James Hutton: The Genius of Time

By: Ray Perman

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Synopsis: Among the giants of the Scottish Enlightenment, the name of James Hutton is overlooked. Yet his Theory of the Earth revolutionised the way we think about how our planet was formed and laid the foundation for the science of geology. He was in his time a doctor, a farmer, a businessman, a chemist yet he described himself as a philosopher – a seeker after truth.A friend of James Watt and of Adam Smith, he was a polymath, publishing papers on subjects as diverse as why it rains and a theory of language. He shunned status and official position, refused to give up his strong Scots accent and vulgar speech, loved jokes and could start a party in an empty room.Yet much of his story remains a mystery. His papers, library and mineral collection all vanished after his death and only a handful of letters survive. He seemed to be a lifelong bachelor, yet had a secret son whom he supported throughout his life.This book uses new sources and original documents to bring Hutton the man to life and places him firmly among the geniuses of his time.

Book Quality:: Publisher Quality
Book Size:: 304 Pages
ISBN-13:: 9781788855242
Related ISBNs:: 9781780277851
Publisher:: Birlinn
Date of Addition:: 10/12/23
Copyrighted By:: Ray Perman
Adult content:: No
Language:: English
Has Image Descriptions:: No
Categories:: History, Nonfiction, Science, Biographies and Memoirs, Technology, Social Studies, Earth Sciences, Philosophy
Submitted By:: Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:: This is a copyrighted book.