Location : Cleveland, OH
Steven Johnson is a master storyteller. His previous work, The Ghost Map, detailed the cholera epidemic of 1850's London which, through the work of two driven men, changed the way we view and use water in the world's largest cities. While many people are familiar with that story, I have found that many more have no idea of Dr. John Snow and Henry Whitehead or of an epidemic which nearly wiped out a major portion of London. Steven Johnson, in The Invention of Air, has another excellent story and brings to the attention of a modern audience a person that was extremely influential in the 1700's and beyond, Joseph Priestley.
Contents:
Preamble
Prologue: The Vortex
Chapter 1: The Electricians
Chapter 2: Rose and Nightshade
Chapter 3: Intermezzo
Chapter 4: The Wild Gas
Chapter 5: Comet in the System
Acknowledgements
Notes
Bibliography
Outside of certain scientific and religious circles, I am sure that few know of Joseph Priestley. But during the 18th century, he was a leading theologian, scientist, educator, and political theorist. He is probably best known as the discoverer of oxygen and the Unitarian Church. However, Steven Johnson provides more historical context around Priestley, and how he influenced his peers and they, him. One of Priestley's basic foundation was that all information was to be shared. So, using two groups, at different times of his life, he was able to collaborate with other influential men, among them Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Canton, and William Watson (among a few). His meetings with these men, in London coffeehouses, allowed for the free flow of information, which Priestley was able to apply to several disciplines. Where now you have specialists, Priestley was more of a generalist, and applied his knowledge to theology, science, education, and more. Some of his writings and sermons would get him into a lot of trouble in England (including having a mob burn his house down), causing him to emigrate to the United States. It is in the USA, at the start of the republic, that he would continue his writing, which would find him influencing the Founding Fathers, chief among them, Thomas Jefferson.
While the title of the book concerns Priestley's discovery of oxygen (and several other gases), there is more to the man. Johnson does an excellent job of having created a very readable book on a very complex, influential, and controversial subject. That Johnson provides historical context for Priestley's accomplishments is almost as important as his Priestley's desire to share his ideas in an open and free manner. While most scientific peers didn't share their research until it was time to publish, Priestley provided updates every time he met with his groups or through a series of letters. Feedback from his group was instrumental in the shaping of future experiments and ideas but it was also critical to his view of the world. That he sought alternative viewpoints and heavily collaborated with some of the great minds of the 18th century is remarkable. Johnson has written another excellent book, which is very accessible, on a man whose web of relationships changed science, religion, education, played a role in early American history, repaired a Presidential relationship and still has value in the 21st century.
Technorati tag: book review Steven Johnson Joseph Priestley
Powered By : Domino
BlogSphere V1.3.1
Join The WebLog Revolution at BlogSphere.net