (Jane Hirshfield), or even the beauty of math such as Wisława Szymborska’s poem about, ‘the admirable number’ π (Pi). This blessed union of science, language, and art hones in on the fragile beauty of life and our tiny role in a greater cosmos. But also the tinier lives of microbes and flowers, or incredible creatures and locales that seem almost mythical such as the depths of the ocean where ‘there / the octopus / godless and possible / lives.’ Popova’s commentary is exquisite, such as in her discussion on flowers as examined by Emily Dickinson and her poem poem Bloom where ‘To be a Flower, is profound / Responsibility,’ becomes a message about a greater understanding of life:
There are some rather ingenious pairings here and the book is rather impressively sourced in order to craft each short essay. There are discussions on entropy, first coined by German physicist Rudolf Clausius, and the ‘thermodynamic collapse of physical systems into increasing levels of disorder and uncertainty,’ the force that makes ‘lovers and thinkers’ eventually ‘one with the dull, the indiscriminate dust’ as Edna St. Vincent Millay wrote. But, as Popova points out, this acceptance of death and loss is a major force in poetry and, besides, ‘without entropy there would be no time—at least not for us, creatures of time.’ There is beauty in rot, she observes. Such as the life of mushrooms which, as Popova writes, ‘were the first to colonize the Earth.’ She cleverly pairs this with the Sylvia Plath poem Mushrooms, a ‘quietly mischievous work of genius, paying homage to the indomitable nature of the creative spirit, and considers the sadness that there have been breakthroughs with using mushrooms to treat depression, ‘a breakthrough [Plath] never lived to see.’
There are discussion on Euclid and geometry, the poetry of angles, or the tale of Marie Curie and her work on the x-ray ambulance that would save countless lives while ‘not knowing she herself was dying.’ This is paired with the poem Power by Adrienne Rich about the Polish Nobel Prize winning physicist who ‘died a famous woman denying / her wounds / denying / her wounds came from the same source as her power.’ Though my favorite, perhaps, was the contrast on the indifference of stars, as W.H. Auden wrote in The More Loving One where ‘looking up at the stars, I know quite well / That, for all they care, I can go to hell’ with that of Tracy K. Smith’s My God, It’s Full of Stars about her father working on the Hubble Telescope. Smith describes the shock and awe of the first photos: ‘We saw to the edge of all there is,’ Smith wrote, ‘so brutal and alive it seemed to comprehend us back.’ But Popova’s words are just as poetic as the poets she sights, such as in her discussion on Rebecca Elson’s poem Let There Always Be Light:
Let There Always Be Light
(Searching for Dark Matter)
—Rebecca Elson
For this we go out dark nights, searching
For the dimmest stars,
For signs of unseen things:
To weigh us down.
To stop the universe
From rushing on and on
Into its own beyond
Till it exhausts itself and lies down cold,
Its last star going out.
Whatever they turn out to be,
Let there be swarms of them,
Enough for immortality,
Always a star where we can warm ourselves.
Let there even be enough to bring it back
From its own edges,
To bring us all so close that we ignite
The bright spark of resurrection.
Sure, this book is a bit brief for the hardcover list price, but it does have some gorgeous artwork and some rather enchanting discussions. I just love the blending of history and poetry and the discussions on it that Popova brings to The Universe In Verse. This is a clever and well crafted collection that is as charming as it is enlightening and educational. And that is a big win.
4/5
‘When we come to it
We, this people, on this wayward, floating body
Created on this earth, of this earth,
Have the power to fashion for this earth
A climate where every man and every woman
Can live freely without sanctimonious piety
Without crippling fear
When we come to it
We must confess that we are the possible
We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world
That is when, and only when
We come to it.
—Maya Angelou from A Brave and Startling Truth
Popova comes strong with gorgeous prose in this collection of 15 creative nonfiction essays on science and poetry. She looks into scientific discoveries amd inventions we have ‘hanging as eternal beauty / in our collective memory’ as Maya Angelou wrote, essays on the beauty of the natural world full of plants, mountains, rivers, and ‘all this resinous, unretractable earth’ (Jane Hirshfield), or even the beauty of math such as Wisława Szymborska’s poem about, ‘the admirable number’ π (Pi). This blessed union of science, language, and art hones in on the fragile beauty of life and our tiny role in a greater cosmos. But also the tinier lives of microbes and flowers, or incredible creatures and locales that seem almost mythical such as the depths of the ocean where ‘there / the octopus / godless and possible / lives.’ Popova’s commentary is exquisite, such as in her discussion on flowers as examined by Emily Dickinson and her poem poem Bloom where ‘To be a Flower, is profound / Responsibility,’ becomes a message about a greater understanding of life:
‘Suddenly, the flower emerges not as this pretty object to be admired, like it had been throughout the canon of Victorian poetry, but as this ravishing system of aliveness—a kind of silent symphony of interconnected resilience.’
There are some rather ingenious pairings here and the book is rather impressively sourced in order to craft each short essay. There are discussions on entropy, first coined by German physicist Rudolf Clausius, and the ‘thermodynamic collapse of physical systems into increasing levels of disorder and uncertainty,’ the force that makes ‘lovers and thinkers’ eventually ‘one with the dull, the indiscriminate dust’ as Edna St. Vincent Millay wrote. But, as Popova points out, this acceptance of death and loss is a major force in poetry and, besides, ‘without entropy there would be no time—at least not for us, creatures of time.’ There is beauty in rot, she observes. Such as the life of mushrooms which, as Popova writes, ‘were the first to colonize the Earth.’ She cleverly pairs this with the Sylvia Plath poem Mushrooms, a ‘quietly mischievous work of genius, paying homage to the indomitable nature of the creative spirit, and considers the sadness that there have been breakthroughs with using mushrooms to treat depression, ‘a breakthrough [Plath] never lived to see.’
There are discussion on Euclid and geometry, the poetry of angles, or the tale of Marie Curie and her work on the x-ray ambulance that would save countless lives while ‘not knowing she herself was dying.’ This is paired with the poem Power by Adrienne Rich about the Polish Nobel Prize winning physicist who ‘died a famous woman denying / her wounds / denying / her wounds came from the same source as her power.’ Though my favorite, perhaps, was the contrast on the indifference of stars, as W.H. Auden wrote in The More Loving One where ‘looking up at the stars, I know quite well / That, for all they care, I can go to hell’ with that of Tracy K. Smith’s My God, It’s Full of Stars about her father working on the Hubble Telescope. Smith describes the shock and awe of the first photos: ‘We saw to the edge of all there is,’ Smith wrote, ‘so brutal and alive it seemed to comprehend us back.’ But Popova’s words are just as poetic as the poets she sights, such as in her discussion on Rebecca Elson’s poem Let There Always Be Light:
‘Permeating Elson’s lyrical meditations on the nature of reality, mortised and tenoned with life and love, the mystery of dark matter culminates in one particular poem exploring with uncommon loveliness what may be the most touching paradox of being human—creatures of matter in a cosmos governed by the dark sublime of endless entropy, longing for the light of immortality, longing to return to the singularity so that everything may begin again.’
Let There Always Be Light
(Searching for Dark Matter)
—Rebecca Elson
For this we go out dark nights, searching
For the dimmest stars,
For signs of unseen things:
To weigh us down.
To stop the universe
From rushing on and on
Into its own beyond
Till it exhausts itself and lies down cold,
Its last star going out.
Whatever they turn out to be,
Let there be swarms of them,
Enough for immortality,
Always a star where we can warm ourselves.
Let there even be enough to bring it back
From its own edges,
To bring us all so close that we ignite
The bright spark of resurrection.
Sure, this book is a bit brief for the hardcover list price, but it does have some gorgeous artwork and some rather enchanting discussions. I just love the blending of history and poetry and the discussions on it that Popova brings to The Universe In Verse. This is a clever and well crafted collection that is as charming as it is enlightening and educational. And that is a big win.
4/5
February 27, 2025
Science writing and poetry aren't styles of writing one would think could mesh well together. Editor Maria Popova shatters that assumption easily in her beautiful book of science poetry, "The Universe in Verse: 15 Portals to Wonder through Science & Poetry".
Brief science essays on a range of topics including dark matter, trees, the Hubble telescope, and octopi accompany a wide array of poets from the 19th century (Edna St. Vincent Mallay, Emily Dickinson) to contemporary poets (Maya Angelou and Tracy K. Smith), all of which capture the wonder and fantastic nature of science.
It must be said that this is a gorgeously-designed book, with beautiful illustrations by Ofra Amit. It is a must-read---I daresay a must-own---for lovers of both Science and Poetry.
Brief science essays on a range of topics including dark matter, trees, the Hubble telescope, and octopi accompany a wide array of poets from the 19th century (Edna St. Vincent Mallay, Emily Dickinson) to contemporary poets (Maya Angelou and Tracy K. Smith), all of which capture the wonder and fantastic nature of science.
It must be said that this is a gorgeously-designed book, with beautiful illustrations by Ofra Amit. It is a must-read---I daresay a must-own---for lovers of both Science and Poetry.
May 18, 2024
In Maria Popova's "The Universe in Verse," the marriage of science and poetry takes center stage, orchestrating a symphony where the left and right brain work in unison. This captivating exploration transcends conventional boundaries, offering an exquisite ode to wonder and a poignant journey through humanity's pursuit of truth and significance.
At the heart of Maria Popova's narrative lies the belief that both poetry and science serve as instruments for delving into the depths of our world, fostering a profound intimacy and love for it. Across fifteen succinct essays, she delves into a spectrum of subjects, from the enigmatic realms of dark matter and the infinite elegance of pi to the enduring resilience of trees and the intricate intelligence of octopuses.
What sets Popova's work apart is her seamless integration of scientific inquiry with the human narratives behind it. Through her vivid storytelling, she unveils the lives of scientists—many of whom are women, often overlooked—and the poets who share their awe-inspired quest. Each essay serves as a window into the relentless pursuit of knowledge, revealing the intertwined threads of curiosity and creativity that propel humanity forward.
Complementing these narratives are carefully curated poems that mirror the essence of each scientific exploration. From the timeless verses of Emily Dickinson and W. H. Auden to the contemporary reflections of Maya Angelou and Tracy K. Smith, these poems elevate the text, infusing it with emotional depth and lyrical beauty. Moreover, the exquisite illustrations by Ofra Amit breathe life into the pages, inviting readers into a visual feast that mirrors the wonder of the cosmos.
"The Universe in Verse" is more than a collection of essays and poems—it's a celebration of the human spirit's insatiable quest for understanding. Through Maria Popova's eloquent prose and the diverse voices of poets and scientists alike, readers are invited to contemplate the mysteries of existence and find solace in the interconnectedness of all things. It's a reminder that, amidst the vast expanse of the universe, we are bound together by our shared wonder and curiosity.
In essence, "The Universe in Verse" is a masterpiece that transcends genres, offering a harmonious blend of science and poetry that speaks to the very essence of what it means to be human. It's a testament to the power of language and exploration, guiding readers on a transformative journey through the cosmos and the depths of the human soul.
June 5, 2024
Wow! What a beautiful collection of poetry from a diverse group of poets. Each chapter has an introduction followed by a poem. The addition of the art is a wonderful touch. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC! I will definitely be buying a hard copy for my home library!
June 7, 2025
Good collection of poems that evoke a sense of wonder about the beautiful universe that surrounds us and is us.
November 16, 2024
Maria Popova does it again. She is the only one who when speaks about science, I will listen. I will listen wholeheartedly, and with all my attention. There are chances I will even shed a tear or two, reading what she has to say about the magnificence of our universe, of the world we inhabit, of our Earth, and its relation to the ever-expanding universe.
This time she does it through poetry. The subtitle of this work is, "15 Portals to Wonder through Science & Poetry", and it is just each. There are 15 ideas, rather 15 portals, or 15 concepts, or even 15 magical theories and each corresponding one of them has a poem attached to it. A poem that makes so much sense of what was written before about science in that short essay.
For Entropy, there's a beautiful poem by Auden about the impermanence of things and life, and love, and the beauty perhaps in all of it. There is "Let there Always be Light (Searching for Dark Matter)" by Rebecca Elson with reference to Dark Matter. My personal favourite was the one on search for life with the poem, "We Are Listening" by Diane Ackerman attached to it.
Popova writes with heart and soul. Maybe the only way to write in my opinion. She starts with singularity and ends this slim collection with that thought. "The Universe in Verse" is also about humanity, and sciences, and how men and women are treated in the field, about discoveries, and how we see the world, most importantly the trees, the seas, the sky, and the people around too.
It is a book that needs to be savoured with each page. The illustrations by Ofra Amit need to be marvelled at again and again = they perfectly complement Popova’s feelings and thoughts. I highly recommend this one. A must-read!
This time she does it through poetry. The subtitle of this work is, "15 Portals to Wonder through Science & Poetry", and it is just each. There are 15 ideas, rather 15 portals, or 15 concepts, or even 15 magical theories and each corresponding one of them has a poem attached to it. A poem that makes so much sense of what was written before about science in that short essay.
For Entropy, there's a beautiful poem by Auden about the impermanence of things and life, and love, and the beauty perhaps in all of it. There is "Let there Always be Light (Searching for Dark Matter)" by Rebecca Elson with reference to Dark Matter. My personal favourite was the one on search for life with the poem, "We Are Listening" by Diane Ackerman attached to it.
Popova writes with heart and soul. Maybe the only way to write in my opinion. She starts with singularity and ends this slim collection with that thought. "The Universe in Verse" is also about humanity, and sciences, and how men and women are treated in the field, about discoveries, and how we see the world, most importantly the trees, the seas, the sky, and the people around too.
It is a book that needs to be savoured with each page. The illustrations by Ofra Amit need to be marvelled at again and again = they perfectly complement Popova’s feelings and thoughts. I highly recommend this one. A must-read!
January 21, 2025
It’s hard to imagine what it would be like to read this book if you didn’t already know the facts and the people covered here. I suppose it would be especially wonderful. However, I am not one of those people. So I was here strictly for the presentation. And because the book was a gift from a cherished friend.
So, on presentation, it was hit and miss. The good was very, very good, and the bad was awful. The good was magical. The bad made me want to throw the book across the room. The poems and artwork were hit and miss for me as well.
I’m one of the few who kicked Figuring to the curb so you can safely ignore me if you’re a Popova fan. I did enjoy the video she did with Marie Howe reading her poem Singularity. But that was mostly due to the reading.
Five minutes later:
OK, I feel like the Grinch. Adding a star for the idea and thrust of this book and imagining it stripped of the verbiage that drove me up a wall.
So, on presentation, it was hit and miss. The good was very, very good, and the bad was awful. The good was magical. The bad made me want to throw the book across the room. The poems and artwork were hit and miss for me as well.
I’m one of the few who kicked Figuring to the curb so you can safely ignore me if you’re a Popova fan. I did enjoy the video she did with Marie Howe reading her poem Singularity. But that was mostly due to the reading.
Five minutes later:
OK, I feel like the Grinch. Adding a star for the idea and thrust of this book and imagining it stripped of the verbiage that drove me up a wall.
April 24, 2024
A lyrical melding between science, art, essays, and poetry; The Universe In Verse is a beautiful, wonderful, somber, and hopeful thing all at once. The illustrations are lovingly done, usually in limited or monochrome palettes of reds and blues. It's a love letter to all the things that matter. Singularity was my personal favorite in the book, and I'll be thinking about it often. Sometimes when I read something I really like, I'll read it outloud to myself, and I found myself doing that while reading through this book.
Thank you as always to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an early access copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you as always to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an early access copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 30, 2025
I liked the idea of this book more than the execution of it. The author’s style of writing was flowery in a distracting way in some of the scientific sections of the book, which is strange, as you would think it would be the opposite. With some editing, it would’ve been more enjoyable to read. However, I loved some of the selected poems, especially Sylvia Plath’s poem about mushrooms, which was beautiful! All things considered, it’s a 3 star read for me.
July 22, 2025
This wasn’t just a book I read. It was something I felt through.
It’s strange, I’d usually read it on train rides, or during breaks in this forgotten upstairs office at work. There’s a window there, where the sunlight cuts across the floor and you can see the trees swaying outside. I’d sit there in the empty office without any furniture (which has a strong zen aspect to it funnily enough)listening to jazz or old classical music, and open the book.
And somehow, in those stolen moments, this book expanded me.
It felt like jazz and classical music were crashing into each other, like reason and wonder meeting in the middle. It’s science and poetry in conversation, not trying to explain the universe, but to feel it. Every poem, every insight, felt like a quiet miracle. A reminder that behind all the complexity of life, there’s still mystery worth falling in love with.
Reading it while working a corporate sales job made the contrast even louder. CRM and soul. Targets and telescopes. And yet, this little ritual, music, sunlight, trees, verse, reminded me that I’m still part of something immense, beautiful, and something much more alive.
It’s strange, I’d usually read it on train rides, or during breaks in this forgotten upstairs office at work. There’s a window there, where the sunlight cuts across the floor and you can see the trees swaying outside. I’d sit there in the empty office without any furniture (which has a strong zen aspect to it funnily enough)listening to jazz or old classical music, and open the book.
And somehow, in those stolen moments, this book expanded me.
It felt like jazz and classical music were crashing into each other, like reason and wonder meeting in the middle. It’s science and poetry in conversation, not trying to explain the universe, but to feel it. Every poem, every insight, felt like a quiet miracle. A reminder that behind all the complexity of life, there’s still mystery worth falling in love with.
Reading it while working a corporate sales job made the contrast even louder. CRM and soul. Targets and telescopes. And yet, this little ritual, music, sunlight, trees, verse, reminded me that I’m still part of something immense, beautiful, and something much more alive.
May 12, 2024
I knew I would love this book as soon as I read the beautiful dedication
“For Emily, who returned her borrowed stardust to the universe far too soon.”
There’s a line in the book which describe humans as “Small awestruck creatures with vast complex consciousness.” Which I found so beautiful. I remember first learning about the golden disc and how we are all made of stardust and how emotional it made me. This book perfectly encapsulates those feelings.
This is a love letter to the universe itself!
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review!
“For Emily, who returned her borrowed stardust to the universe far too soon.”
There’s a line in the book which describe humans as “Small awestruck creatures with vast complex consciousness.” Which I found so beautiful. I remember first learning about the golden disc and how we are all made of stardust and how emotional it made me. This book perfectly encapsulates those feelings.
This is a love letter to the universe itself!
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review!
January 14, 2025
A beautiful book of essays that bring huge scientific topics together with poetry and wonderful illustrations. Scratched an academic itch in an accessible, artistic way. My fave was the essay on entropy paired with a W.H. Auden poem. :)
August 13, 2025
The universe is more poetic than we think
September 10, 2024
This collection attempts to blend scientific discovery with poetry--- with a focus on space & nature. I found myself quite moved by certain sections, and others I found to unsuccessfully link the 'essay' to the verse. This was most successful when I left the essay wanting to chew on the idea presented. My biggest issue was an issue in expectation, as this was marketed as a book of "illustrated essays" but these were like 3 (not full) pages of text, an illustration, and then (in 14 of the essays) someone else's poetry? I just expected ~30 page essays and more science. Shame on me.
(thanks to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the arc!)
(thanks to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the arc!)
October 1, 2024
This is such a beautiful combination of poetry and science. It dives into the universe, the history of discoveries, the people who have contributed to our knowledge and our poetic writings...and it does it all so well. We get poetry from across time, we get little pieces of historical figures, and it all is tied together with such gorgeous art. I can't even properly explain how much I enjoyed my time with this.
October 10, 2024
A little injection of awe and wonder wrapped in beautiful language.
May 31, 2025
short! I wanted more in each chapter. angelou and popova had my favorite poems of the book
February 22, 2025
Poetry speaks to time and to the existentialist views of our mortality. Oftentimes, poetry subverts and affirms philosophical messages; it addresses the intimate and vulnerable questions of who we are as human beings. Although poetry is often rooted in personal experiences, it also stems from our connection to the natural world around us. Science can add to this art form — there is beauty in the cosmos, in our earth and in what we cannot see.
It is so incredibly human to wonder about the possibilities of life and to question scientific mysteries that are still left unanswered. “The Universe in Verse,” a 2024 poetry anthology edited by Maria Popova, perfectly encapsulates these themes. Popova sections her anthology into categories that range from diverse and contemplative subjects such as “Entropy and the Art of Alternate Endings” to “Radioactivity and the Mystery of Matter.” Each section contains brief essays written by Popova, beautifully intricate illustrations by Ofra Amit and snippets of poetry by Edna St. Vincent Millay, Maya Angelou, Sylvia Plath and several other influential poets.
Popova is a Bulgarian-American essayist, poet and author. Her blog, The Marginalian (formerly known as Brain Pickings), focuses on the search for meaning in daily life. Outside of The Marginalian, she has written three books: “Figuring,” “ The Snail with the Right Heart” and “The Universe in Verse.“
However, “The Universe in Verse” is more than just a poetry collection. It originally starred as an annual charitable event in 2017 to celebrate science and innovation, allowing poets to gather and read scientific writing about all things related to the physical and natural world. It was last held in April 2024 at the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy in Austin, Texas. All ticketing proceeds for the event go towards a future Universe in Verse fund at The Academy of American Poets.
What surprised me about “The Universe in Verse” is that Popova frames her anthology with the concept of singularities — the scientific term for the center of black holes — both at the book’s beginning and end. This structure metaphorically places the reader at the universe’s birth while simultaneously confronting its demise. Popova draws a direct link between singularities and the human mind, emphasizing the worlds around and within us. She points out how our relentless pursuit of the unknown has persisted for years, often at the expense of our planet. The Big Bang is just one example of a singularity our human mind cannot fully comprehend: how life began and how it will end.
Philosophical whims and endeavors such as these fill the anthology’s pages, whether from Popova’s voice or the captivating, intrinsic beauty of poetry, spanning from “[Bloom]” by Emily Dickinson to “We Are Listening” by Diane Ackerman. The poems are interwoven with scientific milestones and discoveries including the Voyager missions and the search for extraterrestrial life. However, the collection covers more than just these achievements themselves: Popova’s essays dive into the humanity beyond the scientific mind. She explores the psychology behind our inherent desire for discovery, the fragility of existence and what it means to search for truth.
In “Flowers and the Birth of Ecology,” she reflects on the unlikely emergence of flowers during the Cretaceous era, describing how their impact on Earth led to the evolution of fruits and, indirectly, a role in the rise of mammals. This isn’t just a statement: there’s something to learn behind these miniature anecdotes, something that provides metaphors for daily life. The beauty in Popova’s anthology does not just lie in its whimsical poetry and thought-provoking essays, but in how the readers interpret it.
The book is relatively short — only around 95 pages. Since it is structured in a way that constantly changes topics, I was actively engaged throughout its entirety. Yet because it contains such deep themes, there are a few moments where I was left confused and wondering.
It’s important to note that Popova abstractly mentions topics like entropy, dark matter and the idea of infinity, which are snippets of larger scientific ideas. Although these themes are presented to readers in an explanatory way, it’s impossible to understand the full scope of the scientific scenarios unless one has mastered the subject.
Despite this fact, “The Universe in Verse” is a wonderful, thought-provoking poetry collection that leads one to care more deeply about the world around them. For all who are innately curious, the anthology offers a moment of repose, detailing one of the beauty of science through a unique and refreshing lens. I highly recommend this book to poetry and science lovers alike and to all who wonder about the questions that this universe holds.
It is so incredibly human to wonder about the possibilities of life and to question scientific mysteries that are still left unanswered. “The Universe in Verse,” a 2024 poetry anthology edited by Maria Popova, perfectly encapsulates these themes. Popova sections her anthology into categories that range from diverse and contemplative subjects such as “Entropy and the Art of Alternate Endings” to “Radioactivity and the Mystery of Matter.” Each section contains brief essays written by Popova, beautifully intricate illustrations by Ofra Amit and snippets of poetry by Edna St. Vincent Millay, Maya Angelou, Sylvia Plath and several other influential poets.
Popova is a Bulgarian-American essayist, poet and author. Her blog, The Marginalian (formerly known as Brain Pickings), focuses on the search for meaning in daily life. Outside of The Marginalian, she has written three books: “Figuring,” “ The Snail with the Right Heart” and “The Universe in Verse.“
However, “The Universe in Verse” is more than just a poetry collection. It originally starred as an annual charitable event in 2017 to celebrate science and innovation, allowing poets to gather and read scientific writing about all things related to the physical and natural world. It was last held in April 2024 at the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy in Austin, Texas. All ticketing proceeds for the event go towards a future Universe in Verse fund at The Academy of American Poets.
What surprised me about “The Universe in Verse” is that Popova frames her anthology with the concept of singularities — the scientific term for the center of black holes — both at the book’s beginning and end. This structure metaphorically places the reader at the universe’s birth while simultaneously confronting its demise. Popova draws a direct link between singularities and the human mind, emphasizing the worlds around and within us. She points out how our relentless pursuit of the unknown has persisted for years, often at the expense of our planet. The Big Bang is just one example of a singularity our human mind cannot fully comprehend: how life began and how it will end.
Philosophical whims and endeavors such as these fill the anthology’s pages, whether from Popova’s voice or the captivating, intrinsic beauty of poetry, spanning from “[Bloom]” by Emily Dickinson to “We Are Listening” by Diane Ackerman. The poems are interwoven with scientific milestones and discoveries including the Voyager missions and the search for extraterrestrial life. However, the collection covers more than just these achievements themselves: Popova’s essays dive into the humanity beyond the scientific mind. She explores the psychology behind our inherent desire for discovery, the fragility of existence and what it means to search for truth.
In “Flowers and the Birth of Ecology,” she reflects on the unlikely emergence of flowers during the Cretaceous era, describing how their impact on Earth led to the evolution of fruits and, indirectly, a role in the rise of mammals. This isn’t just a statement: there’s something to learn behind these miniature anecdotes, something that provides metaphors for daily life. The beauty in Popova’s anthology does not just lie in its whimsical poetry and thought-provoking essays, but in how the readers interpret it.
The book is relatively short — only around 95 pages. Since it is structured in a way that constantly changes topics, I was actively engaged throughout its entirety. Yet because it contains such deep themes, there are a few moments where I was left confused and wondering.
It’s important to note that Popova abstractly mentions topics like entropy, dark matter and the idea of infinity, which are snippets of larger scientific ideas. Although these themes are presented to readers in an explanatory way, it’s impossible to understand the full scope of the scientific scenarios unless one has mastered the subject.
Despite this fact, “The Universe in Verse” is a wonderful, thought-provoking poetry collection that leads one to care more deeply about the world around them. For all who are innately curious, the anthology offers a moment of repose, detailing one of the beauty of science through a unique and refreshing lens. I highly recommend this book to poetry and science lovers alike and to all who wonder about the questions that this universe holds.
January 2, 2025
In her end-of-the-book bio, Popova calls the Universe in Verse "a charitable celebration of the wonder of reality through stories of science winged with poetry." These stories of science are mini-essays written by Popova in her trademark luminous prose. I have yet to read a writer who conveys wonder as well as she does. Marie Howe, Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, Diane Ackerman . . . our best poets have pondered the beauty and purpose of the cosmos. What a treat this was to read and savor. Thank you to Bev Denor of LaDeDa Books for the Advance Reader Copy.
November 20, 2024
Short and lovely, a great series of verse and science history that mostly come together in thought provoking ways. At times the writing leaves a little something to be desired, but it doesn't detract from the overall experience
February 14, 2025
What an interesting little book, pairing small essays with a poem (and some beautiful artwork). The essays were all FANTASTIC and thought-provoking (I adore Popova's writing, blending the scientific with the poetic), though the poems were hit or miss for me.
March 6, 2025
This bridges the cosmic and the mortal.
In the vastness of the universe there is always wondrous interconnection
https://youtube.com/@chanelchapters
In the vastness of the universe there is always wondrous interconnection
https://youtube.com/@chanelchapters
January 18, 2025
gorgeous, showstopping, thought provoking collection
gonna be thinking about the poem the more loving one for the rest of my life truly
gonna be thinking about the poem the more loving one for the rest of my life truly
November 30, 2024
Breathtaking and demands to be read over and over again.
June 15, 2024
Maria Popova's "The Universe In Verse" is a luminous anthology that beautifully interlaces the realms of science, poetry, and art. This book is a testament to the profound interconnectedness of these disciplines, each essay and poem reflecting the wonder of the universe and our place within it.
Poetry and science are instruments for knowing the world more intimately and loving it more deeply. This sentiment sets the tone for the entire collection, which consists of 15 short essays exploring a diverse array of scientific topics. From the enigmatic allure of dark matter and the infinite nature of pi to the remarkable resilience of fauna and the extraordinary intelligence of octopuses, each essay delves into the mysteries of our world with curiosity and reverence.
What makes "The Universe In Verse" truly exceptional is Popova's focus on the human stories behind scientific discoveries. Many of the scientists featured are women who have historically been underrecognized for their contributions. Their narratives are woven seamlessly with the broader themes of the essays, providing a deeply personal and poignant perspective on scientific exploration.
Each essay is thoughtfully paired with a poem that echoes its subject, penned by renowned poets such as Emily Dickinson, W. H. Auden, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Maya Angelou, Diane Ackerman, and Tracy K. Smith. Like a good wine and cheese, this pairing creates a rich dialogue between the analytical and the lyrical, enhancing the reader's appreciation of both the science and the poetry.
The illustrations by celebrated artist Ofra Amit are nothing short of stunning. Rendered in limited or monochrome palettes of reds and blues, they complement the text with a subtle elegance, adding an extra layer of beauty to the reading experience. The visuals are not merely decorative but are integral to the book's ability to evoke a sense of wonder and awe.
"The Universe In Verse" is a love letter to all the things that matter—science, art, poetry, and the human spirit. It is a lyrical melding of disciplines that awakens the reader to a reality aglow with wonder. The collection is a beautiful, wonderful, somber, and hopeful thing all at once, capturing the complexity and richness of our universe and the ongoing quest to understand it.
This anthology is more than just a book; it is an experience that leaves the reader feeling enlightened and inspired. Maria Popova has masterfully curated a work that not only informs but also moves the soul, making "The Universe In Verse" an essential read for anyone who cherishes the beauty of knowledge and the poetry of existence.
Poetry and science are instruments for knowing the world more intimately and loving it more deeply. This sentiment sets the tone for the entire collection, which consists of 15 short essays exploring a diverse array of scientific topics. From the enigmatic allure of dark matter and the infinite nature of pi to the remarkable resilience of fauna and the extraordinary intelligence of octopuses, each essay delves into the mysteries of our world with curiosity and reverence.
What makes "The Universe In Verse" truly exceptional is Popova's focus on the human stories behind scientific discoveries. Many of the scientists featured are women who have historically been underrecognized for their contributions. Their narratives are woven seamlessly with the broader themes of the essays, providing a deeply personal and poignant perspective on scientific exploration.
Each essay is thoughtfully paired with a poem that echoes its subject, penned by renowned poets such as Emily Dickinson, W. H. Auden, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Maya Angelou, Diane Ackerman, and Tracy K. Smith. Like a good wine and cheese, this pairing creates a rich dialogue between the analytical and the lyrical, enhancing the reader's appreciation of both the science and the poetry.
The illustrations by celebrated artist Ofra Amit are nothing short of stunning. Rendered in limited or monochrome palettes of reds and blues, they complement the text with a subtle elegance, adding an extra layer of beauty to the reading experience. The visuals are not merely decorative but are integral to the book's ability to evoke a sense of wonder and awe.
"The Universe In Verse" is a love letter to all the things that matter—science, art, poetry, and the human spirit. It is a lyrical melding of disciplines that awakens the reader to a reality aglow with wonder. The collection is a beautiful, wonderful, somber, and hopeful thing all at once, capturing the complexity and richness of our universe and the ongoing quest to understand it.
This anthology is more than just a book; it is an experience that leaves the reader feeling enlightened and inspired. Maria Popova has masterfully curated a work that not only informs but also moves the soul, making "The Universe In Verse" an essential read for anyone who cherishes the beauty of knowledge and the poetry of existence.
December 19, 2024
A great exploration of the intrinsic beauty of the natural world. It’s not often we think of science and immediately think “poetry”, but I think it’s time to start.
February 20, 2025
In seventh grade, we studied Greek mythology, about the same time I got a modest telescope for Christmas. I was obsessed with both. Years later, though I no longer had the telescope and hadn’t read about the Twelve Olympians in nearly three decades, I never forgot those tales, however dim their storylines may have become, nor stopped looking at the stars, even if it was mostly with the naked eye, and I was able to fuse those two childhood loves into a winery I co-founded—its name and the names and labels of its Estate wines. Years again later, though not nearly so many as before, we moved to the Flint Hills outside Manhattan, Kansas, where hikes in the prairie returned the gift of writing poetry that I had laid aside 25 years earlier. Older and, I’d like to think, wiser, my poetry now comes from a deeper place, full of awe and curiosity and reverence, often about the natural world, the world that surrounds me daily in all its dazzling, mysterious, infallible glory. Naturally, then, when I saw this book on the New Releases shelf at the library, I was going to bring it home straightaway.
Ostensibly the keepsake of an annual charitable event that celebrates the wonder of reality through the stories of science winged with poetry, The Universe in Verse: 15 Portals to Wonder Through Science and Poetry is a delight and cannot but be a perfect encapsulation of its namesake festival. Beautifully assembled, elegantly designed (though it inexplicably breaks down in the last six pages; not that anyone other than obsessed designers like me would notice), and fantastically illustrated, The Universe in Verse could get by on looks alone. In Maria Popova’s capable hands, however, this book is equal brains and beauty, her science essays imparting as much wonder—and wisdom—as the poems. Each elevates the other. For anyone who thinks that a deeper understanding of science reduces wonder—kills the mystery as it were—this small but mighty collection will quickly dispel that notion. As Popova writes in the introduction, “Poetry and science — individually, but especially together — are instruments for knowing the world more intimately and loving it more deeply. We need science to help us meet reality on its own terms, and we need poetry to help us broaden and deepen the terms on which we meet ourselves and each other. Both are occupied with helping us discover something we did not know before — something about who we are and what this is. Their shared benediction is a wakefulness to reality aglow with wonder.”
Ostensibly the keepsake of an annual charitable event that celebrates the wonder of reality through the stories of science winged with poetry, The Universe in Verse: 15 Portals to Wonder Through Science and Poetry is a delight and cannot but be a perfect encapsulation of its namesake festival. Beautifully assembled, elegantly designed (though it inexplicably breaks down in the last six pages; not that anyone other than obsessed designers like me would notice), and fantastically illustrated, The Universe in Verse could get by on looks alone. In Maria Popova’s capable hands, however, this book is equal brains and beauty, her science essays imparting as much wonder—and wisdom—as the poems. Each elevates the other. For anyone who thinks that a deeper understanding of science reduces wonder—kills the mystery as it were—this small but mighty collection will quickly dispel that notion. As Popova writes in the introduction, “Poetry and science — individually, but especially together — are instruments for knowing the world more intimately and loving it more deeply. We need science to help us meet reality on its own terms, and we need poetry to help us broaden and deepen the terms on which we meet ourselves and each other. Both are occupied with helping us discover something we did not know before — something about who we are and what this is. Their shared benediction is a wakefulness to reality aglow with wonder.”
June 9, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!
The Universe In Verse is an absolutely beautiful, intriguing, somber, and also hopeful thing all at once.
I knew I would love this book as soon as I read the dedication
“For Emily, who returned her borrowed stardust to the universe far too soon.”
- just beautiful and so full of love. We really are all just borrowed stardust.
I enjoyed learning new information, especially about the contributions of specific women in science. So much I didn’t know.
Maria Popova put together an absolutely beautiful collection of poems and accompanied each with a concept to be explored in the world of science.
The illustrations by Ofra Amit were such a lovely touch! So gorgeous.
The Universe In Verse is an absolutely beautiful, intriguing, somber, and also hopeful thing all at once.
I knew I would love this book as soon as I read the dedication
“For Emily, who returned her borrowed stardust to the universe far too soon.”
- just beautiful and so full of love. We really are all just borrowed stardust.
I enjoyed learning new information, especially about the contributions of specific women in science. So much I didn’t know.
Maria Popova put together an absolutely beautiful collection of poems and accompanied each with a concept to be explored in the world of science.
The illustrations by Ofra Amit were such a lovely touch! So gorgeous.
October 2, 2024
I loved how this book wove together the history of a collection of scientists with selected poems.
Some of the poets featured are well-known like Emily Dickenson, Maya Angelou, and Sylvia Plath. Others were new to me such as Tracy K Smith, who's poem My God, its Full of Stars honored her father Floyd William Smith who was an engineer who worked on the Hubble telescope.
Most of the scientists featured are women: Henrietta Swan Leavitt, Vera Rubin, Rebecca Elson, Emmy Noether, Marie Curie, and Heidi Hammel.
My favorite poem included was Pi by Wisława Szymborska, a Polish Poet who won the Nobel for Literature in 1996. I loved how she used the digits of pi to create a sense of eternity.
Highly recommend!
Some of the poets featured are well-known like Emily Dickenson, Maya Angelou, and Sylvia Plath. Others were new to me such as Tracy K Smith, who's poem My God, its Full of Stars honored her father Floyd William Smith who was an engineer who worked on the Hubble telescope.
Most of the scientists featured are women: Henrietta Swan Leavitt, Vera Rubin, Rebecca Elson, Emmy Noether, Marie Curie, and Heidi Hammel.
My favorite poem included was Pi by Wisława Szymborska, a Polish Poet who won the Nobel for Literature in 1996. I loved how she used the digits of pi to create a sense of eternity.
Highly recommend!
December 31, 2024
it made me nostalgic about the times when I read "Figuring", the earlier masterpiece of Maria Popova. this time, while the language was still beautiful and the synthesis of science and poetry made my mind wonder, my heart was not captured. it could be the length of a book, a mere two hour read, simply not enough time to befriend it, perhaps. nonetheless, I cannot wait for more books by the author, being such a unique voice, marrying philosophy and science, prose and poetry.
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