Newton and Gravity

The Big Idea: Scientists Who Changed the World

by Paul Strathern

A good case can be made for Isaac Newton being the finest mind humanity has yet produced. His theory of gravity offered his contemporaries their first glimpse of how the universe actually works, and his mathematics enabled later generations to walk on the moon. Today, we know that gravity keeps our feet on the ground, but how many of us know how Newton's greatest discovery really works? In Newton & Gravity, Paul Strathern encapsulates several of Newton's more mind-expanding discoveries, explaining in lively prose their cultural context as well as Newton's early obsession with science (bordering on dementia) that made his revolutionary vision possible. Just a few of the big ideas covered here

Newton's discovery of calculus at age twenty-three Why gravity, one of the greatest human insights of all time, was in fact a hunch and how it actually works Why it took Newton twenty years after his discovery to reveal to the world the secret of gravity and planetary motion

Ideal for the intelligent reader eager to better understand how and why the universe works the way it does, Newton & Gravity is a fascinating refresher course that makes physics not only fun but shockingly easy to understand.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Physics

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Paul Strathern (born 1940) is a English writer and academic. He was born in London, and studied at Trinity College, Dublin, after which he served in the Merchant Navy over a period of two years. He then lived on a Greek island. In 1966 he travelled overland to India and the Himalayas. His novel A Season in Abyssinia won a Somerset Maugham Award in 1972.

Besides five novels, he has also written numerous books on science, philosophy, history, literature, medicine and economics.

Reviews

[César Bustíos · Rating 3 out of 5]

"La naturaleza y sus leyes yacían ocultas en la oscuridad. Dijo Dios: ¡Que se haga Newton! Y reinó la claridad."

Otra pequeña biografía de la colección "90 minutos". Me gustan porque no son muy densas y van directo al grano. En esta ocasión con otra de las grandes mentes de nuestra historia: Sir Isaac Newton. Odiado y temido, dueño de una rabia reprimida que hacía que no quisieras tenerlo como enemigo. Esto lo llevó a cometer muchos errores pero también lo llenó de una determinación cuyo clímax fue nada más ni nada menos que el Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica que, entre otras cosas, contenía su famosa ley de gravitación universal.

PD: Lo de la manzana no es una leyenda.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que personalidade!

[11jst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buen libro que redacta la vida de Newton , buena información y sencillo de entender.

[Arun Radhakrishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

புத்தகத்திற்கு வெளியில் அறிவையும், அறிவியலையும் தேடிய சுயம்பு. குறைமாதத்தில் பிறந்த குழந்தையை 18 மாதத்தில் வயதான பாட்டியிடம் உதறிவிட்டு மறுமணம் செய்துகொண்ட பாசமிகு புண்ணியவதியின் மகனார் இவர். இவரின் தந்தை இவர் பிறப்பதற்கு மூன்று மாதத்திற்கு முன்பே இறந்துவிட்டார் என்பது கூடுதல் தகவல்.

முப்படிகத்தில் கரைகண்டவர். தொலைநோக்கி குறித்து தொலைநோக்கு பார்வை கொண்டவர். 17ம் நூற்றாண்டின் சிறந்த அறிவியலாளர் நியூட்டன்.

ரசவாதத்திலும் முனைப்புடையவர் என்பது ஆச்சர்யமான தகவல்.

அறிவியலையும் ஆண்டவனையும் ஒருசேர உணர்ந்தவர்.

[Onur Yz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mesleki nedenlerle teorileriyle fazlasıyla içli dışlı olduğum Newton'un duygusal zekasına dair bilgiler öğrenmek hem çok şaşırtıcı oldu hem de benzer insanlarla (bilimle uğraşan) sık sık karşılaştığım için sürpriz olmadı. Newton da kimi bilim insanları gibi aşırı kıskanç, kinci, intikamcı, egosu zirvede, sadece kendi doğrusuna inanan bir insanmış.
Kitabın en güzel yanlarından birisi de Newton'un teorilerini hem basit şekilde anlatması hem de bildik teorileri haricindeki keşifleri hakkında çok temel düzeyde bilgiler içermesi. Bu konuda ileri seviye bir araştırmacı olmama rağmen kitabın bu özelliğine şapka çıkardım. Bu kitap zaten bambaşka bir meselenin derdinde, o nedenle bu kitaba laf edecek kişi de egosu yüksek, pişkin ve kibirli birisi olacaktır. Biz doğruyu söyleyelim de köyden kovmasını başkalarına bırakalım. :)
Paul Strathern'in diğer kitaplarını okumak da mutlak bir koşul oldu benim için.

[João Sirius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dentro do objetivo do livro, ele cumpre muito bem! Toda a série de cientistas em 90 minutos faz muito bem em apresentar uma boa, porém não tão aprofundada biografia. Newton foi o maior gênio de toda a história da ciência.

[Salutino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Los libros de esta serie me han agradado mucho, Paul Strathern nos hace una invitación por la vida de grandes descubridores, disruptores de nuestra historia el cual genera preguntas para conocer más sobre ellos.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of interesting history. Nice quick read to gain a lot of information.

[Sebastian Muller Silvestri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Como breve repaso a la vida y obra de Newton es más que recomendable.

[Mateus Andrade · Rating 2 out of 5]

É uma introdução leve sobre a vida de Newton, mas com detalhes interessantes. Adorei saber mais sobre a cronologia da vida dele e especialmente sobre os problemas psicológicos desse gênio. Não é de se admirar que alguém tão incrível e fora da curva tenha seus altos e baixos. Newton foi realmente o maior de todos!

[Nancy Cousintine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, and to the point. I do think that the author perhaps spent a bit too much time highlighting how unsavory a character Newton was. Seems he was a bit of a nutter, whether on purpose, or because of some circumstances beyond his control... probably a bit of both. As far as explaining how and what he did do... well that is covered enough to give a lay person enough information to know the basics. I will admit it was entertaining to see past the ideas and equations and get a taste of what sort of human interactions were going on before,during and after Newton's discoveries. It's a fast read, and entertains, in a gossipy sort of way.

[Bryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great introductory read on Newton, but wish Strathern had covered more on the scientist's hideous side and his mission to airbrush his enemies out of history. As usual I got glazed eyes whenever the mention of formulas came up, with Strathern making no attempt to explain them to those of us without a PhD in physics and mathematics. My big take away from the book was that the devoutly Christian Newton believed his religious writings would be more of a legacy than his scientific research.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a short piece that tends toward the gossipy, but the inclusion of so many formulas, and the focus of the series on "big ideas" just seems like it should have been more high-minded.