Isaac Newton

Bibliography:
Krull, Kathleen and Boris Kulikov, ill. Isaac Newton. New York: Penguin Group, 2006. ISBN-13 9780670059218

Plot Summary:
Isaac Newton is a brief biography of Isaac Newton from childhood through his death. The main focus, of course, is his time spent experimenting with scientific subjects, especially optics, physics and calculus. It also covers the historical events of his time period to put everything into context.

Critical Analysis:
The biography does not glorify Isaac Newton, but rather lets his accomplishments speak for themselves. He is portrayed with all of his faults and qualities. Because of this, the insights he has into the sciences actually seem more impressive because it is easy to see him as a person that anyone could know. He could be that grouchy but genius neighbor down the street. Kathleen Krull does a wonderful job of also incorporating modern day analogies into the text so that kids can relate to what is happening. At one point she compares Isaac Newton’s awe at entering Cambridge for the first time with the awe that Harry Potter must have felt when he first spied Hogwarts. The language is also written for children, with much more of a spoken format than most books, which makes this book a good choice for reading aloud to kids.

The historical background given in the book, and the discussion of other famous scientists and philosophers of the age, adds depth to the book and does not detract from Newton as the focus. In fact, this book could be interesting to someone who likes science, math or history. As someone who used to be heavily involved in Physics, this book makes me want to delve into the subject once again, preferably starting with all of the primary sources referenced in the book, some of which Newton wrote himself.

Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal Starred Review: “Writing in a style aptly described in the blurb as juicily anecdotal (a tone reflected in Kulikovs witty illustrations), she offers a multifaceted portrait of a genius who was both brilliant and several slices short of a loaf, capable of revolutionary insights into science but also rude, jealous, and secretive. Along with presenting lucid, animated descriptions of Newtons major achievements, from calculus and the laws of motion to the reflecting telescope (a cool new toy that earned him instant election to the Royal Society), the author carefully takes on such speculative topics as his religious beliefs, his homosexuality, and the possibility that his emotional imbalance was a result of poisoning caused by his obsessive alchemical experiments.”
Booklist: “Engaging in limited speculation about Newton's personality (Did he have Asperger's syndrome or suffer from mercury poisoning?), Krull recounts Newton's lonely childhood, his penchant for quiet reflection, and the difficulties that led to his feuding with other scientists. The lively, conversational style will appeal to readers; Newton comes off as disagreeable and difficult, but never boring. Krull also does a credible job explaining several of Newton's complex theories. She offers no documentation, but she appends a list of books and Web sites for those who want more facts. Kulikov's humorous pen-and-ink drawings complement the lighthearted text of this fascinating introduction, which will appeal to both would-be scientists and children in need of a quick-to-read biography.”

Connections:
Other biographies in Kathleen Krull’s “Giants of Science” series include:
Marie Curie. ISBN 9780670058945
Leonardo da Vinci. ISBN 9780670059201
Sigmund Freud. 9780670058921