De Magnete

by William Gilbert

From the first great experimental scientist: the classic text, first published in Latin in 1600, summarizing all then known about magnetism and electricity, offering invaluable insights into the origins of modern science. Topics include phenomena of magnetism, variation in the compass, and concept of Earth as a giant magnet.

Genres: Science, Classics, Physics, Nonfiction

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

William Gilbert, also known as Gilberd, was an English physician, physicist and natural philosopher.

Reviews

[Fraser]

Man you are a cocky writer. If you weren't 400 years dead I don't think I'd let you get away with that ridiculous froofy neck collar.

[Michael Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent work is a fine example of how to demonstrate a proposition. Demonstration is most often associated with Euclid but we are now tracing the development of this concept over the centuries. Do we still find the concept of demonstration relevant?

In De Magnete, Gilbert divides his demonstration into Six Books. The First Book presents the lodestone: naming it, describing its properties, connecting it to the element iron. Many of us are no longer familiar with iron. I asked a random individual on the street, "Do you know anything about iron?" and his response was, "It's what I press when I'm at the gym."

Second Book: Gilbert describes how magnetic movements are related to various materials. Third Book: on finding direction using magnetic powers. Fourth Book: Variations in magnetic powers. Fifth Book: the behavior of the compass needle, and Sixth Book: That the globe or "Earth" is a great lodestone.

[John Gribbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Gilbert of Colchester was the first person to set out clearly in print the essence of the scientific method of testing hypotheses by experiment. He also made discoveries in the field of magnetism that were not improved on for two centuries, and he wrote a book on magnetism, published in 1600 when Shakespeare was the toast of London, which is a great read and hugely entertaining even if you care nothing about science. “In the discovery of hidden things,” he wrote, “stronger reasons are obtained from sure experiments and demonstrated arguments than from probable conjectures and the opinions of philosophical speculators . . . ” and he railed against the “lettered clowns, grammatists, sophists, spouters and the wrong-headed rabble” who attempted to unravel the mysteries of the Universe solely by thinking about them, without doing experiments.

[Sananab · Rating 2 out of 5]

The is one of the stranger inclusions on the Britannica "Great Books of the Western World" list. It's historically very important, but as a book it is likely only to be interesting to someone who is very dedicated to the history of science. Otherwise, there's not much value to him describing - for example - dozens of people's guesses about how static electricity with amber might work before suggesting his own theory (all wrong). Or where amber comes from (wrong). To be honest the amber part kind of broke me.

It's a nice reminder, I guess, of how science is the result of a lot of tiny increments by very intelligent people putting in a lot of very hard work, but it is also painfully dull and long and out-of-date and not very satisfying.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshed my memory of hypothesis testing, and this book really added to my knowledge about magnetism. Meticulous in his method of experiment, he conveys his science in an accessible way. Thanx for this, lad! Recommended for any who would learn Science and its methods.

[Walid · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of the more palatable science-y Great Books I’ve read. It was more narrative than textbook, with a healthy dose of philosophy. Though it wasn’t exactly enjoyable, his genius and contribution are indisputable.

Favorite quotes:

In the domain of natural philosophy, we must seek the grounds of our belief in experiments.

Words alone never satisfy the mind.

Nature is consistent and coherent, not capricious.

Those who philosophize from authority, not from reason, are slaves.

[Parker Samelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genius for his time but silly from a modern perspective.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three hundred plus pages on how a magnet works. Unsurprisingly, not the most irresistible reading, but it’s a book that has to be appreciated for the time in which it was written. Detailed in his observations and specific in how to recreate his experiments, Gilbert scientifically debunks and discovers the secrets of the loadstone. Rubbing garlic on it doesn’t diminish its magnetic properties (true), heat will destroy a magnet (sort of true, if heated to Curie temp, but it’s reversible), and the planets circle the sun because of magnetism (wrong, but still impressive in that the heliocentric argument inspired Galileo).

Gilbert also spurred the use of the word electricity, and recognized it as a separate force from magnetism, when discussing the static electricity amber produces when rubbed (electricus is the Latin for “amber-like”). Even the layman like myself can appreciate the foundation Gilbert lays for those who would shortly follow him. Toward the end, it gets a bit detailed in how to reconstruct magnetic tests which I wasn’t about to do. I’m a product of my time and I recall a lot of the basics from my 5th grade science class. Ultimately, for the 21st century, it’s a long book about magnets.