Official cover image © University of California Press.
The Ultraview Effect:
What We Can Learn from Astronauts About Awe, Humility, and Exploring the Unknown
Forthcoming from University of California Press, May 2026
Concept Image by Karl Tate (Inspiration for Early Design)
THE ULTRAVIEW EFFECT: THE BOOK
When astronauts look back at the Earth from space, they often describe what writer Frank White called the overview effect - a feeling of awe, compassion, and unity that arises when seeing our planet as one fragile, interconnected world. Yet when they turn their gaze outward, into the star-filled depths, some experience something very different: an ultraview effect marked by humility, disorientation, and wonder before the unknown.
In The Ultraview Effect, anthropologist Deana L. Weibel explores these moments of cosmic awe and spiritual transformation through astronaut interviews, cultural analysis, and reflections on human exploration. Building on White’s foundational idea, the book offers a new framework for understanding how people grapple with the unknowable—and what it means when we carry religion beyond the atmosphere.
READERS SAY:
"The Ultraview Effect fills a crucial gap in our understanding of outer space and our need as a species to get out there. It shines a clear and persuasive light on why we need to go beyond this planet and serves as a psychological blueprint, or libretto, for how we make that happen."
— Paul Levinson, coeditor of Touching the Face of the Cosmos: On the Intersection of Space Travel and Religion
"Deana Weibel has put into words the fascinating perspective that I and other astronauts have had the privilege of witnessing. Looking beyond the beauty of Earth, out into the vastness of the universe, gave me a humbling glimpse into the possibilities that lie far beyond our oasis in the cosmic ocean."
— John B. Herrington, retired United States Naval Aviator and former NASA astronaut
KEY IDEAS:
Awe and wonder – How extreme space experiences evoke transformative emotional states.
Humility – Learning from astronauts who confront vast unknowns with honesty and openness.
Exploration – What space travel teaches us about curiosity, risk, and the human spirit.
PUBLICATION DETAILS
Publisher: University of California Press
Release: May 2026
Links:
When astronauts look back at the Earth from space, they often describe what writer Frank White called the overview effect - a feeling of awe, compassion, and unity that arises when seeing our planet as one fragile, interconnected world. Yet when they turn their gaze outward, into the star-filled depths, some experience something very different: an ultraview effect marked by humility, disorientation, and wonder before the unknown.
In The Ultraview Effect, anthropologist Deana L. Weibel explores these moments of cosmic awe and spiritual transformation through astronaut interviews, cultural analysis, and reflections on human exploration. Building on White’s foundational idea, the book offers a new framework for understanding how people grapple with the unknowable—and what it means when we carry religion beyond the atmosphere.
READERS SAY:
"The Ultraview Effect fills a crucial gap in our understanding of outer space and our need as a species to get out there. It shines a clear and persuasive light on why we need to go beyond this planet and serves as a psychological blueprint, or libretto, for how we make that happen."
— Paul Levinson, coeditor of Touching the Face of the Cosmos: On the Intersection of Space Travel and Religion
"Deana Weibel has put into words the fascinating perspective that I and other astronauts have had the privilege of witnessing. Looking beyond the beauty of Earth, out into the vastness of the universe, gave me a humbling glimpse into the possibilities that lie far beyond our oasis in the cosmic ocean."
— John B. Herrington, retired United States Naval Aviator and former NASA astronaut
KEY IDEAS:
Awe and wonder – How extreme space experiences evoke transformative emotional states.
Humility – Learning from astronauts who confront vast unknowns with honesty and openness.
Exploration – What space travel teaches us about curiosity, risk, and the human spirit.
PUBLICATION DETAILS
Publisher: University of California Press
Release: May 2026
Links:
Learn more about the concept of the Ultraview Effect, which inspired this book.
Concept image by Karl Tate