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Six Great Scientists: Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Darwin, Marie Curie, Einstein
All of the geniuses examined in this book had one thing in common: the determination to do scientific research whatever the obstacles. They all had the imagination to conceive great ideas & the force of will not to be defeated. Copernicus proved the earth was not the center of the universe; Galileo proved by the use of the telescope that the Copernican view was correct; Isaac Newton developed a comprehensive account of the physical universe; Charles Darwin established the therory of evolution; Marie Curie discovered radium; & Albert Einstein asserted the theory of relativity & the equivalence of mass & energy.
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First published January 1, 1995
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About the author
J.G. Crowther
30 books6 followersJames Gerald Crowther (26 September 1899, Halifax–1983) was one of the founders of science journalism. He was appointed the scientific correspondent of The Manchester Guardian in 1928.
James was the second child of James Crowther, the principal of Halifax Technical School, and his wife, Alice, (née Ainscow), a music teacher. In his youth he knew Ralph Fox who introduced him marxism.
Crowther attended Bradford Grammar School, where he met Ralph Fox who introduced him marxism. He also developed a sufficient interest in mathematics to gain a scholarship to study mathematics and physics at Trinity College, Cambridge. However his arrival there was delayed by the war, as he spent some time with Archibald Hill, applying a scientific approach to anti-aircraft gunnery. During the time he spent with the Anti-Aircraft Experimental Section of the Munitions Inventions Department he gained experience of scientific research.
When he arrived at Trinity College he became friends with A. L. Rowse.
On 7 March 1923 Albert Inkpin enrolled Crowther in the Communist Party of Great Britain.
In 1924 he married Dora Amy Royle de Bude and then started work for Oxford University Press as a travelling salesman selling technical books. He was thus able to support Dora and her six year old daughter.
He was appointed a commissioning editor for Oxford University Press by Humphrey Sumner Milford. In 1934 he married Franziscka Zarniko who he met in the USSR whilst visiting the Ukrainian Institute of Physics and Technology (UIPT) in 1932. Franziscka, who had ambitions to become a film maker was the German sister of Barbara Ruhemann, a physicist at UIPT, married to Martin Ruhemann. A third sister Jutte had married Kurt Mendelssohn.
Crowther remained in correspondence with the Russian physicist Boris Hessen following his visit to London as part of the Soviet delegation to the Second International Congress of the History of Science. This continued until Hessen's murder in the great purge during 1936.
On retirement he moved to Flamborough Head, Yorkshire.
James was the second child of James Crowther, the principal of Halifax Technical School, and his wife, Alice, (née Ainscow), a music teacher. In his youth he knew Ralph Fox who introduced him marxism.
Crowther attended Bradford Grammar School, where he met Ralph Fox who introduced him marxism. He also developed a sufficient interest in mathematics to gain a scholarship to study mathematics and physics at Trinity College, Cambridge. However his arrival there was delayed by the war, as he spent some time with Archibald Hill, applying a scientific approach to anti-aircraft gunnery. During the time he spent with the Anti-Aircraft Experimental Section of the Munitions Inventions Department he gained experience of scientific research.
When he arrived at Trinity College he became friends with A. L. Rowse.
On 7 March 1923 Albert Inkpin enrolled Crowther in the Communist Party of Great Britain.
In 1924 he married Dora Amy Royle de Bude and then started work for Oxford University Press as a travelling salesman selling technical books. He was thus able to support Dora and her six year old daughter.
He was appointed a commissioning editor for Oxford University Press by Humphrey Sumner Milford. In 1934 he married Franziscka Zarniko who he met in the USSR whilst visiting the Ukrainian Institute of Physics and Technology (UIPT) in 1932. Franziscka, who had ambitions to become a film maker was the German sister of Barbara Ruhemann, a physicist at UIPT, married to Martin Ruhemann. A third sister Jutte had married Kurt Mendelssohn.
Crowther remained in correspondence with the Russian physicist Boris Hessen following his visit to London as part of the Soviet delegation to the Second International Congress of the History of Science. This continued until Hessen's murder in the great purge during 1936.
On retirement he moved to Flamborough Head, Yorkshire.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 29, 2023
Having previously read "American Prometheus: the Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer," I was eager to pick up another biography of a famed scientist. Problem was, I didn't know on whom my next read should be on. So, when I came across "Six Great Scientists" by J.G. Crowther, I figured I would get a quick bio on these six scientists, and then choose which ones I should read comprehensive biographies on.
To be honest, it was exactly what I expected. It read very much like something you would find on Wikipedia, with each biography being short and concise. Each covered the subjects early life, their work, death, and contribution to science.
I especially enjoyed the biographies of Marie Curie, Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton. Though, I do intend on reading comprehensive biographies on each of them in due time.
A good start for a novice reader. 4-Stars.
To be honest, it was exactly what I expected. It read very much like something you would find on Wikipedia, with each biography being short and concise. Each covered the subjects early life, their work, death, and contribution to science.
I especially enjoyed the biographies of Marie Curie, Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton. Though, I do intend on reading comprehensive biographies on each of them in due time.
A good start for a novice reader. 4-Stars.
April 5, 2014
I don't contemplate on challenges as much as I would like. That is something that I will do from this point forward because it is the way that these great thinkers overcame the Big questions in front of them and in doing so changed the understanding of the world we share.
The biographies are succinct but the message is powerful. It showed that the pursuit of unearthing answers from nature can come at great human sacrifice.
A highlight of the novel is the chapter of Madame Curie who I had little knowledge off but now find inspiring. Her strength of character in a field dominated by men, her personal losses and the determination she wielded are a marvel.
I consider this book to be a terrific introduction to these six great minds.
Now to sit and ponder the big questions in front of me.
The biographies are succinct but the message is powerful. It showed that the pursuit of unearthing answers from nature can come at great human sacrifice.
A highlight of the novel is the chapter of Madame Curie who I had little knowledge off but now find inspiring. Her strength of character in a field dominated by men, her personal losses and the determination she wielded are a marvel.
I consider this book to be a terrific introduction to these six great minds.
Now to sit and ponder the big questions in front of me.
August 17, 2014
A superb telling of the lives and work of 6 of the most influential scientists; and a summary of the development of modern science.
May 5, 2025
A collection of brief profiles on Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Darwin, Curie, and Einstein. Each part can be read on its own or the whole from start to finish. The stories are tied together chronologically from the first questions about the universe by Copernicus to Einstein’s unraveling of space-time with his theory of relativity more than two centuries later. The profiles lack the technical detail that might be found in dedicated biographies, but they do provide a high level description in a historical context of each of their lives, showing how social circumstances influenced their work.
January 16, 2021
Learning about the lives of some of the greatest minds in history can be inspiring. I like how the stories are told in this book. This is the second time I read it and I enjoyed it just as much. My favorite part is about Copernicus’ friendship with a German scientist Rheticus who actually talked the astronomer into publishing his findings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2018
A little dry at times, but really good snippets of their biographies.
October 6, 2025
Very good read. Gave a lot of insight as to what drove each of the scientists and world events that effected them.
April 12, 2010
The 3 things that I found interesting about this book were that most of these people weren't child prodigies and actually were pretty run of the mill until they were young adults and in their chosen fields, several of them made their "great discoveries" due to hours of meditation, and 2 of them were polish:) Who knew?
February 17, 2016
I only finished this book because I hate to not finish a book. The author just didn't do a good job here. The section on Copernicus didn't really tell me much. The others had random descriptions of events or feelings without any sort of reason and it felt as though it was very unfocused.
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September 8, 2009J509Cro
November 7, 2011
Great short biographies.
June 19, 2013
Fantastic book. Six short biographies of scientists that were totally manageable. I never got bored. Marie Curie is rad!
February 20, 2021
A great collection!
March 2, 2010
Good biographies.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews