Kepler (Paperback)

by Max Caspar (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Definitive biography by foremost scholar offers fascinating erudite picture of great mathematician’s scientific accomplishments: formulation of laws of planetary motion, work with optics and calculus, much more. Also detailed chronicle of Kepler’s public and personal life (childhood and youth, education, mother’s trial as a witch, fear of religious persecution, etc.). Introduction and Notes by Owen Gingerich. Bibliography.


Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (September 8, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486676056
• ISBN-13: 978-0486676050
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #736,766 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Widely considered Kepler's definitive biography, December 19, 2000

By	Patrick J Boner (Gainesville, FL United States) - See all my reviews

Although written in 1948, Caspar's biography is today still the most comprehensive attempt to portray the person of Kepler in a unified manner. This work reflects Caspar's lifetime of work dedicated to Kepler's many publications, manuscripts, and correspondences, and, thanks to additional citations made by editor Owen Gingerich, the reader may now find where nearly all of these passages derive from. Both the common reader and serious student may benefit from this book, for it combines Kepler's scientific studies with the deeply personal conflicts of an early modern genius. Caspar's biography is fundamental not only for studies made on Kepler, but also for the Scientific Revolution in general.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you dig Kepler, you'll love this book, April 11, 2003

By	Christopher T. Greaves "x_gamma" (Salem, OR United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Like the other reviewers have said, this book is simply the best combination of an account of Kepler's life, theories, and works.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Complete Story of Johannes Kepler the Heretic Astronomer, September 8, 2007

By	Magickal Merlin "Wizard" (Death Valley-SoCal) - See all my reviews

This biography is simply the best on the life and trials of Johannes Kepler.Anyone,who is exploring the field of astronomy,should invest their time in reading this great book.It's the fascinating story of a genius scientist having to deal with the heretical zeitgeist and relentless religious persecution of his times.Ironically,more from his own protestant leadership rather than the catholic church.Kepler was like the modern Socrates during this epoch leading to the Age of Reason. Kepler supported the Greek Copernican world model,which was in direct oppossion to the teachings of all christian-jewish European schools.Kepler did not want to 'drag the owls of knowledge to Athens',yet to bring their greek pagan wisdom to the heart of the European centers of learning.This is just an excellent book for any astute historian with a budding interest in the laws of the stars above us.