The Man Who Changed Everything: The Life of James Clerk Maxwell

by Basil Mahon

Book Overview

This is the first biography in twenty years of James Clerk Maxwell, one of the greatest scientists of our time and yet a man relatively unknown to the wider public. Approaching science with a freshness unbound by convention or previous expectations, he produced some of the most original scientific thinking of the nineteenth century -- and his discoveries went on to shape the twentieth century.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0470861711
• ISBN13: 9780470861714
• Release Date: October 2004
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

I really enjoyed this book

I've always been interested in the lives of people who has contribute in any way to science. When you read this book you learn the life of Maxwell, you learn how Maxwell solved difficult problems and also Maxwell teach you lessons of life. It is curious to me how people can see things that others not, and it is interesting that most of the greatest "brains" of all times come from this island, Great Britain. Lots of people say that they know about the Electromagnetic theory but few really understand what's behind. I just want to learn more about it.

The man who bridged the gap between Newton and Einstein!!!

+++++ Who wrote these poetic lines? "Trust me spring is very near, All the buds are swelling; All the glory of the year In those buds is dwelling." The obvious answer is some famous poet. Right? Wrong! These are the lines in a poem written by a forgotten icon in science named James Clerk Maxwell (1831 to 1879). Learning that this great scientist was also a poet is just one of the facts you'll find in this extremely well organized, well-written, easy-to-read book authored by former engineer Basil Mahon. Even before plunging into the main narrative, I was impressed with the material beforehand. Take the table of contents. At a glance, I can tell you what happened anytime in Maxwell's life. For example, what happened between 1856 and 1860. I just have to glance at the table of contents. For chapter 6, it has the title "Saturn and Statistics: Aberdeen 1856-1860." (Saturn is the sixth planet in our solar system.) There is also a "chronology" that lists the "principle events in Maxwell's life." For instance, what significant event occurred in 1858? Answer at a glance: Maxwell was awarded the Adams' Prize for his essay "On the Stability of the Motion of Saturn's Rings." As well, there is a "cast of characters." That is, a summary outline of "Maxwell's relations and close friends" found throughout the book. For example, who was William Thompson (later Baron Kelvin)? Answer at a glance: He was a friend (and mentor of the early stages of Maxwell's career) and Professor of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow University. In his main narrative, Mahon tells us everything about Maxwell beginning with his early years and ending with his early death. We learn about his world-shaking scientific discoveries as well as about the man himself. With regards to this entire book, the publication "Nature" said it best: "not merely an absorbing account of Maxwell's life [but] an explanation of why his work is at the foundation of the modern world." Mahon's main narrative shines with his last two chapters entitled "Last days" and "Maxwell's legacy" respectively. In the former case, we learn the actual words of a doctor treating him for his medical condition: "No man ever met death more consciously or more calmly." (This is another bonus of Mahon's book in that he punctuates it with the actual words used by those who knew Maxwell or uses Maxwell's actual words.) In the latter case, we learn of Maxwell's extensive legacy. His achievements are too numerous to list but perhaps Einstein said it best: "One scientific epoch ended and another began with James Clerk Maxwell." There are more than twenty black-and-white illustrations located in the center of this book. I found these interesting. You don't have to be a science wiz to read this book. However, it would be helpful to have some basic science background or have access to a good science dictionary if you want to fully understand the science parts of this book. Onc

A working man's scientist

Maxwell was a man for all times; unassuming till the end, but always striving to research something, to help others, to understand nature and technology. There is no telling what other gems he might have uncovered if he had not died relatively young. The book does not mention Oliver Heaviside and other "maxwellians" who further interpreted and cleaned up his equations (from the nightmare quarternion to the practical vector spaces), but it is a tribute to his genius nonetheless. I enjoyed every page.

The history of an outstanding simple man...James Maxwell

When I started reading this book, I have seen something similar to the history of one of the greatest mathematicians, Euler. Euler and Maxwell were probably similar in several ways, they were true genius but still kept in contact with normal people and enjoyed life. Their fame is not proportional to their contributions, Maxwell and Euler are in the same category as men like Einstein, Newton, Da Vinci. Basil Mahon has done a great job of telling Maxwell life and presenting his contributions to science in a way that a lay person can understand. The great thing is that he presents the methods or models used by Maxwell to reach his conclusions. It makes easier for us to understand the thought process of a genius. Clearly Basil Mahon admired his subject, and by extension the reader will get involved.

A Wonderful Tribute to a Truly Great Man

The scientific accomplishments of James Clerk Maxwell are astounding! To think that he was able to accomplish so much in electromagnetism, optics, thermodynamics, etc., in so short a life boggles the mind. This biography is well done. The writing is clear and engaging. The various scientific explanations give a good indication of how Maxwell the scientist approached and solved physical problems. His charming personality and his wittiness stand out to give one a good overall impression of Maxwell the man. Notes at the end of the book provide added information on some issues discussed in the main text. Complete with an index and a bibliography, this book should be read by anyone interested in knowing more about one of the greatest, yet less known, all-time giants of the scientific world.