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  1. Scotty
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    "Galileo" the story of theology meets new science
    May 14, 2011
    Scotty
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for Galileo.
    Forget the short, uninformative bios in textbooks. If you want a real glimpse into the life of a great genius, pick up a copy of "Galileo" by Mitch Stokes (published by Thomas Nelson).

    Stokes does an excellent job of opening up the lives of great men as a writer for Thomas Nelson's "Christian Encounters" series, an offering of biographies of great Christian men and women in history. I first had read (and previously posted a review on) Stokes' book, "Isaac Newton," and found his work on "Galileo" to be just as compelling.

    For most of us, the only exposure we have to such intellectual giants (who were also devout Christian men) such as Galileo and Newton come from a paragraph or two in a history book. Stokes does a remarkable job of telling the life story of Galileo from his birth to his death, capturing both the greatest of moments to the saddest of trials.

    Stokes is particularly talented at helping the reader understand the great achievements of Galileo without the reader having to have any kind of background in science or mathematics, a fortunate thing for a guy like myself whose least favorite subject is math! He also highlights how faith was an intimate, and intricate, part of Galileo's life.

    For a significant part of history, the church was actually the leader in supporting scientific thought and developments. But soon after the Protestant Reformation, as a part of the Catholic church's counter-reformation, a negative tension would develop between the church and some scientists, and Galileo would find himself the target of this new struggle. Stokes does an admirable job of telling how Galileo tried to "go along, to get along" with the church while also remaining true to his scientific beliefs. The result was fairly tragic during Galileo's lifetime, only to finally receive some exoneration more than three centuries later.

    "Galileo" is a compelling story of a greatly flawed --- and greatly gifted --- man working out his faith, his feelings, and his genius where theology meets science. You'll likely come away informed and inspired by reading this worthwhile book.

    Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
  2. Jessica
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A wonderful biography
    April 26, 2011
    Jessica
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for Galileo.
    One of the books in the Christian Encounters series published by Thomas Nelson, Mitch Stokes's Galileo is a thorough biography of the career and personal life of Galileo Galilei. Drawing upon several historical sources, Stokes separates fact from legend and gives us insight into one of the most important figures in the world of science. We see him not only as scientist and mathematician, but as father, friend, and lover of God.

    This is the first book I've read from the Christian Encounters series, and I think it's a wonderful idea. Galileo is a wonderful addition. I've always loved science and astronomy, and I knew about Galileo, of course, from various science classes over the years, but I learned a lot about Galileo that I didn't know. Especially in regards to his personal life, an area in which I knew nothing about him. Mitch Stokes tells Galileo's story in an interesting and captivating way. I never thought that I'd say a biography is a page-turner, but this one is.
  3. Sean
    Iowa
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: male
    4 Stars Out Of 5
    A Surprisingly Good Read
    April 28, 2011
    Sean
    Iowa
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: male
    Quality: 4
    Value: 4
    Meets Expectations: 4
    This review was written for Galileo.
    Galileo is a biography on the life, faith, and genius of Galileo Galilei. The author covers every stage in Galileo's life: from his birth in the Tuscan region of Italy in the town of Pisa, to his growing and learning years, his love of mathematics in a time when that was looked down on, and finally his faith and conflict with the Roman Catholic Church.

    Mr Stokes does an excellent job of making Galileo's story come alive, not just a simple rehashing of the details. He also does a fantastic job of portraying the tense situation and fine line that Galileo walked in regards to his faith and his love of science. Many have used Galileo as an example of the failures of the Church in their zealousness for maintaining authority, but we see that Galileo himself remained faithful till the end when many would have turned their back. Overall, this book is a surprisingly good read. As a caution, it continuously references famous philosophical and mathematical texts, so readers not familiar with those many get lost at times. I would recommend this book to those interested in history, especially believers who enjoy science and the history of the heliocentric debate.

    Disclosure Note: Thomas Nelson has been gracious enough to give me a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed are my own.
  4. MaryRuth
    Midwest
    Age: 18-24
    Gender: female
    4 Stars Out Of 5
    Amazingly well-researched and detailed.
    April 27, 2011
    MaryRuth
    Midwest
    Age: 18-24
    Gender: female
    Quality: 4
    Value: 4
    Meets Expectations: 4
    This review was written for Galileo.
    I'm guessing that most people feel confident that they have at least a working knowledge of who Galileo was and what he did. He invented the telescope, right? And he was imprisoned and tortured for believing the world went around the sun, right?

    In Galileo, author Mitch Stokes will introduce you to the real Galileo Galilei–the brilliant mathematician, innovative scientist, and controversial philosopher. The book follows Galileo's entire life, from the days he spent sneaking out of medical school to attend lectures on mathematics, to the years he spent under house arrest for holding the beliefs of Copernicanism.

    Sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Italy was a complicated and politically volatile place that wasn't always open to new scientific discoveries and theories, especially if those discoveries contradicted already 'proven' and accepted views. For a free-thinking and somewhat naïve man like Galileo, it was a dangerous place to be promoting new ideas.

    I was surprised in reading this book to discover how little I actually knew about Galileo. While the book did have a tendency to become dry in certain areas, such as while summarizing the foundations of ancient philosophical beliefs, etc. it made me see Galileo, his work, and the world of his day in an entirely new light. This book is amazingly well-researched and detailed, and would make a wonderful addition to a personal collection or home-school library.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    I received this book free as part of Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program in exchange for my review. A favorable review is not required. Thomas Nelson is committed to gathering accurate and honest opinions from their readers regarding the titles they publish.
  5. Bill
    Franklin, TN
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: male
    4 Stars Out Of 5
    A timely insight into age-old issues
    April 15, 2011
    Bill
    Franklin, TN
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: male
    Quality: 4
    Value: 4
    Meets Expectations: 4
    This review was written for Galileo.
    Galileo is another wonderful addition to the Thomas Nelson Christian Encounter series. Following the incredible changes in both the arts and humanities, the later renaissance period set the world on edge as it challenged long-held notions in the sciences. Galileo played an instrumental role in this revolution.

    Stokes eloquently introduces us to the character behind the science. The author leads the reader through the varied cultural, political, and religious nuances of the times. Few could have negotiated the obstacles of those years as wisely as did Galileo.

    This volume is well-written, making it a delight to read. This is not only a fascinating account, but also a timely one as well. Stokes articulates well the past as a tool for our present.
Displaying items 1-5 of 6
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