Blind Watchers of the Sky: The People and Ideas That Shaped Our View of the Universe (Helix Books)

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Theoretical astrophysicist Rocky Kolb presents a popular history of astronomy and scientific cosmology from Tycho Brahe to the second half of the 20th century. In a style touched with humor and honed through numerous lectures to audiences ranging from third graders to Ph.Ds, Kolb introduces the pantheon of cosmologists, while offering a wonderfully proportional rendering of science and biographical sketches.


From Library Journal
Writing with lively enthusiasm and frequent leavenings of humor, theoretical astrophysicist Kolb presents a popular history of astronomy and scientific cosmology from Tycho Brahe to the second half of the 20th century. At a few points in the discussion of earlier historical periods, his interpretation might cause the eyebrows of professional historians of science to raise just a little. However, he conveys the gist of important developments well enough to give general readers an accurate impression of the progress of astronomy in the last 400 years, and he is on firmer ground when he gets to the late 20th century. Recommended for most public and academic libraries.?Jack W. Weigel, Univ. of Michigan Lib., Ann ArborCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Booklist
Copious illustrations buttress this elucidating matrix of matter.


From Booklist
Fermilab physicist Kolb introduces the pantheon of cosmologists for readers unaware of its membership and for the jaded set who have covered the story of Galileo et al. in dozens of popular treatments, thanks to Kolb's bright style and flashing humor. His style has been honed by lecturing to audiences ranging from third graders to Ph.D.s and here lends itself to a wonderfully proportioned rendering of science and biographical sketches. His narrative of the life of Kepler, who came from the original dysfunctional family, elicits numerous chuckles, then slips easily into his achievement of calculating orbits according to the heliocentric model. But as with every one of the greats Kolb portrays, Tycho through Hubble, Kepler's model was "blind" in some respect, leaving its refinement or overthrow to some future genius with his own human predilections, which accounts for a scientific process of jumps in knowledge rather than smooth progress toward the present big bang conception of the universe. Copious illustrations buttress this elucidating matrix of matter. Gilbert Taylor


From Book News, Inc.
This examination of the often overlooked human side of scientific discovery links the methods of astronomers such as Tycho Brache, Kepler, Galileo, and Herschel with their discoveries, providing a fascinating look at early cosmology and the scientific process. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.


Midwest Book Review
How did the human species learn astronomical facts taken for granted today? This provides a blend of science and history which focuses on the development of astronomical insights through the ages. Where others provide science or history alone, this examines the process of how historical discoveries are made.


Book Description
In this immensely readable book, noted cosmologist Rocky Kolb reveals the very human struggles of astronomy superstars seeking cosmic truths while lost in the clouds of confusion. Punctured by the author's razor sharp wit, this book provides anyone curious about science with a behind the scenes peek into the discovery process-it's not exactly the scientific method you learned in school.


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This examination of the often overlooked human side of scientific discovery links the methods of astronomers such as Tycho Brache, Kepler, Galileo, and Herschel with their discoveries, providing a fascinating look at early cosmology and the scientific process. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)


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