"Oh, this planet was a good one. And we, too, were good, as good as the burn of the sun and the rain’s sting and the smell of living soil, the all-over song of endless solutions signing the air of a changing world that by every calculation ought never to have been."

Bewilderment is the book that will make your mind run in a circle with thoughts. I was not at all interested in this book at first but the moment I have spotted astrobiology in the blurb, I am a goner. It was the dream of baby Jayasri to be an astrobiologist and work in NASA. But when I saw the amount of physics I have to deal with in high school, I bid goodbye to that dream. Oh well, at least all the random facts I collected even after my farewell to the dream helped me understand this book.

At the core, we have a father and son who are struggling to cope with the loss of Aly. Aly, an animal rights activist who dies in a car accident, is a constant part of the lives of Theo and Robin. As Theo doesn't want to medicate Robin with drugs, he opts for a neural feedback therapy that uses fMRI and brain mapping. After this therapy, we do see visible changes in Robin but what will happen when the treatment is interrupted?

This book reminded me a lot of Weather by Jenny Offill. I forgot much of the plot of that book, but the same claustrophobic political atmosphere can be observed here too. Set in a near-future society, Powers through Robin is asking us to think about what are we doing to our planet? Using the Fermi paradox as a device, Powers explores what is the point of hope when everything seems hopeless? To pace visibly distressed Robin, Theo creates alternative universes using his models. What first starts as a refreshing activity, soon turns into a feverish prayer to find hope that life can be found even in uninhabitable places.

Through Robin's eyes, we see the devastating state of our earth, which made me question what are we going to leave for our next generation. I can't help but observe a Sisyphean quality in the book. The book starts and nearly ends at the same point as a boulder pushed through the mountain. And it made me realize that the life we make between the ups and downs is what matters. The goal is not important but the journey and the impact we make in the journey is what makes one's life meaningful, isn't it?

The second part of the book is surprisingly political. Yes! The scientific jargon was there but the tension created by politics and politicians was so palpable. I couldn't help but compare the political situation in the book with our current situation. It felt surreal to even think about it. Also, I cannot ignore the philosophical undertone in these political scenarios that made me go down a thought spiral. Yet another example of how politicians use their powers to do anything. They don't care about what or who is affected. The greed for power that often affects the common man is not visible because let's face it, the common man was not the concern.

I am amazed by the sheer brilliance of science in this book. Neuroscience has always been my favourite field to explore and astrobiology is an equally interesting field. Combine these with politics and a dash of philosophical undertone, this book is a perfect blend for speculation lovers. It has everything. Myth, metaphysics, evolution, ecocide and love. The love this family share is so sweet to read. I was a crying mess as I read this. From the first chapter till the last, it made me constantly think of my daddy and the times we worked in our garden. I cried, cried, cried and cried some more as I finished the last chapter. And like I previously said, I cannot ignore the Sisyphean quality the story takes. But then again, people leave, people, die but life goes on always. There's a sliver of sunshine even in the darkness after all.

In three words, this book is 'compact, but planetary'.

Thank you for the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the review copy.