A contemporary of Galileo and a forerunner of Isaac Newton, Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) was a pioneering German scientist and a pivotal figure in the history of astronomy. This colorful, well-researched biography brings the man and his scientific discoveries to life, showing how his contributions were every bit as important as those of Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton.
It was Kepler who first advocated the completely new concept of a physical force emanating from the sun that controls the motion of the planets--today we call this gravity and take it for granted. He also established that the orbits of the planets were elliptical in shape and not circular. And his three laws of planetary motion are still used by contemporary astronomers and space scientists.
The author focuses not just on these and other momentous breakthroughs but also on Kepler's arduous life, punctuated by frequent tragedy and hardships. His first wife died young, and eight of the twelve children he fathered succumbed to disease in infancy or childhood. He was frequently caught up in the religious persecutions of the day. His mother narrowly escaped death when she was accused of being a witch.
Intermingling historical and personal details of Kepler's life with lucid explanations of his scientific research, this book presents a sympathetic portrait of the man and underscores the critical importance of Kepler's discoveries in the history of astronomy.
“David Love’s infectious fondness for Kepler enlivens every page of this engaging biography. He has also done his homework: historical accounts are carefully referenced, and there are informative summaries of some of Kepler’s major works. Biographical details are enhanced by many of the author’s own photographs. In all, this is a welcome contribution to Kepler studies.”
—William H. Donahue, director of laboratories, St. John’s College, Santa Fe, and translator of Kepler’s Astronomia Nova and Optics
“Kepler’s story is a fascinating one, and this is an accessible and well-written guide to the man and his science. Highly recommended.”
—Chris Lintott, professor of astrophysics, University of Oxford, and presenter of the BBC’s The Sky at Night
"David Love’s book goes far beyond the well-known facts about Kepler’s life and works. It would be difficult to find as authoritative a book on Kepler as this, and one which I highly recommend.”
—Ian Morison, emeritus professor of astronomy, Gresham College
