How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
I really loved the format of this book. It starts with a short history of Galileo's life and then moves on to the much more interesting fictionalized dialogues with him - some of Galileo's words are actually taken from his works or letters, so it's real stuff he's said!
What's interesting though, is that it's not just about Galileo himself - it's also like a window into the life in his times - the social problems, the conventions, the atmosphere. For example, women could not marry if their families were poor because they couldn't pay their dowries, and so many were forced to go into convents because there was nowhere else to go. But not only the women - men with no means could also not marry. So it seemed preferable for a man to 'have a companion' - an illegal wife or lover and illegitimate children - if you didn't have the money to marry. In a world where the church could put scientists under house arrest or ban books for 'devilry', this marriage convention... Just seems so backwards. Humans are weird!
I also always thought that the famous inventors and scientists of the past didn't struggle - after all, they must've had all that time to invent things, clearly their life wasn't a 9 to 5 like many of ours! Right? But as it appears, Galileo hustled like mad! He really struggled with finances although he was famous and had a good income. He came up with so many side hustles you have no idea. Who would have thought!
This was definitely an interesting read - also short, fast and to the point. I enjoyed it.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
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