Newton for Beginners

by William Rankin

Isaac Newton was a scientific genius, a mystic, an alchemist and England's Master of the Royal Mint. This book explains the ideas of a man who sifted through the accumulated knowledge of centuries, tossed out mistaken beliefs and made enormous advances in mathematics, mechanics and optics.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Biography, History, Physics, Graphic Novels Comics, Historical

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Icon Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rainbow, the moon, a spinning top, a comet, the ebb and flood of the oceans...a falling apple. There is only one universe and it fell to Isaac Newton to discover its secrets. Newton was arguably the greatest scientific genius of all time, and yet he remains a mysterious figure. Brilliantly written and illustrated by William Rankin, "Introducing Newton" explains the extraordinary ideas of a man who sifted through the accumulated knowledge of centuries, tossed out mistaken beliefs, and single-handedly made enormous advances in mathematics, mechanics and optics. By the age of 25, entirely self-taught, he had sketched out a system of the world. Einstein's theories are unthinkable without Newton's founding system. He was also a secret heretic, a mystic and an alchemist, the man whom Edmund Halley said, "Nearer to the gods may no man approach!"

William Rankin has worked in London for Oz and the Radio Times; in France for Actuel and Echo des Savanes; in Sweden for Etc. and Dagens Nyheter. Born in Edinburgh he is presently living in Paris and working as a Graphics Editor at a global newspaper.

[Abe · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are interested in Newton’s life and work, that is something you don’t share with the author of this book. Generously, 30% of the book is devoted to that and the rest is bashing Galileo and name dropping every western intellectual from the beginning of time.

[Yatinder Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never have I seen in a book such details of not just the subject matter but also the origins of it and the things that led to the shaping of circumstances and scientific principles in the 17th century.

Also, this book teaches you about Newton and his scientific principles, where they came from and why they’re such a big deal— makes one wonder about that ”Let there be Newton and there was light!” Quote and enables the reader to see the point there. Answers your queries about Why Sir Isaac Newton is regarded so highly as he is. Summarises the concepts before Newton, explains them all very well.

And it does it in a fun way, with illustrations, they can get a bit tedious at times but they do help in keeping it fun and maintaining a belief in the reader’s mind that it isn’t a heavy book, just fun stuff, about the greatest of scientists, maybe ever. It also dives into the other endeavours by Newton in the fields of History, Religion and Politics Etc.

It’s a great read if you’re a beginner looking for something informative and fun about Sir Isaac Newton.

[Rizki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saya agak kesulitan mengikuti alur cerita buku ini. Entah salah penulis atau penerjemahnya. Atau mungkin topik yang dibahas terlalu njelimet bagi saya. Seharusnya sih tidak, karena tulisan pada buku ini ditemani ilustrasi yang menarik, bagaikan novel grafis (ini memang ciri khas seri For Beginners). Tapi membaca setiap halamannya, entah kenapa, terasa melelahkan.

Separuh pertama buku ini bercerita tentang gagasan dan pemikir sebelum Isaac Newton lahir, dan separuh sisanya adalah penjelasan tentang teori gravitasi, hukum gerak, optik, dan prinsip matematika yang ia temukan, serta berbagai perseteruan Newton dengan ilmuwan lain di jamannya.

Newton adalah sosok jenius dengan kepribadian dan cara berpikir yang unik, tapi kisah hidup nya menurut saya biasa-biasa saja. Dia adalah seorang Kristen yang menolak konsep trinitas, meyakini kiamat akan terjadi pada 2132, dan hidup sebagai perawan sepanjang hidupnya. Dia mati dengan meninggalkan legacy sebagai Nabi besar revolusi saintifik.

[christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good stuff

Really enjoyed it, easy and to the point, and fun to read. Hope they keep making more book like this.

[ILIYAS KHAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing work

Amazing work by the writer and twam to illustrate bits of important times in Newtons life and pre and post time.
To summarize it is a sneak peek into Newtons life.

[Navid Aliakbarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A review of Newton's life through a comic book.

[Shakti Rathore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully portrayed

Life of Isaac Newton well explained with help of cartoons. Technical and bio sketches are intermingled to explain his life, well done.

[Andreia · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today I read “Introducing Newton“, written by William Rankin, (1993©). The book is basically a dummies guide to Newton. That doesn’t make it – or him – any less interesting. It merely describes the level of the book’s content.


Let’s see: invents calculus (check), invents optics (check), redefines the study of physics (check), innovates astronomical dating (check), explains – tides, elliptical orbits and the earth tilting (check, check and check). And in his spare time investigates God, the divinity of Christ and predicts the end of the world based on the study of religious texts. Yup, sounds like a full life to me. Oh, I forgot to mention he was mostly self-taught in math and science.


I guess the closest thing I can find on this side of the pond is our Thomas Jefferson and I’m pretty sure Tom suffers by the comparison. Anyway, the book is very brief and offers a very readable story explaining the history of science and physics. I recommend it as a primer to further reading on Newton. I will look for more myself… I only wish I had the math skills to more fully appreciate Newton’s work in the original.

[Godzilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a dynamic and engrossing read, which I literally tore through.

It provided a detailed background to some basic concepts which I already knew about, revealing the rivalries and contested claims of people at the time.

Newton is introduced gradually throughout the book, in terms of his theories, his biography and his beliefs. There are many interest facets to the book, and an individual reader will pull different things from their own interpretation and interests in the subject matter.

A cynic will say that if you're really interested then why bother with a "comic strip" reader. However I think it takes some really difficult concepts and makes them far more accessible. There is a comprehensive Bibliography for those who are truly inspired to delve further.

[Vedran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Newton for beginners is quite a nice book, lots of great animations of all the characters and events in Newtons life (and that before and after). Would be a must-read for high school physics students if I were the professor. It explains all the chronology of Newtons life and his discoveries in an easy to understand way for everyone (hence the 'for beginners' part).
Since it's basically a biography there is not much extraordinary literal feat in it, so it gets three stars from me. But nevertheless it's a must-read if you're a science nerd like myself :)

[Saman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually for a long time I was searching for a graphic introduction to the history of physics for my students, So when I found this book I was very excited. it's a book more about people behind the physic today we study in our schools rather than the physics itself.
I had just one problem with this book. it's full of people and ideas coming and going very fast without enough explanations so it makes some pages a little confusing. It could contain less ideas and more clarity.
anyway , a good book u can read in a day and enjoy a lot.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction to the subject in context, and does not try to bury Newton's unorthodox researches.

On the other hand, flaws are numerous. There is a tacit Religion Is Bad message, and statements are bolstered with cherry-picked quotes from historical figures. And the bald assertion "Kepler thought he was a dog" is given without any elucidation!

[Vandrion · Rating 1 out of 5]

17th Century class read. It's ok. Looks like a comic book in side.

So I finished it. Science is a hard subject for me, I can't really follow it well. The comic book style helped a little bit but not much. Read it if you like science, if not... pass.

[Hollis Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent exposition of Newtonian physics.

[Littlevision]

Literally every single page is its own chapter. I stopped after about 15 pages. Too tiring!

[Rizky S · Rating 5 out of 5]

best book, funny and smart illustration

[Anggun P.W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book fit for high school student,because its just contained simply classic physic theory. But i still love this book.

[David Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good illustrations in this one.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

สนุกดี

[Laura L. Van Dam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es hermoso este librito, algunas de las ilustraciones son muy graciosas, y sirve para dar una idea mínima de qué hizo que Newton pasara a la posteridad.
Las leyes del movimiento están explicadas con tanta gracia que suelo hacer fotocopias para mis alumnos.