If you have never heard of Neil deGrasse Tyson, you can think of him as the cultural heir to Carl Sagan. He is always galloping through the current zeitgeist, where he gleefully reveals the wonders of the universe to anyone who will listen. His public persona is that of a giddy uncle who loves nothing more than to shower people with really cool facts.

From Cosmos and StarTalk to his long stint at the world-famous Hayden Planetarium, he is always at the forefront of popular science. I recently reviewed his book Starry Messenger, which I found to be a loving embrace of the cosmic perspective. It was a softer read, much like curling up in front of the fireplace with a cozy mystery.

And then there’s Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.

This book is the reading-equivalent of Tyson bursting through the wall Kool-Aid-style, dropping a mind-blowing fact, then vanishing into the ether. It’s as bonkers as it sounds, but also highly effective. This is the first popular science book I ever have read that wastes no time getting to the point. No flowery intros here, just truth in advertising.

Want a cool fact? Here’s a cool fact. Want another cool fact? Here’s another cool fact that leads to more cool facts. (Rinse and repeat until your brain begs for mercy.)

This book doesn’t just summarize complex ideas. That’s been done to death. Instead, it takes the entirety of astrophysics and reduces it to a collection of salient and interesting tidbits. It covers everything in a rapid-fire format. I can almost hear Tyson talking at triple speed, like an auctioneer on a sugar rush. It may seem like an abrasive read, but it’s not. It’s wildly engaging, especially for anyone new to the field.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry is a shorter book with clear intent. I’m already a space nerd and I enjoyed the read, but it wasn’t written for me. This is a brief yet comprehensive intro to astrophysics, perfect for any curious mind that is, well, in a hurry. Just be warned: Tyson has a fire hose of facts and he’s not afraid to use it.