Black Hole Survival Guide by Janna Levin
Last updated 5 October 2026
Black Hole Survival Guide is a short popular science book by Janna Levin, a physics and astronomy professor at Barnard College, Columbia University. It walks you through what would happen if you fell into a black hole, step by step, and explains the physics on the way in.
The Vintage paperback is 160 pages and costs £8.52 on Amazon UK, against a £9.99 cover price. It has 4.2 out of 5 from 668 ratings there. Prices and ratings were checked on 5 October 2026.
What the Black Hole Survival Guide is about
The book is written as a trip. Levin takes you towards a black hole and explains what you would see and feel at each stage, and why. Along the way she covers why nothing escapes once it crosses the edge, why a black hole is dark on the outside but not on the inside, and how black holes swap the roles of time and space.
She also covers where black holes are found. Some could be microscopic and some are billions of times heavier than the Sun. Our own solar system orbits the black hole at the centre of the Milky Way, about 26,000 light years away.
You do not need any maths to follow it. The Sunday Times called it "astrophysics at its sexiest", and BBC Sky at Night Magazine said Levin "has a talent for explaining mind-boggling concepts".
Who wrote it
Janna Levin is Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York, and Director of Sciences at Pioneer Works, an arts and science centre in Brooklyn. Her research covers black holes, gravitational waves and the shape of the universe.
Her earlier books include Black Hole Blues, the first book about the detection of gravitational waves in 2016, and the novel A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines, which won the PEN/Bingham prize. Her biography and the edition details are on Penguin's page for the book.
Key facts
- Author: Janna Levin.
- Publisher: Vintage paperback, 15 March 2022. The hardback came out from Bodley Head in November 2020.
- Length: 160 pages.
- Size: a standard paperback, 198 by 130mm and 13mm thick. At 149g it weighs less than most phones.
- ISBN: 9781529112443.
- Other formats: Kindle and audiobook.
Who it suits
It suits anyone curious about space who wants a book they can finish in an evening or two. It works well for teenagers getting into physics, and for adults who have read news about black hole images and want the background. If you want to read on, Levin's Black Hole Blues tells the story of how scientists first detected gravitational waves.
For space fans who like objects as well as ideas, Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo covers how the Apollo suits were made, and The NASA Archives is a much bigger photo book. Our bookworms gift guide has more book ideas.
The limits
At 160 pages it is an introduction, not a textbook. Readers who already know their general relativity will find much of it familiar. The book also leaves out the equations entirely, so it will not help with physics homework. For a clear, free primer on the basics, NASA's black holes pages are a good starting point.
Where to buy it
Amazon UK sells the Vintage paperback for £8.52, dispatched by Amazon. The Kindle edition is £4.99 and the audiobook is £8.49. The original hardback is now only available second-hand there.
Buy Black Hole Survival Guide on Amazon UK
Frequently asked questions
What is Black Hole Survival Guide about?
It explains what would happen to you if you fell into a black hole, and uses that journey to explain how black holes work, from the event horizon to the way they bend time and space.
How much does Black Hole Survival Guide cost in the UK?
The Vintage paperback was £8.52 on Amazon UK on 5 October 2026, against a £9.99 cover price. The Kindle edition was £4.99.
How long is it?
160 pages in the paperback, so most readers will finish it in one or two sittings.
Do you need a science background to read it?
No. There is no maths in it, and Levin explains each idea in everyday language as the journey goes on.
Who is Janna Levin?
She is Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University and Director of Sciences at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn. She has also written Black Hole Blues and the novel A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines.
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