If ever there was a handy guide to physics for the enlightened layman, this is it. Perfect for answering questions about a myriad of topics, the good Doctor plods his way through the development of a science from basic fundamentals of measurement to the nucleus of an atom. There is some math, as physics is heavy on equations, but nothing that a B- algebra student can't follow. The emphasis is on placing discoveries and fundamental ideas in their historical context and then thoroughly explaining it in fairly simple terms. One thing that was wearing about this read was the often appearing '... which belongs more in a book on Astronomy.' Or Chemistry. Or Biology. All of which he wrote by the way. A few fun facts that I learned along the way: If the Earth's atmosphere were condensed to the density of water, it would only be 33 feet deep. Also, Herr Fahrenheit based his temperature scale on two extremes. One was the coldest water solution he could come up with, some mix with salt and alcohol, which he set as his zero, and his 100 degree mark was what he determined human body temperature to be. So, even though the scale relative to water is odd, the 0-100 range covers most of the human environmental conditions. Very good as is to be expected, as well as very long. The original version of the book is actually three moderate sized volumes, the edition I read is an omnibus of the three. ( )

For those like me who missed a good physics class early in our education, I feel this book gives me a chance to catch up. I like history, so like the historical approach. I can understand these biographies, and am particularly connected when someone like Franklin is highlighted (he didn't just fly a kite). The math and formulas leave me swimming, but I plan to make up for that with some other books. And, as the author says, even if the book is so old, now almost 35 years old, since it is historical it is not outdate. Interesting when he refers in 1966 to an expected moon landing in a few years..and he was right. ( )