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Copernicus' Secret: How the Scientific Revolution Began
Traces the story of the enigmatic scientist while revealing how he was able to make his pivotal discovery about how the earth revolves around the sun in spite of limited technology and the obscure belief systems of his contemporaries, in an account that traces the crucial role played by Copernicus's associate, Georg Joachim Rheticus. 35,000 first printing.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 13, 2022
Copernicus’ Secret brings a brief biography of Copernicus, a man who revolutionized astronomy. He wasn’t the first one to observe that the Earth moves, but he was the first one to support the heliocentric theory with mathematical calculations.
He lived during a time, when it was a heresy to claim such thing that the Earth moves, when it was believed that the God created the Earth which was still at the center of the universe. Some claim that he was reluctant to publish his work as he was afraid of being prosecuted by Church. But others point that it was more of him being afraid of being ridiculed by some scholars who were staunched supporters of geocentric theory. Among them Martin Luther.
As Copernicus lived during the Renaissance, his story is flavored briefly with the time period of the great artists, voyages and discoveries. As well as the ruthless Teutonic Knights, who occupied the northern territory of Poland and caused many revolts. And there was also Martin Luther and the Reformation.
There are a few pages dedicated to other scholars, who took integral part in bringing the famous manuscript to publication. And it was also very interesting to read about those scholars.
It is a fascinating and quick read, which has a feel of a novel. No dry moments here.
He lived during a time, when it was a heresy to claim such thing that the Earth moves, when it was believed that the God created the Earth which was still at the center of the universe. Some claim that he was reluctant to publish his work as he was afraid of being prosecuted by Church. But others point that it was more of him being afraid of being ridiculed by some scholars who were staunched supporters of geocentric theory. Among them Martin Luther.
As Copernicus lived during the Renaissance, his story is flavored briefly with the time period of the great artists, voyages and discoveries. As well as the ruthless Teutonic Knights, who occupied the northern territory of Poland and caused many revolts. And there was also Martin Luther and the Reformation.
There are a few pages dedicated to other scholars, who took integral part in bringing the famous manuscript to publication. And it was also very interesting to read about those scholars.
It is a fascinating and quick read, which has a feel of a novel. No dry moments here.
April 18, 2013
This brief book on Copernicus sketches who he was, what he did and how he did it. It is happily non-technical such that all levels of laymen can understand what he achieved.
Living the respectable life of a nobleman and clergyman, he was not persecuted for his work although the later generation that persecuted Galileo thought he was. He worried about the impact of his work, and perhaps this is why his ideas lay dormant until his old age. The eventual publication of his work relied heavily on a young mathematician, Rheticus, who lived with him for over two years. Their intellectual synergy created the volume which created a revolution in astronomy and thought. This young prodigy was not credited by Copernicus.
In this small volume, the author does a good job in explaining the currents of the time, such as the instability and damage caused by the Teutonic Knights, the impact of Martin Luther and the Reformation and the influence of the University of Wittenberg and that Columbus had found a new world. These events had both a direct and indirect impact on Copernicus and his work.
It is interesting that this area, farther from Rome than the most, remained impervious to the Lutheranism that virtually surrounds it. In fact, many in the area, like Copernicus, Romanize their names.
The author is not clear as to what the "Secret" is. It begins with an intrigue of a mistress, later it suggests it's holding the knowledge of the heliocentric world until old age but maybe it's why he withheld credit to Rheticus.
Living the respectable life of a nobleman and clergyman, he was not persecuted for his work although the later generation that persecuted Galileo thought he was. He worried about the impact of his work, and perhaps this is why his ideas lay dormant until his old age. The eventual publication of his work relied heavily on a young mathematician, Rheticus, who lived with him for over two years. Their intellectual synergy created the volume which created a revolution in astronomy and thought. This young prodigy was not credited by Copernicus.
In this small volume, the author does a good job in explaining the currents of the time, such as the instability and damage caused by the Teutonic Knights, the impact of Martin Luther and the Reformation and the influence of the University of Wittenberg and that Columbus had found a new world. These events had both a direct and indirect impact on Copernicus and his work.
It is interesting that this area, farther from Rome than the most, remained impervious to the Lutheranism that virtually surrounds it. In fact, many in the area, like Copernicus, Romanize their names.
The author is not clear as to what the "Secret" is. It begins with an intrigue of a mistress, later it suggests it's holding the knowledge of the heliocentric world until old age but maybe it's why he withheld credit to Rheticus.
February 23, 2012
This was the story of how Copernicus was the first to posit a heliocentric view of the universe,and why it took decades for him to publish his work. The book was mostly written in a lively, novelistic style that held a lay reader's interest, but occasionally it lapsed into too much (boring, to me) detail about church and civil politics at the time. To his credit, Copernicus was first reluctant to publish his work because he felt he hadn't gotten everything exactly right. Also, he was afraid of being ridiculed because his theory was so bold and new. Later, he was already in a little trouble with the church for keeping a mistress. Even some of his supporters were afraid to state unequivocally that they thought he was right, even though they knew he was. I liked the passion that Copernicus and his fellow astronomers had for their science, and the book conveyed very nicely the spirit of the Renaissance, the excitement of re-awakening intellect after the dark ages, the excitement of new discoveries and the conflicted role of the church (patron at some times, and at other times a suppressor of new ideas).
May 16, 2022
A quick bio of Copernicus' the man, his achievement(s), and in this regard it offers some attractions. On the other hand, the treatment of the times is just plain sloppy. There's that very familiar feel of looking backwards and warping then (I'd like to italicize that word, but it beats me how to do so on this site) to look like the beginnings of now (again, italicized). I didn't realize the discovery of the New World "fueled" the Renaissance. Did you? That's just one of the incoherent observations that litter the text.
It's written in a very simple manner, at times I thought I was reading something for young adults. That's fine for the most part, but it is also patronizing at times, which is frustrating, since Repcheck's take on the 16th century is so problematic in itself. He smears the past with the present. This seems to be a common problem with dealing with the Renaissance and the seeds of the Enlightenment. Greenblatt's Swerve is another example of molding the past into a certain shape to produce a simplistic, almost triumphalist tale to mask the much more complex, confused human reality.
It's written in a very simple manner, at times I thought I was reading something for young adults. That's fine for the most part, but it is also patronizing at times, which is frustrating, since Repcheck's take on the 16th century is so problematic in itself. He smears the past with the present. This seems to be a common problem with dealing with the Renaissance and the seeds of the Enlightenment. Greenblatt's Swerve is another example of molding the past into a certain shape to produce a simplistic, almost triumphalist tale to mask the much more complex, confused human reality.
May 27, 2023
Reading this biographical work of scientific journey is a good reminder of how everything works out, the interconnection of life, and how risk-taking and trust are fundamental pieces to one’s own convictions. However, it is essential to have the emotional intelligence needed to have our preconceived notions and perspectives challenged for the betterment of humanity and the understanding of our environment.
“Copernicus did two things that cannot be underestimated. First, he bravely (…) presented a theory that aggressively contradicted the greatest Greek philosopher, Aristotle; the astronomer, Ptolemy; and centuries of popular belief endorsed by the Church, and he did not flinch. He stayed true to his unique vision. Second, he sought to work from his first principles. […]
Nicolaus Copernicus was the starting point; he was the mold breaker. When Newton discovered universal gravity, everything made sense, and there was no stopping modern science. […]”
“Copernicus did two things that cannot be underestimated. First, he bravely (…) presented a theory that aggressively contradicted the greatest Greek philosopher, Aristotle; the astronomer, Ptolemy; and centuries of popular belief endorsed by the Church, and he did not flinch. He stayed true to his unique vision. Second, he sought to work from his first principles. […]
Nicolaus Copernicus was the starting point; he was the mold breaker. When Newton discovered universal gravity, everything made sense, and there was no stopping modern science. […]”
July 26, 2008
I was hoping for an easy-to-read biography of Copernicus. This book is certainly easy-to-read, and I found much of the book interesting, partly because of the description of what was going on in the scientific community during the 15th century.
What I wanted to read more of, however, was how Copernicus worked on and developed his theories that eventually changed the course of scientific, and human, history. It may just be that, because Copernicus worked alone, there is very little information on this important subject, and that Copernicus will always remain an enigma.
What I wanted to read more of, however, was how Copernicus worked on and developed his theories that eventually changed the course of scientific, and human, history. It may just be that, because Copernicus worked alone, there is very little information on this important subject, and that Copernicus will always remain an enigma.
December 15, 2012
A good and not-too-long biography. I would not have minded had it gone into the details/mechanics of his actual astronomic research and discoveries more than it does, but it's a good portrait of the time. Also Repcheck could have spent more time showing how the theory went from ignored by the Church to condemned by the Church (posthumous to Copernicus, it turns out, which is basically why Repcheck does not cover it in depth).
July 10, 2017
As the author makes clear this is a popular book. It is a short easy read. It covers the astronomy briefly, though lucidly. It does provide a real feeling for Copernicus and his times. It might be subtitled "A Sixteenth Century Life." Since I am interested in Copernicus, the man, and his times I enjoyed this book a lot.
August 3, 2015
Not just a book about the life and research of Copernicus but also the times he lived in which included the birth of reformation and Martin Luther, early Renaissance, and the politics of the Poland-Germany region along with the Teutonic Knights. I found this to be an interesting read..
December 15, 2025
Interesting and well written. What an amazing time in human history – printing press, Luther and the reformation, Columbus and the new world, Medici and the birth of banking and the arts.
I learned that Copernicus is significant not only for what he discovered -- the heliocentric model, but also how he did it, which helped establish the scientific method: starting from first principles and testing hypotheses.
Some other insights I had while reading:
Humans so much want everything to be uniform and perfect. The need for order and perfect circles (the most perfect of all shapes) kept earlier astronomers focused on geocentric model. Likewise, Copernicus never let go of the idea that the orbits should be perfect round circles. (Oval orbits wasn’t until Kepler)
Most of the early scientists were devoted Christians. In fact not only were they Christian but they wanted to excel in God's eyes. It makes sense because they had no reason to believe that it wasn't true. From this starting point of it being true, why would you want to do anything else except to glorify God. This is very much what I felt as a missionary. I often thought to myself there's nothing else I should be doing on earth if it's not leading me toward better understanding of God and his glory. For early scientists (monks like Copernicus) understanding cosmology or any other science, meant understanding God.
I learned that Copernicus is significant not only for what he discovered -- the heliocentric model, but also how he did it, which helped establish the scientific method: starting from first principles and testing hypotheses.
Some other insights I had while reading:
Humans so much want everything to be uniform and perfect. The need for order and perfect circles (the most perfect of all shapes) kept earlier astronomers focused on geocentric model. Likewise, Copernicus never let go of the idea that the orbits should be perfect round circles. (Oval orbits wasn’t until Kepler)
Most of the early scientists were devoted Christians. In fact not only were they Christian but they wanted to excel in God's eyes. It makes sense because they had no reason to believe that it wasn't true. From this starting point of it being true, why would you want to do anything else except to glorify God. This is very much what I felt as a missionary. I often thought to myself there's nothing else I should be doing on earth if it's not leading me toward better understanding of God and his glory. For early scientists (monks like Copernicus) understanding cosmology or any other science, meant understanding God.
August 18, 2024
Helio what?
I must begin by stating that Jack Repcheck has provided an excellent biography with his work Copernicus’ Secret. Unfortunately I purchased his work to learn how Copernicus determined his secret. After reading the biography I have deduced that Copernicus’ process is probably unknowable. However, I do think I know better what I don’t know. I must state that Repcheck’s work is thorough, and as complete as a biography of Copernicus can be given the distance that separates us. Much of the biography deals with those people who surrounded Copernicus during his life without whom we may never have learned his Secret. Repcheck does not ignore those who wished to stifle and bury his work in order to maintain the religious status quo. Repcheck also includes photographs of people, places and objects referred to in the biography. We know Copernicus’ Secret, but would it not be fascinating to know Copernicus’ process? Thankfully we have the result.
I must begin by stating that Jack Repcheck has provided an excellent biography with his work Copernicus’ Secret. Unfortunately I purchased his work to learn how Copernicus determined his secret. After reading the biography I have deduced that Copernicus’ process is probably unknowable. However, I do think I know better what I don’t know. I must state that Repcheck’s work is thorough, and as complete as a biography of Copernicus can be given the distance that separates us. Much of the biography deals with those people who surrounded Copernicus during his life without whom we may never have learned his Secret. Repcheck does not ignore those who wished to stifle and bury his work in order to maintain the religious status quo. Repcheck also includes photographs of people, places and objects referred to in the biography. We know Copernicus’ Secret, but would it not be fascinating to know Copernicus’ process? Thankfully we have the result.
July 14, 2018
Short book about the last few years of Copernicus' life, and the intrigue on how his book, describing the rotation of the earth around the sun (instead of vice versa, as was dogma at the time) and other observations, in the early reformation period. The author pulls together Coperincus' upbringing, his occupation (he was a cleric in the Catholic church) and his interactions with others. I was surprised to learn that his original manuscript still exists in Krakow!
March 4, 2024
I'm not a fan of non-fiction. I would always prefer a novel to a biography. But this biography/history really held my interest, and of all the approximately thirty books I've read lately, this one is the best. It discusses Copernicus the man (he lived with a woman for many years without marrying her, even though he was a church official); and it discusses Copernicus in his importance to science. I really enjoyed this book.
September 7, 2024
Excellent book. Accessible at an undergrad level. Some truly beautiful narrative stretches, but does get bogged now in the background info for elements that didn't seem relevant. Be ready to occassionally turn on your scanning mode. Highly recommended. The last 20 pages are a BEAUTIFUL summary of Copernicus' legacy.
February 19, 2021
A beautiful presentation of a complicated topic
The book flows very easily with interesting human stories making a sometimes complicated topic very entertaining to read. I did not want it to end.
The book flows very easily with interesting human stories making a sometimes complicated topic very entertaining to read. I did not want it to end.
July 12, 2024
New Truths Succeed Slowly
Kepler was a boyhood hero of mine, so I was thrilled to read “the rest of the story” as it were. Astrology was a surprisingly strong companion for so many of the breakthrough astronomers.
Kepler was a boyhood hero of mine, so I was thrilled to read “the rest of the story” as it were. Astrology was a surprisingly strong companion for so many of the breakthrough astronomers.
January 27, 2019
Repcheck presenterer et lettlest og tilfredsstillende portrett av matfaren til den moderne vitenskap, Nicolaus Copernicus.
June 2, 2019
De eerste helft heb ik moeite mee gehad. De tweede helft is een stuk interessanter. Vandaar drie sterren.
August 8, 2023
Very good brief of Copernicus’s important work. It gives a lot of context about things not only related to his work but around Europe regarding the astronomy world.
April 18, 2017
Copernicus managed to work on his heliocentric theory between his duties as a canon/priest and a medical doctor, and fending off the criticisms from his superiors for his mistress and his theology. It's interesting to see Copernicus' involvement, even though on the edges, of the developing Reformation. His friend and colleague, Rheticus, said of him ... his (Copernicus) manuscript (400 hand written pages!) was a manifestation of a brilliant mind that was patient, diligent and respectful of the great astronomers who had preceded him. It was this friend, Rheticus, who finally convinced Copernicus to publish the amazing manuscript. Copernicus lived from 1473-1543, with contemporaries King Henry VIII, Francis I of France, Suleiman the Magnificent, Charles V Holy Roman Emperor and of course men like Martin Luther, Leonardo, Michelangelo and others. Must have been something in the air!
January 18, 2014
I enjoy reading the stories behind path-breaking historical discoveries and the men who made them. This book focuses on the story of Nicolas Copernicus, who was the first one to break away from over two centuries of established geocentric view of the universe in the 15th century and propose that the earth was NOT the center of the universe as held by Aristotle/Ptolemaic models and as endorsed by the Church. He proposed and proved through rigorous observations and mathematical proof that earth and other planets moved around the sun. It is difficult for us to imagine the challenge and danger in suggesting something that is contrary to accepted beliefs and propose something contrary to popular perception at that time in history, especially when these views go against the Church's position, especially as Copernicus was a functionary of the church.
Copernicus had his work ready for almost 20 yrs but was hesitant to publish it and invite ridicule. It would have remained so if not for the intervention of another young mathematician, Rehticus, who traveled to where Copernicus lived and worked with him for 3 yrs to get the work in shape for publication. Copernicus finally saw his published book on the day he died.
The author also sets the context for that period in history, which was a very turbulent time in European politics and religion. Protestant faith and Reformation was taking hold, and Copernicus, as a canon of the Catholic church, had a lot to contend with. What is interesting and exceptional in this story is that Copernicus was a full time church administrator and astronomy was just something that he could pursue in his free time. He managed his exceptional achievements with limited time and barely any sophisticated equipment.
I recommend this book to readers interested in scientific history.
Copernicus had his work ready for almost 20 yrs but was hesitant to publish it and invite ridicule. It would have remained so if not for the intervention of another young mathematician, Rehticus, who traveled to where Copernicus lived and worked with him for 3 yrs to get the work in shape for publication. Copernicus finally saw his published book on the day he died.
The author also sets the context for that period in history, which was a very turbulent time in European politics and religion. Protestant faith and Reformation was taking hold, and Copernicus, as a canon of the Catholic church, had a lot to contend with. What is interesting and exceptional in this story is that Copernicus was a full time church administrator and astronomy was just something that he could pursue in his free time. He managed his exceptional achievements with limited time and barely any sophisticated equipment.
I recommend this book to readers interested in scientific history.
April 16, 2010
I picked this one up at the planetarium gift shop mostly because of the title, I think. I knew about Copernicus, and that he was the discoverer of the sun-centered solar system. But when I got into the book, I realized that there was so much I didn't know about him.
Copernicus was born in modern-day Poland. After his father's death, his uncle, a bishop, took care of him and his brother and paid for their university education. It was there that Copernicus began to study astronomy for the first time. But he never really did what you would expect. He got a degree in canonical law, not astronomy, and returned to Poland to become a canon. He almost completely gave up astronomy, except for his own private studies, which he didn't publish. And he became the town doctor. I also found that he became a military hero after he saved his town of Warmia from invasion and negotiated the peace.
It wasn't until the second half of the book that we get to understand how Copernicus and his discoveries became public knowledge, all because of his friendship with a young Lutheran mathematician and scientist.
I think this book could have easily been twice as long, and would have been better. But for an overview of Copernicus, his background and his discoveries, it is a good place to begin. I liked the pictures and illustration, and the last chapters, which covered the astronomers who succeeded him. Recommended. 3.5 stars
Copernicus was born in modern-day Poland. After his father's death, his uncle, a bishop, took care of him and his brother and paid for their university education. It was there that Copernicus began to study astronomy for the first time. But he never really did what you would expect. He got a degree in canonical law, not astronomy, and returned to Poland to become a canon. He almost completely gave up astronomy, except for his own private studies, which he didn't publish. And he became the town doctor. I also found that he became a military hero after he saved his town of Warmia from invasion and negotiated the peace.
It wasn't until the second half of the book that we get to understand how Copernicus and his discoveries became public knowledge, all because of his friendship with a young Lutheran mathematician and scientist.
I think this book could have easily been twice as long, and would have been better. But for an overview of Copernicus, his background and his discoveries, it is a good place to begin. I liked the pictures and illustration, and the last chapters, which covered the astronomers who succeeded him. Recommended. 3.5 stars
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May 12, 2008Interesting exposition of the world and cultural milieu of Copernicus and the Poland of his day. An intriguing biographical mystery is why Copernicus never bothered to take orders as a priest rather than just a church canon, despite pressure to do so? One really revealing new fact for moderns: the "astronomers" of the day were also astrologers, and in fact this was considered the more practical part of their knowledge and ironically a motivation for their support from patrons and church authorities.
April 18, 2008
I lived in Poland very near Frombork, where Copernicus was a Canon in the church, and did the bulk of his work and study of astronomy. So, my interest in the subject is not so much on the astronomy side, but the history and location.
The book was an easy read, with the technicalities of the science and math taking a backseat to the politics of astronomy/astrology (they were combined at the time), the history of book printing/publishing, and general life of scholars and scientists.
The book was an easy read, with the technicalities of the science and math taking a backseat to the politics of astronomy/astrology (they were combined at the time), the history of book printing/publishing, and general life of scholars and scientists.
September 23, 2008
This is, of course, a fascinating subject, but the narrative doesn't have enough linear flow. The author jumps around in time, weaving in side stories of Copernicus' predecessors and contemporaries, but not cohesively. I spent too much time asking questions like "Wait, who's the bishop of Warmia?" Not enough attention is paid to the actual science, and the enormity and marvel of Copernicus' ideas are not well supported by the mood of the book.
September 3, 2015
A vibrant little biography, but annoyingly meandering. I appreciated Repcheck's commitment to providing a detailed portrait of Copernicus's life, but no tangent is unworthy of lengthy pursuit in this book. So much so, that Repcheck does not provide a detailed portrait as much a sprawling one, which is probably my main complaint. I wanted more in depth analysis of Copernicus, not an endless series of small biographies covering every person he had more than a passing conversation with.
April 27, 2010
Easy to read if you want a straight forward bio of Copernicus. Some of his assumptions and conclusions are a little overdrawn and simplistic since Copernicus was living in such a complicated time but all in all, I really enjoyed it.
May 3, 2008
An insight into the other players involved in the research and publication of "the sun is the center of the universe" theory. Overall a dry read, but some interesting passages.
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May 5, 2008An engaging, relatively lite read. I like the book best for its recommendations of other books on the (history) of astronomy.
August 2, 2009
Quiet, unboastful men have a hard time influencing others and the world no matter how great, important, and revolutionizing their ideas may be. They need a promoter,fortunetly one found him.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews