This book should really be called "Some interesting stuff about mirrors and then 200 pages about telescopes and the history of astronomy." There were some interesting bits about the history of mirror-making, some short philosophical ramblings on the human relationship to mirrors and mirror-related objects, and then TELESCOPES.

Yes, telescopes have mirrors, and mirrors are super important for astronomy, so a chapter about telescopes was not out of line. But pages and pages of reading about various astronomers and their painstaking work grinding a YET BIGGER mirror for a YET BIGGER telescope...I enjoy reading about astronomy, but it was dull.