The Sleepwalkers: A History of Man's Changing Vision of the Universe (Penguin Modern Classics) UK ed. Edition, Kindle Edition

by Arthur Koestler (Author)

42 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0141394534

ISBN-10: 0141394536

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Arthur Koestler's extraordinary history of humanity's changing vision of the universe

In this masterly synthesis, Arthur Koestler cuts through the sterile distinction between 'sciences' and 'humanities' to bring to life the whole history of cosmology from the Babylonians to Newton. He shows how the tragic split between science and religion arose and how, in particular, the modern world-view replaced the medieval world-view in the scientific revolution of the seventeenth century. He also provides vivid and judicious pen-portraits of a string of great scientists and makes clear the role that political bias and unconscious prejudice played in their creativity.

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Product details

File Size: 4347 KB
Print Length: 572 pages
Publisher: Penguin Classics; UK ed. edition (February 23, 2017)
Publication Date: February 23, 2017
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B06VSXFQJH
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

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Word Wise: Enabled
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Screen Reader: Supported

Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #447,763 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #43 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Science > Astronomy & Space Science > Star-Gazing
- #171 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > History > Science & Medicine > Astronomy
- #192 in Books > Science & Math > Astronomy & Space Science > Star-Gazing

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Donald J. Weinshank

This is an extraordinary and valuable introduction to the history of astronomy and cosmology.

January 22, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is an extraordinary and valuable introduction to the history of astronomy and cosmology. I used in a class I taught many years ago for a period of several years and recommended very strongly

Koestler was the well-known novelist ("Darkness at Noon" and many other works), who, in his later years turned to writing about the history of science.

His bookThe Watershed enjoyed a great deal of critical acclaim at the time. Some years later, Koestler decided to wrap around that book with a very extensive treatment of the history of astronomy and cosmology, the present volume.

I so admire this time of Koestler's because of its treatment of Galileo. Gone are the simplistic treatments of Galileo's conflict with the church. For example, Galileo was not tortured, but "to be shown the instruments of torture." In the context of times. This is no small distinction.Furthermore Koestler makes clear that there were many within the church who were prepared to accept Galileo's ideas, provided that he advance them as an hypothesis rather than as absolute fact. Not to put too fine a point on it, there are several deficiencies to Galileo's theory. For example, in particular, only one tide a day

Finally Koestler makes it clear that a Galileo did some of his best work in retirement. a.k.a. under house arrest.

This is an absolutely enthralling book, which I used in class for many years and heavily annotated. I purchased this volume to give to a friend

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Ijaz Durrani

Review of the book titled" The Sleepwalkers" by IJAZ DURRANI

April 18, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

In this excellent contribution, Aurthur Koestler slices through the sterile refinement between " sciences' and " humanities' to enliven the entire history of cosmology from Babylonians to Newton. He indicates how the appalling part in the middle of science and religion emerged and how, specifically , the advanced world perspective supplanted the medieval world view in the logical denouement of the seventeenth century . He additionally gives clear and reasonable pen-representations of a string of erudite researchers and makes pass the part that political predisposition and oblivious bias played in their innovation.

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March 1, 2014

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I have only rudimentary knowledge of the history of astronomy. Koestler's book may be on or off base in parts. I simply do not know -- though I suspect from the nature of the reviews and the praise from it has received from friends I trust who do have the requisite knowledge, although Koestler's treatment of Galileo may be unduly harsh, the overall treatment of the topic is wonderfully composed and written in a fashion that makes it hard to put down. A definite recommendation.

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May 3, 2017

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Good review of the history of cosmology up though Kepler and Newton. Well written an easy to follow. Explains how mankind eventually came to understand the nature of the solar system and how it worked.

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February 18, 2013

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Arthur Koestler's book on the rise of modern western science is certainly controversial, for instance, his appreciation of Copernicus' work is not what we naively would expect. But the book is very good and has fascinating parts, as the one in which Koestler puts the blame on Plato for the human obsession with circles and spheres that delayed for centuries the emergence of the correct view of the Solar System. The shrewd analysis of Copernicus' and Kepler's as men assures the reader that science is after all a very human endeavor. And there is much more. I enjoyed it and recommend it.

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Hengine

A Rough Cut Masterpiece

September 19, 2017

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This book is a collection of gems. The reader is enchanted and enriched. The writing Copernicus and Galileo is brilliant, on Kepler, it is uniquely brilliant.

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June 13, 2018

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This author is amazing. Makes you want to read more and research the possibilities

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August 17, 2017

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This is a fantastic read. You quickly get addicted not just to the history, but also to the enthralling writing style.

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