The Invention of Air: A Story of Science, Faith, Revolution, and the Birth of America Hardcover - 2008
by Steven Johnson
Bestselling author Steven Johnson recounts indazzling, multidisciplinary fashion the story ofthe brilliant man who embodied the relationshipbetween science, religion, and politics forAmerica's Founding Fathers.
The Invention of Air is a book of world-changing ideaswrapped around a compelling narrative, a story of geniusand violence and friendship in the midst of sweepinghistorical change that provokes us to recast our understandingof the Founding Fathers.
It is the story of Joseph Priestley scientist and theologian,protégé of Benjamin Franklin, friend of ThomasJefferson an eighteenth-century radical thinker whoplayed pivotal roles in the invention of ecosystem science,the discovery of oxygen, the founding of the UnitarianChurch, and the intellectual development of the UnitedStates. And it is a story that only Steven Johnson, acclaimedjuggler of disciplines and provocative ideas, cando justice to.
In the 178 0s, Priestley had established himself in his nativeEngland as a brilliant scientist, a prominent minister,and an outspoken advocate of the American Revolution,who had sustained long correspondences with Franklin,Jefferson, and John Adams. Ultimately, his radicalismmade his life politically uncomfortable, and he fled to thenascent United States. Here, he was able to build conceptualbridges linking the scientific, political, and religiousimpulses that governed his life. And through his close relationshipswith the Founding Fathers Jefferson creditedPriestley as the man who prevented him from abandoningChristianity he exerted profound if little-known influenceon the shape and course of our history.
As in his last bestselling work, The Ghost Map, StevenJohnson here uses a dramatic historical story to explorethemes that have long engaged him: innovation and theway new ideas emerge and spread, and the environmentsthat foster these breakthroughs. And as he did in EverythingBad Is Good for You, Johnson upsets some fundamentalassumptions about the world we live in namely,what it means when we invoke the Founding Fathers andreplaces them with a clear-eyed, eloquent assessment ofwhere we stand today.
Summary
The Invention of Air is a book of world-changing ideas wrapped around a compelling narrative, a story of genius and violence and friendship in the midst of sweeping historical change that provokes us to recast our understanding of the Founding Fathers.
It is the story of Joseph Priestley—scientist and theologian, protégé of Benjamin Franklin, friend of Thomas Jefferson—an eighteenth-century radical thinker who played pivotal roles in the invention of ecosystem science, the discovery of oxygen, the founding of the Unitarian Church, and the intellectual development of the United States. And it is a story that only Steven Johnson, acclaimed juggler of disciplines and provocative ideas, can do justice to.
In the 1780s, Priestley had established himself in his native England as a brilliant scientist, a prominent minister, and an outspoken advocate of the American Revolution, who had sustained long correspondences with Franklin, Jefferson, and John Adams. Ultimately, his radicalism made his life politically uncomfortable, and he fled to the nascent United States. Here, he was able to build conceptual bridges linking the scientific, political, and religious impulses that governed his life. And through his close relationships with the Founding Fathers—Jefferson credited Priestley as the man who prevented him from abandoning Christianity—he exerted profound if little-known influence on the shape and course of our history.
As in his last bestselling work, The Ghost Map, Steven Johnson here uses a dramatic historical story to explore themes that have long engaged him: innovation and the way new ideas emerge and spread, and the environments that foster these breakthroughs. And as he did in Everything Bad Is Good for You, Johnson upsets some fundamental assumptions about the world we live in—namely, what it means when we invoke the Founding Fathers—and replaces them with a clear-eyed, eloquent assessment of where we stand today.
Details
- Title The Invention of Air: A Story of Science, Faith, Revolution, and the Birth of America
- Author Steven Johnson
- Binding Hardcover
- Edition First Edition
- Pages 272
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Riverhead Books, New York
- Date 2008-12-26
- Illustrated Yes
- ISBN 9781594488528 / 1594488525
- Weight 1.04 lbs (0.47 kg)
- Dimensions 9.28 x 6.3 x 0.95 in (23.57 x 16.00 x 2.41 cm)
- Ages 18 to UP years
- Grade levels 13 - UP
- Library of Congress subjects Scientists - Great Britain, Priestley, Joseph
- Library of Congress Catalog Number 2008046101
- Dewey Decimal Code B
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