The Scientists - Gribbin

I'm 1/3 through "The Scientists" by John Gribbin - almost up to Newton so far. It's been a fascinating read. I had no idea that so many scientists never got married, had long term live-in girl friends (in the 15th and 16th centuries) and children in these relationships. Most of the earliest Western scientists were really rich and well connected guys. Of course, that helps when trying to survive the plague, and being able to travel internationally. It's a really wonderful read. Gribbin's writing style is entertaining, fairly linear in its progression, and bountiful in its detail. Being married to a scientist, and Frequently being "the only non scientist in the room" it's providing interesting insights. Many of the earliest scientists were actually engineers who could build really really precise experimental apparatus... and THEN they discovered things with these precise tools that no one previously had the resolution to differentiate.

If the flight on the way home this week is not too crowded, and sleep does not over-come me, I may be able to finish it =)