Michael A. Hoskin

As with most of the books in this series, the author knows what he is talking about, the writing is not as academic as a heavier tome and the contents is pretty much what it says on the cover.

Hoskin starts his story in prehistory (making sure to note that a lot of what we think we know is just an assumption and chances are that we are very wrong and what we consider patterns may have different reasons for being) and then proceeds to the 19th century where this story ends - astronomy becomes show more part of a much larger story at this point and splits and merges into different sciences.

Even with this scope, there is enough to cover - from astronomy being almost the same as astrology, through the sky being more a geometry problem than anything else (you ever wonder why some of the biggest name in astronomy and math match?) to it being a branch of physics and chemistry. The story moves quickly and the narrative throws a lot of names at the reader (and a lot of definitions and math) but it never gets boggled into irrelevant details.

Through the centuries, theories had been more often wrong than right. Authors often struggle with writing a story like that without making the early practitioners sound uneducated (Earth at the center of the universe for example). Hoskin manages to find the balance - he is respectful towards the past and how ideas developed (except against the flat-Earthers - very early in the book he states "Ever since then, everyone with a modicum of education has known that the Earth is spherical". For reference, that's Eratosthenes times (276-195 BC) and yes, spherical is a bit of a misnomer but it serves just fine in this statement). That sentence worried me a bit (and made me laugh) - the balance is not that easy to achieve with this kind of a sentiment but his issues were never with the people of the past.

A nice introduction to the topic (and as usual, the book contains a good list of things you can read to go deeper into the story if so you wish). show less

This book offers a unique account of astronomical theory and practice from antiquity to the present day. Lavishly illustrated and expertly written.

Do you like reading about Stonehinge, building customs based on astronomy, ancient Egyptian calendars, beliefs of Copernicus, and the development of telescopes... then you'll love this book.