Galileo: The Man and His Science

 

by Andrew Fraknoi (Foothill College & the Astronomical Society of the Pacific)

 

 

            This guide is designed to help introduce beginners to the life and work of the great scientist, who, in many ways, was both the founder of science and the first systematic observer with a telescope. It makes no pretense to being a scholarly or complete bibliography, but simply recommends some accessible entry points to the enormous literature on Galileo.

 

 

Drake, Stillman The Discoveries and Opinions of Galileo.  1957, Anchor. Drake, a foremost Galileo authority, translates some of Galileo’s key writings, and nicely sets them in context. (See also his Galileo: A Very Short Introduction. 2001, Oxford University Press.)

Maran, Stephen & Marschall, Laurence Galileo’s New Universe: The Revolution in Our Understanding of the Cosmos. 2009, Benbella Books. A history of the telescope and its influences on our society and worldview, by two astronomers.

Reeves, Eileen Galileo’s Glassworks: The Telescope and the Mirror. 2008, Harvard University Press. A cultural historian fills in the story of the inventions and politics that led to the astronomical telescope and Galileo’s work.

Reston, James Galileo: A Life. 1994, Beard Books. A well-reviewed popular biography by a journalist; a good introduction for beginners.

Ronan, Colin Galileo.  1974, Putnams. Now out of print, this is a nicely written introduction by a British science writer and historical specialist, with many illustrations.

Sharratt, Michael Galileo: Decisive Innovator. 1994, Cambridge U. Press. Popular-level biography by a priest/philosophy professor, with a last chapter on the 1992 Papal Commission which reviewed the Galileo case for the Vatican.

Sobel, Dava Galileo’s Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love. 1999, Walker & Co. Galileo’s public and private life, seen through the filter of his relationship with his daughter, who was a nun.

 

 

Bendick, Jeanne Along Came Galileo.  1999, Beautiful Feet Books. A picture book for elementary school children.

MacLachlan, James Galileo Galilei: First Physicist. 1997, Oxford University Press. An introduction for middle school and up; part of the Oxford Portraits in Science series.

Panchyk, Richard Galileo for Kids: His Life and Ideas (with 25 Activities). 2005, Chicago Review Press. For middle-school kids, with some activities for school or home.

Pettenati, Jeanne: Galileo’s Journal (1609-1610). 2006, Charlesbridge Books. Illustrated picture book for elementary school readers, chronicling the year Galileo turned the telescope to the heavens.

Sis, Peter Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei. 2000, Farrar, Straus and Giroux. A picture book for children ages 4 - 8.

Steele, Philip Galileo: The Genius Who Faced the Inquisition. 2005, National Geographic Books. Part of Nat’l Geographic’s World History series, for kids ages 9 - 12.

 

 

Gingerich, Owen "The Galileo Affair" in Scientific American, Aug. 1982, p. 132. Reprinted in his The Great Copernicus Chase. 1992, Sky Publishing.

Gingerich, Owen "Galileo and the Phases of Venus" in Sky & Teles­cope, Dec. 1984, p. 520. Reprinted in his The Great Copernicus Chase. 1992, Sky Publishing.

Gingerich, Owen "How Galileo Changed the Rules of Science" in Sky & Telescope, Mar. 1993, p. 32. Especially useful article, including recent developments.

Lerner, L. & Gosselin, E. "Galileo and the Specter of Bruno" in Scientific American, Nov. 1986, p. 116.

Maran, S. & Marschall, L. “The Moon, the Telescope, and the Birth of the Modern World” in Sky & Telescope, Feb. 2009, p. 28. On Galileo’s pioneering observations of the Moon.

Shubinski, R. “From Galileo to Newton: How the Telescope Remade the Universe” in Astronomy, May 2009, p. 31.

Sobel, Dava “The Heretic’s Daughter: A Startling Correspondence Reveals a New Portrait of Galileo” in The New Yorker, Sep. 13, 1999, p. 52.

 

 

Galileo Project at Rice University: http://galileo.rice.edu/

Galileo and Einstein Course at U. of Virginia: http://galileoandeinstein.physics.virginia.edu/

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Galileo Entry: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/galileo/

MacTutor, Galileo Entry: http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Galileo.html

Galileo’s Battle for the Heavens (PBS show website with good supplementary information): http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/galileo/

 

 

Galileo’s Battle for the Heavens (PBS NOVA Episode): This 2-hour NOVA special, based in part on Dava Sobel’s best-selling book, Galileo’s Daughter, combines recreations of Galileo’s life (starring Simon Callow as Galileo) with a discussion of his science and times. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/galileo/

Galileo and the Sinful Spyglass (part of History Channel’s Man, Moment, and Machine Series) A dramatic introduction to Galileo and his times, featuring dramatizations and interviews.

       http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=51725&display_order=6&sub_display_order=7&mini_id=51673

       To purchase: http://store.aetv.com/html/product/index.jhtml?id=77189

Galileo: On the Shoulders of Giants (part of the HBO’s The Inventors Specials) This dramatization of Galileo’s life for young people won daytime TV awards, but takes some liberties to keep kids interested. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0205959/

400 Years of the Telescope (2009 PBS Special) -- Visually stunning show, that focuses on Galileo’s work and what happened with telescopes in the centuries afterwards. http://www.pbs.org/400years/

 

 

Brecht, Bertold Galileo. 1952, Grove Press. (plus many updated editions) Controversial play, not always historically accurate, and with a strong political perspective. (Joseph Losey’s production, with Topol and John Gielgud, is available on DVD.)

Dozois, Gardner Galileo’s Children: Tales of Science Versus Superstition. 2005, Pyr. Science fiction stories inspired by Galileo’s struggle.

Robinson, Kim Stanley Galileo’s Dream. 2009, Spectra Books. Combination historical novel and science fiction time travel tale, this book recreates the feel and politics of Galileo’s time.

Stavis, Barry Lamp at Midnight. 1966, Bantam. Another play about Galileo and the Inquisition, shown on television’s Hallmark Hall of Fame.