Curiosity: How Science Became Interested in Everything - Philip Ball - 4 Stars

[Jason]

Philip Ball is clearly much smarter than I am. This book is deep, dense, and scholarly — and I loved it, even though it’s a slow read.

Ball examines curiosity: what it is, how it has evolved over the centuries, and how perceptions of it shifted from negative, to less negative, to positive. Who would have thought a book could center around curiosity?

His discussion culminates in an exploration of 16th- and 17th-century science, focusing on major figures like Galileo, Bacon, and Newton, as well as many influential scientists you might never have heard of.

One of the biggest takeaways for me was how the contrasting philosophies of Aristotelian empiricism and Platonic idealism gradually converged. Scientists of each discipline began to adopt one another’s methods, laying the foundation for modern science.

I loved this book — it’s full of information, history, and a fascinating account of how curiosity, understanding, and scientific inquiry developed over time.