Isaac Newton

I am just loving these biographies from the Christian Encounters series! After I finished Saint Patrick, my husband encouraged me to try to review another book from the same series if I could. Lo and behold, the opportunity presented itself, and a short biography titled Isaac Newton was soon on its way to me.

Any of you who know me are probably thinking, "Isaac Newton? She picked a biography of a guy who is all about math and science?" Yes! I know it seems rather crazy, considering how math and science have always been my worst subjects. (Case in point: when I was studying for the GRE, I was totally stumped by a mathematical problem involving a triangle. I could not figure it out for the life of me. I turned to my amazing study buddy Holly and asked, "I just don't get this. How do I even go about solving this? I mean, I haven't taken an algebra course since freshman year. Social workers do statistics, not triangles!" Holly replied, "Jen, just use the formula." A blank expression settled on my face. "Formula? What formula? I don't see anything in the directions about a formula." Holly looked at me like I was from Mars. "A-squared plus b-squared equals c-squared. You don't remember that?" Um, no. I didn't think I was going to need that until I had children who were taking algebra, so I chunked it out of my brain after I took the final. Word to the wise, friends- do not forget the Pythagorean theorem, especially if you are planning on taking the GRE).

However, I thoroughly enjoyed this biography of Newton by Mitch Stokes. Stokes does a great job depicting Newton's life and his scientific studies; he even explains the truth behind the apple falling from the tree (which, incidentally, did not land on Newton's head). But oh friends, did you know that Newton wrote more about theology and religion than all of his other studies? And yet we know so little about these! Stokes included several excerpts from Newton's writings (not just about theology, but about optics, calculus, and other subjects I simply don't understand). One of these excerpts I'd like to share. Newton writes:

To celebrate God for eternity, immensity, omniscience, and omnipotence is indeed very pious and the duty of every creature to do according to capacity, but...the wisest of beings required of us to be celebrated not so much for his essence as for his actions, the creating, preserving, and governing of all things according to his good will and pleasure. The wisdom, power, goodness, and justice which he always exerts in his actions are his glory which he stands so much upon, and is so jealous of...even to the least tittle.

It doesn't matter who you are and whether you agree with Newton's ascertations or not, but that is just beautifully written and expressed. Would that we wrote like that today! I highly recommend this biography; I am so glad my husband pushed me to select and review this book. I respect Newton a great deal more than I ever did, and though I may not appreciate his development of calculus, I am glad God gifted him in so many ways and that Newton pursued the understanding of the world around him.

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.”