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Classic Books of Science?
half_cocked_jack writes "What are the classic books of science from throughout history? I'm currently reading On the Origin of Species on my Kindle 2, and it's sparked an interest in digging up some of the classic books of science. I'm looking for books from the ancient and medieval worlds and books from the golden ages of scientific discovery. Books like: Galileo's The Starry Messenger; Newton's Principia; Copernicus's On The Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres; and Faraday's The Chemical History of a Candle. I know that I can likely find these books in a format I can use on my Kindle (found a few on Gutenberg already), but what I need is a checklist of these books to guide my reading. Suggestions?"
The Bible!
Oh, wait...
~AA
I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do.
the Bible(choose your version for different results of science)
6. Surak's "A Concise History of Vulcan Logic" (2430)
=Smidge=
Is it just my observation, or is eldavojohn an idiot?
Newton - Opticks
Maxwell - A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism
Why would I want to read anything from someone who can't even spell "Optics"? ...what the heck is that... sounds like a toffee-based popsicle, obviously coffee-flavoured since it comes from Maxwell house. In addition, I'm not sure why they chose BOTH Electricity and Magnetism since they are both completely different subjects and have nothing to do with each other. For those less informed: Electricity is measured in volts and amps, and Magnetism is measured in how many pounds of iron something can pick up. You might as well talk about caterpillers and butterflies... two completely different animals.
Also "A Treatise"
Facts do have a liberal bias after all.
4. Introspective, enumerated reflections on the tendencies of nerds.
1. I believe it would be Mrs, she is married.
2. Why do you bring her up, a bit of an obscure reference.
3. Leave Michael Palin's wife out of this. (actually I'm not certain she took his name)
Yeah, but those were the Mariner Captains.
The *sailors* were coming back and telling tall tales to the kids at the docks, the same ones that grow up today going "Well, yeah *Book Smarts* is okay, but if you think I'm going to believe a book rather than what a *REAL* *MAN* ... that's *BEEN* *THERE* ... says, well your just a stupid geek anyway . . ."
Then they beat Plato up and took his lunch money.
Pug
An Invisible Entity of Vast Power whose existence must be taken on faith alone: Liberal Media
Don't forget Abdullah Al-Hazred!
3. Stupid, snarky comments about fake books.
Such as the disappointing sequel to Newton's Principia, Principia II: The Quickening
Or Galileo's little known, underground autobiography Lorem Ipsum Pontifex Bicceus Amet" (Literal translation: "The Pope Is A Total Bitch.")
And "Fuck You, World!", the classic tome by Thomas Midgley (inventor of leaded gasoline *and* chlorofluorocarbons).
Too many lords' kids with no inheritance or land encouraged by the Pope to reclaim the holy land for Christendom, and all the loot they could carry?
Nah.
Maybe the European Catholics were upset by all the falafel stands opening up in Rome, driving the local shops out of business.
That has to be it...
Yep, it sure will. Be a good little martyr-to-be and climb up on top of the pile of faggots. I'll just pass the starting torch to this convenient agglomeration of Aboriginal animists, Bhuddists and FreeThinkers.
Oh dear. Settle down and make yourself comfortable ; we have a problem with your torture and agonising death. You see, unlike Christians (mono-theists more generally), this bunch of other religions don't have a strong tradition of burning heretics. I'm sorry, but your martyrdom has been unavoidably delayed by other people refusing to descend to your level.
Please accept our apologies and I'll try to whip up a slavering crowd as soon as possible. Could you recommend some good churches to get them from?
Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
i could not agree more. i think for a similar reason zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance is a good book for scientists, esp the part about gumption traps. here is one of my favorite koans from GEB:
The student Doko came to a Zen master, and said: "I am seeking the truth. In what state of mind should I train myself, so as to find it?"
Said the master, "There is no mind, so you cannot put it in any state. There is no truth, so you cannot train yourself for it."
"If there is no mind to train, and no truth to find, why do you have these monks gather before you every day to study Zen and train themselves for this study?"
"But I haven't an inch of room here," said the master, "so how could the monks gather? I have no tongue, so how could I call them together or teach them?"
"Oh, how can you lie like this?" asked Doko.
"But if I have no tongue to talk to others, how can I lie to you?" asked the master.
Then Doko said sadly, "I cannot follow you. I cannot understand you."
"I cannot understand myself," said the master.