Tycho & Kepler

Book Description

On his deathbed in 1601, the Danish nobleman and greatest naked-eye astronomer, Tycho Brahe, begged his young colleague, Johannes Kepler, "Let me not seem to have lived in vain." For more than thirty years-- mostly in his native Denmark and then in Prague under the patronage of the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolph II-- Tycho had meticulously observed the movements of the planets and the positions of the stars. From these observations he developed his Tychonic system of the universe-- a highly original, if incorrect, scheme that attempted to reconcile the ancient belief that the Earth stood still with Nicolaus Copernicus's revolutionary rearrangement of the solar system some fifty years earlier. Tycho knew that Kepler, the brilliant young mathematician he had engaged to interpret his findings, believed in Copernicus's arrangement, in which all the planets circled the Sun; and he was afraid his system-- the product of a lifetime of effort to explain how the universe worked-- would be abandoned.

In point of fact, it was. From his study of Tycho's observations came Kepler's stunning three Laws of Planetary Motion-- ever since the cornerstone of cosmology and our understanding of the heavens. Yet, as Kitty Ferguson reveals, neither of these giant figures would have his reputation today without the other. The story of how their lives and talents were fatefully intertwined is one of the more memorable sagas in the long history of science.

Set in a singularly turbulent and colorful era in European history, at the turning point when medieval gave way to modern, Tycho & Kepler is both a highly original dual biography and a masterful recreation of how science advances. From Tycho's fabulous Uraniborg Observatory on an island off the Danish coast to the court of the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolph II; from the religious conflict of the Thirty Years' War that rocked all of Europe to Kepler's extraordinary leaps of understanding, Ferguson recounts a fascinating interplay of science and religion, politics and personality. Her insights recolor the established characters of Tycho and Kepler, and her book opens a rich window onto our place in the universe.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Book! Well worth your time!.......2006-04-05

Tycho and Kepler: The Unlikely Partnership That Forever Changed Our Understanding of the Heavens, by Kitty Ferguson, is a 402-page dedication to two astronomical greats of the early seventeenth century, Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler. Beginning with an examination of the society into which Brahe was born, the book traces him throughout his childhood and adulthood, from the building of Uraniborg, Brahe's astronomical observatory on the island of Hven to his banishment from the kingdom of Denmark. Not until nearly the hundredth page is Kepler discussed, but from that point forward, tales from each man's life are alternated. It seems that more time is devoted to Brahe. The two stories come together when the men meet, and it follows them together from that point forward. When Brahe passes away, the focus immediately and entirely shifts to Kepler and follows him to the end of the book. The story comes to an abrupt finish with Kepler's death, though the volume also contains three appendices explaining and elaborating on complex astronomical terms discussed in the body of the book.
I think Ms. Ferguson decided to recount this story because she was interested in both astronomy and history. From reading the book, one can feel the interest the author has in the subject matter. While reading this book, I became interested in the topic as well, but sometimes felt a bit lost. Occasionally, it seemed that she went too much in depth on certain topics, such as the construction of Uraniborg, which she described in great detail. In general, however, Kitty Ferguson seems to like enjoy writing about this topic, and conveys her enthusiasm in her writing.
This is a good book. I read it for a school assignment, and was not especially interested in the topic at hand at first, though I rapidly became drawn into the story. I only grew bored of the book when it began to explain complex astronomical concepts. While all ideas were explained in full and in understandable language, accompanied by appropriate pictures and diagrams, it was still somewhat tedious for someone not especially knowledgeable about astronomy to wade through. The flow of the book is excellent. It never felt rushed, and the transitions between sections focusing on each scientist were smooth. The one thing that I really disliked about this book was its sudden ending. It ends at Kepler's death; it does not even mention the impacts of Brahe and Kepler's work on later scientists. Despite this inadequacy, I was left with a good impression of Ms. Ferguson's book, and with much more knowledge about astronomy, Tycho Brahe, and Johannes Kepler than I had when beginning to read this book.

Tycho & Kepler - a gooooood read.......2005-04-01

Tycho & Kepler - The Unlikely Friendship that Forever Changed Our Understanding of the Heavens is, for the most part, an excellent novel and easy read. Although it is a little confusing and dry at the times when complex astronomical concepts are being explained, they are outweighed by the wealth of historical accounts and gratuitous, but juicy tidbits. For instance, besides explaining the extensive instruments that Tycho built, Ferguson offers that he was also the first Dane to write a poem in Latin, that he had a twin that died at birth, and his aunt and uncle kidnapped him from his parents who wanted a girl and didn't much care. As for Kepler, not only did he develop the Harmonic theory, but had a miserable marriage, a mother accused and tried for witchcraft, and was the first author of a science fiction novel. Kitty Ferguson thus tells the life stories of the astronomers Tycho and Kepler in an informative, educational, yet narrative and interesting way. She effectively spans the 20-year gap between Tycho and Kepler by beginning the book describing Tycho's childhood and indeed his life exclusively up until the advent of a comet on December 27, 1571. Ferguson explains that, when Tycho saw the comet, he was out at one of his 60 manmade fish ponds on his estate at the Danish Isle of Hven, catching fish for dinner that evening. Meanwhile Kepler saw the same comet, but he was only five, and it was during a rare warm moment that he shared with his mother on a hilltop in Leonberg. Thus Kepler enters the story. For the rest of the book, Ferguson fluidly integrates the two men's lives, switching back and forth in an understandable, connected way. She eventually merges the two stories in a dynamic, functional manner, and shows how they used each other, and that many of their final results were synthesized versions of their combined efforts. Basically, Tycho provided excruciatingly accurate data that Kepler confirmed mathematically and extrapolated on. Kepler could have never figured out all that he did with out Tycho's data; he had bad eyesight and could not observe the sky he so dearly slaved for. It was because Tycho initially mistrusted Kepler that Kepler received only slight amounts of data that Kepler discovered that planetary orbits are elliptical - Tycho gave him only data on Mars, which happens to have the most extreme elliptical orbit, otherwise Kepler never would have noticed. Tycho also used Kepler to advance his own work and complete (among other things) the Rudolfine Tables, which are not merely the positions of planets, but guides to figure out what positions they are in at any time, (now, 586 years ago, or one thousand years into the future). The aptly-named chapters are elegantly punctuated with helpful pictures, like paintings of people discussed, illustrations of instruments, maps of the places mentioned, explanatory diagrams, and more. There are also obliging appendixes in the back, explaining astronomical terms (even though they are well-explained in the reading), and an index.
Just as the accomplishments of these men were great, so were their lives, which is probably why Kitty Ferguson felt compelled to tell the story of them. I would highly recommend it, even if you do not much care for astronomy.

The Odd Couple.......2005-04-01

Kitty Ferguson tells the tail of the unique and often humorous relationship between Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe that led to some of the greatest astronomical discoveries of our time. Going against the common belief of the geocentric universe, Kepler changes the world forever with the essential help of Brahe's observation on the heavens. Although the result of their relationship is extraordinarily beneficial to astronomy, the relationship is not as peaceful as one would think. Ferguson makes this evident throughout the story and gives numerous examples of their feuding and bickering over their work together. It reminded me of a 17th century spin off of the odd couple. Both informative and entertaining, this book covers everything from Brahe's golden nose to Kepler robbery of Brahe's information and is definitely worth reading if you are interested in the subject.

Tycho and Kepler.......2004-02-01

An amazing and inspirational account of one of the greatest stories in the history of science. Extremely well written and scholarly. I have average reading skills but at times found the book impossible to put down. In spots I had to stop reading it because emotions took over. The best book I ever read about the classical scientists.

Experimentalist & Theorist.......2003-05-27

As a physics teacher, I like to use the background on figures from scientific history to try to generate some interest from my students. When teaching Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion, I always make sure to talk about the contributions of Tycho Brahe. To my mind, the relationship between Brahe and Kepler is one of the earliest examples of the experimentalist/theorist relationship and, unfortunately, it is the experimentalist who is often lost to history while the theorist is remembered. I teach my students the names of both Brahe and Kepler as a small effort to rectify this unfairness. Kitty Ferguson has made a larger effort with this book and I hope she is able to reach a large readership.

Ms. Ferguson has at least given herself a chance by writing a very good book. Her prose is very engaging. She is detailed both science and biography and yet she is quite easy to understand even for those without a scientific background. And she has two extraordinarily interesting characters to talk about--Brahe, the rather spoiled Danish aristocrat who brought glory to himself against the odds in a "ignoble" profession by becoming the greatest naked eye astronomer in history, and Kepler, the poor German Protestant school teacher who had a knack for doing mathematics and finding trouble.

Though I knew the broad outline of Brahe and Kepler's story, I was surprised again and again by all I did not know. I may not be able to incorporate it all into my classes but I am glad to know the story myself. It is always interesting to see how the great ideas came into being, mostly through more fits, starts and mistakes than most people realize. Anyone interested in scientific history would be foolish to pass up reading this book.

The Nobleman and His Housedog: Tycho & Kepler: The Unlikely Partnership That Forever Changed Our Understanding of the Heavens
Average customer rating:

Lousy Title -- Great Book

A really good book

The Nobleman and His Housedog: Tycho & Kepler: The Unlikely Partnership That Forever Changed Our Understanding of the Heavens
Kitty Ferguson
Manufacturer: Review
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0747270228

Customer Reviews:

Lousy Title -- Great Book.......2007-03-31

Don't judge this book by its cover or its title! Its ugliness is only skin deep. Great beauty lies within.

Students and enthusiasts of the histories of the sciences will find this book both entertaining and enlightening. The heroes of history and science are not just names on pages and dead faces in old art. They were real live people with personalities, attitudes, and mindsets that affected (and effected) their work and their working relationships. This book is proof of it.

The "housedog" reference in the title comes from Kepler himself, a commoner from a family of modest means, as he describes his early relationship with Brahe, the nobleman. The detail the author provides in the individual histories of the two - Kepler and Brahe - and in the circumstances of their meeting and subsequent relationship is impressive.

This is the British edition of this biography of two of the greatest of the Rennaisance astronomers. The book is published in the US as "Tycho & Kepler: The Unlikely Partnership That Forever Changed Our Understanding of the Heavens" with a more attractive cover and internal design.

A really good book.......2006-04-13

What an appaling title! It is difficlt to imagine how anybody could create enthusiasm about a book about Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler.

I bought this book at a used book store as a curiosity and it sat on one of my bookshelves for the last few months. The title has no impact but I had glimpsed something about its contents. Nothing about the external covering of this book or the way in which the internal illustrations or plates are presented illuminates how good the book really is. It has an overall drabness about it that I can only attribute to the publisher. The subject matter is hardly riveting and I have ignored the book for some time because I expected it to be drab. What a mistake!

Ms Ferguson has a writing style that makes reading a story about 16th century astronomers and mathematicians run like a detective novel. I loved this book! I give it five stars but even though I think the presentation is lack lustre and the fact that her explanations of Kepler's work are not too clear. The diagrams relating to Kepler's work are poor and you really have to have some other understanding of his work to understand why Kepler is important to modern understanding of the universe.

This criticism aside, I think Ms Ferguson does a magnificent job of portraying the lives of both Tycho (pronounced Teeko - thank you for this) Brahe and Kepler in a way that makes them appear human. These are names I have known almost my entire adult life but it takes a work like this to make them human. I did find a bias towards Brahe but I don't think there is anything wrong with that. I would have to read her other works to see if she has some kind of bias to nobility (I jest).

I can best describe this book as a 'rare treasure'. It really is the kind of book that you can curl up by a fire on a cold night and read from cover to cover.

I am a scientist and I love reading books about the history of science but rarely have I found such a well written and engrosing book as this. I give it 5 stars even with the lack-lustre (I originally wrote poor - but that would be unfare) presentation. This is not to say the way that chapter structres are not good - they really are. I think Ms Ferguson has done a great job, Its just that the final presentation is a little dowdy.

It has to be asked "why would anybody write about such an obscure subject?" and "why would anybody read it?" I can answer these questions with the simple statement that reading this book leaves one a much richer person. I will certainly be looking for some other books by Ms Ferguson - I hope they are as good. Originally, I gave this book 4 stars because of the presentation but, picking it up again, I realise how much I really enjoyed reading it. The mark of a good book is when you wish you hadn't reached the end. This is a book I wish I had never finished.

Heavenly Intrigue: Johannes Kepler, Tycho Brahe, and the Murder Behind One of History's Greatest Scientific Discoveries

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Scientist Assassins
Intriguing scientific history
Annoyingly Slanted. Not Science, But Speculation
Wrong Conclusion
The condemnation of an Innocent Man - its a shame

Heavenly Intrigue: Johannes Kepler, Tycho Brahe, and the Murder Behind One of History's Greatest Scientific Discoveries
Joshua Gilder , and Anne-Lee Gilder
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Tycho & Kepler
Kepler's Witch: An Astronomer's Discovery of Cosmic Order Amid Religious War, Political Intrigue, and the Heresy Trial of His Mother
On Tycho's Island: Tycho Brahe, Science, and Culture in the Sixteenth Century
Kepler
The Book Nobody Read: Chasing the Revolutions of Nicolaus Copernicus

ASIN: 0385508441
Release Date: 2004-05-18

Amazon.com

Johannes Kepler's laws of planetary motion rank among science's biggest ideas. But did Kepler lie, steal, or even murder for the data he needed to complete his revolutionary calculations? Joshua and Anne-Lee Gilder make this bold claim in Heavenly Intrigue, the story of Kepler's troubled relationship with Tycho Brahe. The astronomers are shown as polar opposites--Kepler the anguished, poor misanthrope and Brahe the blustering young noble on intimate terms with King Frederick II. Since the authors tip their hand early in the book, it's easy to mistake the two men's lives as predestined, their sad fates written in the stars. Kepler, the suspect, is revealed to be consumed with a "constant boiling anger" and beset by illness and unhealed sores. When Kepler and Brahe meet, it is under a dark cloud of misunderstanding that foreshadows later conflicts. Each genius offends the other, publicly and privately: Brahe, holding the money and power, makes Kepler do tedious calculations rather than sponsoring original research, while Kepler demands patronage and lusts after valuable data. When the story is done, the narrative moves quickly to the 20th century. The apocryphal tale of Brahe's demise by burst bladder is systematically countered by researchers who find toxic levels of mercury in hairs from what is presumed to be Brahe's corpse. Did Kepler, who had means, motive, and opportunity, poison Brahe? Readers will either be convinced by the end of the prologue or have lingering doubts about the case's holes that even the authors' certainty can't patch. --Therese Littleton

Book Description

A real-life Amadeus: Set against the backdrop of the Counter-Reformation, this is the story of the stormy collaboration between two revolutionary astronomers, Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler. That collaboration would mark the dawn of modern science . . . and end in murder.

Johannes Kepler changed forever our understanding of the universe with his three laws of planetary motion. He demolished the ancient model of planets moving in circular orbits and laid the foundation for the universal law of gravitation, setting physics on the course of revelation it follows to this day. Kepler was one of the greatest astronomers of all time. Yet if it hadn't been for the now lesser-known Tycho Brahe, the man for whom Kepler apprenticed, Kepler would be a mere footnote in today's science books. Brahe was the Imperial Mathematician at the court of the Holy Roman Emperor in Prague and the most famous astronomer of his era. He was one of the first great systematic empirical scientists and one of the earliest founders of the modern scientific method. His forty years of planetary observations—an unparalleled treasure of empirical data—contained the key to Kepler's historic breakthrough. But those observations would become available to Kepler only after Brahe's death. This groundbreaking history portrays the turbulent collaboration between these two astronomers at the turn of the seventeenth century and their shattering discoveries that would mark the transition from medieval to modern science.

But that is only half the story. Based on recent forensic evidence (analyzed here for the first time) and original research into medieval and Renaissance alchemy—all buttressed by in-depth interviews with leading historians, scientists, and medical specialists—the authors have put together shocking and compelling evidence that Tycho Brahe did not die of natural causes, as has been believed for four hundred years. He was systematically poisoned—most likely by his assistant, Johannes Kepler.

An epic tale of murder and scientific discovery, Heavenly Intrigue reveals the dark side of one of history’s most brilliant minds and tells the story of court politics, personal intrigue, and superstition that surrounded the protean invention of two great astronomers and their quest to find truth and beauty in the heavens above.

Customer Reviews:

Scientist Assassins.......2006-04-05

Heavenly Intrigue, by Joshua and Anne-Lee Gilder, is a novel written with the assertion that scientist Johannes Kepler murdered scientist Tycho Brahe in the early seventeenth century. Before giving a myriad of forensic evidence to support this assertion, the authors offer a brief biography of each scientist that outlines both their personal and astronomical lives. Entwined in these facts are hints of Kepler's malevolent mental instability and his progressive hatred toward Brahe. Thus, the authors appear to have been motivated to write this novel as an attempt to reveal the true cause of Brahe's death and to label Kepler as not only a brilliant scientist, but a self-centered assassin. Aside from the darker, more hypothetical aspect of the novel, the authors describe each scientist's effect on posterity. Namely, Brahe instigated the methodology of science that develops theories after repeatedly gathering empirical data, while Kepler developed three planetary laws that redefined the structure of the solar system. Most importantly, both scientists opened avenues of ideas and questions that prompted Isaac Newton to discover the force of gravity. This novel is an ideal novel to read for a different perspective on two of history's most influential scientists. By intertwining their scientific achievements with historical background, it becomes easier to comprehend their lifestyles, motivations, and ambitions.

Intriguing scientific history.......2005-11-08

The Gilders have combined short biographies of both Brahe and Kepler to tell a story about early modern science, centered on their startling theory that Brahe was murdered by Kepler.

I haven't personally researched these individuals outside this book, so I don't feel fully qualified to comment on the rather sensational accusation which other reviewers here have dismissed so emphatically. But even from this one book, it's clear that Brahe, although a nobleman, didn't own land or substantial wealth which he could leave to his survivors. His income depended entirely on his professional skills and high reputation, which his children didn't share. So his death was an utter disaster for his family, rendering his wife an implausible suspect, notwithstanding the theories of some reviewers here. Kepler, who by winding up with control of Brahe's unique and immensely valuable body of astronomical observations was the greatest beneficiary of the scientist's death, is at least a plausible suspect.

Some writers have suggested that Brahe's death was an acidental overdose. (Alchemists of the period, and Brahe was one, did employ mercury in various elixirs.) But the Gilders' argument that Brahe owuldn't have accidentally administered the very large does of mercury that killed him I found quite persuasive.

It's unfortunate that the discussion of this book has centered so strongly on the controversy of whether Kepler was the killer, because there's a lot of other interesting material here, all of it skillfully told. The importance of Brahe's contribution to science, the remarkable ingenuity with which Brahe compiled observations actually more accurate than were possible with early telescopes, the analysis of why both Brahe and Kepler still took astrology quite seriously, and the remarkable methods which made it possible to demonstrate beyond serious dispute, 400 years after the fact, that Brahe died of mercury poisoning and not the traditionally supposed bladder or kidney failure, are all clearly described and make the book worth reading even if you can't accept the authors' murder theory.

Annoyingly Slanted. Not Science, But Speculation.......2005-06-18

When I borrowed a copy of this from the university library (thank God I didn't buy it), I was misled since it was the hardbound edition without the jacket, so all I saw was "Heavenly Intrigue." If I had seen the complete title, I wouldn't have bothered. The authors are truly of this generation, the CSI/forensic-wannabes (every cable channel has them now, very dismaying) who portray the facts from a mystery caper point of view, instead of looking at all the possible factors surrounding Brahe's death. Having read the other reviews, I find it just as compelling that it could have been Mrs. Brahe who had to euthanize him. And Brahe, although popular, had his own share of enemies, from religious extremists to possible other rivals. Maybe even kindergarten enemies, who knows? -- he did have a disfigured nose, a testament to his pugnacious nature. That should have been an obvious clue to the authors. As much as they try to give Kepler his due, they also paint him as a villain, on account of his mental troubles, his moods, etc. Well, I have news for the authors... most scientists have had their psychotic episodes: Newton suffered from depression (and by some accounts, a form of dementia) in his later years; Leibniz was worse off. Boltzmann wound up committing suicide. But the point of all this? Everyone, especially in those times, weren't quite right in the head. Hey, if you were living in war-ridden, plague-infested times, would you really be morally sound and civilized, the way we like to think of ourselves now?? I don't think so!!!!! And what is the whole point of this forensic crap?? Just to prove Brahe was murdered? To find a culprit, at any costs?? To make Kepler the Fall Guy??? The same has been said about some who have made important contributions in culture, science, and history, like Caravaggio or George Washington (both suspected and/or accused of murder in their lifetimes). The man lived miserably, and may not have been a saint. Despite Kepler's being obsessive a scientist (or philosopher, depending on your point of view) as he was... which scientist isn't?... he never quite expected to see the same kind of glory as Brahe did. Scientists then didn't enjoy the same prestige that we do now.

In closing, I will say that this book completely annoyed me, because it sought to reduce two of the most important scientific figures down to a scientific rivalry that went astray and resulted into yet another murder story. As storied and tumultuous their relationship was, there is no denying that both Brahe and Kepler's contributions helped usher in the modern era of science. Without them, Newton would not have had his Laws of Motion, Einstein would never have even thought of Relativity, and quantum mechanics may have never existed. Brahe and Kepler's story is so much more than that. Perhaps these so-called science writers (as well as those other investigative writers) should stop speculating -- like what the Da Vinci Code crowd likes to do -- and start thinking, really thinking about stuff that really matters, like the nature of everyday things and the universe. Life is not an endless cycle of Adam and Eve, and Cain and Abel but really a testament to the first seven days of Creation, and beyond, and how it works. And that is what scientists are primarily concerned about -- not about who's right or wrong. Ultimately, both Brahe and Kepler would have agreed as much.

Wrong Conclusion.......2005-05-20

I've researched this duo as well, extensively, from a scientific viewpoint, as one who works in a scientific field. The relationship between these two investigators is unique and well worth studying independently, away from the 'whodunnit' scenarios that this book creates.

The duo of Brahe/Kepler is an 'odd-couple'. For a few examples, of which there are countless dozens: Brahe was a showboat, he loved to party, cleanliness was his forte, kept up on his scientific discipline, whereas Kepler hated to bathe, seemed overly introverted, and was prone to reach out to spiritual/astrological notions about atronomical events.

The person most likely to kill Brahe was his devoted wife, whom he virtually ignored. She was the one who administered his medicine on his deathbed. Tycho suffered for days, the pain never went away. And so it was his wife who euthanised him. The author Joshua Gilder ignored the family's role in Tycho's death, as Tycho ignored his family during his life. With many children, all to maintain the observatory, we hear of not one child who was interested in the data he collected, or even suspicious of malfeasance. It's too bad, because in ignoring the role of Tycho Brahe's family, Gilder poorly scandalised a great scientific contributor, Johannes Kepler.

If you are interested in this topic, please conduct your own research, it will be worth it. Because the book is awful.

The condemnation of an Innocent Man - its a shame.......2005-04-11

The Gilder's make a very interesting accusation in their novel (read: novel, fiction). Sadly, this accusation is backed up by half-proofs and misrepresentations.

Kepler's words, which have been so methodically groomed throughout this novel, condemn him to no end. He wrote about childhood trauma (giving him an unstable mind... one that could commit murder), He wrote about his incessent anger (giving him the ability to lash out and hurt someone), and he wrote about his obsession with obtaining Brahe's data (a motive for murder). Sadly, however, all of Kepler's words, though they are true, only tell half the story of the man's life. Self Analysis, which the Gilder's obtained most of their 'evidence', was written as an exercise for Kepler, and much of what he said was overly harsh onto himself, and he likely didn't belive much of what he said about himself. As for his letters, much of the same can be said for them. They included letters that looked badly on him, but failed to include those which would give him a softer edge.

I'm sad that this might be the only book on Kepler and Brahe people will read, if they read others, a different picture of the two can be painted. Though, because of the current CSI craze, many people, including fellow reviewers, seem to be taking this as the word of god and saying that these forenzics don't lie. Maybe not, but Kepler isn't the guy they're looking for, he's just an exciting, interesting scapegoat.

The book was written in an accessable format, and if one can keep an objective mind and realize that the Gilder's are spitting a lot of bullsh*t, one can learn a fair deal about Astronomy and Alchemy. It's a shame that that won't be all.

I only hope that the scientific world comes out swinging on this one and puts an end to the Gilder's unfounded condemnation of Johannes Kepler

Average customer rating:

Not buying the whole tale...
A Fraud
A historical re-creation of the seventeenth-century collaboration between geniuses Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe

Heavenly Intrigue: Johannes Kepler, Tycho Brahe, and the Murder Behind One of History's Greatest Scientific Discoveries
Joshua Gilder , and Anne-Lee Gilder
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Tycho & Kepler
Kepler's Witch: An Astronomer's Discovery of Cosmic Order Amid Religious War, Political Intrigue, and the Heresy Trial of His Mother
The Book Nobody Read: Chasing the Revolutions of Nicolaus Copernicus

ASIN: 1400031761
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Book Description

Heavenly Intrigue is the fascinating, true account of the seventeenth-century collaboration between Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe that revolutionized our understanding of the universe–and ended in murder.

One of history’s greatest geniuses, Kepler laid the foundations of modern physics with his revolutionary laws of planetary motion. But his beautiful mind was beset by demons. Born into poverty and abuse, half-blinded by smallpox, he festered with rage, resentment, and a longing for worldly fame. Brahe, his mentor, was a flamboyant aristocrat who had spent forty years mapping the heavens with unprecedented accuracy–but he refused to share his data with Kepler. With Brahe’s untimely death in Prague in 1601, rumors flew across Europe that he had been murdered. But it took twentieth-century forensics to uncover the poison in his remains, and the detective work of Joshua and Anne-Lee Gilder to identify the prime suspect–the ambitious, envy-ridden Kepler himself. A fast-paced, true-life account that reads like a thriller, Heavenly Intrigue is a remarkable feat of historical re-creation.

Customer Reviews:

Not buying the whole tale..........2006-09-06

This book discusses the lives and relationship between two key figures in astronomy, Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler. Brahe was a nobelman who shrugged off political life to pursue his love of science and the stars. Kepler was a commoner who also studied the heavens and developed the laws of planetary motion. Kepler is portrayed as an insecure man looking for acceptance. The book also gives me the impression that Kepler did not like Brahe, while Brahe seems to be constantly helping Kepler and his family. Kepler is given a job by Brahe and Brahe also pays Kepler out of his own pocket, while his financial situation is being resolved. However, Kepler seems to go out of his way to fight with Brahe and look for a way to get out from under Brahe's control. Regardless of the help being given by Brahe.

The main point of the book is to lay the foundation and grounds for why someone would want to murder Brahe. Namely Kepler. I am not an expert in either astronomers' life, but I find the book too one sided. I would have to do more research to come to a conclusion, but for now my verdict is out. I have read a little that brings into question some of the findings from the tests performed on Brahe's hair.

I do not think the issue is as clear cut as the book tends to conclude. The book also doesn't clearly discuss the questions with the test results. The book was still enjoyable to read, but I believe more research is required to come to any conclusions.

A Fraud.......2006-08-05

I'd have some respect for this book if it were marketed at a work of fiction because that's what it is. The authors have little familiarity with any aspect of their subject. It's particularly unlikely that Tycho would have spent the last day of his life tying up loose ends, such as taking care that his common law wife and children would be his heirs, if his death were unexpected. And no one who has studied Kepler closely and honestly could imagine him capable of murder.

A historical re-creation of the seventeenth-century collaboration between geniuses Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe.......2006-01-05

Heavenly Intrigue: Johannes Kepler, Tycho Brahe, And The Murder Behind One Of History's Greatest Scientific Discoveries is a historical re-creation of the seventeenth-century collaboration between geniuses Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe. Kepler's scientific brilliance laid the foundation for modern physics, and his mentor Brahe spent forty years mapping the heavens with more accuracy than any before him; yet Brahe refused to share his maps with Kepler. When Brahe died far too young in 1601, rumors circulated that he had been murdered, yet it took twentieth- century forensics to reveal the proof - poison in Brahe's remains. Authors Joshua Gilder and Anne-Lee Gilder apply detective work to point a reasoned accusation against the ambitious Kepler. Heavenly Intrigue is a simply stunning, thoroughly researched work that dares to question the personal character of great thinkers.

The Birth of History and Philosophy of Science: Kepler's 'A Defence of Tycho against Ursus' with Essays on its Provenance and Significance

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The Birth of History and Philosophy of Science: Kepler's 'A Defence of Tycho against Ursus' with Essays on its Provenance and Significance
Nicholas Jardine
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0521346991

The Martyrs Of Science Or The Lives Of Galileo, Tycho Brahe And Kepler

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The Martyrs Of Science Or The Lives Of Galileo, Tycho Brahe And Kepler
David Brewster
Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0548131007

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The Martyrs of Science; or, The Lives of Galileo, Tycho Brahe, and Kepler
David Brewster
Manufacturer: Harper & Brothers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KQ1VZC

Astronomy: The Heavenly Challenge (Unabridged)

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Astronomy: The Heavenly Challenge (Unabridged)
Jack Arnold
Manufacturer: audible.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Download
ASIN: B000H5TU1S

Book Description

This series of cassettes on Science and Discovery recreates one of history's most successful journeys-4000 years of scientific efforts to better understand the physical world. Science has often challenged and upset conventional wisdom or accepted practices; this is a story of vested interests and independent thinkers experiments and theories change and progress. Aristotle, Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, Darwin, Einstein and many others are featured. Narrator Edwin Newman is a celebrated journalist, author and lecturer. For 35 years, he was a television journalist for NBC News and he's familiar to millions as a moderator of presidential debates. Edwin Newman narrates this look into the fascinating history of astronomy. It is a history which begins at a time when people still believed that earth was the center of the universe and humankind the whole reason and purpose for the rest of creation. From Brahe and Copernicus to Kepler and Galileo, Newman shows the long intellectual journey that created a new relationship between our world and the stars.

Ferguson, Kitty. Tycho & Kepler; the unlikely partnership that forever changed our understanding of the heavens.(Young Adult Review)(Book Review): An article from: Kliatt

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Ferguson, Kitty. Tycho & Kepler; the unlikely partnership that forever changed our understanding of the heavens.(Young Adult Review)(Book Review): An article from: Kliatt
Edna Boardman
Manufacturer: Kliatt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from Kliatt, published by Kliatt on September 1, 2004. The length of the article is 351 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Ferguson, Kitty. Tycho & Kepler; the unlikely partnership that forever changed our understanding of the heavens.(Young Adult Review)(Book Review)
Author: Edna Boardman
Publication: Kliatt (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 2004
Publisher: Kliatt
Volume: 38 Issue: 5 Page: 48(3)

Article Type: Book Review, Young Adult Review

Distributed by Thompson Gale

Witchcraft, suspicious death, and planetary orbits.(Heavenly Intrigue: Johannes Kepler, Tycho Brahe, and the Murder behind One of History's Greatest Scientific ... Review): An article from: Queen's Quarterly

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Witchcraft, suspicious death, and planetary orbits.(Heavenly Intrigue: Johannes Kepler, Tycho Brahe, and the Murder behind One of History's Greatest Scientific ... Review): An article from: Queen's Quarterly
Stan Corbett
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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ASIN: B000CQNB44
Release Date: 2006-04-06

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Queen's Quarterly, published by Thomson Gale on September 22, 2005. The length of the article is 3761 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Witchcraft, suspicious death, and planetary orbits.(Heavenly Intrigue: Johannes Kepler, Tycho Brahe, and the Murder behind One of History's Greatest Scientific Discoveries)(Kepler's Witch: An Astronomer's Discovery of Cosmic Order amid Religious War, Political Intrigue, and the Heresy Trial of his Mother)(Tycho and Kepler: The Unlikely Partnership that Forever Changed Our Understanding of the Heavens)(Book Review)
Author: Stan Corbett
Publication: Queen's Quarterly (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 112 Issue: 3 Page: 416(13)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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