If you prefer to buy a text, there are many at the bookstore. They may be organized a bit differently from the notes, but reading them may help you follow the course. But try the notes by themselves first, and beware that the nature of the course is quite different from most "straight" astronomy texts.

In fact, you might find it more rewarding to buy some of the books recommended below, all of which discuss topics in these notes and many of which were used in preparing it.

"Life Everywhere," by David Darling, 2002, Basic Books, ISBN 0465015646

"The Sleepwalkers," by Arthur Koestler, 1990, Viking Penguin, ISBN 0140192468

"Coming of Age in the Milky Way," by Timothy Ferris, 1989, Anchor Books, ISBN 0385263260

"Newton's Clock," by Ivars Peterson, 1995, W. H. Freeman, ISBN 0716727242

"Evolving Brains," by John Allman, 2000, Scientific American, ISBN 0716750767 - a bit challenging

"The Elegant Universe," by Brian Greene, 2000, Vintage Press, ISBN 0375708111 - a bit challenging

"Through a Universe Darkly," by Marcia Bartusiak, 1995, Avon Press, ASIN 0380724200

"Thursday's Universe," by Marcia Bartusiak, 1988, Tempus Books, ASIN: 1556151535

"A Brief History of Time," by Stephen Hawking, 1998 (10th ed.), Bantam Press, ISBN: 0553380168 - a bit challenging

"The Very First Light," by John Mather & John Boslough, 1998, Basic Books, ASIN: 046501576X

"The Stars: A New Way to See Them," by H. A. Rey, 1976, Mariner Books, ISBN: 0395248302 - classic constellation guide

"The Whole Shebang: A State of the Universe(s) Report." by Timothy Ferris, 1997, New York: Simon and Schuster.

"The Last of the Great Observatories," by George Rieke, 2006, Tucson: University of Arizona Press

"Endless Forms Most Beautiful," by Sean B. Carroll 2005, W. W. Norton & Co.