Newton's Principia for the Common Reader (Physics) [Hardcover]

S. Chandrasekhar (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198517440 | ISBN-13: 978-0198517443 | Publication Date: July 27, 1995

Representing a decade's work from one of the world's most distinguished physicists, this major publication is, as far as is known, the first comprehensive analysis of Newton's Principia without recourse to secondary sources. Chandrasekhar analyses some 150 propositions which form a direct chain leading to Newton's formulation of his universal law of gravitation. In each case, Newton's proofs are arranged in a linear sequence of equations and arguments, avoiding the need to unravel the necessarily convoluted style of Newton's connected prose. In almost every case, a modern version of the proofs is given to bring into sharp focus the beauty, clarity, and breathtaking economy of Newton's methods. This book will stimulate great interest and debate among the scientific community, illuminating the brilliance of Newton's work under the steady gaze of Chandrasekhar's rare perception.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Only a few have ventured into Newton's forbidding cathedral of scientific understanding with the persistence and ability to appreciate both its genuine miracles and the sublime elegance of the imposing structures to be found within it. One of the most eminent of those who have done so is Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar." Sir Roger Penrose, Times Higher Education Supplement

"All will be grateful to Chandrasekhar for providing us with an access to the magnificence of the Principia that is exciting and relatively painless. He acts as a superb guide, pointing out ornaments of particular elegance and subtlety, while all the time keeping us in mind of the grandeur of purpose of the magnificent architecture." Sir Roger Penrose, Times Higher Education Supplement.

"Those who are familiar with Chandrasekhar's work...may find it surprising that he has devoted so many of his latest years to exploring the delights of Newton's geometry. This surprise is removed, once one appreciates that it is in his artistry with equations rather than with brute-force calculations, that his ability, in this regard, lie." Sir Roger Penrose, Times Higher Education Supplement

"...there is no question that Chandrasekhar has performed a uniquely valuable service. I know I shall often return to his book and continue to take advantage of his insights into Newton's supreme work for years to come." Sir Roger Penrose, Times Higher Education Supplement

`Chandrasekhar transforms the Newtonian mathematics into modern idiom and thus makes it much more accessible to what he quaintly refers to as the "common reader". The beauty, clarity and economy of Newton's achievements shine through. The great joy of Chandrasekhar's book is that it repays all the attention one gives it. As one proceeds, everything becomes so much easier to undrstand. The veil of Newtonian obscurity is lifted and one begins to grasp is lifted and one begins to grasp the extent of Newton's achievement.' David Hughes, Nature

`This book will stimulate great interest and debate among the scientific community, illuminating the brilliance of Newton's work.' Zentrallblatt fur Mathematik, Vol. 821, 1995

`... a remarkable tour de force ...' Leon Mestel

`This remarkable book is both an interpretation of and a commentary on Newton's 'Principia' in which the author analyses some 150 propositions which lead eventually to the formulation of the law of gravitation.' Aslib Book Guide, Vol. 60, No. 9, September 1995

`....a remarkable tour de force..' Leon Mestel, The Observatory, February 1996

`To grasp the truly awesome nature of Newton's achievement in the Principia, it is necessary to turn to Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar's Newton's Principia for the Common Reader...This is a valuable guide to the Principia--certainly beyond the level of the "common reader"--that will take its place in the succession of major commentaries on the Principia of the past three centuries.' Physics Today, November 1996

About the Author

S. Chandrasekhar is Emeritus Professor, Laboratory for Astrophysics and Space Research, The Enrico Fermi Institute at University of Chicago.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 624 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (July 27, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198517440
• ISBN-13: 978-0198517443
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.2 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,475,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Before you buy this book, hold on a minute, January 17, 2005

By 

Raghuram Krishnaswamy - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Newton's Principia for the Common Reader (Paperback)

This book was written by the Indian-American Nobel Laureate who has a physical stellar size limit to his name. Chandra (the author of this book, who also has an orbiting X-ray telescope named after him..some guys have all the luck), who was amongst the most meticulous of theorists and who worked with bigwigs like Eddington, Russell, Dirac, Bethe, Fermi and Von Neumann amongst the most luminous, wrote this massive (and his last) work of Newton's Principia. This is Chandra's take on Newton's work. Don't think its a light read - It isn't.

You cannot take it with you to starbucks (its big and heavy) sip cappucino and browse the work. You'll need to be at a table with a straight-back chair and concentrate intensely. If you know Chandra's work, then you will know that chandra always said just about what was required and said it in great English (possibly influenced by Eddington's writing) and his work is un-apologetically mathematical. So essentially this is a 20th century giant interpreting the work of THE giant of all time. It is NOT a verbatim reproduction in English of the original latin publication of the Principia. It is expensive for a reason. Its beautifully written and bound very beautifully in a red jacket with Newton's bust and handwriting on the jacket. If you bought it, the red cover is attractive enough to make it stand out of your living room book shelf. Most importantly, Chandra tackles each aspect of Newton's principia in a his own manner. GET IT if you can afford it and if you can't, try a used book place. But get it anyway.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars i'm ordering this book having looked through it, October 7, 2007

By 

nutty - See all my reviews

This review is from: Newton's Principia for the Common Reader (Paperback)

perhaps the title "...for the common reader" is the issue here. "the common reader familiar with calculus", perhaps...

there's simply no way anyone without a very solid grounding in mathematics can read this book and understand it. we are talking about the laws of motion & gravity here, etc.

i compared this (a bit dogeared) copy of a book sided by side with a modern copy of principa in a bookshop, and for anyone wishing to tackle this monumentally important work, i cannot think of a better pairing. a modern copy of newton's principia and chandrasekhar's great work for those who wish to see a thorough explanation and working of the equations.

it's like a lot of things; be realistic with your expectations.
someone who is not very competent in mathematics is not going to be able to ever fully comprehend the contents of this book, misleading title notwithstanding.

perhaps the person that gave this book one star would like to let us know what scientific books he has awarded five stars to if he thinks so lowly of this one?

i say all this, because i'm currently self-studying algebra to be able to self-study calculus next year, just so i can try and understand some of this all-important book.

so don't knock the book, just keep putting the time in & struggling (and it's a struggle, alright) with the mathematics that unlock its secrets.

4 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On Newton's Quiet Endorsement of Euclid's Brilliance: Chandra's Greatness!, January 13, 2010

By 

Jeffrey Neuzil (rockford illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Newton's Principia for the Common Reader (Paperback)

This work, although beyond my competence in mathematics, is designed for "the common reader." With just--a desideratum I lack--calculus and geometry, Chandra demonstrates certain fundamental scholia of Newton's treatise. But he does more than this. He shows us what Descartes suspected--that the classical geometers and Newton, in a way, new the same things. Descartes was the first to voice his "suspicion" that the classical mathematicians knew the methods of modern, calculus-based numerical analysis, but did not reveal such (Descartes' foundational act, his creation of "analytical geometry," is the point of "closest contact" ( Leo Strauss in a different comparison: Xenophon and Machiavelli) between ancient mathematical science and modern. By casting "Principia" in classical geometry, Newton--in a tradition profoundly indebted to Descartes and, therefore, Spinoza, shows his assent to Descartes' premise. If Newton's "Principia" can be elaborated by Euclid's methods, then, perhaps, Euclid is not so Parmenidean after all. In other words, there is a kinematicism (Parmenides) and a dynamism (Heraclitus)--i.e., Einstein and quantum theory--within classical mathematical science.
I find this in Euclid's ambiguous definition of "point" within his "elements" and within his non-theorem, but postulate, the famous "fifth"--which scholars have labored in vein to derive from his other four axioms.
They have now discovered that it cannot be done, which is why it is a "postulate," rather than an "axiom."
Newton, to say nothing of Euclid, chose all words carefully: Chandra brings this to light for us. This should not cause us to shrug our shoulders and say, "Well, then, it has all been done before, why do anything in science?" It should, rather, challenge us to say, "How can I prove that?"
Maybe you cannot, and I know I cannot: So it has the effect of conserving for us the greatness of our tradition, while asking us to go beyond it by not allowing us the, "We stand on the shoulders of the shoulders of giants, so we see farther than they" platitude. Therefore, above all, the mystery of Newton's cosmology is revealed to us. We have found our way out of the Labyrinth of millenial confusion only to recover the greatness of Our Tradition: Our gratitude to Chandra is infinite! So, perhaps, is the cosmos in which it emerged. Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy