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Out of the Shadow of a Giant by John Gribbin, Mary Gribbin

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Out of the Shadow of a Giant

Narrator
Peter Noble
Publisher
HarperCollins Publishers
Publish Date
18 May 2017
Run Time
11 hours 24 minutes
Format
Audiobook

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What to expect

Shortlisted for the BSHS Hughes Prize

What if Isaac Newton had never lived?

Robert Hooke and Edmond Halley, whose place in history has been overshadowed by the giant figure of Newton, were pioneering scientists within their own right, and instrumental in establishing the Royal Society.

Whilst Newton is widely regarded as one of the greatest scientists of all time, and the father of the English scientific revolution, John and Mary Gribbin uncover the fascinating story of Robert Hooke and Edmond Halley, whose scientific achievements neatly embrace the hundred years or so during which science as we know it became established in Britain. They argue persuasively that even without Newton science in Britain would have made a great leap forward in the second half of the seventeenth century, headed by two extraordinary men, Hooke and Halley.

Critics Review

  • ‘Elegant and meticulously researched … this is a most enjoyable book.’ The Observatory
  • Praise for the authors:
  • ‘Mary and John Gribbin write with great clarity.’ Guardian
  • ‘Precise yet mysterious … as beautiful as a poem and as exciting as a novel.’ The Sunday Times
See more reviews
  • ‘A gripping account of the history of quantum mechanics and a clear description of its significance – and weirdness. Absolutely fascinating.’ Isaac Asimov
  • ‘Immensely readable’ The Times

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Details

Author
John Gribbin, Mary Gribbin
Narrator
Peter Noble
Duration
11 hours 24 minutes
Release Date
18 May 2017
ISBN
9780008220624
Format
Audiobook
Publisher
HarperCollins Publishers
Genre
Social and cultural history, History of science

Synopsis

Shortlisted for the BSHS Hughes Prize What if Isaac Newton had never lived? Robert Hooke and Edmond Halley, whose place in history has been overshadowed by the giant figure of Newton, were pioneering scientists within their own right, and instrumental in establishing the Royal Society. Whilst Newton is widely regarded as one of the greatest scientists of all time, and the father of the English scientific revolution, John and Mary Gribbin uncover the fascinating story of Robert Hooke and Edmond Halley, whose scientific achievements neatly embrace the hundred years or so during which science as we know it became established in Britain. They argue persuasively that even without Newton science in Britain would have made a great leap forward in the second half of the seventeenth century, headed by two extraordinary men, Hooke and Halley.

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