Barrow, John D.

Cosmic Imagery: Key Images in the History of Science

ISBN: 9780393061772
New York, NY, USA: Norton, 2008. First Edition. “We live in a visual age–an age of images; iconic, instant, and influential. In this remarkable book, John D. Barrow traces their history in order to tell the story of modern science. Certain key images embody our understanding of life and the universe we inhabit. Some, such as Robert Hooke’s first microscopic views of the natural world or the stunning images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, were made possible by our new technical capabilities. Others, like the first graph, were breathtakingly simple but perennially useful. Vesalius’s haunting pictures of the human anatomy were nothing less than works of art. In the simple diagram now known as Pythagoras’ Theorem–proved by the ancient Babylonians, Chinese, Indians, and Egyptians long before the Greeks themselves–lay the foundations for modern mathematics. Many of these images have shattered our preconceptions about the limits and nature of existence: the first astonishing pictures of Earth from space stimulated an environmental consciousness that has grown ever since; the mushroom cloud from atomic and nuclear explosions became the ultimate symbol of death and destruction; the flying saucer came to represent the possibility of extraterrestrial life; Mercator’s flat map of the Earth cemented an entire worldview.”--from inside front flap of dust jacket. John D. Barrow (1952-2020) was an English cosmologist, theoretical physicist, and mathematician. With a long and acclaimed career in academia, Barrow attained his PhD in astronomy from University of California, Berkeley; in 1981 he joined the University of Sussex and rose to become Professor and Director of the Astronomy Centre; In 1999, he became Professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics and a fellow in Clare Hall at Cambridge University, as well as directing the Millennium Mathematics Project at the University of Cambridge; and in 2006 he was awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Educational Achievement by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Barrow also published more than 500 journal articles, as well as several acclaimed books including: The Left Hand of Creation (1983); Pi in the Sky: Counting, Thinking, and Being (1992); The Book of Nothing: Vacuums, Voids, and the Latest Ideas about the Origins of the Universe (2001); and New Theories of Everything (2007) just to name a few. Offered today is Barrows 2008 work Cosmic Imagery: Key Images in the History of Science. Taking us on a tour of the most influential images in science, Cosmic Imagery, explores the development of human understanding with a narrative that illuminates its origin and meaning. Written with equal parts erudition and enthusiasm, Cosmic Imagery is a work that is as informative as it is insightful. Hardcover in unclipped dust jacket. First U.S. edition as stated at copyright page, first printing as indicated by number sequence thereon. Book is in very fine condition with only minimal wear to fine edges; dust jacket is in very fine condition with light wear to fine edges and minor smudging to front and back covers. An extra handling fee of $3.00 will be added for shipping due to the size and weight of this item. Very Fine / Very Fine. [Item #7133]

Price: $75.00