A review by jenniferstringer
American Eclipse: A Nation's Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World by David Baron

4.0

I had requested this book from the library to read in preparation for the big event in August. There were so many ahead of me that it didn't arrive until September. In hindsight I think that was a good thing - I could relate to the descriptions of shadow bands and crescent shadows under trees, Bailey beads and the rest on a visceral level. As someone who is seriously considering adding "becoming an umbraphile" -scientific word for an eclipse chaser, to my bucket list, it was interesting to read how things were done in an earlier time. This book tells the history of the scientific expeditions sent west to see the 1878 eclipse. Nearly, all of the science was wrong, yet they remained so convinced - probably a lesson in there somewhere about scientific hubris. Thomas Edison's tasimeter did not work and there is no planet Vulcan despite Watson's claim to have discovered it. And the sexism! Imagine the difference to human progress if half the country's brain power weren't shoved aside and/or condescended to, let alone outright barred from scientific community for fear it would somehow negatively effect women's true purpose - child bearing. I very much felt for Maria Mitchell - to be that brilliant and continually thwarted had to be beyond infuriating. Yet, she persisted her entire life. Still, without these people struggling to discover truth, we would not be where we are today. So, less about the truth of discovery and more abut the process. A worthwhile read for history and science lovers.