Galileo Galilei Biography & Autobiography (Illustrated): History Of Astronomy, Science & Technology

by Robert Stawell Ball

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was an Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. His achievements include improvements to the telescope and consequent astronomical observations and support for Copernicanism, which held that the Earth is not the center of the universe and that the Earth and planets revolve around the Sun. Galileo has been called the father of modern observational astronomy, the father of modern physics, and the father of modern science.

Genres: Biography, Science

29 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2011

About the author

Sir Robert Stawell Ball was an Irish astronomer. He worked for Lord Rosse from 1865 to 1867. In 1867 he became Professor of Applied Mathematics at the Royal College of Science in Dublin. In 1874 Ball was appointed Royal Astronomer of Ireland and Andrews Professor of Astronomy in the University of Dublin at Dunsink Observatory.[1] In 1892 he was appointed Lowndean Professor of Astronomy and Geometry at Cambridge University. His lectures, articles and books (eg. Starland and The Story of the Heavens) were mostly popular and simple in style. However, he also published books on mathematical astronomy such as A Treatise on Spherical Astronomy. His main interest was mathematics and he devoted much of his spare time to his "Screw theory". He served for a time as President of the Quaternion Society. His work The Story of the Heavens is mentioned in the "Ithaca" chapter of James Joyce's Ulysses.

Reviews

[Teri]

Another fun autobiography/biography to read. Short. But very interesting to learn more about this great man. It is amazing to think of how God sent these specific people to Earth to bless humanity with their inventions and brainiac ideas. Just wow!

One of the things I especially enjoyed learning was his daughter's (Sister Maria Celeste) recipe of a concoction she sent him to avoid getting The Plague. It is unknown whether he took it or not, but it is known that he did NOT get The Plague. I say he took it. What's the recipe? Dried Figs, Walnuts, Rue and Salt mixed with honey. Then take a "walnut sized piece" of it each morning, fasting. OK. Good to avoid Covid too! :D

Read it. It is short and well worth your time!

[Amjad Hussain]

Great short book about Galileo.

[Cathy]

This was a great little account of just how much the times and religion of society can affect scientific findings. This book shows how Galileo was a great scientific mind who was greatly undervalued in his community.

[Kayihura Shami]

A very short read. Highly recommend