Figuring

By: Maria Popova

Narrated by: Natascha McElhone

Figuring explores the complexities of love and the human search for truth and meaning through the interconnected lives of several historical figures across four centuries—beginning with the astronomer Johannes Kepler, who discovered the laws of planetary motion, and ending with the marine biologist and author Rachel Carson, who catalyzed the environmental movement.

Stretching between these figures is a cast of artists, writers, and scientists—mostly women, mostly queer—whose public contribution have risen out of their unclassifiable and often heartbreaking private relationships to change the way we understand, experience, and appreciate the universe. Among them are the astronomer Maria Mitchell, who paved the way for women in science; the sculptor Harriet Hosmer, who did the same in art; the journalist and literary critic Margaret Fuller, who sparked the feminist movement; and the poet Emily Dickinson.

Emanating from these lives are larger questions about the measure of a good life and what it means to leave a lasting mark of betterment on an imperfect world: Are achievement and acclaim enough for happiness? Is genius? Is love? Weaving through the narrative is a set of peripheral figures—Ralph Waldo Emerson, Charles Darwin, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Herman Melville, Frederick Douglass, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Walt Whitman—and a tapestry of themes spanning music, feminism, the history of science, the rise and decline of religion, and how the intersection of astronomy, poetry, and Transcendentalist philosophy fomented the environmental movement.

Insights into notable American women

The detail of the lives, conversations and accomplishments by and between notable women in American history. Thanks Maria!

The links between poetry and science.

Poetic rendition of mostly female writers and scientists whose love of nature, mathematics and astronomy is woven with their poems, letters and books. I enjoyed hearing how famous historical figures lived their lives amd their loves.

An Amazing work

This is a truly inspired and beautiful book. Popova does a masterful job of weaving together the complex themes of science, art, genius and creativity amide the back drop of women’s and gender equality life and love.

Superb

I read reviews very purposefully as I was completely unfamiliar with this author, Maria Popova, and knew nothing about the book. I selected it as each review described the subject with accolades and I was very interested in the arts, the early science of Kepler, the Philosophy and interactions of the Transcendentalists, the poet Emily Dickenson, and to know more about Rachel Carson. It exceeded all of my wishes and curiosities. It is a book of which I must have the hard copy - which is a rare in these times.

Best book ever

This is simply the best book I have ever experienced.

Read the review titled "unparalleled" and that's it. That's the review.