A review by pkadams
The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science by Richard Holmes

5.0

This book focuses on the science between Newton and Darwin - or the Romantic Scientists. Starting with Joseph Banks and including Hershel & Davy, it explores the changing view of science, the expansion of science outside the academic cloisters, and the role of the individual scientist. I like the mix of biographical elements, as well as the discussion of the importance/impact of the individual discoveries. It is spectacularly well written and gives a fantastic glimpse into this time period. Holmes covers a lot of ground including the replacement of the Greek idea of fundamental elements (earth, fire, air, and dirt) with the notion of compounds and chemical elements. He also covers ballooning, first paid female scientist, and the birth of atheism.