Book of Dust

Book excerpt: Denes began her compilation of data for this major work in 1972. Using dust as a metaphor and a connecting thread to facts and phenomena, she studies the human mind, our ethical values, standards of living, and survival, presenting haunting images of dust particles from outer space, such as the death of a star, distant and large objects in the universe, as well as earthly dust, including human dust, hallucinogens, poisons, chemicals, and nuclear waste. Book of Dust is a glance at the history and the future of the universe, from its violent birth to the formation of stars, the silent demise of galaxies, and the death of matter. From cosmic dust to human dust, from molecules to intelligence, this work is a cross-section of existence.