Customer Reviews

On Motion of Heart & Blood in Animals (Great Minds Series)

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A modern reader of Harvey's most famous and important work, "On the Motion of the Heart and Blood in Animals," cannot help but be amazed at the methodical, precise way he goes about demonstrating his thesis. His method is not purely "scientific" in the sense we know it today, but it does represent a great step toward the scientific method. Harvey himself would disagree on this point--he viewed the then-current crop of scientific theorists (Descartes, Bacon, et al.) with disdain. He considered himself a philosopher, and judging by his remarkable adherence to Aristotelian principles, one might be willing to grant him that. History, of course, has judged him to be a scientist and a physician, however, and we have learned to think of him exclusively in those terms. Not that this is a negative or even largely incorrect judgement; it just fails to take into account the full extent of William Harvey the man, and his motivations for inquiry. I think the only proper way to view him is as a transition point between Aristotelian natural philosophy and the scientific method. This book is a remarkable document because it is both a crucial turning point in the history of ideas and proof that those ideas were not so far apart as we have been led to believe.

At the time of William Harvey writing this book he was laughed at and riduculed for his beliefs of circulation of the blood. The people at this time were so intwined with Galenic medicine that there was no way Harvey could have been right with his discovery. If you want to see how the thinking was with this subject at this time of civilizations then this book will be wonderful. If you just want some basic history of medicine then this book will be outstanding to you. I highly recommend it.

Harvey's seminal work on circulation proved a Godsend for modern biology. Taking current scientific belief with skepticism, he provided a clear and brilliant explanation for the movement of blood in animals. This book is well worth the three days and twelve dollars it requires.

Translation: Robert Willis is a fine translator of scientific Latin. Harvey's language is replicated in clear, accurate English and it's very helpful if you're reading the Latin text.

Aesthetics. A little cramped, but I found the read enjoyable. The paragraphs are very long, but manageable.

Durability. Adequate, so don't abuse it. My copy will last forever and an age because I have an almost sacred reverence for books, but if you beat on books, reinforce the cover somehow because the spine will die.

Size: A thin, small treatise that shook the scientific world. The size is great for casual reading, not so good for studying on a desk.

Price. For twelve dollars, it's hard to beat this edition. Highly recommended.