For most of my adult life, I've had the habit of acquiring books I know I'll want to read eventually but have no intention of reading at the time. I got this book in 2005, right after it came out, when I was working at Dutton's Books. It was interesting reading a book about the planets that was so beautifully written, but predates Pluto being demoted to a dwarf planet and the landings of the Mars rovers. I loved it though.