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Cosmic Imagery: Key Images in the History of Science
We live in an age of images — the first pictures of Earth from space; nuclear bomb mushroom clouds; Vesalius’s haunting human anatomy pictures — iconic and influential images. John Barrow traces their history and influence to tell the story of modern science.
608 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2008
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241 people want to read
About the author
John D. Barrow
88 books164 followersJohn D. Barrow was a professor of mathematical sciences and director of the Millennium Mathematics Project at Cambridge University and a Fellow of the Royal Society.
He was awarded the 2006 Templeton Prize for "Progress Toward Research or Discoveries about Spiritual Realities" for his "writings about the relationship between life and the universe, and the nature of human understanding [which] have created new perspectives on questions of ultimate concern to science and religion".
He was a member of a United Reformed Church, which he described as teaching "a traditional deistic picture of the universe".
He was awarded the 2006 Templeton Prize for "Progress Toward Research or Discoveries about Spiritual Realities" for his "writings about the relationship between life and the universe, and the nature of human understanding [which] have created new perspectives on questions of ultimate concern to science and religion".
He was a member of a United Reformed Church, which he described as teaching "a traditional deistic picture of the universe".
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 7, 2019
061219: i have read much of this but all in short chapters, as it is designed, then decided it is too exhausting to go through in one read. this is an informative coffee table book. who exactly is ideal reader i do not know. images are great. good selection, reproductions, wide range. what counts as ‘science history’ is broad: london tube map, mandelbrot set (fractals), Feynman diagrams, karsh’s portrait of Einstein... short accompanying essays for each, though you probably need more math than me...
February 25, 2009
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the book - I have read other John Barrow books before, so I was sure it would be good, but I thought that this would be unexciting - I was wrong!
What really made it work for me was the ordering/organisation of the images. The way it is done is really masterly in that it allowed them to really make sense and build up your idea of just how important these things are. It gave me a good idea of how important science is, and how integrated and connected it is with our everyday lives - something which is very important to realise and to remember!
For those interested - either as a taster, or to continue your love of the book - you can see John Barrow deliver a Book-Launch lecture on the book online: http://www.gresham.ac.uk/event.asp?PageId=45&EventId=748
What really made it work for me was the ordering/organisation of the images. The way it is done is really masterly in that it allowed them to really make sense and build up your idea of just how important these things are. It gave me a good idea of how important science is, and how integrated and connected it is with our everyday lives - something which is very important to realise and to remember!
For those interested - either as a taster, or to continue your love of the book - you can see John Barrow deliver a Book-Launch lecture on the book online: http://www.gresham.ac.uk/event.asp?PageId=45&EventId=748
March 18, 2009
This is really a great book to be able to dip in and out of. I learned a great deal and it provided fun conversations in the family to boot. The artwork/images make it special and bring the subjects to life in most cases. Highly recommended for science geeks.
September 18, 2009
A dreamy collection of gorgeous images that changed the course of science history. Each image (group) is accompanied by brief explanatory essays that are pleasantly conversational and packed with info.
March 16, 2014
Beautiful Pictures
January 31, 2023
An informative and yet entertaining volume covering a wide variety of areas where visual imagery helps to understand.
December 26, 2013
Il volume ha come scopo di presentarci un fenomeno fisico, un esperimento o un personaggio importante della scienza partendo da una singola immagine.
Ogni capitolo �� un capolavoro di brevit��, raramente si superano le 3 pagine e il volume permette quindi una lettura frammentaria.
Questa brevit�� fondamentale �� allo stesso tempo un punto di forza e uno svantaggio. Molto spesso, infatti, ci si imbatte in concetti di grande interesse che per�� vengono necessariamente solo abbozzati nel breve spazio a disposizione. Per fortuna il volume dispone di una ampia sezione di note e bibliografica che permette al lettore di ricercare ulteriori informazioni in pratica su ogni singolo argomento trattatalo. Questo naturalmente a spese di ulteriori libri o approfondimenti su internet.
Il mastodontico volume �� ottimamente realizzato in copertina rigida con sovraccoperta stampata a colori. La carta �� lucida di ottima qualit��, le stampe delle immagine sono molto precise, cosa naturalmente fondamentale per un volume di questo tipo. Il prezzo �� elevato, ma a del tutto adeguato al tipo di opera.
Ogni capitolo �� un capolavoro di brevit��, raramente si superano le 3 pagine e il volume permette quindi una lettura frammentaria.
Questa brevit�� fondamentale �� allo stesso tempo un punto di forza e uno svantaggio. Molto spesso, infatti, ci si imbatte in concetti di grande interesse che per�� vengono necessariamente solo abbozzati nel breve spazio a disposizione. Per fortuna il volume dispone di una ampia sezione di note e bibliografica che permette al lettore di ricercare ulteriori informazioni in pratica su ogni singolo argomento trattatalo. Questo naturalmente a spese di ulteriori libri o approfondimenti su internet.
Il mastodontico volume �� ottimamente realizzato in copertina rigida con sovraccoperta stampata a colori. La carta �� lucida di ottima qualit��, le stampe delle immagine sono molto precise, cosa naturalmente fondamentale per un volume di questo tipo. Il prezzo �� elevato, ma a del tutto adeguato al tipo di opera.
November 15, 2013
Máte rádi vědu? Chcete se něco dozvědět? Tak si přečtěte a hlavně si projděte obrázky :D
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews