Rating: 
Summary: Isaac Newton: The Science and the Man Behind the Science
Review: +++++
This easy to read, slim book, by writer, reporter, and essayist James Gleick, is about a giant in the scientific world: Sir Isaac Newton (Christmas 1642 to March 1727). However, this book does not only dwell on Newton's science (there are many books that deal exclusively with this) but also deals with the many unknown aspects of his life besides his science.
Gleick explains more eloquently: "He...led a strangely pure and obsessive life, lacking parents, lovers, and friends; quarreled bitterly with great men who crossed his life; veered at least once to the brink of madness; cloaked his work in secrecy; and yet discovered more of the essential core of human knowledge than before or after." In fact he discovered so much that one mathematician of the time asked, "Does he eat & drink & sleep? Is he like other men?"
To get an idea of the non-scientific topics covered in this book, I have copied some of the entries found under "Newton, Sir Issac" located in this book's index: apothecary skills of; appearance of; birth and childhood of; death of; early education of; fame of; family of; health of; knighting of; as member of Parliament; notebooks of; parents of; querulousness of; reclusiveness and secrecy of; sexuality and; theology of; wealth of.
For science buffs, included among other scientific highlights is a good non-mathematical account of Newton's "Principia Mathematica," surely the most influential book written in physics. There is also discussion of his other publication entitled "Opticks."
Included in this book are the actual writings of Newton and others of his time. For example, this is his first law of motion that he set down centuries ago:
"Every body perseveres in its state of being at rest or of moving uniformly straight forward, except insofar as it is compelled to change its state by forces impressed."
Even poets admired Newton's genius. One poet wrote the following:
"Nature and Nature's laws lay hid in night;
God said, 'Let Newton be!' And All was Light."
This book has fifteen illustrations (one in color). As well, those looking for more information can find it in this book's 350 endnotes and more than 300 references.
I was surprised that Gleick did not mention the International System unit in which we honor Newton. It is appropriately called the "Newton" (symbol: N) and is the force that provides a mass of one kilogram with an acceleration of one metre per second per second.
Finally, Newton's ideas permitted science for over 200 years until Albert Einstein came along, another giant of science. A book similar to this book describes Einstein's science as well as the man behind the science. It's called:
"Einstein's Cosmos" (2004) by Dr. Michio Kaku.
In conclusion, this is the story of the "Sage and Monarch of the Age of Reason," Isaac Newton (initials I.N.). To become a member of the IN club, you have to read this book!!
(first published 2003; brief book summary; 15 chapters; main narrative 190 pages; notes; acknowledgements and sources; index)
+++++
Rating:
Summary: bio of a genius
Review: An extremely well written bio of a genius who was essentially a child prodigy. The mathematics included in the book are very well presented so that a laymen as myself was able to grasp the content without too much trouble. Interesting as well, are the competitive drives between the other geniuses of his time who sought to either compliment or disprove newton's work.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Man, Brilliant Book
Review: Being an absolute incompetent in the fields of math and science, I approached studying Isaac Newton with a bit of trepidation. The worlds that Newton opened to his fellow man are, on the surface, unapproachable by the layman. Still, his genius speaks to us through a strain of fanatic brilliance that crosses any line of limited knowledge. The guy was smart, smart beyond your wildest dreams, and that kind of otherworldly brilliance creates fascination easily. There is a chapter that I liked where a query was made by his contemporaries concerning Newton's impressive intellect, is he one of us? That's how Newton was seen, as someone who had a science book in his hands from 200 years in the future, a natural mind that saw the intricacies that everyone else was missing. That was my impression, but when reading Mr. Gleick's excellent short biography on Sir Isaac Newton, you find that he worked obsessively hard to develop his ideas and his own genius. Newton wasn't a genius or savant, he was a man absolutely dedicated to knowledge, and that kind of man makes for an intriguing book.
The world Newton was born into was still steeped in the mystic darkness of the past. Science, as in actual scientific debate and discussion, was just beginning to emerge from the more occult arts. Serious men, with formidable schooling, were realizing that the natural world was not influenced merely by forces as defined by the earlier Greek philosophers. Movement and the nature of matter were hot discussions, with all kinds of men adding their input to a debate that still lay out of reach for most people. Newton was born into a servant class background, an origin that did not promise much in the way of intellectual development. Fortunately, for him and all of mankind, his mothers employer was generous to young Isaac, who showed an early inclination to books and learning. This dalliance became a full out obsession, as Newton threw himself absolutely into the quickly developing world of physics. This is why we should admire Newton, in my opinion. His fervent dedication, his almost fanatical pursuit of new knowledge, simply put me in awe. He was a normal man, but transformed himself into a fountain of knowledge the likes of which the world has ever seen.
The strange scholar would often lock himself into his quarters for days on end, pounding away at the complex mysteries that still confounded his fellow scholars. He would write and experiment, repeat, write and experiment, day after day in a crusade to understand the simplest things around him. Why did things move as they did, why did matter come to rest, what force brought things to the ground? We view these forces as fundamental now, but we enjoy such simplicity only because of men like Newton. Newton's relationship with his contemporaries went through phases of rivalry and cooperation, but he was always a man on his own, tinkering away at every idea known to man. He delved into religion and alchemy, subjects we view as outside the scientific realm. Newton looked into the heavens, trying to determine the natures of orbits and the attraction of various planets and the sun. He was willing to go to any length, even experimenting on his own optic ability. The whole range of his intellectual curiosity is stunning. Of course, when he was limited by the mathematical reasoning of the day, Newton, as he often did, rose above environmental limitations and developed an entire new way of reasoning. The formation of calculus allowed intellectuals to examine physical phenomenon with a degree of specificity unimaginable by earlier scholars. He was beyond other men because of his love of words and knowledge, and we are all the beneficiaries of his amazing life.
One of the benefits of this book is its accessibility. While it is by no means elementary, anyone with a limited knowledge of science and mathematics should have no problem following along. However, you may have to go over things once or twice, just to fully grasp the meaning of Newton's genius. Gleick, while keeping up an enthralling narrative, also takes time to fully explain the numerical background behind some of Newton's greatest discoveries. It is a great little biography about one of the all time giants of history.
Rating:
Summary: The World Was Never The Same
Review: Few would deny that Sir Issac Newton was a singularly important man in the history of both science and mathematics. His two best-known accomplishments, the invention of the calculus and a theory of gravity which accurately predicted the motions of the planets, have done much to shape the world in which we now live. Despite the incredible advances made by others in the ensuing centuries, the world view of the average educated person is still best described as "Newtonion." I believe we must go as far back as the golden age of the ancient Greeks to find a revolution in world view that is possibly comparable to that created by Newton.Gleick's short biography is a superb introduction to the man and his times. It is not overly technical and the lay reader should not worry about much going over his/her head. Gleick has done again what he seems to do best: he has taken a difficult subject and made it accessible to a wide audience. He did that in his books about chaos theory and the life of physicist Richard Feynman, and he has done it again with this biography of Isaac Newton. The author emphasizes Newton's human side, which is bizarre enough to satisfy even the most jaded reader. Newton was not a social man, frequently quarreled with other scientists, was reticent about publicizing his discoveries, and more than dabbled in alchemy. He lived as if possessed by some personal demon who denied him the ordinary comforts and pleasures of life. I disagree with an earlier review that complained about the brevity of this book. I found it to be just about right, and well-written. There are ample references for those who wish to learn more about Isaac Newton. On the other hand, if you simply feel that you should know the essentials about the life of the man who shaped our modern view of the world, this book should serve that need well.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging and accessible story of a great man and his science
Review: Gleick's biography of Isaac Newton covers the gamut of the man's life, science and impact. Although under 200 pages of text, the book weaves a complete tale and goes beyond to give a popular account of the basics of calculus as well as Newton's contributions to physics (I could have used the quote of Newton's statement on the meaning of the infinitesimal in my calc class had I finished the book a day earlier.) It's a testament to Gleick's writing ability that the book imparts so much in an engaging and succinct read.
Rating: 
Summary: An Insightful Look at a Monumental Figure
Review: Gleick's biography of one of Western Civilization's most influential figures is insightful and excellent in both its avoidance of cliches and sensationalism and its use of primary source material. While the book may seem esoteric to some, it does a fine job of tracking the process by which Newton slowly arrived at his three laws of motion as well as the Universal Law of Gravitation. Additionally, it explores some of the personality traits and, more often, flaws that lead newton to live a solitary and occasionally confrontational life. A good read for those who enjoy biography, history of science or an examination of the creative process within the scientific community.
Rating:
Summary: What a Piece of Work is Isaac Newton
Review: I'm not a mathematician; I'm not even much good at arithmetic. Once when trying to count backward from 100 by 7's I started with 97, went to 93, and gave up. Of course I was lying in a hospital bed, but even at my best I wouldn't have gotten far. I tell you this because I approached "Isaac Newton," by James Gleick expecting to read the introduction, pick up a few bits-and-bobs, and bail out. What a surprise to find myself reading even while walking to the bus stop. Thank you, Mr. Gleick for a fascinating biography that doesn't bog down in numbers, but still imparts the scientific information salient to Mr. Newton's life. Isaac Newton was a piece of work. A scientist, but also a student of biblical prophecy; a chemist, but also an alchemist; a public figure as well as something of a recluse; a fountain of learning who refused to publish. Isaac Newton was a man of his times, and Mr. Gleick points out the very interesting paradox that Newton lived in a pre-Newtonian world. Of course he would be filled with contradictions. Even so, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Newton's contemporary and a philosopher/mathematician in his own right who found himself at odds with Newton by independently inventing differential and integral calculus, told the Queen of Prussia that "in mathematics there was all previous history, from the beginning of the world, and then there was Newton; and that Newton's was the better half." If you would like a better understanding of the laws of nature we take for granted, and an understanding of the life and times of the complicated man who formulated them for us, then I recommend this highly readable (and mathematically understandable) biography.
Rating:
Summary: Accessible Biography
Review: It is a pleasant irony that the biography of the author one of the most famously impenetrable mathematical tomes is so accessible. And by accessible, I don't mean simple or demeaning -- it is an enjoyable read of a mere 200 pages. Too often, biographers indulge themselves in long-winded openings, discussing the subjects ancestors, which usually have little to do with the subject at hand. Not with Gleick -- we pretty much jump right in, and start with Mr. Newton himself. Another pleasant diversion from the tradition of biographies of men 400-some years old is the lack of speculation. Like many of this age, or even older, much is not known about Newton, so Gleick intelligently just leaves it out. Other current biographies, most notably "Gallileo's Daughter" fill the gaps in the record with blatant speculation.
Rating:
Summary: Revealing the personality of a genius
Review: James Gleick's book Isaac Newton presents the life, the oddities and the great discoveries of the man who set the foundations of modern physics. Gleick has a unique talent for rendering science in layman terms. He preserves and sometimes amazingly expands the scope of the original ideas. When I read his book Chaos I wondered - Gleick seemed too vivid and comprehensible for a scientist and in the same time too penetrating for a writer who is not a professional researcher. Maybe you would like to see what creates the observations described by Newton in his famous laws. Perhaps you have been sometimes puzzled by the enigmatic meaning of your life. Then you should read also Eugene Savov's Theory of Interaction the Simplest Explanation of Everything, James Gleick's Faster and Sync: The Emerging Science of Spontaneous Order by Steven Strogatz. The explorations and discoveries presented in these three books show a path toward a new knowledge in which the laws of Newton and his genius shine even brighter.
Rating:
Summary: The Book is So, So
Review: Many of the reviews are very positive but as a professionally trained physicist I do a lot of reading of both history and science books, and was not that impressed. It is okay, no giant errors, but not 5 stars. It is very short and you can quickly learn a lot about Newton by doing a GOOGLE search and reading his biography on line, and skipping this book.
Also, I think it is generally widely know that Newton was a cold fish, ambitious, and turned his back on science when he moved on to government. During his scholarly years he was the most prolific and probably the first real giant in science on our planet in his development of the foundations of mechanics and calculus. He remained as the undisputed leader until Maxwell and Einstein followed with electromagnetic theory and relativity, but not for about 200 years later.
But the present book is neither fish nor fowl. It is part personal, part historical, part scientific. It is attractive and has sketches and drawings, notes, and photographs. The comments about Hooke were interesting and informative, and based on the book one wants to learn more about Hooke. But the book is short, very short to cover all the topics, and 200 pages is not enough - by a long shot. Many biogrphies that go into detail are 400 to 600 pages on average. So I think this is just a gateway book that generates interest in the subject, but alone it is not sufficient.
If you want to learn something about physics and its evolution, and even the place of Newton in all of this, my suggestion is to read something like Brian Greene's new book The Fabric of The Cosmos. It is 500 pages long and gives a nice description of Newtonian physics and its overall context.
Sorry, just 4 stars, or perhaps more fairly just 3. My humble opinion.
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