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Science Secrets: The Truth about Darwin's Finches, Einstein's Wife, and Other Myths
Was Darwin really inspired by Galápagos finches? Did Einstein’s wife secretly contribute to his theories? Did Franklin fly a kite in a thunderstorm? Did a falling apple lead Newton to universal gravity? Did Galileo drop objects from the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Did Einstein really believe in God?
Science Secrets answers these questions and many others. It is a unique study of how myths evolve in the history of science. Some tales are partly true, others are mostly false, yet all illuminate the tension between the need to fairly describe the past and the natural desire to fill in the blanks.
Energetically narrated, Science Secrets pits famous myths against extensive research from primary sources in order to accurately portray important episodes in the sciences. Alberto A. Martínez analyzes how such myths grow and rescues neglected facts that are more captivating than famous fictions. Moreover, he shows why opinions that were once secret and seemingly impossible are now scientifically compelling. The book includes new findings related to the Copernican revolution, alchemy, Pythagoras, young Einstein, and other events and figures in the history of science.
Science Secrets answers these questions and many others. It is a unique study of how myths evolve in the history of science. Some tales are partly true, others are mostly false, yet all illuminate the tension between the need to fairly describe the past and the natural desire to fill in the blanks.
Energetically narrated, Science Secrets pits famous myths against extensive research from primary sources in order to accurately portray important episodes in the sciences. Alberto A. Martínez analyzes how such myths grow and rescues neglected facts that are more captivating than famous fictions. Moreover, he shows why opinions that were once secret and seemingly impossible are now scientifically compelling. The book includes new findings related to the Copernican revolution, alchemy, Pythagoras, young Einstein, and other events and figures in the history of science.
- GenresNonfictionScienceHistory
344 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 1, 2017
RANDOM THOUGHTS AND NOTES ON THIS BOOK:
Complete description of book:
Was Darwin really inspired by Galápagos finches? Did Einstein’s wife secretly contribute to his theories? Did Franklin fly a kite in a thunderstorm? Did a falling apple lead Newton to universal gravity? Did Galileo drop objects from the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Did Einstein really believe in God? Science Secrets answers these questions and many others. It is a unique study of how myths evolve in the history of science. Some tales are partly true, others are mostly false, yet all illuminate the tension between the need to fairly describe the past and the natural desire to fill in the blanks. Energetically narrated, Science Secrets pits famous myths against extensive research from primary sources in order to accurately portray important episodes in the sciences. Alberto A. Martínez analyzes how such myths grow and rescues neglected facts that are more captivating than famous fictions. Moreover, he shows why opinions that were once secret and seemingly impossible are now scientifically compelling. The book includes new findings related to the Copernican revolution, alchemy, Pythagoras, young Einstein, and other events and figures in the history of science.
FROM THE PREFACE:
What interested me the most was the author's confrontation of conjectures and going to enormous lengths to find the sources of facts and fiction in sciences. Any student heading into any sciences, should read this book.
Numerous new information were made available in the book, either by footnotes, text or bibliography.
I'm including some of my personal thoughts in a spoiler, merely reminding me of interesting aspects of the book, but perhaps interesting to read for others as well:
A great read for those who appreciate thought and debate. There never seems to be definite answers, and nothing remains static long enough to become the ultimate fact.
Alberto A. Martínez confronts our way of collecting information, and our application thereof in sciences or life. To accomplish this he thoroughly researched documents in which the contradictions were pointed out in the famous myths and theories. The author confirmed the necessity of proper research, of finding as many primary sources as possible.
For anyone applying the approach in the book to our current society, it becomes clear why the debate between butter and margarine exists, for instance. Why the agenda and the source of finances behind 'research' should be questioned.
Conclusion: Although original documents are the best, it is impossible for millions of people to have access to them for various reasons. Suffice to say, that it will be like standing at the edge of the ocean, trying to stop a tsunami of inaccuracies if tried to provide original proof of everything. For instance, Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code claimed enormous hours of research and a great number of researchers. However, the reader does not have the same access and resources to verify the accuracy of the claims in the book. The journalistic principle (anecdote?) also applies: "never allow a good story to be ruined by facts." Very true in any novel's case indeed. Conjectures often rule, particularly in genres such as biographies and historical fiction. The book illustrates the various interpretation of Newton, the apple and gravity (which was not the first time the theory was published, so by the way). Translations enforce the idea of different interpretation, as we all know.
Another great book to consider, and there are many more, is The Jesus Mysteries: Was the "Original Jesus" a Pagan God? by Timothy Freke, Peter Gandy, which enforces the similarities and differences of the various religions and the role it played in the interpretation of science and history.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Science Secrets: The Truth about Darwin's Finches, Einstein's Wife, and Other Myths is about controvercy and interpretation, projection and subjective interests in science. It stirs debate. It reminds us of our weaknesses in attempting research. Reading through all the myths that became fact, and facts being rejected as myths, a cacophony of voices are tumbling around in the brain rejecting the findings, offering new opinions, all insisting to be heard. What a mess!
Further reading
https://www.upress.pitt.edu/BookDetai...
GREAT STUFF!!! LOVED IT! EXCELLENT!
Complete description of book:
Was Darwin really inspired by Galápagos finches? Did Einstein’s wife secretly contribute to his theories? Did Franklin fly a kite in a thunderstorm? Did a falling apple lead Newton to universal gravity? Did Galileo drop objects from the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Did Einstein really believe in God? Science Secrets answers these questions and many others. It is a unique study of how myths evolve in the history of science. Some tales are partly true, others are mostly false, yet all illuminate the tension between the need to fairly describe the past and the natural desire to fill in the blanks. Energetically narrated, Science Secrets pits famous myths against extensive research from primary sources in order to accurately portray important episodes in the sciences. Alberto A. Martínez analyzes how such myths grow and rescues neglected facts that are more captivating than famous fictions. Moreover, he shows why opinions that were once secret and seemingly impossible are now scientifically compelling. The book includes new findings related to the Copernican revolution, alchemy, Pythagoras, young Einstein, and other events and figures in the history of science.
FROM THE PREFACE:
... the ground that each historian tries to cover is often broad, so errors creep in wherever one relies on common knowledge and trusts other writers' words. It takes much work to authenticate some common hearsay; it takes more work to falsify, and some conjectures are too seductive to resist..The author proves the validity of meticulous and thorough research, finding the real sources, and confirming or condemning the use of alternative sources as an easier way of constructing a theory, book, or belief.
... Consciously or not, writers inflate tales to sell books. As rightly noted by Jürgen Neffe, another good biographer of Einstein, “speculations evolve into anecdotes that are then proliferated in book-length studies.”
... Many writers echo traditional stories rather than dig up documentary facts, interpreting bits of evidence to match conjectures rather than to test them.
... This book analyzes several famous topics in the history of science: the lore of Pythagoras, the Copernican revolution, the alchemical quest for the Philosophers' Stone, Darwin's path to evolution, the mysteries of electricity, Einstein's relativity, and the rise of eugenics.
... Legends about Galileo have propagated partly because people were willing to parrot the claims of specialists, believing authority, rather than evidence.
What interested me the most was the author's confrontation of conjectures and going to enormous lengths to find the sources of facts and fiction in sciences. Any student heading into any sciences, should read this book.
Numerous new information were made available in the book, either by footnotes, text or bibliography.
I'm including some of my personal thoughts in a spoiler, merely reminding me of interesting aspects of the book, but perhaps interesting to read for others as well:
A great read for those who appreciate thought and debate. There never seems to be definite answers, and nothing remains static long enough to become the ultimate fact.
Alberto A. Martínez confronts our way of collecting information, and our application thereof in sciences or life. To accomplish this he thoroughly researched documents in which the contradictions were pointed out in the famous myths and theories. The author confirmed the necessity of proper research, of finding as many primary sources as possible.
For anyone applying the approach in the book to our current society, it becomes clear why the debate between butter and margarine exists, for instance. Why the agenda and the source of finances behind 'research' should be questioned.
The solution is to trust evidence instead of experts. If someone claims something, even if it is Galileo writing about Aristotle, or Newton writing about Galileo, or even the latest, best biographer writing about Einstein, we should abstain from simply believing what they say, unless they cite the specific evidence to which they refer.The reasons for the various churches to reject or accept the different theories of the old scholars are discussed in some detail. Enough to bring a new understanding for the less scholarly reader who just want to learn more, without completing a dissertation on the subject. The clashes between the different groups: Catholics, Lutherans, Protestants. They all interpreted the Bible differently and they all were willing to kill to protect their interests. Scientists lost their lives in apposing religious leaders.
Conclusion: Although original documents are the best, it is impossible for millions of people to have access to them for various reasons. Suffice to say, that it will be like standing at the edge of the ocean, trying to stop a tsunami of inaccuracies if tried to provide original proof of everything. For instance, Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code claimed enormous hours of research and a great number of researchers. However, the reader does not have the same access and resources to verify the accuracy of the claims in the book. The journalistic principle (anecdote?) also applies: "never allow a good story to be ruined by facts." Very true in any novel's case indeed. Conjectures often rule, particularly in genres such as biographies and historical fiction. The book illustrates the various interpretation of Newton, the apple and gravity (which was not the first time the theory was published, so by the way). Translations enforce the idea of different interpretation, as we all know.
Another great book to consider, and there are many more, is The Jesus Mysteries: Was the "Original Jesus" a Pagan God? by Timothy Freke, Peter Gandy, which enforces the similarities and differences of the various religions and the role it played in the interpretation of science and history.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Science Secrets: The Truth about Darwin's Finches, Einstein's Wife, and Other Myths is about controvercy and interpretation, projection and subjective interests in science. It stirs debate. It reminds us of our weaknesses in attempting research. Reading through all the myths that became fact, and facts being rejected as myths, a cacophony of voices are tumbling around in the brain rejecting the findings, offering new opinions, all insisting to be heard. What a mess!
Further reading
https://www.upress.pitt.edu/BookDetai...
GREAT STUFF!!! LOVED IT! EXCELLENT!
October 11, 2011
Some of this was very difficult to read for a layperson because of the amount of technical and scientific jargon, but the chapters that dealt specifically with historical "facts" or stories were very interesting and mostly engaging. I vividly remember being taught in high school physics class that Galileo dealt a death blow to the scientific clout of the Catholic Church with his cheeky experiments off the Leaning Tower. Martinez not only clarifies what we know and what we don't know about some of the stories we tell about science and scientists, but explains why certain stories have more traction than others and how they tell us more about ourselves than about the figures they purport to illuminate.
Adding this little review I wrote for my sci-fi fan club newsletter:
As Alberto Martinez points out in this book, we tend to give scientists and their discoveries a kind of heroic, even superhuman sheen when we tell their stories. They are the brave explorers, wise heretics, and bold iconoclasts we wish we could be, striking down the ignorance of the bigoted and uneducated while blazing the trail for enlightened future generations. The truth, of course, is that they are as human and fallible as the rest of us, and the stories we tell about their exploits and discoveries are as much about how we want to see ourselves as they are about the history of science.
In Science Secrets, Martinez aims to set the record straight about a number of popular conceptions (not all of them mis-) about scientific discoveries ranging from the influence of Pythagorean ethics on alchemists to whether Darwin and Einstein believed in God. These names come up frequently throughout the book, forming a running theme of influence and interpretation. Some of the chapters can be difficult to get through, especially the jargon-laden explanations of Coulomb’s experiments and the development of Einstein’s theory of relativity. Other chapters, such as those about alchemy, the development of the theory of natural selection, and Newton’s “discovery” of gravity, are witty, informative, and easy to comprehend. There are a lot of surprises here, like Einstein’s embrace of eugenics “science,” the fate of Newton’s apple tree, Tycho Brahe’s golden nose, and the unexpected influence of paganism on Galileo’s thought.
Martinez also gives the reader food for thought about how to approach everyday decisions about what to accept as “true.” As he provides the facts and explains the differences in types of documentation (primary, secondary, first-hand, hearsay, fiction, etc.), he gives the reader an education not only in the history itself, but in how to write and understand history. In the age of the Internet, it can be hard to pin down what really happened in any given event, but we tend to enjoy the benefits of a large number of sources; in history it can be much more difficult because we have few primary sources in many cases, and the sources we do have are often carefully massaged to represent the historical figures in very specific ways, either positively or negatively. It’s helpful to approach any “authoritative” history or widely-told story with a critic’s eye. Popular notions of history (ancient or current) do not always need to be debunked outright, but certainly we can and should question the reason why that particular telling strikes a chord within us and what it can teach us about the way we look at the world.
Adding this little review I wrote for my sci-fi fan club newsletter:
As Alberto Martinez points out in this book, we tend to give scientists and their discoveries a kind of heroic, even superhuman sheen when we tell their stories. They are the brave explorers, wise heretics, and bold iconoclasts we wish we could be, striking down the ignorance of the bigoted and uneducated while blazing the trail for enlightened future generations. The truth, of course, is that they are as human and fallible as the rest of us, and the stories we tell about their exploits and discoveries are as much about how we want to see ourselves as they are about the history of science.
In Science Secrets, Martinez aims to set the record straight about a number of popular conceptions (not all of them mis-) about scientific discoveries ranging from the influence of Pythagorean ethics on alchemists to whether Darwin and Einstein believed in God. These names come up frequently throughout the book, forming a running theme of influence and interpretation. Some of the chapters can be difficult to get through, especially the jargon-laden explanations of Coulomb’s experiments and the development of Einstein’s theory of relativity. Other chapters, such as those about alchemy, the development of the theory of natural selection, and Newton’s “discovery” of gravity, are witty, informative, and easy to comprehend. There are a lot of surprises here, like Einstein’s embrace of eugenics “science,” the fate of Newton’s apple tree, Tycho Brahe’s golden nose, and the unexpected influence of paganism on Galileo’s thought.
Martinez also gives the reader food for thought about how to approach everyday decisions about what to accept as “true.” As he provides the facts and explains the differences in types of documentation (primary, secondary, first-hand, hearsay, fiction, etc.), he gives the reader an education not only in the history itself, but in how to write and understand history. In the age of the Internet, it can be hard to pin down what really happened in any given event, but we tend to enjoy the benefits of a large number of sources; in history it can be much more difficult because we have few primary sources in many cases, and the sources we do have are often carefully massaged to represent the historical figures in very specific ways, either positively or negatively. It’s helpful to approach any “authoritative” history or widely-told story with a critic’s eye. Popular notions of history (ancient or current) do not always need to be debunked outright, but certainly we can and should question the reason why that particular telling strikes a chord within us and what it can teach us about the way we look at the world.
September 18, 2011
I only really read the chapter about whether Einstein believed in God, but that chapter at least was really good! Also, the font in this book is AMAZING. I'm dying to know what kind of font it is.
May 13, 2020
Have you ever wondered how the speed of light was first estimated, how the laws of classical physics were derived, or how other famous breakthroughs in science actually occurred?
This book covers all of that, and more. In theory, this is a great book for anyone remotely curious about how science works. The author works to de-bunk the common myths that we hear in scientific history, giving us a more realistic view of how historical breakthroughs actually occurred.
In practice however, the writing quality leaves much to be desired. The content is often rather dry, and the author frequently gets caught up in extraneous semantics. It’s short enough to be worth the read if your scientific curiosity is sufficiently high. However, the at least half the chapters could have been left out without removing anything remotely interesting.
This book covers all of that, and more. In theory, this is a great book for anyone remotely curious about how science works. The author works to de-bunk the common myths that we hear in scientific history, giving us a more realistic view of how historical breakthroughs actually occurred.
In practice however, the writing quality leaves much to be desired. The content is often rather dry, and the author frequently gets caught up in extraneous semantics. It’s short enough to be worth the read if your scientific curiosity is sufficiently high. However, the at least half the chapters could have been left out without removing anything remotely interesting.
March 25, 2020
Horribly boring
January 8, 2014
This book brought to mind the old question of whether it is worth your time to finish reading a book you are not enjoying. I thoroughly enjoyed the first few chapters on Galileo, Newton and Darwin. And the chapter dealing with whether or not Einstein believed in God captured my interest, but then I bogged down in chapters on Einstein's wife and clock towers. My interests were revived with the chapter on "Eugenics and the Myth of Equality." I was only partially aware of how extensive this terrible movement was in this country. The epilogue was thought provoking and finished the book off well. If I could give a half star I would since for me parts I liked and parts were just okay.
December 28, 2015
I was looking forward to reading this based upon its description. I was very disappointed to find it extremely dry (written like a text book) and overly technical for what I thought was supposed to be more for the lay person (I have a science background but still found some of the sections hard to understand). The text got bogged down by too much detail (e.g., table listing who, when and specifics about various writers detailing the story about Newton's apple) which could have been foot-noted and cited at the end.
November 18, 2015
Fascinating tell all about the truths behind popular science legends. Sorts the truth from the trivia, debunks some old wives tales and proves that life is often stranger (or at least more compelling) than fiction. Well written, conversational tone, easy to read (if not to have your favorite stories ripped apart and put back together correctly).
May 14, 2012
I tried, I really did. My mind is just not on this track right now. It's well-written, and interesting, but I couldn't get into it. For 8 weeks!
May 30, 2012
Some really interesting stuff, breaking down famous scientific myths. The author seems a tad obsessed with Pythagoras.
September 5, 2014
Great combination of subjects and explores "myths" we've come to believe as fact.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews