Galaxies in Turmoil: The Active and Starburst Galaxies and the Black Holes That Drive Them - Hardcover

From the reviews:

"Kitchin ... explores the physical conditions in the regions of the nuclei of galaxies. ... Kitchin enumerates the many types of active galaxies whose properties are revealed by observations at wavelengths ranging from X-rays through optical and infrared to the longest radio bands. ... this book contains a useful appendix that clarifies the relationship among the types of active galaxies and quasars. A lengthy table lists all the optically brightest examples. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers." (D. E. Hogg, CHOICE, Vol. 45 (5), January, 2008)

"The text is written at a level appropriate for undergraduate students, and its intended audience also includes amateur astronomers. ... Overall, the text is direct. A few stories of key episodes in understanding galaxies reveal the path of scientific discovery. ... The topics covered are of interest to students, and to the best of my knowledge, no other book provides a similar focus at a comparable level. ... Galaxies in Turmoil would make an excellent introduction for beginning research students." (Nancy A. Levenson, Physics Today, June, 2008)

"This text, written for college students, discusses current theory on active galaxies and supermassive black holes. ... aimed more at amateur astronomers and provides tips on how to observe active galaxies using small optical telescopes." (Contemporary Physics, Vol. 50 (2), March-April, 2009)

Astronomers' Universe Series is a new series aimed at active amateur astronomers but is appropriate to a wider audience of astronomically-informed readers. The book provides an up-to-date account of active galaxies. Lists of such objects and their visual and imaged appearance in commercially available telescopes are an important component of this book. The book makes sense of the chaotic and apparently innumerable types of violently active galaxies. It provides the data and teaches the skills needed for users of small telescopes to observe and image some of these "galaxies in turmoil" for themselves.