Found in 3 comments on Hacker News
atomicnature · 2022-12-07 · Original thread
I recently read a 900 pager on Newton's life, which includes a lot of details about his mathematical accomplishments (book link: https://www.amazon.in/Never-Rest-Biography-Cambridge-Paperba...).

Key things that stand out:

+ Deep scholarship: Learn from your predecessors as much as possible; pick up their techniques, at the same time be sceptical, do not believe much, even when you're learning/mastering techniques. Ex: Newton mastered Descartes work early in his career, used that mathematics to open up Calculus, but at later stage became disillusioned with the analytic method, and converted his thought into pure geometric methods.

+ Imitate the masters before you: Newton was really one of the deepest students of the ancients. He'd ferret out obscure passages, and use them to solve his problems. Ex: He knew the intricacies of the analysis/synthesis method from Pappus, which most people barely know in the depth he knew of them.

+ Dedication to truth, desiring certainty and taking nothing less. Insanely high standards.

cambalache · 2019-08-07 · Original thread
In physics there is a rich literature documenting its history. And as you mentioned, it is scattered around books, periodicals and scientific journals. A very small selection for you and any people interested:

From Emilio Segre (Nobel Laureate) there is this 2 book series.Recommended. - From Falling Bodies to Radio Waves [1] - From X-rays to Quarks [2]

Then, you have Abraham Pais, all his books are highly recommended, I will include 2 here

[3] Subtle is the lord (Best Einstein Scientific Biography) [4] Inward Bound (Superb Scientific history of XX century physics)

Jagdish Mehra wrote a gargantuan history of Quantum Mechanics in six volumes. He studied and /or interviewed most of the big hitters who developed the theory. The science content is high so you need a good foundation.

[5] The Historical Development of Quantum Theory

Richard Westfall wrote the best Newton biography that I know.

[6] Never at Rest: A Biography of Isaac Newton

Finally the issue number 2 of the 72nd volume of Review of Modern Physics [7] is a gem; packed with historical reviews of the development of all fields in physics during the 20th century, written by eminent people.

Of course this is just a minuscule sample of an extraordinary bibliography. Sadly life is so short to make it justice.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486458083 [2] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486457834 [3] https://www.amazon.com/dp/019853907X [4] https://www.amazon.com/dp/0198519974 [5]https://www.amazon.com/Historical-Development-Quantum-Theory... [6] https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521274354 [7] https://journals.aps.org/rmp/issues/71/2

a3n · 2013-07-08 · Original thread
Never at Rest: A Biography of Isaac Newton http://www.amazon.com/Never-Rest-Biography-Cambridge-Paperba...

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