Customer Reviews

The Northern Lights

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This book documents the life story of Kristian Birkeland, a Norwegian genius scientist at a time when Norwegian scientists were rarely taken seriously. Birkeland spared no cost and no risk to explore and document the phenomena known as Aurora or Nothern Lights. He was the first person to really understand and explain auroras. His theories of space which developed from studying auroras have been proven true long after his deathhe was well ahead of his time.
Birkeland was an inventor, often distracted from what he loved best to work on projects that might help him to fund his expensive study of space and northern lights, as well as zodiacal lights near the equator. He pursued his varied projects with such single-mindedness that all else in his life went on the chopping block, including ultimately, his life itself.
The book is well-written and as readable as a scientific novel. Lucy Jago has previously worked on documentaries, and her research sometimes verges on the overly-detailed. Her hard work is obvious. The story in itself is a fascinating history of scientific study and the many obstacles that present along the way.

I didn't hold out hope for this one - surprise! It was a fascinating blend of biography and the historical events involved in explaining the Northern Lights. Yet more amazing were some of the historical elements that gave background. Jago does a nice job on magnetism as well as on reflecting back on Birkeland's forsightedness in terms of modern physics. This man is truly an unsung hero of physics.

If you teach science you will find many exerpts to share with your classes...especially about weather instruments and magnets. As a biography of a scientist/explorer it is equally rich for pulling out portions to share with classes.

Science is oftentimes taught today as if it has been a linear process, and students are rarely asked to consider putting themselves into the shoes of a particular time period or to think about the theories and experiments that actually did not go so well. The end result is that few science students understand the simple process of science, and increasingly believe that mainstream science is always correct. They fail to realize that it is a fact that certain fringe scientific concepts today will end up mainstream within a few decades. Kristian Birkeland was in fact one of the scientific heretics of his day (from the perspective of the British at least), and much of what he said in his time has turned out to be true. People studying the history or philosophy of science, electromagnetism or space plasmas will appreciate the background that this material provides.

I've been told by an advocate of mainstream astrophysics that the book gets some details "wrong". I can only imagine now that they were referring to the epilogue, and specifically the disparaging statements regarding Sydney Chapman and Birkeland's treatment by establishment science. If I am right in this regard, I would have to take Lucy Jago's side on the debate. I would like to mention that Chapman had an opportunity to observe Kristian Birkeland's terrella experiment as recreated by Hannes Alfven. From what I understand, from other sources, Sydney Chapman refused to observe the terrella in operation when he was given the chance. This is a very important detail that I hope she decides to include in any future revisions as it perfectly replicates the way in which modern mainstream astrophysicists treat theories which they do not like. Rather than disproving them, they will refuse to read about them.

I found no serious faults with the book other than that though. The book would especially make a great read for an aspiring electrical engineer.

The book describes of the life of a quite remarkable Norwegian scientist who discovered the cause of the Aurora Borealis, invented the electro-magnetic canon, and created the process for synthesizing fertilizer.

The book is an entertaining account, that falls short in its discussion of his science. As a personal account, his scientific journeys to Finmark in the heart of winter are an incredible demonstration of dedication to science.

This novel describes the man who unraveled mysteries of the brilliant Aurora Borealis and his challenging journeys against both society, and forces of nature. This Norwegian scientist by the name of Kristian Birkeland traveled through the harsh winter weathers of the mountains in Norway, to discover the secrets within the Northern Lights.
Inspired by the beautiful moving curtains in the sky, Birkeland became set on researching the Lights, whether it meant risking his own life or even leaving his peaceful love life for work. Unfortunately, his devotion to the Research became his first priority, instead of his own health.
Throughout the novel, Birkeland is chased by the large amount of funding that he needs, in order to set up his laboratory and his equipment for his Northern Lights Project. The government of Norway is constantly having tensions with its neighbor: Sweden, always with the apprehension of war. Therefore, the government is never willing to give enough funding to support the scientist's project.
Lucy Jago takes us through Birkeland's adventures as if we were there with him through the harsh blizzards and storms. Jago paints the story with real events that happened during Birkeland's unfortunate, yet successful, life time.
Through reading this novel, I was truly inspired and was impressed by his work ethics. I realized that he put lots of effort into his career, and contributed so much to our scientific knowledge of our world. After reading this, I felt like a larger person at heart, because I was able to become aquainted with someone so skilled and intelligent.

Way up into Norway at a city called Kaafjord a brilliant man, Kristian Birkeland and his three assistants, Riddervold, Koren, and Schaaning along with their tour guide who was a Samoyed, Archangelsk attempted to travel up a blistering cold, dangerous mountain in order to see something very special - the Northern Lights. And once Birkeland saw them he wanted to find a way to bring the Northern Lights to people around the world.
In the book they are constantly learning new things - "On the eastern horizon the darkness was splitting to reveal a gentle, tremulous luminescence - just a sliver, a streak. One by one the men stood still on the summit and stared at the vision appearing before them. The streamer of light began to move toward them in a huge arc across the heavens, pulsating and writhing as it advanced." They learned about the Northern Lights, and became mesmerized by it elegance and beauty. It was charismatic.
A second reason you should read this book is if you like adventure. - "As the group left the photographer's studio they did not at first notice the stray dog struggling through the mud with its head strangely bent forward. Riddervold nearly tripped over it as he crossed the road and the dog began to snarl viciously, pulling back its lips to reveal yellowing teeth, a few of which were streaked with blood..." In the book it doesn't have just any day adventures, but unusual - yet true adventures.
So if you like learning, adventures and non-fiction stories than I suggest that you read this book by Lucy Jago.