Galileo

By John L. Heilbron,

Book cover of Galileo

Book description

Just over four hundred years ago, in 1610, Galileo published the Siderius nuncius, or Starry Messenger, a 'hurried little masterpiece' in John Heilbron's words. Presenting to the world his remarkable observations using the recently invented telescope - of the craters of the moon, and the satellites of Jupiter, observations that…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Galileo as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

By far, the best biography of Galileo, portraying not only his life and science, but the essential influence of his literary experiences and aspirations on his science and associated writings.

My regard for this book extends also to Heilbron’s exposure not only of Galileo’s innovative contributions to astronomy (via telescopic observations) and physics (via his law of falling bodies and inertial theories), but of his fallibilities—personal and scientific.

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