An illuminating-and entertaining-look at the earliest stars of our cosmos.
Chapman is a witty and straightforward guide … and her enthusiasm for the chase is infectious.
First Light conveys the wonder and mystery of darkness suddenly illuminated by magnificent starlight.

Washington Post

Thoroughly engaging … allows us to see science in the making, chronicles current attempts to reveal this hidden era - what we know and what we don't know. Chapman herself is in the thick of this endeavor and serves as a wonderful guide, whose voice is reminiscent of Carl Sagan's, although with an extra and very welcome dollop of impish humor.

Wall Street Journal

First Light is a fantastic debut on the popular science scene for Emma Chapman that fleshes out the context around these two key functions. My opinion: come for the state-of-the-art on the first stars, stay for the comprehensive primer on modern cosmology, and revel in the footnotes.

Nature Astronomy

First Light is a dispatch from the frontiers of science, from a brain fizzing with ideas and energy.

Chris Lintott, BBC Sky at Night

Her everyday examples of complex concepts are conversational, witty and elucidating … Chapman manages to effectively convey the gist of most of this most complicated of space sciences … Chapman's most valuable asset here, aside from her obvious expertise, is her enthusiasm ...
All of this is astounding, so much so that it almost defies explication, which is why it is such a treat to have someone of Chapman's stature willing to carry us along as she reaches for these ancient stars.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Throughout First Light, Chapman's authenticity and humour shine through … In short, this is a charming book that is as fun to read as it is informative, making it as ideal for the casual reader as for those with an existing understanding of the field.

Physics World