biographies

Learn about Newton's life and circumstances. Double check your facts...


  • Brewster, Sir David. Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton. Edinburgh, Thomas Constable and Co, (MDCCCLV).
    • An interesting biography by a man who gained access to original documents and letters of Newton's life. Well written for the date (1855). Includes text of the letters between Halley and Newton.
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  • Mandelbrote, Scott. Footprints of the lion: Isaac Newton at work. Cambridge: Cambridge University Library, 2001.
    • A book written on the life of Newton through his artifacts at the Cambridge University Library (seems quite the collection). A good overview of his life and ideas through his own writings and the books he read himself. Reads like a tour through a museum, but I find that interesting. Short, color pictures.
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  • Maury, Jean-Pierre. Newton The Father of Modern Astronomy. New York, Harry N. Abrams, 1992.
    • A comprehensive little book, I suspect for younger readers, but jam-packed with info. Has pictures, illustrations, and papers. A general view of the life of Newton, his discoveries, and discoveries based on his works. Small, but a good place to start when researching, like a tiny springboard for knowledge on Newton.
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  • Newton's Dark Secrets. Dir. Karen Barss. DVD. Nova / PBS, 2005.
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  • Westfall, Richard S. Never at Rest: A Biography of Isaac Newton. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1980.
    • I am not recommending you read this 874 page biography. But it sure is comprehensive and has a huge index. A great place to look up people and places in his life if you want to know more detail. The bibliography is an essay. Blech!
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  • Westfall, Richard S. The Life of Isaac Newton. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
    • Ok, this one you can read. A much shorter version of Never at Rest, edited down by the original author, and with less mathematical explanations (less, not none). As admitted by the author, this 312 page book is much easier to read by the general public than Never at Rest.
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  • White, Michael. Isaac Newton the Last Sorcerer. Reading, Massachussettes: Addison-Wesley, 1997.
    • I like this biography because it begins with a review of early biographies, and thrashes them for glossing over interesting points because they loved Newton so much. A great book to begin discussions of truth. Well referenced and indexed.