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Overview
Isaac Newton was born in a stone farmhouse in 1642, fatherless and unwanted by his mother. When he died in London in 1727 he was so renowned he was given a state funeral—an unheard-of honor for a subject whose achievements were in the realm of the intellect. During the years he was an irascible presence at Trinity College, Cambridge, Newton imagined properties of nature and gave them names—mass, gravity, velocity—things our science now takes for granted. Inspired by Aristotle, spurred on by Galileo’s discoveries and the philosophy of Descartes, Newton grasped the intangible and dared to take its measure, a leap of the mind unparalleled in his generation.
James Gleick, the author of Chaos and Genius, and one of the most acclaimed science writers of his generation, brings the reader into Newton’s reclusive life and provides startlingly clear explanations of the concepts that changed forever our perception of bodies, rest, and motion—ideas so basic to the twenty-first century, it can truly be said: We are all Newtonians.
Finalist for the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Biography.
Synopsis
Gleick, interpreter of science for the (serious) lay reader in such books as Chaos: Making a New Science, here turns his attention to the pioneering physicist. This narrative traces the emergence of Newton's vision and the fundamental impact his work has had on human consciousness. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
The New York Times
[Gleick's] Isaac Newton is now the biography of choice for the interested layman. Gleick copes with the complex tapestry of Newton's interests by teasing them apart into individual chapters, assembled into a smooth chronological flow. For example, if we look at the extent of Newton's reading list in theology in the same years that led up to the writing of his Principia Mathematica, it is hard to imagine that he had time to do any science or mathematics at all. Gleick does not omit the theology, or Newton's long hours of experimental alchemy, but he partitions them into their own sections, a strategic decision that makes this multifaceted life remarkably accessible. — Owen Gingrich
Editorials
The Los Angeles Times
Isaac Newton is an elegantly written, insightful work that brings Newton to life and does him justice. Its brevity, which may or may not have been premeditated, seems to have resulted from a rare and relentless insistence on saying solely what can be said confidently and afresh. — Timothy FerrisThe New York Times
[Gleick's] Isaac Newton is now the biography of choice for the interested layman. Gleick copes with the complex tapestry of Newton's interests by teasing them apart into individual chapters, assembled into a smooth chronological flow. For example, if we look at the extent of Newton's reading list in theology in the same years that led up to the writing of his Principia Mathematica, it is hard to imagine that he had time to do any science or mathematics at all. Gleick does not omit the theology, or Newton's long hours of experimental alchemy, but he partitions them into their own sections, a strategic decision that makes this multifaceted life remarkably accessible. — Owen GingrichPublishers Weekly
Gleick's most renowned writing falls into one of two categories: vivid character studies or broad syntheses of scientific trends. Here, he fuses the two genres with a biography of the man who was emblematic of a new scientific paradigm, but this short study falls a bit short on both counts. The author aims to "ground this book as wholly as possible in its time; in the texts," and his narrative relies heavily on direct quotations from Newton's papers, extensively documented with more than 60 pages of notes. While his attention to historical detail is impressive, Gleick's narrative aims somewhere between academic and popular history, and his take on Newton feels a bit at arms-length, only matching the vibrancy of his Feynman biography at moments (particularly when describing Newton's disputes with such competitors as Robert Hooke or Leibniz). As might be expected, Gleick's descriptions of Newton's scientific breakthroughs are clear and engaging, and his book is strongest when discussing the shift to a mathematical view of the world that Newton championed. In the end, this is a perfectly serviceable overview of Newton's life and work, and will bring this chapter in the history of science to a broader audience, but it lacks the depth one hopes for from a writer of Gleick's abilities. Agent, Michael Carlisle. (May 16) Forecast: Despite the book's flaws, its brevity and Gleick's reputation may make this the perfect intro to Newton for readers new to him or to science. It could generate good sales. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.KLIATT
This short biography, a New York Times Notable Book in hardcover, is remarkably clear, despite its sometimes-difficult scientific subject matter. The book is relatively brief and includes a few scattered, helpful illustrations. Gleick probes some of Newton's personal idiosyncrasies without engaging in wild speculation, and he renders the heart and soul of Newton's physics with simple (but not simplistic) formulations. I doubt students will find any life of the man more accessible. There are good notes and source lists, as well as an index with useful subheadings. KLIATT Codes: SA—Recommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2003, Random House, Vintage, 272p. illus. notes. bibliog. index., Ages 15 to adult.—Daniel Levinson