Galileo's Mistake: A New Look at the Epic Confrontation Between Galileo and the Church

by Wade Rowland

Book Overview

The modern understanding of the notorious 1633 trial of Galileo by the Inquisition is that of Science and Reason persecuted by Ignorance and Superstition -- of Galileo as a lonely, courageous... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1559706848
• ISBN13: 9781559706841
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Seaver Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.1" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Unbiased historical book - is no apologist for the church

I learned of Galileo's Mistake when I heard a radio interview a few months ago with the author Wade Rowland. He's also written books on telecommunication technology and the internet (Spirit of the Web) and does literary travel writing. After reading Galileo's Mistake, I purchased his earlier book on traveling in France called Ockham's Razor, which I've just started reading and am thoroughly enjoying.I've been puzzled by some of the assumptions that a few reviewers have about his latest book Galileo's Mistake. Some reviewers - presumably the ones who haven't actually read the book - assume that he is a Catholic and his book is slanted for the Church's position. This isn't the case at all, in the radio interview, Rowland said he's not a Catholic, he's not anti-science, he's a journalist who writes about a range of topics including science. He's also teaches a number of courses at several universities (I think one was Ryerson, can't remember the other one) on journalism ethics, and on science techy topics like artificial intelligence, artificial life, and cyberspace's impact on society. Rowland's book is in no sense an apology for the Catholic Church, nor could any careful reader make that assessment. Having read the book, I can say that Rowland simply tries to set the record straight, based on the documentation and on current understanding of the issues at stake in the confrontation. And he does it in a very easy-to-read, entertaining style given the not so light topic.

Enjoyed Galileo's Mistake, and Rowland's Spirit of the Web

I first ran across the author, Wade Rowland, while I was taking an undergrad course in communications at Rutgers. His book, Spirit of the Web, was on the reading list and is a real gem, full of sharp insights and thoughtful socialcomment, all in all a great introduction to the history of communication technologies. The big bonus was that it was so readable. Galileo's Mistake picks up on some of the themes in Spirit of the Web (and I understand, hisother book, Ockham's Razor which I haven't yet read) and goes into them in depth. The book is really about the problem of hegemonic science--the kind of science that insists that only scientific knowledge is valid knowledge and that all else is a waste of time or worse. Rowland identifies this philosophically with "naive realism" or positivism, which was Galileo's Mistake. Positivism was discredited philosophically by the eighteenth century, and by scientists themselves in the twentieth century, with relativity and quantum physics. Rowland's point is that we live by our mythologies and the Galileo myth is foundational in Western culture. He wants to show how it's wrong and even dangerous and needs correction.Given the heavy-duty nature of the content, it is remarkably easy to read, because it's set up as a kind of travel narrative involving three chatty characters who like to talk about metaphysics. If only all philosophy books were like this!

Very thought provoking book! Highly recommended

There was a shallow, mean-spirited review of this book in the New York Times recently by someone called Michael Massing. Thankfully, I read the review after I'd read the book. There's something wrong with a system that lets reviews get in to print when it is clear that the book has been totally misunderstood (and probably not even read). If you're a closed-minded scientific or religious fundamentalist, you should read this book only after consulting your doctor about your blood pressure. Everyone else will find it stimulating, exciting and enlightening.Roland deserves full credit for taking on such a controversial subject and doing it so well. It might change your life.

A brilliant must-read

Galileo's Mistake is a wonderful blend of biography, history, science, and philosophy that is both thoughtful and thought-provoking. Wade Rowland takes you back to one of the most important turning points in the evolution of Western culture, the trial of Galileo by the Inquisition. In today's increasingly anti-religious social milieu, Rowland has the chutzpah to challenge conventional thought on the Galileo Affair, arguing that perhaps there was more to the conflict between Galileo and the Church than the Copernican theory. His brilliant book is a valuable contribution to the continuing debate on the relationship between science and religion, and one I would highly recommend to anyone interested in the subject matter, regardless of what your position mightbe. A highly enjoyable-and stimulating-read!