I have only recently finished this book but it has trumped every other book that I have read this year. It touches on some of things I find fascinating about science, but also goes in depth into some of the areas of science that I love.
It covers a very exciting part of scientific history. The 18th Century. Think long dangerous voyages to new lands - finding new cultures - losing dear friends to disease at sea - Captain Cook being eaten by cannibals - the first hot air balloons - the discovery of new and elusive elements - the painstaking study of the skies - the discovery of a new planet - the early days of the Royal Institution - Humphrey Davy - dangerous laboratory experiments - science discoveries saving lives - scientific rivalry - eccentric men and women - love affairs - injury - illness - death. The world and the universe becoming bigger than we ever imagined.
It opens with the expedition of Joseph Banks, a prominent character throughout the book. For some reason I have always had a soft spot for Sir Banks. I often find men who have an enthusiasm for the natural world attractive. Joe seems to have a mysterious air about his love life, got up to all sorts of naughties on his travels, but remained intelligent and passionate about all aspects of natural philosophy. Incidentally a fictional book that I read in Madeira a few years ago, plots out a missing part of his love life (Martin Davies's (2006) The Conjurer's Bird, Hodder Paperbacks). Part of the book is set in Madeira and the description of Banks as a character are really fascinating.
In terms of teaching science this is a beautiful book, really focussed on a very important and exciting part of scientific history. Fits in well with How Science Works. Particulaly APP AF2 with new technologies (Davy's Lamp), solving scientific problems. Historical contexts, especially the role of women in science and the contribution of Caroline Herschel to the discovery of comets.
Also how Science Doesn't Work - Hershel particularly tells a very different story to his discovery of Uranus compared with his original notebooks. The human nature to exaggerate or embellish actual events is common, but not often recorded as starkly.
AC-G
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