Lost Discoveries

The Ancient Roots of Modern Science from the Babylonians to the Mayans

By: Dick Teresi

Narrated by: Peter Johnson

Length: 14 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

In the tradition of Daniel Boorstin, the co-founder of Omni delivers an original work of history that demonstrates why modern science rests on a foundation built by ancient and medieval non-European societies.

Lost Discoveries explores the mostly unheralded scientific breakthroughs from the ancient world - Babylonians, Egyptians, Indians, Africans, New World, and Oceanic tribes, among others, and from the non-European medieval world. By example, the Egyptians developed the concept of the lowest common denominator and the Indians developed the use of zero and negative numbers. The Chinese observed, reported, and dated eclipses between 1400 and 1200 B.C. The Chinese also set the stage for later Hindu scholars, who refined the concept of particles and the void. Five thousand years ago, Sumerians were able to assert that the earth was circular. Islamic scientists fixed problems in Ptolemy's geocentric cosmology. The Quechuan Indians of Peru were the first to vulcanize rubber.

This first comprehensive, authoritative, popularly written, multicultural history of science fills in a crucial gap in the history of science.

Lost Discoveries is also available in print from Simon and Schuster.

©2002 by Dick Teresi
(P)2002 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"If you think that modern science is rooted in the golden age of Greece, you owe it to yourself to [hear this] book." (Library Journal)
"A reliable and fascinating guide to the unexplored field of multicultural science." (Amazon.com)

A Great Mix of History, Anthropology, & Science

Would you listen to Lost Discoveries again? Why?

Yes. The book is a great piece of scientific history which turns many popular misconceptions of scientific history on their heads.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Peter Johnston has a great voice reminiscent of Carl Sagan. He kept me interested the whole way through and conveyed the text very clearly.

Have you listened to any of Peter Johnson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't heard any of Mr. Johnston's other performances, but I hope to hear more in the future.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. It was too interesting to stop listening to.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in anthropology, history, or the sciences.

Depends on what your looking for

I liked the history of ancient discoveries by non-Western cultures. The problem that I had was the author's constant reference back to what Western civilization had not done. One must keep in mind that yes, indeed, Western science was a "late bloomer," but in keeping with trend of the author, don't Western science since Newton blow every other culture out of the water?

Excellent reading for a history buff

The book is well researched, meticulous, pays attention to details, perhaps a bit too much in some parts. But it gives a broad and comprehensive review of history of ideas which led to discovery of reason and birth of science. It is not an easy reading for a sleepy traveler. But for a prepared mind it opens the history of human thought unbiased by both proponents and opponents of world domination by a single cultural tradition. Human mind has been forged by multitude of cultures and civilizations - this book tells loud and clear.

Excellent!!!

Amazing insight to the missing pieces of the puzzle; fills the vacuum left by European scholarship.

Highly informative!

If you are looking for a no-nonsense guide to non-Western science history, look no further. Lost Discoveries was slightly more entertaining than a textbook, so I wouldn't recommend it for the timid or casual reader. But in it you will find a wealth of fascinating stories and well-researched, colorful details. A staple for anyone with a passion for science history, I absolutely loved it!

A worthwhile challenge

This is definately one of the more challenging audio books I've encountered and probably not meant for someone with simply a passing interest in the history of math and science. It took me months to finish, if only because I found myself going back and listening again to parts that required tremendous concentration. This is one of those selections that I really enjoyed, but probably should have opted for the text so that I could underline!

Excellent!

As a scientist, I am pleased to recommend this book. The science is fascinating and presented in a very clear manner. The long view of how the discoveries intersect and build on each other is very interesting. The reader is talented and keeps ones interest. The recording is very good.

Interesting at first, then a little dry

I enjoyed listening to is for the most part. There were some parts that were dry, but overall it was fine.

Interesting history

The history presented is interesting and thought provoking. The narrator is good but the actual writing is a bit dry.

Great work and presentation

This is a great book and will be rewardimg for the readers of the more scientific and mathmatical literature. If you like the works of Hawking,Einstein,and their peers, as well as the genera of articulate historical, geographical, and cosmological writings...this book is for you. If you are well read in science, math and history...Get This Book!