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Heavenly Intrigue: Johannes Kepler, Tycho Brahe, and the Murder Behind One of History's Greatest Scientific Discoveries
Heavenly Intrigue is the fascinating, true account of the seventeenth-century collaboration between Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe that revolutionized our understanding of the universe–and ended in murder.One of history’s greatest geniuses, Kepler laid the foundations of modern physics with his revolutionary laws of planetary motion. But his beautiful mind was beset by demons. Born into poverty and abuse, half-blinded by smallpox, he festered with rage, resentment, and a longing for worldly fame. Brahe, his mentor, was a flamboyant aristocrat who had spent forty years mapping the heavens with unprecedented accuracy–but he refused to share his data with Kepler. With Brahe’s untimely death in Prague in 1601, rumors flew across Europe that he had been murdered. But it took twentieth-century forensics to uncover the poison in his remains, and the detective work of Joshua and Anne-Lee Gilder to identify the prime suspect–the ambitious, envy-ridden Kepler himself. A fast-paced, true-life account that reads like a thriller, Heavenly Intrigue is a remarkable feat of historical re-creation.
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 18, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 20, 2017
I got roped in. As I began this book I had a cynical, preconceived notion that the “murder” of the great astronomer Tycho Brahe by the even more famous astronomer Johannes Kepler promoted in the title was but bait to increase retail sales. I quickly came to the belief I was wrong. Heavenly Intrigue certainly contributes to the reader’s appreciation of how professional astronomy emerged prominently from the previously more common mysticism of astrology. It contributes to an understanding of the early enlightenment and western culture’s embrace of what would be called the scientific revolution. Finally, the lay reader receives a vivid picture of two larger than life personalities of the time – Brahe and Kepler. But the foundational story is, actually, the death of Brahe and the authors’ contention that it was the result not just of a murder but a homicide committed by Johannes Kepler – the author of laws of planetary motion – a man who communicated with Galileo.
Kepler’s own writing and the respondent’s replies strongly suggest he had a mental illness. The authors present 2009 scientific evidence that hair samples showed Brahe had been subjected to huge amounts of mercury – a poison. Like a focused criminal reporter the authors show means and motive that point directly to Kepler. It was Kepler who immediately absconded with a treasure trove of astronomical data – data Kepler coveted.
Sigh. The book is dated.
Late 2012 a new team of scientists conducted a new set of tests and this time on Brahe’s bones and teeth - https://www.theguardian.com/science/2...
No mercury poisoning is now the conclusion. So I assume the debate can rage on. Better to embrace the cynical notion that no 400 year “murder” will be proved in a 270 page book written for the common reader and simply enjoy getting to know Brahe, Kepler, The Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution just a little more deeply.
Kepler’s own writing and the respondent’s replies strongly suggest he had a mental illness. The authors present 2009 scientific evidence that hair samples showed Brahe had been subjected to huge amounts of mercury – a poison. Like a focused criminal reporter the authors show means and motive that point directly to Kepler. It was Kepler who immediately absconded with a treasure trove of astronomical data – data Kepler coveted.
Sigh. The book is dated.
Late 2012 a new team of scientists conducted a new set of tests and this time on Brahe’s bones and teeth - https://www.theguardian.com/science/2...
No mercury poisoning is now the conclusion. So I assume the debate can rage on. Better to embrace the cynical notion that no 400 year “murder” will be proved in a 270 page book written for the common reader and simply enjoy getting to know Brahe, Kepler, The Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution just a little more deeply.
October 4, 2013
The personalities involved here are interesting but the speculation that Kepler murdered Brahe with Mercury seems to have been proven wrong.
August 18, 2019
This book satisfied a love for murder mysteries, history, biography and two titans of science & physics. Most unexpectedly, the book was readable.
I learned much in matters of science, because of the unusual construct combining two perennial personal faves: biography and unsolved historical mystery. The book reminds me of the best of college professors, not only skilled in their subjects t but I'm oratory as well. Science as art. Oh the delicious dichotomy. Currently immersed in Dr. Mutter's Marvels; the past ten years reveal there's nothing like an old fashion opposites attract marriage to lure me out. Off I return.
Watch this space for the full review that Johannes and Tycho deserve. Damn Goodreads displaying titles of books hidden away in the shelves. Already read, much enjoyed, but currently out of mind.
I learned much in matters of science, because of the unusual construct combining two perennial personal faves: biography and unsolved historical mystery. The book reminds me of the best of college professors, not only skilled in their subjects t but I'm oratory as well. Science as art. Oh the delicious dichotomy. Currently immersed in Dr. Mutter's Marvels; the past ten years reveal there's nothing like an old fashion opposites attract marriage to lure me out. Off I return.
Watch this space for the full review that Johannes and Tycho deserve. Damn Goodreads displaying titles of books hidden away in the shelves. Already read, much enjoyed, but currently out of mind.
September 15, 2025
Enjoyed b/c of the psychological profiles of Brahe & Kepler, and how the authors switch the traditional telling. Instead of Kepler as the poor, saintly mystic with bad luck & Brahe as the spoiled, brutal aristocrat who enjoys torturing Kepler with his locked-up data, we get a close look through the letters of multiple participants in their short-lived relationship which tell a different story. Poor Brahe ends up seeming like an astonishingly patient and noble friend, father, and astronomer - and his role in planetary science has been unfairly diminished in favor of Kepler. I don't think the authors proved Kepler killed Brahe, though his lust for the data, the outright entitlement and unstable behavior, do provide a different gloss on their relationship. Hoping to read Kepler's biography soon so I can go back to liking the guy a little bit more.
June 18, 2023
This story tells the account of the collaboration between Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe and their research into the Universe which eventually resulted in the discovering of the laws of planetary motion.
The history and explanation of the European world and the scientific theories of the time are somewhat explained and vaguely interesting in a general sense.
However, the writing is incredibly dull and boring. The main characters are given few human characteristics and are generally as dull as dishwater. There is very, very little of their personal lives explained and the story as presented is slow and often somnambulant.
Unless you are completely besotted with the history of planetary science, avoid at all costs.
Not recommended to anyone I actually like.
The history and explanation of the European world and the scientific theories of the time are somewhat explained and vaguely interesting in a general sense.
However, the writing is incredibly dull and boring. The main characters are given few human characteristics and are generally as dull as dishwater. There is very, very little of their personal lives explained and the story as presented is slow and often somnambulant.
Unless you are completely besotted with the history of planetary science, avoid at all costs.
Not recommended to anyone I actually like.
June 2, 2024
I literally just randomly picked this book up the other day and have fallen in love. First, I usually can't get sucked into history books since they are so dense and mundane, but this one was just SO INTERESTING. I learned soooo much about Brahe, Kepler, and their astronomical work and it was like I was living in the 1600s with them, I also had no idea Kepler was such a character! The author did a great job of making the story come to life and presenting their personalities, it was as if I was in between them and watching the history play out. Couple it with the fact most of it was set in Prague and me being in Prague now just made it a perfect melody, like I did not even pick it up with that in mind.
Overall - intriguing, juicy, and interesting !
Overall - intriguing, juicy, and interesting !
August 14, 2017
Read this if you like intrigue more than science. Yes, it explains a bit about how the different theories evolved and competed with each other, but the majority of the book describes juicy fights between poor Kepler and his rich arch-rival Brahe. Did I mention Kepler had to work for Brahe because he had the observations to confirm Kepler's theories? Definitely a tough spot to be in even if murder isn't the answer. A very easy and page-turning read. If you think you don't like non-fiction, give this book a try.
August 26, 2013
Joint review
Heavenly Intrigue
By Joshua Gilder and Anne-Lee Gilder
Kepler’s Witch
By James A. Connor
One of the delights of reviewing is to have your expectations overturned. I was doubly lucky with these two books. When I first looked at them, I anticipated that Kepler’s Witch would be an intriguing account of one of the more obscure events in the life of the great astronomer Johannes Kepler, but that Heavenly Intrigue, which suggests that Kepler murdered his patron Tycho Brahe, would be the work of some cranks with no real understanding of history. I was wrong on both counts.
Kepler lived from 1571 to 1630, making him a contemporary of William Shakespeare and Galileo Galilei. The Pilgrim fathers founded the Plymouth colony when Kepler was 49. He was one of the giants on whose work the scientific revolution was based, and in particular he worked out the laws of planetary motion, later used by Isaac Newton in developing his theory of gravity. Indeed, it is often wrongly assumed that Newton’s famous remark about “standing on the shoulders of giants” refers to people like Kepler and Tycho. In fact, Newton made that remark in the context of his work on light, long before the theory of gravity was developed; but as a metaphor, it is still a good description of the relationship between Kepler and Newton.
Kepler had a tough life, starting out in poverty in the German town of Weil der Statt, with an abusive father, involving a childhood attack of smallpox which left him with weak eyesight, dependant on the observations of other astronomers (notably Tycho) for the data he needed, and, indeed, including the trial of his elderly mother for witchcraft. His story has all the makings of a gripping biography. But James Connor’s book is not that biography. It contains all the facts, but it is a dull read, overlong, and the author wears his learning too self-consciously. In spite of the title, the story of the witchcraft trial is not central to the book, and the treatment given here only serves to highlight how interesting a shorter, more focussed account of this aspect of Kepler’s life would be.
The most surprising feature of the book, to anyone who has studied Kepler’s life, is Connor’s claim that his subject had an “embrace of astrology” which “more than anything else . . . puts Kepler at a distance from our age.” [ED: top of page 49] Actually, the impoverished Kepler cast horoscopes only in order to make money, and in his private correspondence referred to his clients as “fatheads” and described astrology as “silly and empty.” This makes him much more in tune with modern thinking than most of his contemporaries!
But if Kepler’s Witch is disappointing, Heavenly Intrigue is a delight. Written much more crisply and with a momentum that carries the reader along, Joshua Gilder and Anne-Lee Gilder take far less space to give us pacey accounts of the lives and times of both their protagonists. These are the rich, aristocratic Dane Tycho Brahe (who in his youth fought a duel which resulted in a chunk being cut out of his nose, later protected with a silver covering) and the low-born Kepler, always struggling to make ends meet. The story culminates in their eventual meeting. This took place in Prague, where the ageing Tycho (he lived from 1546 to 1601) had a treasure trove of planetary observations, going back over decades, but lacked the mathematical skills to use these data to find the exact orbits of the planets. The younger Kepler had the mathematical skills, but not the data.
It should have been a marriage made in Heaven, but for reasons which the Gilder’s make clear, Tycho was reluctant to part with his data, and Kepler was eager to get on with the job. It was only after Tycho died that Kepler, the obvious scientific heir, was able to get hold of the material he needed. Contemporary accounts tell us that Tycho was at a banquet in honour of a distinguished guest, and out of politeness did not leave the table to relieve himself during the extended meal in spite of drinking large quantities of wine. When he eventually tried to pass urine, he failed; and a few days later died in considerable pain, naming Kepler as his scientific heir on his deathbed. But there must have been some underlying cause – perhaps an infection – triggered by the events at the banquet. One possibility that would fit the accounts is mercury poisoning, and this is the case that the Gilders make. But unlike other authorities, they suggest that the mercury was ingested not as an accidental consequence of Tycho’s alchemy experiments, but through the hand of an enemy – specifically, Kepler.
Was Kepler eager enough to get his hands on the data have poisoned Tycho? I don’t think so, but this account of what might have happened is an enthralling read, as a murder mystery being investigated four centuries after the death. Even regarded as science fiction it is informative and entertaining – which would be appropriate, since Kepler wrote what many regard as the first science fiction story, an account of a mythical flight to the Moon, designed to present some of his astronomical ideas in an accessible form.
Heavenly Intrigue is a book I can wholeheartedly recommend to scientists, Sf fans, and lovers of murder mysteries. Kepler’s Witch will be of interest only to Kepler buffs who want to read everything written about the man.
Heavenly Intrigue
By Joshua Gilder and Anne-Lee Gilder
Kepler’s Witch
By James A. Connor
One of the delights of reviewing is to have your expectations overturned. I was doubly lucky with these two books. When I first looked at them, I anticipated that Kepler’s Witch would be an intriguing account of one of the more obscure events in the life of the great astronomer Johannes Kepler, but that Heavenly Intrigue, which suggests that Kepler murdered his patron Tycho Brahe, would be the work of some cranks with no real understanding of history. I was wrong on both counts.
Kepler lived from 1571 to 1630, making him a contemporary of William Shakespeare and Galileo Galilei. The Pilgrim fathers founded the Plymouth colony when Kepler was 49. He was one of the giants on whose work the scientific revolution was based, and in particular he worked out the laws of planetary motion, later used by Isaac Newton in developing his theory of gravity. Indeed, it is often wrongly assumed that Newton’s famous remark about “standing on the shoulders of giants” refers to people like Kepler and Tycho. In fact, Newton made that remark in the context of his work on light, long before the theory of gravity was developed; but as a metaphor, it is still a good description of the relationship between Kepler and Newton.
Kepler had a tough life, starting out in poverty in the German town of Weil der Statt, with an abusive father, involving a childhood attack of smallpox which left him with weak eyesight, dependant on the observations of other astronomers (notably Tycho) for the data he needed, and, indeed, including the trial of his elderly mother for witchcraft. His story has all the makings of a gripping biography. But James Connor’s book is not that biography. It contains all the facts, but it is a dull read, overlong, and the author wears his learning too self-consciously. In spite of the title, the story of the witchcraft trial is not central to the book, and the treatment given here only serves to highlight how interesting a shorter, more focussed account of this aspect of Kepler’s life would be.
The most surprising feature of the book, to anyone who has studied Kepler’s life, is Connor’s claim that his subject had an “embrace of astrology” which “more than anything else . . . puts Kepler at a distance from our age.” [ED: top of page 49] Actually, the impoverished Kepler cast horoscopes only in order to make money, and in his private correspondence referred to his clients as “fatheads” and described astrology as “silly and empty.” This makes him much more in tune with modern thinking than most of his contemporaries!
But if Kepler’s Witch is disappointing, Heavenly Intrigue is a delight. Written much more crisply and with a momentum that carries the reader along, Joshua Gilder and Anne-Lee Gilder take far less space to give us pacey accounts of the lives and times of both their protagonists. These are the rich, aristocratic Dane Tycho Brahe (who in his youth fought a duel which resulted in a chunk being cut out of his nose, later protected with a silver covering) and the low-born Kepler, always struggling to make ends meet. The story culminates in their eventual meeting. This took place in Prague, where the ageing Tycho (he lived from 1546 to 1601) had a treasure trove of planetary observations, going back over decades, but lacked the mathematical skills to use these data to find the exact orbits of the planets. The younger Kepler had the mathematical skills, but not the data.
It should have been a marriage made in Heaven, but for reasons which the Gilder’s make clear, Tycho was reluctant to part with his data, and Kepler was eager to get on with the job. It was only after Tycho died that Kepler, the obvious scientific heir, was able to get hold of the material he needed. Contemporary accounts tell us that Tycho was at a banquet in honour of a distinguished guest, and out of politeness did not leave the table to relieve himself during the extended meal in spite of drinking large quantities of wine. When he eventually tried to pass urine, he failed; and a few days later died in considerable pain, naming Kepler as his scientific heir on his deathbed. But there must have been some underlying cause – perhaps an infection – triggered by the events at the banquet. One possibility that would fit the accounts is mercury poisoning, and this is the case that the Gilders make. But unlike other authorities, they suggest that the mercury was ingested not as an accidental consequence of Tycho’s alchemy experiments, but through the hand of an enemy – specifically, Kepler.
Was Kepler eager enough to get his hands on the data have poisoned Tycho? I don’t think so, but this account of what might have happened is an enthralling read, as a murder mystery being investigated four centuries after the death. Even regarded as science fiction it is informative and entertaining – which would be appropriate, since Kepler wrote what many regard as the first science fiction story, an account of a mythical flight to the Moon, designed to present some of his astronomical ideas in an accessible form.
Heavenly Intrigue is a book I can wholeheartedly recommend to scientists, Sf fans, and lovers of murder mysteries. Kepler’s Witch will be of interest only to Kepler buffs who want to read everything written about the man.
January 20, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. A very interesting reconstruction of the lives of Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe and an especially controversial theory that Kepler killed his colleague and mentor (Brahe) in order to 'inherit' Brahe's copious records of his nightly astronomical measurements and observations made over the course of decades. Fascinating history...
September 24, 2019
Very interesting telling of the personal lives of Brahe and Kepler. Virtually no technical info, you'll have to seek that elsewhere.
Well researched conclusion regarding the theory that Kepler murdered Brahe.
Well researched conclusion regarding the theory that Kepler murdered Brahe.
July 24, 2021
This book reminded me of lots of things I knew; taught me things I should know; and made me question things. Great for conspiracy theorists. To make the argument stronger, the authors needed to include how Johannes Kepler murdered Brahe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2025
Part history, part speculation, this is in some way a gripping tale. In others it is terribly disingenuous, presenting unsubstantiated claims as verifiable fact condemning Kepler for the murder of Brahe. I think the history should speak for itself.
April 19, 2025
A solid case, but no real smoking gun, alas.
January 30, 2017
I appreciate books on the history of science, which is why I first picked this one up, but once I started reading, I found myself enthralled not by the science under question but by the personalities and passions that surrounded the scientific discoveries of the day. Kepler is described in minute detail from his own journals and correspondence. He comes to light as a mentally unstable genius, scarred by a violent and emotionally challenging childhood, who makes enemies faster than friends and loses his grip on patience and rationality in the face of any perceived impediment. Brahe, on the other hand, shines as the generous and gregarious Scandinavian lord who hosts and laughs and drinks more than his fair share, but whose dedication to measuring the heavens as accurately as possible keeps him away from the drama at court. He becomes a family man who marries for love and works from home.
Kepler wants to be famous for his brain, which he knows is his greatest strength. He has some beautiful (and unfortunately completely inaccurate) theories about the solar system that he would love to prove once and for all, if only he had the right data. Brahe, in studying the stars, is appalled at the recklessness with which data has historically been gathered. He knows that no accurate theory of the universe can be made without correct information, so he dedicates decades of his life to measuring the stars and building better equipment for that purpose.
These two opposing personalities are thrown together when Kepler decides to try and get his hands on Brahe's cache of data by becoming his assistant. When Brahe won't just hand his life's work over to Kepler, antagonisms arise. Shortly thereafter, Brahe dies an untimely and mysterious death, and Kepler makes off with his data. Kepler realizes that his beautiful theories can't withstand the realities of Brahe's extremely accurate data, and, almost against his will, comes up with the revolutionary three laws of planetary motion. Awesome big deal.
But that is not all. New information from analysis of Brahe's mustache (recovered from his grave in the 20th century) suggests that Kepler in fact poisoned Brahe in order to gain access to his records. Gilder explains and supports this thesis in great detail and surely convinced me of it by the end. I couldn't put the book down, it was as good as any fictional detective story. And now I want to read a biography of Brahe because he may be my favorite historical human! Thank you, Gilder!
Kepler wants to be famous for his brain, which he knows is his greatest strength. He has some beautiful (and unfortunately completely inaccurate) theories about the solar system that he would love to prove once and for all, if only he had the right data. Brahe, in studying the stars, is appalled at the recklessness with which data has historically been gathered. He knows that no accurate theory of the universe can be made without correct information, so he dedicates decades of his life to measuring the stars and building better equipment for that purpose.
These two opposing personalities are thrown together when Kepler decides to try and get his hands on Brahe's cache of data by becoming his assistant. When Brahe won't just hand his life's work over to Kepler, antagonisms arise. Shortly thereafter, Brahe dies an untimely and mysterious death, and Kepler makes off with his data. Kepler realizes that his beautiful theories can't withstand the realities of Brahe's extremely accurate data, and, almost against his will, comes up with the revolutionary three laws of planetary motion. Awesome big deal.
But that is not all. New information from analysis of Brahe's mustache (recovered from his grave in the 20th century) suggests that Kepler in fact poisoned Brahe in order to gain access to his records. Gilder explains and supports this thesis in great detail and surely convinced me of it by the end. I couldn't put the book down, it was as good as any fictional detective story. And now I want to read a biography of Brahe because he may be my favorite historical human! Thank you, Gilder!
August 8, 2016
I rarely read books that are heavy on science. But when I noticed this book at the Two Sister’s, the story of intrigue and the chance to learn about a part of history that is foreign to me led me to add it to my challenge reading list. The entire book was engaging and filled with carefully conducted and documented research. The central hypothesis presented is that Johannas Kepler – celebrated astronomer/astrologer and developer of scientific theories that founded modern models of the heavens intentionally poisoned his colleague and contemporary Tycho Brahe.
Through development and carefully connecting dots that are several hundred years old, the authorial team of Joshua and Anne-Lee Gilder build a convincing case that Brahe was targeted and Kepler – the better known to modern history – absconded with fundamentally groundbreaking research. The prose and history were developed so seamlessly throughout this book that my lack of familiarity with the science behind it wasn’t a problem at all. I’m now even more aware of how important it is to be careful around mercury (though the mercury that comes from broken thermometers isn’t much of a threat), and how equally important it is to have trustworthy colleagues!
Through development and carefully connecting dots that are several hundred years old, the authorial team of Joshua and Anne-Lee Gilder build a convincing case that Brahe was targeted and Kepler – the better known to modern history – absconded with fundamentally groundbreaking research. The prose and history were developed so seamlessly throughout this book that my lack of familiarity with the science behind it wasn’t a problem at all. I’m now even more aware of how important it is to be careful around mercury (though the mercury that comes from broken thermometers isn’t much of a threat), and how equally important it is to have trustworthy colleagues!
May 4, 2012
When I very first spotted Heavenly Intrigue on my library shelves, I resisted picking it up because of the blatant sensationalism of the subtitle but I just couldn’t pass up the chance to get a second perspective on the same story. As expected, this book presented a much less detailed overview of Kepler and Brahe’s work than Tycho and Kepler, with a much greater emphasis on interpersonal relationships and drama. It was much easier to follow and I think this would have been the case even if I’d read it first as the book is clearly intended for a broader audience. In addition to glossing over some of the details of the history and the science, there were several cases where the explanations of the instruments Kepler and Tycho used were much clearer and given with fewer astronomy terms.
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December 20, 2012Well, interesting speculation, however just in time I was reading the book, scientists came to this conclusion: The team reported in November 2012 that not only was there not enough mercury present to substantiate murder, but that there were no lethal levels of any poisons present. The team's conclusions was that "it is impossible that Tycho Brahe could have been murdered" [33][34] and "most likely died of a burst bladder".[16] The findings were confirmed by scientist from University of Rostock who examined a sample of Brahe's beard hairs that had been taken in 1901. Although traces of mercury were found, these were present only in the outer scales. Therefore a mercury poisoning as the cause of death was ruled out while the study suggests that the accumulation of mercury may have come from the "precipitation of mercury dust from the air during [Brahe's] long-term alchemistic activities."
August 19, 2013
Fans of astronomy and the history of science will enjoy this biography of Tycho Brahe, the famous Danish astronomer/inventor, and Johannes Kepler, the author of the three laws of planetary motion that changed our view of the solar system forever.
But Kepler was a troubled soul, and his intersection with Brahe turned fatal - for Brahe. Although there were rumors even at the time that Brahe was poisoned, the legend that his bladder burst and he died from this urinary infection was passed along as the story.
But just like an epic episode of The Forensic Files, there is evidence produced by current science which turns that legend into cover-up. Together with backgrounds and events in the lives of Brahe and Kepler, it is clear that the original rumors were true.
But Kepler was a troubled soul, and his intersection with Brahe turned fatal - for Brahe. Although there were rumors even at the time that Brahe was poisoned, the legend that his bladder burst and he died from this urinary infection was passed along as the story.
But just like an epic episode of The Forensic Files, there is evidence produced by current science which turns that legend into cover-up. Together with backgrounds and events in the lives of Brahe and Kepler, it is clear that the original rumors were true.
December 29, 2008
I read this book when I was studying astronomy a couple of years ago. I found the histories of Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler very interesting. They were both such huge contributers to how we view the universe in modern times. An interesting twist with the evidence that Kepler may have murdered Brahe so he could claim responsibility for these amazing heavenly discoveries. But does the evidence rise to the level of "beyond a reasonable doubt", the standard we use today for a murder conviction?
April 16, 2012
overall an interesting read. nothing mindblowing in terms of science-writing, but just the idea that kepler murdered tycho is enough to sustain a 250 pg. book. and even if kepler didn't murder him, the book's portrait of kepler as a sociopath, was fairly riviting. not sure if the portrait of him is extremly slanted or not as i've never read any other material on kepler. anyway, the book is definitely not a waste of time, as long as you come at it not expecting great astronomy writing.
September 14, 2012
Fascinating history of Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe's death in the 17th century, and Johannes Kepler's obsession with obtaining Brahe's data. After reading this, you will come away with the opinion that one of these guys is a complete d!@k (I won't tell you which one). Part biography, part examination of their discoveries and theories, and part forensic investigation. New evidence and forensic techniques prove what really happened over 400 years ago. Good stuff.
June 4, 2007
This book wasn't quite the CSI Episode that critics/reviewers said it was. It was okay, and the argument was somewhat convincing. However, research has shown that the authors' take on the Brahe/Kepler relationship was slanted. They conveniently include all of Kepler's journal entries that make him seem like a wacko and none of the entries that would allow him to appear normal.
April 8, 2010
Did Johannes Kepler murder Tycho Brahe for his data? Wow! The authors have some evidence but 400 years is a bit too far back for any certainty. I am so not interested in conspiracy theories but this was an interesting book as I had not read much biographically about either one.
November 15, 2017
Very interesting. Persuasive but with substance. Hard facts are softened, or more like they were explained in a way that is understandable to most people. It's truly entertaining for a book that has put forth so many information and facts.
August 28, 2007
Also of note on this subject is Rocky Kolb's Blind Watchers of the Sky.
September 17, 2015
Really interesting!
July 18, 2009
Great history and well told but I don't know if I buy the theory that Kepler killed Brahe.
November 22, 2011
circumstantial evidence,
the chemical analysis was presented backwards
the chemical analysis was presented backwards
May 7, 2014
Very good book if you are interested in the history of these two. It does a good job of backing up information that is presented and read like a novel rather than a biography which I liked.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews