Out of the Shadow of a Giant
How Newton Stood on the Shoulders of Hooke and Halley
Published on 18. May 2017
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-0-00-822059-4 (ISBN)
Description
Shortlisted for the BSHS Hughes Prize
What if Isaac Newton had never lived?
Robert Hooke and Edmond Halley, whose place in history has been overshadowed by the giant figure of Newton, were pioneering scientists within their own right, and instrumental in establishing the Royal Society.
Whilst Newton is widely regarded as one of the greatest scientists of all time, and the father of the English scientific revolution, John and Mary Gribbin uncover the fascinating story of Robert Hooke and Edmond Halley, whose scientific achievements neatly embrace the hundred years or so during which science as we know it became established in Britain. They argue persuasively that even without Newton science in Britain would have made a great leap forward in the second half of the seventeenth century, headed by two extraordinary men, Hooke and Halley.
What if Isaac Newton had never lived?
Robert Hooke and Edmond Halley, whose place in history has been overshadowed by the giant figure of Newton, were pioneering scientists within their own right, and instrumental in establishing the Royal Society.
Whilst Newton is widely regarded as one of the greatest scientists of all time, and the father of the English scientific revolution, John and Mary Gribbin uncover the fascinating story of Robert Hooke and Edmond Halley, whose scientific achievements neatly embrace the hundred years or so during which science as we know it became established in Britain. They argue persuasively that even without Newton science in Britain would have made a great leap forward in the second half of the seventeenth century, headed by two extraordinary men, Hooke and Halley.
Reviews / Votes
'Elegant and meticulously researched ... this is a most enjoyable book.' The ObservatoryPraise for the authors:
'Mary and John Gribbin write with great clarity.' Guardian
'Precise yet mysterious ... as beautiful as a poem and as exciting as a novel.' The Sunday Times
'A gripping account of the history of quantum mechanics and a clear description of its significance - and weirdness. Absolutely fascinating.' Isaac Asimov
'Immensely readable' The Times
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Illustrations
(8-page colour plate section), Index
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 159 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
560 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-822059-4 (9780008220594)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
John Gribbin | Mary Gribbin
Out of the Shadow of a Giant
How Newton Stood on the Shoulders of Hooke and Halley
E-Book
05/2017
1st Edition
William Collins
€7.79
Available for download
Persons
John Gribbin gained a PhD from the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge (then under the leadership of Fred Hoyle), before working as a science journalist for Nature and later New Scientist. Mary Gribbin is a teacher with a special gift for communicating difficult concepts, and she is a previous winner of the TES Junior Information Book Award. They have co-written several titles for adults and children. John has written many bestselling popular science books, including Erwin Schroedinger and the Quantum Revolution, In Search of the Multiverse and The Universe: A Biography. John and Mary are both Visiting Fellows at the University of Sussex.