Colorful Illustrations Stand on the Shoulders of Giants: Great Works of Physics and Astronomy

Author: [British] Stephen Hawking
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: What are the natural laws that govern the universe? How do planets operate? What keeps them in orbit? For thousands of years, people have tried to answer these questions, with countless brave and brilliant scientists dedicating themselves to this pursuit. In this "Illustrated Extracts Edition Standing on the Shoulders of Giants," compiled by Stephen Hawking, one of the most distinguished theoretical physicists since Einstein and a renowned popular science author, you will meet five scientific giants who revolutionized the world's scientific progress and humanity's understanding of the universe—Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, and Einstein. Through Stephen Hawking's vivid and engaging biographical essays and excerpts from their groundbreaking classic works—De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (also translated as On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres), Dialogue Concerning the Two New Sciences, Harmonices mundi, Principia Mathematica, and the first edition of The Theory of Relativity—you will delve into the minds of these giants, precisely read their thoughts, and trace the footsteps of scientific progress from Copernicus's assertion that "the Earth revolves around the Sun" to Einstein's revolutionary claim that "spacetime is bent by matter and energy." Accompanied by rare photographs and interpretive color illustrations, you will explore these giants' minds, read their thoughts accurately, and understand how these works transformed the course of science, guiding astronomy and physics out of the Middle Ages and into the modern world.
As you read, you will not only encounter the vivid Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, and Einstein as portrayed by Hawking but also learn about Copernicus's unwavering dedication to truth despite being a Polish clergyman and his relentless struggle against theological doctrines, Galileo's spirit of challenge, Kepler's misfortunes in family and financial circumstances, Newton's emotional entanglements, and Einstein's humble beginnings. Moreover, by reading excerpts from their scientific classics, you will enter their minds, experience the historical context and process of their great scientific creations, and discover the rich ideas they contain—perhaps ones you were not previously aware of—thus gaining a deeper understanding of their classic theories and their enduring contributions to astronomy and physics. This will also help you better understand the universe and humanity's place within it.