Faraday In 90 Minutes

Faraday in 90 Minutes is the most recent addition to the successful series which looks at the lives and works of major scientists. In an account that is both stimulating and informative, acclaimed science writers John and Mary Gribbin have woven Faraday's major theories into the text in such a way as to appeal to students of science and non-scientists alike.

Michael Faraday (1791' - 1867) was the son of a poor blacksmith, started life as a bookbinder's apprentice, and become interested in science through reading the books he was binding. He got a job as (literally) bottle washer at the Royal Institution, and rose to become the most famous scientist of his time, inventing the electric motor and the dynamo along the way, and laying the foundations of the scientific theory of fields. He turned down a knighthood and twice declined the Presidency of the Royal Society.

An introduction, afterword and clear chronological table place Faraday's work in the context of the development of scientific knowledge.

John Gribbin trained as an astronomer but soon turned his attention to writing. Mary Gribbin studied psychology and still works as a teacher. Together they have written books on topics as diverse as the weather, time, comets and the life of Richard Feynman.