Book description
First time in ebook format, this biography of Isaac Newton reveals the
extraordinary influence that the study of alchemy had on the greatest
Early Modern scientific discoveries. In this 'ground breaking biography'
Michael White destroys the myths of the life of Isaac Newton and reveals
a portrait of the scientist as the last sorcerer.
According to traditional accounts, Newton was the first modern
scientist . As creator of the theory of gravity, calculus, modern
theories of light and devisor of the three laws of mechanics, his
methods are perceived as the genesis of modern science. Yet the
traditional version of his life fails to tell, by some considerable
margin, the full story. How for example could Newton's apparent
empiricism be married with his interest in alchemy and magic? What had
inspired him in his discoveries? How did he reconcile his scientific
discoveries with his religious faith? And, most of all, who was this man
who, historians tell us, remained a virgin all his life and who seemed
to be an argumentative ego maniac on the one hand and a kindly old man
on the other?
In this revelatory biography, White paints an original picture of Isaac
Newton completely at variance with the traditional portrait. Michael
White was a science lecturer before becoming a full-time writer and
journalist. He is the author with John Gribbin of the bestselling
Stephen Hawking - A Lifetime in Science. He is a regular contributor to
the Sunday Times, the Observer,the Daily Telegraph, GQ, Focus and New
Scientist.
