Isaac Newton: And the Scientific Revolution (Oxford Portraits in Science)

My son picked out this book for an assigned biography project (grade 5). He enjoyed the book and has gotten excited about researching Newton's work and legacy. It is accessible without dumbing things down, and it tells a compelling story without adding fluff or questionable conjecture. A great book for older kids who are interested in science, history, technology, math, and more.

I have never read a biography quite as good as this. This book has some of the best descriptions of Newton that I've ever heard: "Like Leonardo da Vinci and Benjamin Franklin, Isaac Newton was not just an aimless childhood tinkerer, but a tinkerer playing with ideas and mechanisms." It has so many interesting details about his life, such as the jumping contest at school, or the many different clocks that he made. This book made me realize that Newton wasn't just a great scientist, but a political figure as well, with a seat in Parliment, head of the Royal Society, and Director of the Mint. If it is possible, Cristianson would be my nominee for the Pulitzer Prize.