A More Perfect Heaven

How Copernicus Revolutionized the Cosmos

By: Dava Sobel

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's Summary

In her graceful, compelling style, Dava Sobel chronicles the history of the Copernican Revolution, relating the story of astronomy from Aristotle to the Middle Ages. In its midst will be her play, And the Sun Stood Still, imagining the dialogue that would have transpired between Rheticus and Copernicus in their months together. As she achieved with her best sellers Longitude and Galileo's Daughter, Sobel expands the bounds of science writing, giving us an unforgettable portrait of scientific achievement.

©2011 Dava Sobel (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Interesting but Not Perfect

What did you like best about A More Perfect Heaven? What did you like least?

I enjoyed the placing of the Copernicus story in context in history but would have preferred more discussion of the science. My copy also had some weird editing with some sentences repeated randomly throughout the book. The narrator was very good. All in all an interesting book.

Too much about Copernicus' daily life

I was disappointed in the story. Less science - too much about his daily life - which was rather boring. However, the current thinking (at that time) was well described and shows what Copernicus was up against. But, overall, a real let-down from her earlier work - Longitude - which was excellent.

Enjoyed the history, hated the play

I was really enjoying the background on Copernicus' life, especially for the light it threw on the era. Suddenly the history I was listening became a rather awkwardly put together play about Copernicus's meeting with Georg Rheticus. Annoying because the fictionalized version obscures rather than reveals. I feel like I wasted my money because now I need to get another, actually non-fiction, account of the events.

Good, but not her best.

I enjoy all Dava Sobel's work. But this one was not as riveting. Confusing formats with a play within the story. Not geared as well for audio.

Good, but not her best.

I enjoy all Dava Sobel's work. But this one was not as riveting. Confusing formats with a play within the story. Not geared as well for audio.

Curiosity and knowledge is Pleasant in the heavens

men who don't know about the heavens can learn from Men who have studied the heavens Copernicus I did a masterful work.

Incredible look back

It's amazing discoveries back then ever saw the light of day. Slow transportation and communication coupled with fear of the church. Laborious printing techniques, paper making... No way to observe other than the naked eye. Painstaking observations, records and LOTS of math.

Illuminating and creative

The play idea worked well, sandwiched between the historical retelling. I learned quite a bit. Maybe wish more was done on how this shook the worldview, and on his methods, but still good.

More than just a Perfect Heavan

What did you like best about A More Perfect Heaven? What did you like least?

This is a great immersion in history that puts much into perspective - about religious struggles, European political history and importantly the challenging emerging sciences

Who was your favorite character and why?

Copernicus comes across as a pretty remarkable and just person who was probably quite radical for his time - not only with his heavenly theories but his attitude toward justice and his treatment of others

Did Suzanne Toren do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Suzanne I found a little hard to listen to but I did get used to her style after awhile. She wasn't the easiest.

Was A More Perfect Heaven worth the listening time?

Yes this book is pretty fundamental in terms of its coverage of history - a very good listen.

Any additional comments?

The play in the middle of the work was one of the best parts of the book - the book really came together with the play.

Too Much "Gossip" in a Book About a Great Man

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Less

What three words best describe Suzanne Toren’s performance?

It's OK.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The play in the middle was the best part. I like it. But the surrounding material was a let-down: I wanted more science, math, and philosphy.

Not as good as I'd hoped

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Longitude was a masterpiece, but this sadly isn't. Sobel takes (it seems) every last scrap of archive material, and then tells a story largely about the religious politics of the day.