... full of evocative anecdotes and personal insights gleaned from years of experience in dusty trenches as well as behind the computer screen, poring over satellite images ... [Parcak] introduces readers to the field of aerial remote sensing through numerous case studies, turning complex research into something much more approachable ... very candidly includes the occasional failure, reminding us, and herself, that setbacks and disappointing results are part of scientific exploration ... Parcak’s love for her work and the people she studies is evident, and her enthusiasm is contagious. From Vikings in Iceland and Canada to amphitheaters in Italy and back to her first love, pharaonic Egypt, she brings both the present and the past to life.

While [Parcak's] main focus is on how advanced satellite technology is being used to locate long-lost archaeological sites, she also shares many personal experiences as an archaeologist, from the most prosaic (digging fruitlessly in the dirt for days) to the highly entertaining (dining with Harrison Ford). Parcak is an extremely engaging writer and she has done a lot of very interesting stuff ... Parcak shares enough of herself to entrance anyone who shares her Indiana Jones dreams, while elucidating the exciting new field of satellite archaeology. This is a thoroughly delightful and downright fascinating work of popular science.

... introduces the burgeoning subfield to the uninformed (but curious) and explores how it is transforming the work of people like Parcak and her colleagues ... Parcak's love for her field and her deep wonder and excitement come through on every page ... Clear, accessible and fascinating, peppered with witty asides and informative photos, Archaeology from Space is an excellent introduction to an exciting subfield that's still flying under the (satellite) radar.

The personal narrative brings an immediacy to the text and includes many anecdotes ... Parcak vividly shares the excitement of excavating at places such as Tanis, Egypt, as well as her thoughts about the numerous archaeological sites that are still undiscovered ... An engaging read for both teens and adults interested in satellite remote sensing and other technologies as well as archaeology. They will learn some intriguing things about civilizations in the process.

...an entertainingly informative mix of popular science, memoir, and even some fiction. Parcak does an excellent job of bringing the rarified field of remote sensing down to earth, in both literal and metaphorical fashion ... The author’s imagination comes into play, as well, in several relatively long interludes where she imagines the life of a family in ancient Egypt to highlight how archaeology isn’t just an examination of artifacts, of things, but is a way to learn more about people ... Moving back and forth between space and the Earth is both a good structure and also reinforces one of her constant points of emphasis — that whatever is discovered via remote sensing can only be verified by actual boots on the ground and trowels in the dirt (or sand). These more memoiristic scenes add a nice touch of the personal to Archaeology from Space, and also do a great job of conveying just what is involved in both excavating and being a dig director ... Archaeology from Space: How the Future Shapes Our Past has an engaging voice throughout ... Strongly recommended.

It’s a chance to gain a closer understanding of the complexities of Parcak’s work, as well as the value that comes from digging into our ancient past. It’s a compellingly-written piece of popular science. But it also offers something that other science-oriented nonfiction doesn’t—the warm, impassioned and funny voice of Sarah Parcak ... But what makes this book really shine is how much of Sarah Parcak we get. Her passion for her work is omnipresent, leaping from every page with an enthusiasm that is undeniably infectious ... Creating a narrative flow with a book like this is tricky, but Archaeology from Space is a real success in that regard ... One of the joys of this book (of which there are money) is the heartfelt humor that Parcak delivers. The tone could be described as mildly self-deprecatory with a little bit of an edge; she’s unafraid to punctuate thoughtful and/or technically dense segments with jokes that are unabashedly goofy ... a wonderful piece of work, a book that entertains as it informs ... She shows us how she uses the bleeding-edge of the future to dig deeper into the past, all while telling tales in a writerly voice that is sharp, witty and charming as hell.

Indiana Jones meets cutting-edge satellite technology. It’s every bit as exciting as it sounds ... Parcak has a lot of great stories to tell, and she tells them with clarity, enthusiasm, and humor ... Exciting and futuristic, this book elicits that anything-is-possible feeling—a must-read.

Parcak humanizes her topic by tracing her interest in it to her grandfather ... Bolstered by this empowering pitch for the general reader’s involvement, Parcak’s book provides a revelatory look at an exciting new field.