Isaac Newton: The Last Sorcerer by Michael White

This book was a disappointment. Discussing in minute detail with an exhaustive review of the literature, the author deals with one of the greatest men of the millennium, and paints him small, petty, and mean.

The first charge is that of alchemy. Newton spent years doing meticulous work in his lab, investigating reactions and metallurgy. The author himself states that the borders between science and mysticism were blurry and that many of the greatest scientists of the day dabbled in alchemy. In fact, the author credits Newton himself for being the first to present a thoroughly scientific-mathematical theoretical method, merging hypothesis and experiment with mathematical rigor. Then Newton, who is credited with bringing science out of the swamp of conjecture, is criticized for having feet wet with alchemy.

The author even credits his alchemy with allowing Newton to make the intellectual leap from the idea of ether mediating gravity to action at a distance because of the spiritual aspects of alchemy. Reading the book I would instead credit another of Newton's "weaknesses" with this influence, his Christianity.

In this book we don't find the Christian Newton as "the most pious of men" nor as described by his early biographers called by the authors "hagiographers." Instead we see a narrow puritanical (as opposed to Puritan) believer, brilliant in science but strangely backward in his preoccupation with the Bible and prophecy. He cannot even get his Christianity right but has to hide his shameful Arianism.

In summary, rather than needing the author to break through the aging crust of the beatification of Newton, I fear the man - a devout Christian seeking truth in all of life with a painful awareness of his sins and impatience with lesser men - must be found shining through the lines of this revisionist biased history. Newton: The Magician of Physics grounded in Faith.

Einstein's Miraculous Year edited by John Stachel

Five papers by Einstein in one year, 1905, reminiscent of Newton's miraculous year. The introductions are very good, the papers surprisingly accessible. The math is either very subtle or fairly easy. An amazing genius seen from inside; I wish I had the time and help to go through the math.

The Testament by John Grisham

Very fun read dealing as it does with smarmy lawyers. Has sympathetic depiction of a devoted Christian missionary, a Christian minister and an alcoholic lawyer who finds sobriety through faith in God and prayer and Christian fellowship.

The Intellectuals by Paul Johnson

Interesting book, defines intellectual as one who thinks that by his own knowledge, understanding and force of character he can guide society on a better path. Johnson basically trashes all these intellectuals mostly on moral grounds and hypocrisy. Several I found interesting or revealing: Marx, Tolstoy, Hemingway, Russell, Sartre. He has a really good passage on social engineering when discussing Chomsky.

The White Nile by Alan Moorehead 1960

A wonderful, well-researched compendium of the exploration of the Nile, featuring the most amazing cast of characters: Burton, Baker, Speke, Livingstone, Stanley, Gordon, Emin Pasha and assorted kings, Mahdi, Musselman, and tyrants. It is written in a fair, restrained but opinionated style I find refreshing. Confident but free of cant. Unafraid of religion and aware of its power but not captive to it. While deftly understated, the rigors of jungle, desert, and disease are clear and one is in awe of these extraordinary men (and occasionally women - especially Mrs. Baker).

Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwell

Well, the author must be into helicopter piloting now. Gory gruesome plot, sad but exciting. Helicopter in last ash-spreading scene seems totally contrived; written for a TV movie. Not great literature, probably the worst of the series.

Damascus Gate by Robert Stone

This novel is a very interesting story of Jerusalem as firmly rooted in past, present and future. Eclectic and erudite with interesting characters. I didn't find the ending that surprising. It has the interesting collision and interface between cynicism and belief, spirituality and madness, Judaism, Islam, and fundamentalist Christianity. A good but not a great book.