I think this book would have impressed me more if I hadn't read so many Isaac Newton biographies already. As it is, there were some errors and quotations taken out of context that rather bothered me.

It is medium format, 128 pages, including 11 chapter and a short appendix w/ suggested experiments. There are numerous illustrations in black and white, generally photographs of locations and portraits and contemporary illustrations, but also some diagrams and maps.

Interesting remark: Newton was so excited by the use of integration to find the area under a hyperbola that he calculated it out to 50 or so decimals. Puzzling.

Quotations out of context: "...standing on the shoulders of giants". Said in a letter to Hooke, and really intended to be obnoxious.

Weirdest illustration: Isaac Newton Shopping Center in Grantham.

Irritating bit: Kepler's third law is paraphrased so vaguely as to mean very little. I guess a formula with a 2/3 power was out of the question.

Misinformation:
* The Gregorian telescope is not practical. Actually, it has its good points and some are still used today, although the similar looking Cassegraine is more popular.
* The mathematical bridge over the River Cam was constructed by Isaac Newton. The person responsible was actually much less well known that Newton, and primarily into bridges.

The photograph of the school in Grantham makes it look quite beautiful. ( )

Summary: This book gives a very detailed description of Isaac Newton's life. It starts as a child and some of his first projects into his more complex projects.

Personal reaction: For someone who loves science this is a great book. It really illustrates what an innovative man Isaac Newton was. However if you are interested in science you may be bored. There a illustrations to show you his ideas as well as what he looked like.

Extension Ideas: Learn about Gravity. Learn about telescopes.

This is a very kid friendly biography of a very instrumental mind in science. There are numerous pictures and great information about Isaac Newton. They also include moderately detailed information about science and his discoveries. ( )