Christianson G.E. Isaac Newton

Oxford University Press, 2005. — 144 p. — (Lives and Legacies) — ISBN 9780195300703, 019530070X.Quarrelsome and quirky, a disheveled recluse who ate little, slept less, and yet had an iron constitution, Isaac Newton rose from a virtually illiterate family to become one of the towering intellects of science. Now, in this fast-paced, colorful biography, Gale E. Christianson paints an engaging portrait of Newton and the times in which he lived. We follow Newton from his childhood in rural England to his student days at Cambridge, where he devoured the works of Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo, and taught himself mathematics. There ensued two miraculous years at home in Woolsthorpe Manor, where he fled when plague threatened Cambridge, a remarkably fertile period when Newton formulated his theory of gravity, a new theory of light, and calculus - all by his twenty-fourth birthday. Christianson describes Newton's creation of the first working model of the reflecting telescope, which brought him to the attention of the Royal Society, and he illuminates the eighteen months of intense labor that resulted in his Principia, arguably the most important scientific work ever published. The book sheds light on Newton's later life as master of the mint in London, where he managed to convict and hang the arch criminal William Chaloner (a remarkable turn for a once reclusive scholar), and his presidency of the Royal Society, which he turned from a dilettante's club into an eminent scientific organization. Christianson also explores Newton's less savory side, including his long, bitter feud with Robert Hooke and the underhanded way that Newton established his priority in the invention of calculus and tarnished Liebniz's reputation. Newton was an authentic genius with all too human faults. This book captures both sides of this truly extraordinary man. A volume in Oxford's Lives and Legacies series. Brief, erudite, and inviting, the exciting new Lives and Legacies series offers a fresh look at some of the greatest minds in the humanities and sciences. Written by prominent authors, these engaging volumes will shed light on the life and work of our leading intellectual, artistic, and historical figures.
In 1665, when an epidemic of the plague forced Cambridge University to close, Isaac Newton, then a young, undistinguished scholar, returned to his childhood home in rural England. Away from his colleagues and professors, Newton embarked on one of the greatest intellectual odysseys in the history of science: he began to formulate the law of universal gravitation, developed the calculus, and made revolutionary discoveries about the nature of light. After his return to Cambridge, Newton's genius was quickly recognized and his reputation forever established. This biography also allows us to see the personal side of Newton, whose life away from science was equally fascinating. Quarrelsome, quirky, and not above using his position to silence critics and further his own career, he was an authentic genius with all too human faults.
«In an authoritative yet accessible style, Christianson chronicles both the significant and the seemingly insignificant — yet critical — events that shaped Newton's early life. » — The Horn Book Magazine.
«An excellent introduction to the life and times of Isaac Newton without difficult discussions of mathematics and classical physics that might bog down the average reader. If the 25 additional titles in The Oxford Portraits in Science series are as well done as this one, interested book lovers have some excellent reading ahead. » — The Science Teacher.
«Structured around pivotal moments in Newton's life, the book is an excellent reference for biographical data on the great English scientist; in addition, it affords a fine historical perspective of the scientific revolution. » — Science Books & Films.
«Filled with historic illustrations,including original notes and drawings by Newton and his contemporaries. » — VOYA.
«This is not just a great biography — it's one of the best-written science books around for young people. Christianson has sifted through the historical documents and accounts of Newton to paint a convincing and intelligent picture of the complex and at times irascible genius. » — School Library Journal.
«All readers will enjoy the personal life story, and they will feel the excitement of Newton's discoveries of the laws that govern an orderly and knowable universe. » — Booklist.Preface.
«Top lay philosophically».
«My greater friend».
Of genius, fire, and plague.
The revolutionary professor.
«Kindling coal».
The Alchemist.
«A book nobody understands».
«Your most unfortunate servant».
Mark of the lion.
«The royal society war».
« Like a boy on the sea shore».
Notes.
Further reading.
Index.