Principia (On the Shoulders of Giants) [Paperback]

Sir Isaac Newton (Author), Stephen W. Hawking (Editor)

Book Description

Series: On the Shoulders of Giants | Publication Date: February 1, 2005

Establishing the laws of universal gravity and the fundamental laws of motion, Newton's momentous 1687 essay stands as one of the most important works in physics, and it revolutionized the way scientists investigate and prove their theories. In Principia, Newton used mathematical terms to present the principles of time, force, and motion, which have been instrumental in the development of modern physics. In his introduction, the famed physicist and bestselling author Stephen Hawking shows how his work built on that of his predecessors, Nicolaus Copernicus and Johannes Kepler.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Latin --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Sir Isaac Newton Stephen Hawking’s ability to make science understandable and compelling to a lay audience was established with the publication of his first book, A Brief History of Time, which has sold nearly 10 million copies in 40 languages. Hawking has authored or participated in the creation of numerous other popular science books, including On the Shoulders of Giants and The Illustrated On the Shoulders of Giants.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Running Press (February 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762420227
• ISBN-13: 978-0762420223
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,456,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a key masterpiece in the history of Science., November 12, 2000

By 

C. Morales (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Principia (Great Minds) (Paperback)

I bought this book not for the purpose of learning Classical Mechanics from it, but for the scientific curiosity of learning how the great Isaac Newton presented his revolutionary scientific ideas to the world. Of course, it is difficult to read. This is an old translation of a book written in Latin more than 300 years ago!

This book is a jewel. Just like the original works of Einstein, Maxwell, Heisenberg, Schroedinger and all those giants. The person buying this book should not expect to find a clear didactic textbook when originally it was not written for the layman, but for the expert scientific community of its time. Buy this book, sit back, scan through it, and enjoy a true piece of history.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Poor Quality Rendition of Newton's Masterpiece, December 11, 2005

By 

Marc Stein "great books, great coffee" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Principia (On the Shoulders of Giants) (Paperback)

I can hardly believe Hawking lent his credibility to this edition. Although his motivation of getting people to read classics is great, this edition barely contains any Hawking commentary, is riddled with errors and omissions, and fell apart after just a couple of months of use. Buy the Green Lion or the big Blue edition instead!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF THE INDISPENSABLE "CLASSICS" IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE, June 30, 2010

By 

Steven H. Propp (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Principia (Great Minds) (Paperback)

Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) was an English physicist, mathematician, whose Principia (published in 1687) founded classical mechanics, and described universal gravitation and the three laws of motion.

"I have in this treatise cultivated mathematics so far as it regards philosophy.... (G)eometry is founded in mechanical practice, and is nothing but that part of universal mechanics which accurately proposes and demonstrates the art of measuring."

"The propositions here demonstrated are adapted to the true constitution of the Earth.... For gravity ... decreases in its progress from the superficies of the Earth; upwards in a duplicate ratio of the distances from the centre of the earth; downwards in a simple ratio of the same."

At the beginning of Book III, he states, "In the preceding Books I have laid down the principles of philosophy, principles not philosophical, but mathematical; such, to wit, as we may build our reasonings upon in philosophical inquiries.... It remains that, from the same principles, I now demonstrate the frame of the System of the World."

He concludes the book on the note, "This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being ... This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord over all; and on account of his dominion he is wont to be called Lord God.... The Supreme God is a being eternal, infinite, absolutely perfect.... It is the dominion of a spiritual being which constitutes a God ... God is a living, intelligent, and powerful Being; and, from his other perfections, that he is supreme, or most perfect. He is eternal and infinite, omnipotent and omniscient; that is, his duration reaches from eternity to eternity; his presence from infinity to infinity; he governs all things, and knows all things that are or can be done.... He is utterly void of all body and bodily figure, and can therefore neither be seen, nor heard, nor touched; nor ought he to be worshipped under the representation of any corporeal thing. We have ideas of his attributes, but what the real substance of any thing is we know not."