Isaac Newton: The Last Sorcerer
by Michael White
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Unknown to all but a few, Newton was a practicing alchemist who dabbled with the occult, a tortured, obsessive character who searched for an understanding of the universe by whatever means possible. Sympathetic yet balanced, Michael White's Isaac Newton offers a revelatory picture of Newton as a genius who stood at the point in history where magic ended and science began.Tags
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Overall, the book was good. The history was sound and the sources fairly legitimate. There are a few times when the author understands that some of the recesses of history are dark, but chooses to insert wishful thinking into them anyway. These are only minor distractions. The premise that Newton’s alchemy and his natural philosophy were necessary and symbiotic studies is an interesting one, and one that I think needs further exploration by a more balanced hand.
http://lifelongdewey.wordpress.com/2012/11/05/509-isaac-newton-by-michael-white/
http://lifelongdewey.wordpress.com/2012/11/05/509-isaac-newton-by-michael-white/
Newton was an enigma. A scientific genius whose discoveries enabled a worldview without God, he was a passionate Christian whose private researches extended to alchemy, numerology and biblical prophecy. White's book is a careful and well-written account of both these sides, providing insights into Newton's inner life and his legacy.
Gareth Southwell is a philosopher, writer and illustrator.
Gareth Southwell is a philosopher, writer and illustrator.
I was expecting this to have more detail about the alchemical work, and certainly an open mind about it - I found White's contempt for Newton's beliefs difficult to take. And I agree with the previous reviewer that there is no decent biography of Newton which covers all aspects of the man.
A well written biography on the life and times of Isaac Newton. The author does particularly well in interspersing writings from Newton and others of that period.
The descriptions of his achievements are at a very readable level that the masses will easily follow. This may leave those with more of a scientific or mathematical bent wishing for more.
The descriptions of his achievements are at a very readable level that the masses will easily follow. This may leave those with more of a scientific or mathematical bent wishing for more.
This was a interesting read for the most part, however it could be dry at times which is why it took me so long to read it, but overall a good read into the life and times of Sir Isaac Newton.
One of the greatest thinkers of all time. Where is the well written biography? (This isn't it.)
life of Newton with emphasis on alchemical work
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35 Works 4,971 Members
Michael White is a British writer. He was born in 1959 and studied at King's College London. He has been a science editor of British GQ and a columnist for the Sunday Express in London. From 1984 to 1991, he was a science lecturer at d'Overbroeck's College in Oxford before becoming a full-time writer, of both fiction and non-fiction. Among his show more non-fiction works are: Coffee with Newton, Galileo Antichrist: A Biography, The Fruits of War, Tolkien: A Biography, Leonardo: The First Scientist, and Isaac Newton: The Last Sorcerer. White also collaborated with John Gribbin on 'A Life in Science' Series, featuring biographies of Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin. His novels include: The Art of Murder, The Borgia Ring, The Medici Secret, and Equinox. He has also written numerous novels under pseudonyms, including; the E-Force trilogy as Sam Fisher, and The Titanic Enigma, as Tom west. Most recently, White co-wrote the international bestseller Private down Under, with James Patterson. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Isaac Newton: The Last Sorcerer
- Original publication date
- 1997
- People/Characters
- Isaac Newton
- Important places
- University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK; Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK
- Disambiguation notice
- Do not combine with other books about Newton that White wrote for children.
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- Popularity
- 70,994
- Reviews
- 7
- Rating
- (3.68)
- Languages
- 6 — English, Italian, Norwegian (Bokmål), Portuguese, Serbian, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 16
- ASINs
- 4





























































