Charles A. Whitney

This book thrilled me when I first read it several years ago. Whitney explained with great clarity how we discovered that we lived in a galaxy--an island of stars--and how we measure the distance to far away objects. His prose is not only vivid but clear to a layman. For instance, his account of Cepheid variables as yardsticks was completely understandable.

Of course, we now have even better, more precisely defined tools, but I understand how they work thanks to Whitney.

Every house should have one. How else can you wish upon a star?