Synopses & Reviews
From the best-selling author of
The Drunkard's Walk and
Subliminal, and coauthor of
The Grand Design (with Stephen Hawking): an account of scientific discovery from the invention of stone tools to theories of quantum physics — a history at once inspiring and entertaining.
In this fascinating and illuminating work, Leonard Mlodinow guides us through the critical eras and events in the development of science, all of which, he demonstrates, were propelled forward by humankind's collective struggle to know. From the birth of reasoning and culture to the formation of the studies of physics, chemistry, biology, and modern-day quantum physics, we come to see that much of our progress can be attributed to simple questions — why? how? — bravely asked. Mlodinow profiles some of the great philosophers, scientists, and thinkers who explored these questions — Aristotle, Galileo, Newton, Darwin, Einstein and Lavoisier among them — and makes clear that just as science has played a key role in shaping the patterns of human thought, human subjectivity has played a key role in the evolution of science. At once authoritative and accessible, and infused with the author's trademark wit, this deeply insightful book is a stunning tribute to humanity's intellectual curiosity.
(With black-and-white illustrations throughout.)
Review
"Mlodinow never fails to make science both accessible and entertaining." Stephen Hawking, author of A Brief History of Time
Review
"Powerful....Breath[es] new life into science history. [Mlodinow] frames narratives of great thinkers with serial scenes of his father's great courage and curiosity." Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Review
"[An] amazingly compact yet satisfying history....[Mlodinow] is a whiz of a popular-science writer....Amateur science mavens couldn't ask for a better brief, introductory text." Booklist
Review
"How did we move so rapidly from caves to cars, from the Savannah to skyscrapers, from walking on two legs to bounding on the Moon? Follow Mlodinow on an astonishing tour of our species' journey; with each new stop, you'll discover how our unceasing progress is driven by something very special about human brains: our unslakable thirst for knowledge." David Eagleman, PhD, Neuroscientist, New York Times bestselling author of Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain
Review
"[A] bracing work of scientific history....Don't worry if quantum physics and the theory of relativity leave you quaking....Mlodinow knows how to talk to the science-challenged." Library Journal
Review
"Endlessly fascinating...consistently thought-provoking....A selective, guided tour of the human accumulation of knowledge...[and] the striking characters who pioneered scientific discoveries....A breathtaking survey." Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
About the Author
Leonard Mlodinow received his PhD in theoretical physics from the University of California, Berkeley, was an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow at the Max Planck Institute, and now teaches at the California Institute of Technology. His previous books include War of the Worldviews (with Deepak Chopra), The Grand Design (with Stephen Hawking), and The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives (a New York Times Notable Book), as well as Feynman's Rainbow, Euclid's Window, and Subliminal. He also wrote for the television series MacGyver and Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Exclusive Essay
Read an exclusive essay by Leonard Mlodinow