You are invited to pause and reflect as we
ride the Blue Marble together!
First Reviews:
As a planetary astronomer for over 50 years, I grew up
with the space program. The
opportunities it gave me to view our Earth and the other planets up close has
been a lifelong thrill. That excitement
has been renewed as I’ve worked with Science on a Sphere ®, where
it has been a privilege to work with Dave Wasserman. With Riding
the Blue Marble, he offers us poetic words that describe my belief in the
Creation of the Universe and the fragile nature of our Earth.
Dr. Edwin S. Barker, Retired
Research Scientist & Assistant Director of McDonald Observatory (Texas)
Optical Lead for NASA's Orbital Debris Program at Johnson Space Center
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Research Scientist & Assistant Director of McDonald Observatory (Texas)
Optical Lead for NASA's Orbital Debris Program at Johnson Space Center
Santa Fe, New Mexico
When I ponder how precarious life is and consider our innate
and sustained ability to ignore the perils facing us and all creation, I can
grow weary and discouraged. Riding the Blue Marble gently shakes me back
to hope and offers the spiritual practice of seeing ourselves intertwined with
the vastness, beauty, and harmony of the Earth and its systems. May it be
a guide to remind us of our common humanity and our responsibility to preserve
and heal this wondrous world we share.
The Rev. Dr. Harry Eberts, Pastor
First Presbyterian Church
Santa Fe, New Mexico
First Presbyterian Church
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Riffing off Folliott Pierpoint’s beloved hymn, “For the
Beauty of the Earth,” the Rev. Dr. Dave Wasserman’s evocative word-journey
draws us into a 21st Century experience of the biblical creation
narrative. As a Presbyterian theologian, Wasserman explores the “why” of
faith and the incomprehensible gift of freedom bestowed by the Divine upon
humanity. As an accomplished sailor, adventurer, and product of modern
discovery, he deftly weaves in the “how” of science and the necessity for
authentic stewardship. Worth reading again and again, this holy poem
issues a clarion call for us to reclaim our sacred trust as the caretakers of
the singular blue jewel we call home.
The Rev. Vicki Fogel
Mykles, Presbyterian Church (USA)
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins, Colorado
David Wasserman’s Riding the Blue Marble shows his heart for creation, stewarding the
planet and encouraging others to be stewards as well. Mixing science with the
spiritual, Wasserman skillfully illustrates how these complement and build off
of one another in a way that so many miss. The state of our planet is not
something to be ignored. Riding the Blue
Marble sounds the alarm and calls for action in a way that is hopeful and
inspiring.
Beth Russell
Science on a Sphere Operations Manager
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
FOR MORE REVIEWS, PLEASE READ THE COMMENTS (BELOW) or
GO TO THE BOOKSELLERS' PAGES
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
FOR MORE REVIEWS, PLEASE READ THE COMMENTS (BELOW) or
GO TO THE BOOKSELLERS' PAGES
The Blue Marble photo was taken by the astronauts of Apollo 17 on December 7, 1972. Adopted by the environmental movement as a symbol of global consciousness, it remains the most famous photo of Earth ever taken. Two generations later, Dave Wasserman has helped all citizens of plant Earth rediscover that photo, as he stresses the impact it should have on each of us cosmic “riders” of Spaceship Earth. Part meditation, part inspiring essay, part call to action, this book weaves science and faith to focus on our role as “crew” of the spaceship earth. Meant to be read slowly and pondered, Riding the Blue Marble would be useful for activists, environmentalists, church study groups, philosophers and preachers. It is a good starting point for reflection on what it means to be a responsible global citizen. Ted Walkenhorst, crew - Spaceship Earth
ReplyDeleteThis is a a beautifully illustrated spiritual meditation on the earth, its dynamics, and our need to care for it. The beginning is particularly striking, even visceral. The bold black page sets up the beautiful images to follow. The casual verse form offers facts and perspective in a conversational tone. The book is an accessible primer for the young, and a timely reminder to elders: the privilege of protecting our corner of creation is never finished.
ReplyDeletePOSTING THIS COMMENT for Barbara (Dave)
ReplyDeleteA must have book!
Well--finally: A scientific presentation about the universe written by a man of faith. "Riding the Blue Marble" is a stunning pictorial journey through space led by a gentle wise shepherd who ties it all to faith and punctuates it with poetry connecting one to the other. This is a must have book. David Wasserman is good. The writing is good. The pictures are keepers. Readers will not be able to escape the truth, nor will they be able to deny either the threat we all face or the hope that still lives in spite of us. Ah earth, ah universe, ah creator and creation, Amen. -- Barbara Wood Gray Pilgrim, poet, mother, lover of all that's holy in our midst and some that's not so much.
POSTING THIS COMMENT for Richard (Dave)
ReplyDeleteA powerful meditation that uses simple, but elegant, language and stunning images to call us to love and protect the Earth. Richard
I'm so happy my husband got this out of his head and heart! Think it offers an encouraging word for earth's future
ReplyDeleteUnlike some readers of Riding the Blue Marble, I’ve had the great pleasure of knowing the author, Dave Wasserman, since high school. We just rediscovered each other at Santa Fe Community College where I teach Reading and Dave teaches Science on the Sphere. That’s quite something to say you teach the globe; it makes my work seem very small!
ReplyDeleteI’ve found the sphere itself and Dave’s inspiring book to be life changing. To see the world, its clouds, winds, ocean mountains, fires, hurricanes, tsunamis, crop areas, volcanoes, water tables, and more features than I can write right here, is breathtaking. Dave’s narration, while you fall into the colors of the sphere, spirits you away from the room and place. The book, much like the sphere experience itself, lifts you and teaches you.
The spiritual value of the text matches the description of the world in tone and heart. I loved reading the beautiful words, the peaks, rivers, and islands of Dave’s writing. I love the earth more now and care for it’s well-being in ways I hadn’t before. He turns our minds to tending to the earth, not using it up.
I’m looking for ways beyond using less water while brushing my teeth, to conserving in bigger ways. I’m teaching my students the same. We came to see the Globe and it moved all of us, in emotional ways as well as to action. Thank you, Dave.
Elaine Daniels
Faculty SFCC, Liberal Arts, adjunct
POSTING THIS COMMENT ABOUT A DISCUSSION GROUP in EAST TEXAS (Dave)
ReplyDeleteRiding the Blue Marble in a Sunday School class
One of the more exciting responses to Riding the Blue Marble to date comes from a Sunday School class that discussed the book over four weeks this spring. The class is a continuation of the First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville, Texas (now closed).
It’s members include some teachers and one university professor (several with their PhD), an attorney-at-law, a social worker, an author, TV reporter, Doctor of Medicine, and an artist, people active in politics and conservation. An amazing collection of interesting folks.
The class held 4 conversations on the book, which elicited several compliments and comments:
… a beautiful book. One aspect I appreciate so much about it is that it speaks to the urgency with which the human family needs to join hands and acknowledge that our climate crisis is truly a collective problem.
… It stops us in our tracks, making us reconsider the frantic, self-absorbed life that we have come to believe is the fulfilling one. The sense of responsibility once taught is all but forgotten.
… Balance is vital. Yet balance seems to require that one or more species or other life forms must be sacrificed in order for others to survive. I read that trees are returning to Yellowstone because of the reintroduction of wolves into the Park that kill and eat the deer, buffalo, etc, that feed on the trees.
… Soil loss is a huge problem here in Texas. It is blown away, washed away, or covered over by development, including the rich black-land prairie between Dallas and Austin. My brother during his life never stopped talking about Haiti, where he worked for a decade, being chronically poor because of soil erosion and depletion.
… I hope that Dr. Wasserman will send copies of RIDING THE BLUE MARBLE to his US senators who seem progressive on the environment, especially in the case of Tom Udall.
… thanks so much…for the gift of RIDING THE BLUE MARBLE, that I keep within reach on my desk for rereading and consideration once a week.
[The class also submitted an Amazon review under the name Madeline R, should you be interested] The class is one to which I would enjoy participating and it’s been a treat to renew conversation with a friend from years ago. My thanks! And, perhaps a group discussion of “Riding” awaits for you!
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