Galileo's Finger: The Ten Great Ideas of Science

by Peter Atkins

Book Overview

Why Galileo's finger? Galileo, one of whose fingers is preserved in a vessel displayed in Florence, provided much of the impetus for modern science, pointing the way out of medieval ignorance. In this brilliant account of the central ideas of contemporary science, Peter Atkins celebrates the effectiveness of Galileo's symbolic finger for revealing the nature of our universe, our world, and ourselves.
Galileo's Finger takes the reader on an extraordinary...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198606648
• ISBN13: 9780198606642
• Release Date: June 2003
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 392 Pages
• Weight: 1.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 7.0" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Very interesting book

A book for someone who is interested in the history and philosophy of science. As all the books written by Dr. Peter Atkins, this one is very interesting. Good as an element of motivation or subject to prepare a lecture.

Popularized science but not a For Dummies book

Galileo, as he was sentenced to recant what he had seen with his own eyes is reputed to have said under his breath something like, "but I saw what I saw." Trying to see evolution or quanta or the spacetime continuum is more difficult. Galileo was then sentenced to house arrest for the rest of his life. No more questioning the unbridled power of the church. But the church was not all powerful, in places other than Italy observations continued. And the instruments used for observation became better and better, scientists could see further, and smaller, and with a better understanding of what they were seeing. Dr. Atkins has selected ten key central ideas of today's science and described them for the general public. But having said that, I must also say that this isn't a For Dummies book. His explanation, for instance, of some of the modern thinking in the physics of symmetry, quanta, cosmology and spacetime reaches the point where you either have to accept it on faith or spend a considersible amount of time with very high level mathematics. This is a book that presents the modern thinking at a level that most of it is understandable to most of us. Combine that with an elegent writing style, and reading it makes for a great deal of enjoyment.

Panoramic view of modern science

This captivating book deals with the ability of the scientific method to explain the wondrous nature of the universe. The author's elegant style, clear explanations and understated humour ensure an engaging read. Atkins has chosen 10 simple concepts of great import that manifest into a giant tree of application. With its patient explanations, it is an excellent guide for the lay reader to become literate in modern sciene. The major insights of modern science discussed here are evolution, DNA, energy, entropy, atoms, symmetry, quanta, cosmology, spacetime and arithmetic. The book includes black and white photographs and illustrations, a bibliography arranged by chapter and an index. Galileo's Finger is the perfect guide for those who wish to understand science more clearly.

Galileo's Finger: The 10 Great Ideas of Science

Galileo's Finger: The Ten Great Ideas of Science written by Peter Atkins is an excellently written book that gets to the heart of science ideas. "Galileo's Finger" takes us on a journey through the sciences on a broader context and embraces the ten central ideas of current science.There are ten chapters taking us on a challenging but ultimately deeply satisfying journey. Science is the apotheosis of the spirit of the renaissance, an extraordinary monument to the human spirit and the power of comprehension of the puny human brain. This book is highly readable and the author makes the subject matter intelligable to the modest reader, making for an understanding of complex subject matter.The chapters are as follows:Evolution: The Emergence of ComplexityDNA: The Rationalization of BiologyEnergy: The Universalization of AccountancyEntropy: The Spring of ChangeAtoms: The Reduction of MatterSymmetry: The Quantification of BeautyQuanta: The Simplification of UnderstandingCosmology: The Globalization of RealitySpacetime: The Arena of ActionArithmetic: The Limits of ReasonThere is an epilogue for the future of understanding. The author has written the chapters in a way that you can either read them in order or read them out of order as they are free standing subjects. But, I found that that I could skim read the book and later reread in depth the subjects that piqued my interest.This is an excellent book to be used as a introduction to scientific concepts and puts the reader into a logical approach to the scientific concepts, as you read on you'll find that you'll arrive at an emergence of understanding. This book is written well and the author uses the English language to describe concepts in a way that opens our minds through our eyes of the ways of deep science.Galileo's Finger is a solid 5 star introduction to scientific concepts written in a manor to educate the reader. This book deserves a good read and a place on your bookshelf.

Superb Book

The author has written the best book of its kind I have ever read - and I've read more than a few! The layout is excellent, the production leaves nothing to be desired, and the prose is both illuminating and charming. If you are looking for a book that will both stimulate and enthrall - you won't go wrong with this one.