Isaac Newton

By: James Gleick

Narrated by: Allan Corduner

Length: 5 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

James Gleick has long been fascinated by the making of science: how ideas order visible appearances, how equations can give meaning to molecular and stellar phenomena, how theories can transform what we see. In Chaos, he chronicled the emergence of a new way of looking at dynamic systems; in Genius, he portrayed the wondrous dimensions of Richard Feymnan's mind. Now, in Isaac Newton, he gives us the story of the scientist who, above all others, embodied humanity's quest to unveil the hidden forces that constitute the physical world.

In this original, sweeping, and intimate biography, Gleick moves between a comprehensive historical portrait and a dramatic focus on Newton's significant letters and unpublished notebooks to illuminate the real importance of his work in physics, in optics, and in calculus. He makes us see the old intuitive, alchemical universe out of which Newton's mathematics first arose and shows us how Newton's ideas have altered all forms of understanding from history to philosophy. And he gives us a moving account of the conflicting impulses that pulled at this man's heart: his quiet longings, his rage, his secrecy, the extraordinary subtleties of a personality that were mirrored in the invisible forces he first identified as the building blocks of science. More than biography, more than history, more than science, Isaac Newton tells us how, through the mind of one man, we have come to know our place in the cosmos.

©2003 James Gleick (P)2003 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Gleick renders a wonderful impression of the icon's mind." (Booklist)
"Allan Corduner's narration is a pleasure to listen to." (AudioFile)
"The extraordinary breadth of Newton's interests is brilliantly delineated by Gleick. Newton the man emerges from the shadows." (The New York Times Book Review)

Newton the Genius

This book was a bit short of my expectations on the man that was the genius who brought science into the modern world. It revealed much that I did not know, but I wanted more about his interactions with the government and aristocracy. It is a very good work and well worth reading or listening to.

Semi god who was just a half human?

What made the experience of listening to Isaac Newton the most enjoyable?

Newtons character and life is so interesting. Being simultaneusly the greatest scientist ever and one of the most pityfull character is always a great puzzlement for me

Who was your favorite character and why?

Oldenburg because he was a good "diplomat"

What does Allan Corduner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love audiobooks since it is so enjoyble to be able to do something else (go shopping/cleaning...) but I can't pin point what Corduner contributed. I suppouse one really notices is the reader is bad --> Corduner has to be in my opinion good.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Newton being so full of hate and vile as to make "ananymous" letters defending himself.

Any additional comments?

Isaac Newton is such character that any book written on him is bound to be interesting.

Good but Brief overview of Newton's career

Not much personal material. I would have liked an attempt to reconcile his many passions: optics, gravity, mechanics, religion, coinage, governance (royal society) et al. Illustrations would have helped. overall, I would recommend this title.

Interesting

Very interesting information about Newton's life and times.
Could have had more detail in some areas.

Sensacional.

James Gleick é um excelente escritor de história da ciência. Essa biografia de Newton com foco no seu trabalho científico é simplesmente sensacional. Praticamente me derramei em lágrimas de deslumbramento e assombro, e percebi porque Newton é considerado por muitos como a maior inteligência que já iluminou a humanidade, em todos os tempos. 😍

The last of the Magicians

Only 6 hours or so long this expertly crafted biography focuses on the intellectual achievements of Newton with less focus on his personal life. A good balance in my opinion.

Recommended for anyone who wants to be guided through a world where the concepts of Gravity and Physics were mysterious and vague. To learn about the one Keynes called “not the first of the age of reason. He was the last of the magicians, the last of the Babylonians and Sumerians”.

Also recommended for fans of James Gleick, one of the premier writers on the natural world and the history of its study who is writing today. The narration by Allan Corduner is perfect. I’m glad they chose to have it narrated by an English actor rather than American.

An exceedingly good biography of Newton.

Well read and full of facts which must have been hard to research from literature available.

His real life

After reading so many myths about the man behind the legend, this was very refreshing. Newton is revealed for the first time with all of his flaws and a more indepth look at his real accomplishments. The book is well written and shows the level of research that was involved. Having established an negative outlook on the scintific value of Newton's discoveries, this volume has restored some of the merits of just how remarkable of a personage as he was.

now I know more about this guy

before this book I didn't have much of an idea as to whom was isaac newton and after listening to this i found myself interesting in more of the the sciences history

Brilliant!

Newton was a type of genius that comes along every millennia. A brain that changes the world. This book tells the tale in great detail.