Uncentering the Earth: Copernicus and the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780393329186)

In 1543, the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus lay on his deathbed, reportedly holding his just-published masterpiece, The Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, in his hands. Placing the sun at the center of the universe, Copernicus launched modern science, leading to a completely new understanding of the universe, and humanity's place within it.

But what did Copernicus really believe? Some argue that he anticipated the vast secularizing impact his ideas would have on history. Others contend that Copernicus was a man of his time and, on the whole, accepted its worldview. William T. Vollmann navigates this territory with the energetic prose and powerful intelligence for which he is known, providing a fresh and enlightening explication of Copernicus, his book, and his time, and the momentous clash between them.

Author: William T. Vollmann
ISBN-10: 0393329186
ISBN-13: 9780393329186
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Language: English
Published: 02/01/2007
Pages: 304
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 7.98h x 5.56w x 0.72d

Review Citation(s):
New York Times 04/15/2007 pg. 24