Michael Faraday: Physics and Faith (Oxford Portraits in Science) by Colin A. Russell (PDF)

Description

Michael Faraday (1791-1867), the son of a blacksmith, described his education as “little more than the rudiments of reading, writing, and arithmetic at a common day-school.” Yet from such basics, he became one of the most prolific and wide-ranging experimental scientists who ever lived. As a bookbinder’s apprentice with a voracious appetite for learning, he read every book he got his hands on. In 1812 he attended a series of chemistry lectures by Sir Humphry Davy at London’s prestigious Royal Institution. He took copious and careful notes, and, in the hopes of landing a scientific job, bound them and sent them to the lecturer. Davy was impressed enough to hire the 21-year-old as a laboratory assistant.In his first decade at the Institution, Faraday discovered benzene, isobutylene, and two chlorides of carbon. But despite these and other accomplishments in chemistry, he is chiefly remembered for his work in physics. In 1831 he proved that magnetism could generate an electric current, thereby establishing the field of electromagnetism and leading to the invention of the dynamo. In addition to his extraordinary scientific activities, Faraday was a leader in his church, whose faith and wish to serve guided him throughout his career. An engaging public speaker, he gave popular lectures on scientific subjects, and helped found a tradition of scientific education for children and laypeople that continues to this day. Oxford Portraits in Science is an ongoing series of scientific biographies for young adults. Written by top scholars and writers, each biography examines the personality of its subject as well as the thought process leading to his or her discoveries. These illustrated biographies combine accessible technical information with compelling personal stories to portray the scientists whose work has shaped our understanding of the natural world.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Michael Faraday came from poverty to become with Sir Issac Newton the hgreatest mathematician and the greatest chemist ever. His strong Christian faith supported him through his trials and troubles. Just as Sir Issac Newton was a fervent follower of Christ, Michael Faraday was a fervent follower of Jesus Christ.Faraday’s work in chemistry and magnetic fields have had no equal. Unfortunately, Faraday did not have a strong worldwide press pushing him as mediocre scientists have in the Twentieth and Twenty first centuries. Faraday was a shy man who preferred the laboratory and his wife to sensational press coverage. Like Newton only a handful a men in the world could understand his scientific papers. The press was too dense. Faraday’s Christmas lecture series was wildly popular with the young. Faraday had a unique skill in being able to make the complex simple and exciting to the youth.I recommend this book on the life of the greatest chemist of all time.

⭐I have been to the ‘stadium’ in London, and long ago worked on science directly derived from his discoveries. The visit to London prompted me to get the book – and what a delight it was. Easy to read, and yet a great summary of his life – his Science life and his Religious life – which for him were not so separate. Anyone interested in the history of Science should read this book.

⭐I love that Michael Faraday pursued his science and faith. His science was so amazing because of his faith. Today many people tend to put these two things at odds – that’s only because dogmatic science (false/wrong science) clashes with true belief and false belief clashes with true science.

⭐The book is easy-to-read and does both Faraday’s life and his career justice. The reason for this all too rare balance and accuracy is almost certainly because of the fact that both the book’s author Colin A. Russell and its editor Owen Gingerich are recognized and well-respected religion and science scholars as well as eminent scientists (Russell a well-respected chemist, Gingerich an astronomer).

⭐APPROX 60 YEARS AGO,MY LATE MOTHER GAVE ME A MAGAZINE OR BOYS ADVENTURE BOOK ,AND I WAS ABSORBED BY THE STORY OF MICHAEL FARADAY;THIS DESCRIBED HIS WORK ON ELECTROMAGNETIC FORCES.I WAS FASCINATED THEN AND AM VERY PROUD TO SAY I AM STILL FASCINATED NOW AT 70 YEARS OF AGE :I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AS A MUST READ FOR ALL–REGARDS,ALBERT ANDREWS

⭐Having been interested for along time about the reconciliation between science and faith which for hundreds of years have been in conflict; yet there are large number of physicists, biologists and chemist who are religious or have faith.Michael Faraday is among the most notable of them.This book gives a nice, short overview of Faraday’s life, his humble beginnings, the work that was needed in his career, his contributions to education and his attitudes toward politics. I was expecting a little more detail on his religious views but the author does make clear that it was Faraday’s love and wonder of a world he believed was created by God that drove him to try and understand it. This lead to some of the greatest discoveries of that century and arguably of all time.

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