Never at Rest: A Biography of Isaac Newton (Cambridge Paperback Library) by Richard S. Westfall (PDF)

Description

This richly detailed 1981 biography captures both the personal life and the scientific career of Isaac Newton, presenting a fully rounded picture of Newton the man, the scientist, the philosopher, the theologian, and the public figure. Professor Westfall treats all aspects of Newton’s career, but his account centres on a full description of Newton’s achievements in science. Thus the core of the work describes the development of the calculus, the experimentation that altered the direction of the science of optics, and especially the investigations in celestial dynamics that led to the law of universal gravitation.

User’s Reviews

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

⭐I bought this book to find the details and straighten out the mysteries of Newton’s anomalous persona, which you hear repeatedly in any historical account of physics; Newton commonly being accepted as the most determinative thinker on physics in western civilization. A 900 page book, you would think, would have it all. But there is quite a list of the most intriguing and common stories that are not not even noted. Among the most peculiar of these that is never mentioned here: Newton asserted that he never had sexual contact with any woman (or man one presumes.) He advised a different course to achieved this where others have failed; rather than seeking to put thoughts about women out of one’s mind, and failing, one should think ceaselessly of something else (like calculus?), leaving no moment free for other thoughts. Neither is there any mention of the unbearable toothache Newton had, during which he re-thought gravity to drive away the pain. Etc. Therefore if you want the kind of biographical background you would expect in a book-length biography, you need to read some other book besides. What is this book really? Newton is such an important figure that he is a field of his own. Scholarly research papers take it for granted that one knows Newton details as one knows the sun rises, and well known material is not present. Instead, differences of interpretation, and neglected or newly found sources are the focus. I believe this book was originally that -the author spent over twenty years on research-, but then was re-worked for an audience other than the specialists. There is a wealth of material in this book … obviously. And the material present is written in a manner to be understood by lay persons, such as myself. Despite missing some of the most interesting or juicy material, there is plenty to reflect upon and reconsider, if thinking over things for yourself is your rationale for reading this, as it became mine: The culture of privilege and position of the 1600’s; How geometry/astrology/alchemy was mutating into calculus/astronomy/chemistry due to philosopher Descartes’ radical re-conception of what a “cause” properly is; That Newton spent almost all of his productive adult years researching alchemy (mostly) and religion (much less), but kept it secret (the alchemy is actually all in code -not mentioned here), to protect his position and his income, at the least, and prevent perhaps being prosecuted, not merely persecuted.Some clap-trap psychology in places is annoying. I don’t consider psychology clap-trap -far from it- but there is some specious quasi-psychology that the author outlines, suggesting it is worth further exploration by others. Some ordinary clinical psychology, in contrast, probably would have been enlightening. Newton is known to have destroyed the vast quantity of his documents, the bulk at one period. The author’s claim that it could only have been because they were worthless is mind-boggling. The obvious primary motivation for burning documents, which you have kept for most of your life, is to prevent the content from ever becoming known. One expects then that the destroyed documents would be the most revealing of the internal life of the mind and heart; the most emotionally troubling, embarrassingly revealing, petty, foolish, dishonest, scurrilous, incriminating, insane, and sexy.March 10, 2013 >I see that 3 out of 4 people rated my review not helpful, and I took pains to describe the book exactly as it is, so I have reworded for clarity, if that might be the problem. Or perhaps people believe what I said contradicted the four stars rating. Let’s put it this way: if you read for a lark, or for general information, this book is not for you. It is not an easy book, and from reading this book you will not know what most people who do know something about Newton do. But there is a lot of, I suppose, neglected material about what the author chose to include, even though typically neglecting the most well-known part completely. Immense consideration over a long period of time obviously went into this book and the profit I got from that is worth four stars. What was left out I believe is crucial, so five stars is not appropriate.

⭐This is a complex and detailed book. Despite my MIT PhD, I found it a real slog in parts because the author has the penchant for presenting one fact after another. The details are quite extensive and for one interested and prepared for them, this is the work you are looking for. If on the other-hand you are looking to understand Newton the person and his times, this is not the vehicle.Some of my observations:1. Notation: One of the major problems was the use of notation and even numbers at this time. There was a transition to the way we expect to see equations today but it is but a transition. The author presents Newton qua Newton at the time. Some diversion or discussion of the notation would be helpful.2. Alchemy: This also was a period for the transition between alchemy and chemistry. It had not yet dawned on just what an element was and the search for gold and the extensive exposure to mercury and other toxic chemicals was often debilitating. It would be useful to have some understanding the of the world of the alchemists. They had little “theory” but many “secret” recipes.3. Politics: Newton eventually moves to the political sphere. This was a chaotic period and again understanding this complex period of English history is almost a re-requisite to understanding Newton.Again, the book is extremely detailed, if that is what one seeks. However it demands a great deal of the reader both in attention to the text and in understanding the times as they were.

⭐This is an incredibly detailed and well researched biography. Never at Rest is an excellent read that explores extensively into the life, obsessions, skills, and achievements of Isaac Newton. The book is huge, super informative, includes some pictures, and will greatly enhance your understanding of one of the most important men of science.I loved reading this and enjoyed discovering a bunch of new information I never learned before from documentaries or another book I read about him. Great read! I highly recommend it!

⭐An expanded version of Westfall’s (already excellent) Newton biography “The Life of Isaac Newton.” The extra several hundred pages detail his work in science and mathematics. If you’re a non-scientific person, you’ll prefer the other volume.

⭐Overall a good quality book, detail oriented, professional, well written job. Sometimes gets lost in minutia of his life, which can get arduous. My biggest problem is that I am unable to follow a lot of the mathematical concepts, especially the diagrammatic and numerical stuff, as opposed to the philosophical, which I believe is handled somewhat better. I’m no mathematician but I’m not stupid either, I think; or am I ?

⭐For a definitive biography on Isaac Newton I found this 908 page tome difficult to read because of the very large number of old English quotes. Reading was more work than pleasure.

⭐Having finally finished this weighty biography I am pleased to say it is one of the most insightful biographies I’ve read in a long time. A must-have for those interested either in Isaac Newton, the history of science and the philosophy of science, or the roots of Enlightenment thinking. Westfall’s book has enhanced my understanding of all of these.

⭐Genius is rare on our planet. Westfall makes anyone who reads this text want to have a time machine to just be a fly on the wall to share some small aspect of what Newton did. Better than any science fiction ever written.

⭐Very Scholarly

⭐The definitive biography of Newton, everyone serious about Newton needs to read this book.

⭐The author devoted twenty years to the production of this work. The enormously detailed scholarly writing reveals the unique character of Isaac Newton, as well as presenting the full development of his incredible contribution to the fundamental sciences of Physics and Mathematics. The huge amount of work that Newton did on the more exotic subjects of biblical history and alchemy, and why his rational mind was attracted to them, is treated in great detail also. Newton’s life outside science also makes for very interesting reading and I found it most informative of the times and places in which he lived.

⭐This is a brilliant biography, treating as it does, all aspects of Newton’s life and career. It will be of special interest to those interested in the evolution of Newton as a scholar and in the development of his work in optics and calculus. It will also be of immense interest to those interested in placing Newton in the ‘line’ of scientists who shaped modern science and our ideas of the solar system and the universe. As a book, it might be a little unnerving to those who find mathematics and physics daunting. But then, if one is talking about Newton, one must of needs discuss his seminal and unmatched contributions to these fields. I have read excerpts of other biographies of Newton’s, but they appear a little one-sided compared to this work which is as comprehensive as it is deep. I have unhesitatingly awarded it a Five Star rating.

⭐This is some hard stuff. If you are looking for some afternoon ore weekend lecture about on of the biggest figures in natural science, this book is not for you.On more than 800 pages we learn about Newtons life, Newtons science and Newtons world. With footnotes and references on almost every page!!! it is a scientific biography which doesnt equal anything I have read before.If you like mathematics you are rigt here as well, in the first part of the book you will have a detailed explanation of how Newton solved the issues of motion and mass, how he thougt about different concepts, and finally shaped the idea of inertia and gravity.So if you ask me if I enjoyed to read this book, my opinion is twofold. As a non native speaker I troubled many times, especially when Prof. Westfall cited original papers and documents of Newton himself. As a guy with a background in biology and physics I still believe that I did not get everything out of it during a normal read.The book doesnt read fluently that is for sure, but it will reward any reader who takes that adventure with profound insights, not only to Newtons life but to the scientific historical and philosphical environment at his time.I deeply admire what Westfall has done. It is the definite scientific biography of Newton which is unchallanged, you will not get more anywhere else.In one of the reviews someone stated “Richard Westfall has done Newton proud”. Nothing more to say.

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