Abstract The paper reviews and discusses Bob Berman's "Secrets of the Night Sky: The Most Amazing Things in the Universe You Can See with the Naked Eye", written for amateur astronomers but enjoyed by the advanced as well. The paper describes the factors that make the book so successful, including helpful tips, witty prose, colorful illustrations and the dispelling of the myth that one needs expensive equipment to enjoy the night sky. It also gives an overview of the various chapters in the book.
From the Paper "One of the strongest features of Berman's book is his strong and witty prose. He clearly intends this book to entertain the audience as well as educate, and he is truly successful in his aim. The book is engaging and interesting, and most readers will have a difficult time setting the book down. Berman liberally applies clever analogies, enhancing the readability of his book. The book is simply packed with endless insights and metaphors that make it engaging and conversational. Berman's conversational tone is humorous and captivating. For example, in his lengthy discussion of time he notes that "misconceptions about time hatch as readily as cuckoo eggs"."
Abstract This paper explains that the African-American song genre, developed largely among slaves, describes the inevitable escape from toil and bondage and serves to strengthen the faith of the people by reminding them of a universal God, who would bring justice to his followers. The author points out that, in "Bound for Canaan Land", the "land of Canaan" is a metaphor for heaven and for the North, a land of freedom. The paper reveals that the author Harriet Tubman used spirituals such as "Follow the Drinking Gourd", which meant following the Big Dipper to the Ohio River, as a communication device to convey the possibilities of physical freedom.
From the Paper "Biblical themes also evoke the image of crossing rivers, and many of the best spirituals were created and practiced by slaves who worked as sailors and boatmen on rowboats and ships of the Ohio River. "The Old Ship of Zion" is an inversion of the original ships that brought the slaves to America, and its singers wonder "Do you think that she is able/ For to carry us all home?" She promises deliverance having already "landed many a thousand," but being "loaded down with angels", her final destination is not necessarily a return to Africa, but a welcome to paradise."
