"Choudhuri gives us a condensed history of the study of the sun and of sunspots over the past few centuries back to Galileo Gailiei, whose discovery of the Sun''s 27-day rotation marked the serious start of solar physics. The remarkable tale includes skilled amateurs as well as professional academics, the rivalries between the main players, and a probable husband-wife murder-suicide thrown into the mix. Yes, there is a lot in the story of studying the sun, and the author does a masterful job of making it a fascinating read." -- Simon Constable, Forbes "A fascinating, engaging and enjoyable book." -- Contemporary Physics "The author''s account of the historical development of sunspots science and solar-dynamo theory is first rate in terms of accuracy as well as the precision of the language used to describe difficult concepts verbally. Choudhuri is strong in his explanations of the basic physics behind the observed phenomena." --The Observatory "The book is strongly recommended to anybody who is interested in solar physics, but in particular also to fluid dynamicists who may like to see how some of the ideas they are playing with can work out in the extreme situations prevailing in the Sun (and elsewhere in the universe). The book should also interest every physical scientist as an excellent account -- historical, scientific, and autobiographical all at the same time -- an account that is not only illuminating about the Third Cycle but also makes an extremely well-told story.

And it gives young students, at the threshold of their scientific careers, a feel for the nature of the human enterprise called science -- from its often-strange beginnings, its tragic heroes, its skeptical insiders . till finally an overall consensus emerges magically among the community of its practitioners -- and all of this told from a perspective that is at once both global and Indian." --Current Science "The book is easy to read but difficult to put away. This book offers a rare balanced composition of a scientific textbook, historical overview, and lively personalia of famous scientists under a single cover. It will be interesting to a broad range of readers--from high-school students and curious amateurs to serious scholars and top-level professionals." --American Journal of Physics "Undergraduates and general readers interested in the human understanding of the sun and how that understanding came about will find this book worthwhile and enjoyable reading. Recommended." --CHOICE "I strongly recommend Nature''s Third Cycle to readers who are interested in learning about solar activity, its effects on Earth, and the history of the field.

It includes technical details and references for delving deeper into a fascinating topic, yet it is easy and enjoyable to read." --Physics Today "This captivating book immerses the readers in the development of solar physics as though they were participating in a theatre play. Many personal memories provide fascinating links to the historical development of solar science. It is a book hard to put down once started!" -- Pascal Demoulin, Observatoire de Paris "Going through Nature''s Third Cycle - A Story of Sunspots by Arnab Rai Choudhuri is equivalent to having a ringside view of the gradual unveiling of one of the abiding mysteries associated with the Sun . In the academic community, Rai Choudhuri is known as a wonderful teacher and a brilliant scientist. He uses his expertise as a teacher to take the readers effortlessly through the complexities of solar physics." -- Sushan Konar, Resonance "This [book] establishes new (unprecedentedly high) standards of scientific writing . Already in the beginning, the reviewer has to tell that this book is among the best he has ever taken in his hands .

It should be stressed that reading this book will be easy for geoscientists . [and] will attract more young people to science." -- Dmitry A. Ruban, Zentralblatt fuer Geologie und Palaeontologie.