Science: A History

by John Gribbin

Paperback, 2010

Status

Available

Call number

509

Genres

Collection

Your library

Publication

Penguin Books, Limited (UK) (2010), Paperback, 672 pages

Description

This title begins with Galileo and takes the reader through to the scientific developments of string theory. It is an accessible narrative history, focusing on the way in which science has progressed by building on what went before, and also on the very close relationship between the progress of science and improved technology.

User reviews

LibraryThing member woodpigeon01

This is a very comprehensive text that brings to life some of the names behind the laws, theories and experiments from the high school science curriculum. Many of the stories are fascinating - we get a brief insight into some of the personal and political issues that these people had to cope with.
A

particular strength of the book is the strong focus on pre-20th century scientific advancement. Many histories tend to over-emphasise recent events to the detriment of older stories.
My only reservation about the book was the uneveness of the biographies in the books. Some of the bios are fascinating, others appear irrelevant and rather pedestrian. I have a feeling that some more editing in this direction would have helped the readibility of the book greatly.
Nevertheless, a fascinating book for anyone who wants to understand something about where how these great ideas came about.

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LibraryThing member antisyzygy

An easily-read and entertaining overview of the main players and events in the history of Western science. the author clearly sets out his stall from the beginning in the the limits of what he covers and how he chooses to approach the subject. This is very much focussed on the the individual and

the personality with an emphasis on the biographical detail rather than the scientific detail. In general this works well, there are a couple of occasions where the informal approach does jar slightly (in describing one scientist as 'going ballistic' at his rival), but mostly it works to flesh out personalities (particularly pre 20th century).
However, given the scope of this book, it takes some skill to cover so much and put in a proper context, and by and large Gribbin manages this. It would make a good introduction to the general reader.

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LibraryThing member ablueidol

Helps to make clear that the poet and scientist often drink from the same glass! Also forget the myth of the objective, white coated scientist. Social orgins of knowledge always more revealing- check out the discovery and publication of DNA

LibraryThing member psiloiordinary

A great introduction to the topic which concentrates on the people and their lives and only gives a brief insight into the science itself.

Very easy to read and with many entertaining anecdotes and tales.

Gribbin is one of the easiest to read popular science writers, now he shows his hand as a great

history writer as well.

I can see that I will be dipping in and out of this book for reference for many years to come.

A good read.

Four out of five stars.

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LibraryThing member neurodrew

John Gribbin writes excellent narrative history, with an eye for the entertaining anecdote, but also in a well-organized and comprehensive fashion, covering physics, biology, chemistry and geology equally well.

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