The Last Man Who Knew Everything: Thomas Young, the Anonymous Genius Who Proved Newton Wrong and Deciphered the Rosetta Stone, Among Other Surprising

by Andrew Robinson

Book Overview

Born in 1773, Thomas Young lived in a pivotal time. The explosion of knowledge that was soon to come made it impossible to be a true polymathaa master of multiple disciplines. Young was the last of the polymaths, and his contributions to science are truly staggering. Challenging the theories of Isaac Newton, he was the first to prove that light is a wave; his work on the Rosetta Stone was instrumental in deciphering the language of the ancient Egyptians;...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452288053
• ISBN13: 9780452288058
• Release Date: December 2006
• Publisher: Plume Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.2" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

An Amazing Individual!!!

THhomas Young is more believeable as a character in a work of fiction (comprable to a Nero Wolfe or a Sherlock Holmes) than as a real person. No one can be that smart in so many areas! But the fact that he really lived makes him all the more fantastic. This is a great biography about an amazing man! Also recommended: The Man Who Created Sherlock Holmes: The Life and Times of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Only read if...

Only read this book if you are secure with your own IQ. If you are not, you will leave feeling terribly inadequate as Thomas Young was amazingly portrayed in this book!!!

Inspiring.

Chapters include: Preface Introduction Child Prodigy Fellow of the Royal Society Itinerant Medical Student 'Phenomenon' Young Physician of Vision Royal Institution Lecturer Let There Be Light Waves 'Natural Philosophy & the Mechanical Arts' Dr Thomas Young, M.D., F.R.C.P. Reading the Rosetta Stone Waves of Enlightenment Walking Encyclopedia In the Public Interest Grand Tour Dueling with Champollion A Universal Man Notes & References Bibliography Index ***** A fantastic biography of Thomas Young that is not only great for fans of history, but also for students to use in subject reports! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

you might not like this book

If you're already intrigued by the concept of polymathy (a man who studies and works in many different subjects), were a triple major with two minors in college, or have a general interest in Thomas Young, you'll come away from this satisfied. Young's a fascinating guy, and given the task of understanding a man who worked in such varied areas, Robinson does a decent job writing his biography, or perhaps more properly, measuring and framing Young's contributions in the various subjects listed on the cover. The problem is that I don't think this book would cross over to a general audience that doesn't fit one of the above criteria. But then again, I could be wrong.

Excellent Snapshot of Thomas Young's Life and Work

Although, as specified by the author, this is not meant to be a full biography of Thomas Young, this book certainly does give the reader an excellent perspective of the man, his many activities and his times. Any meaningful sketch of Thomas Young would need to include, amongst many other topics, some discourse on his work in physics, particularly the wave properties of light. This book certainly includes such discussions. The author has the ability to present physical principles with the utmost clarity - something that is, most unfortunately, lacking in many a scientific paper. I was not aware that Thomas Young was involved in so many fields, including Egyptology. In particular, I have always been under the erroneous impression that the deciphering of the Rosetta Stone was solely the work of Champollion; this book sets the record straight on that matter. The book is well-written and should be accessible to everyone. It would make a valuable addition to any library, particularly one leaning towards topics pertaining to the history of science.