The Clockwork Universe

By Edward Dolnick,

Book cover of The Clockwork Universe: Isaac Newton, the Royal Society, and the Birth of the Modern World

Book description

“Edward Dolnick’s smoothly written history of the scientific revolution tells the stories of the key players and events that transformed society.” — Charlotte Observer

From New York Times bestselling author Edward Dolnick, the true story of a pivotal moment in modern history when a group of strange, tormented geniuses—Isaac Newton…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

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

Yes, yes, history is an unbroken river of themes, but it’s also a chain of pivotal dramatic episodes. Dolnick gives us one such moment. In 17th century Europe, within two generations, a collection of brilliant oddballs invented science. They’re people, so they’re doing the sorts of things people do, elbowing and shoving one another to find the ultimate truth before the other guy. I appreciate that in the course of reading such a wonderfully enjoyable story, I somehow learn a great deal about the truth they were seeking, the underlying mathematical order of the universe in which they believed.

From Tamim's list on the human story as a single whole.

Want books like The Clockwork Universe?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Clockwork Universe.

Browse books like The Clockwork Universe

Book cover of Debt: The First 5,000 Years
Book cover of Ideas: A History of Thought and Invention, from Fire to Freud
Book cover of China in Ten Words

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,355

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in physicists, scientists, and Isaac Newton?

Physicists 45 books
Scientists 53 books
Isaac Newton 14 books