Ingenious Pursuits: Building the Scientific Revolution

A fascinating history of science and technology read.The book was delivered in perfect condition. The seller's packaging was top notch.

Each of the dozen or so people in this story added to our scientific and technological advances in the 18th century. I thought the book might be boring but got sucked in by superb reviews, and am so glad I was. This historian writes with a foot in academic history and another fouot in popular writing. I have savored this book for its style and its subject matter, showing strong people collaborating together to create scientific and tech advances. Great story!

This book was an excellent overall view of one of the most important periods in human history.Not only did the author provide a straightforward review of the time period from a historical perspective, but also presented the scientific material in a similarly straightforward manner so that even us history lovers (who may not always be the most familiar with the various sciences) are able to easily understand and appreciate the great work performed by these men. Add to that the many wonderful pictures and illustrations to both better understand the material and gush over and this book thoroughly deserves 5 stars.

This book usually fascinated me, but could be frustrating at times. I have read quite a few books that cover the history of technology and ideas, and it is not an easy subject to write about. The "lone genius" theory of scientific and technological breakthrough has been abandoned, and today's literature focuses on group dynamics and communication. That's where the flow chart gets messy."Ingenious Pursuits" is not organized in a cover to cover, straightline chronological fashion. It is divided into eight thematic chapters, and these chapters are not a straight chronology either. The book is more like a series of vignettes, some are related to each other, some are not. The book introduces us to some of Europe's most interesting characters: Isaac Newton, Christopher Wren, Thomas Hooke, Edmund Halley and more.(Most of the content is focused on the English "natural philosophers".)These men defied our modern notions of specialization and made their mark in several fields of inquiry. Consequently, they pop in and out of different chapters of the book. For example, Christopher Wren had his hand in astronomy, anatomy, microscopy, and architecture.Jardine does a wonderful job of juggling all the personalities, the developing ideas, rivalries and quirks. She writes with enthusiasm about about their correspondence, travels, and finances. The funding for research ranged from royal patronage, hereditary estates, treasure ship salvage to getting "compensated" with copies of someone else's unsold books.There are a couple areas that could use improvement. The book is loaded with graphics, which the subject requires. But the drawings and photos have been scaled down so far that too much information is lost. A couple plates, like a map of the Chinese Sea and photograph of beetles in collection boxes are illegible. Why bother to include these? The subject matter is absorbing, but illustrations don't do it justice. This book would have really benefited from a large color format like Dava Solel's "Illustrated Longitude".Another reviewer raised the issue of technical explanation, which is an issue with all science and technology books. How much does the writer assume the reader knows, and how much detail should the writer go into? Jardine focuses more on the interaction between personalities and less of the nuts and bolts of the instruments involved. The design and fabrication of these prototype scientific instruments in a handicraft age was a great achievement in itself.I'm not aware of one book that covers all aspects of this subject, but this is a great introduction. "A Clockwork Universe" by Edward Dolnick overlaps some of the material and provides deeper understanding of Newton's astronomy and physics. Too many historians focus strictly on the politics of these times and overlook how much the "natural philosophers" accomplished.

The story being told, about scientific curiosity, investigation, discovery, and rivalry in the 17th and early 18th century is fascinating, but Lisa Jardine is not an engaging writer." Ingenious Pursuits" lacks the sweep and wit of Richard Holmes's "The Age of Wonder." While it's enlightening, some pun intended, Jardine's book can be cumbersome and repetitive. The joy comes from what you find out about Robert Hooke, Robert Boyce, Dr. Harvey, Isaac Newton, Flamsteed, Cassini, Helvetius, and other searchers for the way the world works and is measured. Jardine also puts matters in clear perspective via the context that scientists were backed by Charles II, James II, and Louis XIV more because of the military and practical application of their experiments than for the theoretical or intellectual output. She is not as successful in explaining experiments or tracking their steps. Illustrations help here. Because of Jardine's scholarship and the information imparted, "Ingenious Pursuits" is worth slogging through even when its writing is muddy and the reading is slowgoing.

Jardine does a fantastic job of weaving together the narrative of the early scientific revolution. She plays on the personalities of the various individuals involved, describing their relationships with each other and the ways in which they coordinated and fought over information.She presents an honest yet fair appraisal of the methods involved in so many of the ground-breaking discoveries of the time. She describes the excesses and methods that would be condemned today without falling into anachronistic criticisms.Excellent book. Well worth the read.

Oh my gosh! SO MUCH to learn... have read it twice and still go back for reaffirmation.

I have an interest in the development of the scientific method, and Prof. Jardine spreads it over a large canvass. Thorough, well written and a joy to read. I have an interest, but think it would be of interest to anyone with an interest in the Renaissance and the development of scientific thought and its impact on society.

On time, good condition, a valuable and attractive survey of the 17th Century scientific revolution with great images

fascinating, reflecting considerable research in the wide range subjects and generally well written although covering a limited time scale, mid 17 Century. Very good value. Sad to have lost the author during the reading.

Absolutely marvellous tutorial overview for anyone short of education in this arena.

Excellent!