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Liked It2 of 2 members found this review helpful “This is really an amazing book. The insight that Ms. Sobel has opened into the times of 16th and 17th century Italy were incredibly informative, as Italy has never been my area of expertise. The conflicts and troubles between the scientists and the Church are especially relevant today with the...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “A biography of Galileo not only as an astronomer, but as a father. Conflicts between the church and the scientists between 16th and 17th century.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“This is an absorbing view of the life of Galileo, told largely from the perspective of his daughter, who became a nun. Although it has less detail on the two trials of the famous astronomer, it shows Galileo as a man of faith, despite the science he discovered in opposition to Church views.”
davidthewriter wrote this review Monday, April 15, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A very insightful book on the life of Galileo.”
R Yoder wrote this review Monday, February 18, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Excellent reading after my visit to Italy.”
Don Mayfield wrote this review Monday, February 18, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A wonderful book! Particularly if you enjoy science and history. This fascinating account of the dispute between religious beliefs and science is the heart of Dava Sobel's book. Letters between Galileo and his daughter are the foundation of the book. Extremely interesting!”
Victor Silva wrote this review Tuesday, January 29, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“A wonderful insight into Galileo and more importantly his daughter ”
James Evans wrote this review Wednesday, January 23, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Very interesting. Uprooted a number of misconceptions I had about Galileo's beliefs. It also painted a descriptive picture of life in the 1600s...rough.”
Ted Stavas wrote this review Monday, January 21, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“p. 15”
MOPA Librarian: Mrs. Witt wrote this review Wednesday, January 16, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“A biography of Galileo not only as an astronomer, but as a father. Conflicts between the church and the scientists between 16th and 17th century.”
i Cenizal wrote this review Sunday, October 7, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The author uses the letters from Galileo's daughter, a cloistered "Poor Clare" nun as the device around which to build a biography of Galileo's life and times. I found the writing dry and unimaginative...like taking Mary Poppins' spoonful of sugar to get the medicine down. It was interesting, but not sustainable. I did learn a lot about Galileo and the lack of freedom of thought in Italy at the time, the conflicts, the plagues, the food and short lifespan of Italy in the 1600s. The church espoused an extreme version of the authoritarianism and fear-mongering that still exists today. This historical biography was a depressing overview of a time when Galileo's free thinking about the heliocentric world would land him before the Papal Inquisition and forced house arrest for the rest of his days. The book's structure as a tete a tete between Suor Maria Celeste's letters and Galileo's life history felt like brick and mortar instead of something freer and more flowing.”
Cecelia K wrote this review Sunday, August 26, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Wow, it has been such a long time since I have been on Shelfari.....oh, never mind that. I really am enjoying this book, and I will update this review once I am done with it. This book richly informs you of Galileo's personal and professional life, his relationship with family, such as his children especially, and important developments in his career. Fantastic! :) ”
Madison wrote this review Wednesday, August 22, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
