Book review

Seeing further

At around 500 pages this is a substantial book. A glance probably puts it in the category that most would pass over as being too dense. Which would be a shame.

The book is not a difficult read. Divided into twenty two chapters, each by one of today’s most distinguished science writers, it has been edited by Bill Bryson to ensure that this remarkable story of the Royal Society can be enjoyed by readers with only general scientific knowledge.

Each chapter is different both in content and style. While Margaret Attwood’s chapter on Jonathon Swift is quite straightforward Rebecca Goldstein’s on the ongoing feud in the last quarter of the 1660s between the rationalists and the empiricists requires some concentration.

The Society was formed following a meeting in 1660 at Gresham College London to hear a talk by Christopher Wren on astronomy. The dozen men attending decided to form an association to ‘discuss scientific matters and promote the accumulation of useful knowledge’.

The wisdom of filing knowledge away has frequently been proven. A mathematical theorem by the Rev Thomas Bayes was considered nothing more than a curiosity in 1763 but was preserved ‘just in case’. It turned out to be a milestone in mathematics. Two hundred years later this theorem is used in superconductors to do everything from weather forecasting or radiocarbon dating to market analysis.

While called The Royal Society it has always been recognised as being truly international. The Society’s first secretary was Henry Oldenburg, a German. In sable rattling times ships on Society endorsed voyages travelled in the knowledge that they would be given secure passage by ships of all nations. Likewise while Benjamin Franklin was the voice of revolution against Britain he remained and esteemed member of the Society.

Over the years Society Fellows have achieved breakthroughs such as splitting the atom, discovered hydrogen, the double helix and the electron. Developed theories on evolution, gravity, motion along with understanding of electricity, astrophysics and biodiversity. That’s just to mention a few.

Making these exciting discoveries along with tales of feuds between squabbling scientists over clashing theories, times of over exuberance and of scientists who were slightly mad, are told by accomplished writers such as Richard Dawkins, Neal Stephenson and Henry Petroski.

In the final chapter Nobel scientist Stephen Schneider spells out the impact of global warning. He points out that the International Panel on Climate change, which is made up of the world’s leading scientists, have laboriously worked on this over a number of years. Their projections show that there is a overwhelming likelihood of a 2 – 4.5 degree of warming. Even 2 degrees will bring disastrous climate change and rising seal levels he warns.

Seeing further is a fascinating and beautifully produced book which would grace any bookshelf and at around sixty dollars is great value. It is also available at the local library.

Mike Beckett