Life on Other Planets: A Memoir of Finding My Place in the Universe

In her inspirational debut, Shields (an astronomer and astrobiologist at Univ. of California, Irvine, and a classically trained actor) describes her educational and professional journeys, gracefully weaving in fascinating scientific concepts. Shields’s “first love was the sky,” so much so that she often bumped into buildings while walking down the street with her eyes skyward. Despite the rarity of Black women in STEM fields, her parents and grandmother encouraged her astronomical aspirations, sending Shields to Phillips Exeter Academy, a prestigious prep school with its own observatory. Although she received financial aid, paying the remaining tuition was still a struggle, underscoring her sense of alienation from her predominantly white, wealthy classmates. However, when she landed a role in a school play, Shields felt a sense of belonging and community, kindling her second great love, acting. Her journey to discovering that she didn’t have to choose between her interests in astronomy and acting will resonate with anyone juggling multiple passions.