Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful book
Review: An enthusiastic 5 stars. This is simply a wonderful book -- easy to read and engrossing. Lots of background on all sorts of things, including the Scottish Enlightenment. If you are wavering -- thinking that it sounds interesting, but still trying to decide whether or not to get it -- go ahead and get it. You won't regret it.
Rating: 
Summary: Great idea from a little-known man
Review: Copernicus and Galileo moved the center of the universe away from the Biblical world. Darwin moved the creation of species out of the Biblical garden. James Hutton, though little-known today, had a similar role. He moved the origin of the Earth out of Biblical creation and flooding, into the realm of observable, testable fact.
It may not sound like much today, but it was just as shattering a shift in its time. Hutton's theory of geology had the added impact of informing Darwin, and preparing that later scientist for changes in species as gradual and continuous as the changes in the earth under them.
Repcheck's biography of Hutton describes the man, his times, and the debates that followed his theory. Repcheck starts with background - some history of the Bible and Christian doctrine, of Scotland in general, and of Edinburgh in particular. Hutton's time must have been an exciting one. It's now called the 'Scottish Enlightenment,' and gave rise to Adam Smith, James Watt, and many other great thinkers. Repcheck then gives a very readable account of Hutton's life and the successors who guarded his intellectual heritage.
The book is a clear, readable account of the man that made study of the world into a science instead of a branch of Biblical scholarship. Repcheck never fully engaged my imagination or passion for the character, though. There's background material up to page 100 or beyond, with some speculation on how the young Hutton fit into the Edinburgh that Repcheck so clearly documents. Hard facts about Hutton start to appear about that point. Hutton then dies before page 165 (out of 250 pages or fewer). His ideas live on, but the book says surpringly little about Hutton the man.
It's a short, informative history of the origin of modern geology, and a brief picture of the man who brought that origin about. This is not the most vivid character protrayal I've seen, but it adds a welcome chapter to the history of science.
//wiredweird
Rating: 
Summary: Mistaken
Review: HuttonIts been said that we live in a world of ideas. Sometimes ideas lead to good things but not always. One idea that has contributed greatly to the confusion over the age of the earth is usually attributed to James Hutton. The Man Who Found Time by Jack Repcheck is a recent book which gives some of the Hutton story. The book is subtitled: "The Discovery of the Earth's Antiquity." It is from Hutton that we've gotten the religious idea of Uniformitarianism, often identified with the phrase The Present is the Key to the Past. The idea is that by observing natural processes in today's world, a person would come to the conclusion that since these processes are generally very slow, it would take a long, long time to develop the geologic formations we see today. In the main, Hutton's idea was (and remains) a denial that the earth's feature could have been produced by a catastrophe, especially a water related event, in the earth's history. Repcheck's book (from Perseus Publishing, 2003) of some 200 pages plus a listing of source materials provides not only some insights into Hutton's life as a Scotsman and how Hutton came to his conclusions about earth history but also gives some interesting historical notes about 18th Century Scotland where Hutton lived. Recheck also reports that Hutton was not immune to the temptations of the flesh as he fathered a child by a young woman to whom he was not married. Though trained in medicine, Hutton apparently never pursued a medical career but felt it more interesting to do other things, including a stint at farming. He was very much attracted to Issac Newton and his work. From him, it is said, Hutton learned or picked up observational skills. Hutton, observing the give and take of tides and what he believed were pressures from deep in the earth, came to think that all of these would, over eons of time, create what he saw in front of his eyes. Hutton was not the first to come up with the thought that the earth was very old. He had probably read John Woodward's Essay Toward a Natural History of the Earth (1695) or William Whiston's New Theory of the Earth (1696) or perhaps G.L. de Buffon's 34 volume Histoire Naturelle (1749). These and other works of his day tended to stray away from the straight-forward reading of scripture. Hutton strayed even further from that path to the extent that the Bible was no longer considered a valid source of earth history. His thinking was first printed in 1788, based on lectures given in 1785. His book, The Theory of the Earth was finally published in 1795. Two years later, March 26, 1797, Hutton died, apparently of kidney failure. Today, in most corners of geologic thought, Hutton is considered the Father of modern geology. His idea of a long age for earth history encouraged Charles Lyell to write his Principles of Geology, three volumes completed by 1833. These, in turn, provided Charles Darwin the grist for his later efforts. Hutton led to Lyell led to Darwin; a series of ideas. Repcheck's work is interesting in that it provides a brief history of Hutton and his 18th Century thinking. As a balanced work, however, Repcheck could have gone a step further and showed that not all modern day geologists stand in awe of Hutton's work. There are many who take strong exception to the idea that the present is the key to the past but who, instead, maintain that the past is the key to the present. Many of these geologists are alive and well today and have written and spoken on the subject in many ways and venues but Repcheck does not mention them. This suggests that Repcheck is either ignorant of such people or is unwilling to acknowledge them for fear that some people might be tempted to hear what they have to say. In my opinion, it is the latter concern which Repcheck is facing. (...)
Rating:
Summary: Mistaken
Review: Hutton Its been said that we live in a world of ideas. Sometimes ideas lead to good things but not always. One idea that has contributed greatly to the confusion over the age of the earth is usually attributed to James Hutton. The Man Who Found Time by Jack Repcheck is a recent book which gives some of the Hutton story. The book is subtitled: "The Discovery of the Earth's Antiquity." It is from Hutton that we've gotten the religious idea of Uniformitarianism, often identified with the phrase The Present is the Key to the Past. The idea is that by observing natural processes in today's world, a person would come to the conclusion that since these processes are generally very slow, it would take a long, long time to develop the geologic formations we see today. In the main, Hutton's idea was (and remains) a denial that the earth's feature could have been produced by a catastrophe, especially a water related event, in the earth's history. Repcheck's book (from Perseus Publishing, 2003) of some 200 pages plus a listing of source materials provides not only some insights into Hutton's life as a Scotsman and how Hutton came to his conclusions about earth history but also gives some interesting historical notes about 18th Century Scotland where Hutton lived. Recheck also reports that Hutton was not immune to the temptations of the flesh as he fathered a child by a young woman to whom he was not married. Though trained in medicine, Hutton apparently never pursued a medical career but felt it more interesting to do other things, including a stint at farming. He was very much attracted to Issac Newton and his work. From him, it is said, Hutton learned or picked up observational skills. Hutton, observing the give and take of tides and what he believed were pressures from deep in the earth, came to think that all of these would, over eons of time, create what he saw in front of his eyes. Hutton was not the first to come up with the thought that the earth was very old. He had probably read John Woodward's Essay Toward a Natural History of the Earth (1695) or William Whiston's New Theory of the Earth (1696) or perhaps G.L. de Buffon's 34 volume Histoire Naturelle (1749). These and other works of his day tended to stray away from the straight-forward reading of scripture. Hutton strayed even further from that path to the extent that the Bible was no longer considered a valid source of earth history. His thinking was first printed in 1788, based on lectures given in 1785. His book, The Theory of the Earth was finally published in 1795. Two years later, March 26, 1797, Hutton died, apparently of kidney failure. Today, in most corners of geologic thought, Hutton is considered the Father of modern geology. His idea of a long age for earth history encouraged Charles Lyell to write his Principles of Geology, three volumes completed by 1833. These, in turn, provided Charles Darwin the grist for his later efforts. Hutton led to Lyell led to Darwin; a series of ideas. Repcheck's work is interesting in that it provides a brief history of Hutton and his 18th Century thinking. As a balanced work, however, Repcheck could have gone a step further and showed that not all modern day geologists stand in awe of Hutton's work. There are many who take strong exception to the idea that the present is the key to the past but who, instead, maintain that the past is the key to the present. Many of these geologists are alive and well today and have written and spoken on the subject in many ways and venues but Repcheck does not mention them. This suggests that Repcheck is either ignorant of such people or is unwilling to acknowledge them for fear that some people might be tempted to hear what they have to say. In my opinion, it is the latter concern which Repcheck is facing. (...)
Rating:
Summary: New Respect for the Scots
Review: I picked up this book having never heard of James Hutton and having no big interst in geology. But this book is more than a tale of rocks. It is a story about scientific discovery, breaking down established scientific/religous barriers, and most importantly a tale of friendship. A very clear and consice book about a man who it seems was destined to be forgotten if not for people like Jack Repcheck. The book is very well structured from beginning to end. Repcheck is a master of presenting the histories of people, places, and thoughts. Repcheck does a great job describing the beliefs of the scientific community (or the beliefs imposed by religious sources) during each period of scientific discovery. I was truly amazed at the brilliance that called Edinburgh home during the lifetime of James Hutton. One can only assume that the friendships between Hutton, Adam Smith, Joseph Black, and David Hume only helped blosom their scientific advances which in turn made our world forever grateful
Rating:
Summary: New Respect for the Scots
Review: I picked up this book having never heard of James Hutton and having no big interst in geology. But this book is more than a tale of rocks. It is a story about scientific discovery, breaking down established scientific/religous barriers, and most importantly a tale of friendship. A very clear and consice book about a man who it seems was destined to be forgotten if not for people like Jack Repcheck. The book is very well structured from beginning to end. Repcheck is a master of presenting the histories of people, places, and thoughts. Repcheck does a great job describing the beliefs of the scientific community (or the beliefs imposed by religious sources) during each period of scientific discovery. I was truly amazed at the brilliance that called Edinburgh home during the lifetime of James Hutton. One can only assume that the friendships between Hutton, Adam Smith, Joseph Black, and David Hume only helped blosom their scientific advances which in turn made our world forever grateful
Rating:
Summary: Overturning Biblical beliefs
Review: I purchased this book in July '03 shortly after it was published but only now got around to reading it. It's been sitting in my stack of unread books while I've worked on the publication and marketing of my own book, "Concepts: A ProtoTheist Quest for Science-Minded Skeptics."
This small book makes for a leisurely and informative diversion. Repcheck is to be commended not only for attempting to give Hutton the recognition he deserves but for portraying the locale and culture of Hutton's time. I certainly agree with other reviewers' positive assessments and highly recommend it.
Two things struck me while reading this book. Hutton's culture was essentially the same that America's founding fathers labored under with its Biblical beliefs both in the Earth's six-thousand year age and in a pre-Darwin stagnant creation. And they had only pre-industrial revolution technology. What our founding fathers were able to accomplish was truly remarkable and revolutionary. The other thing is the persistent difficulty of introducing ideas that run counter to religious beliefs eventho we've had two more centuries of further enlightenment.
Rating:
Summary: A necessary biography
Review: Repcheck's biography of James Hutton (the father of geology) is a well presented insight not only into the character and mindset of a man who provided the ultimate steps to establishing the Earth's true age in the face of religious doctrine, but also provides a fascinating general history of the time before and during the Scottish Enlightenment.
It is the latter that allows Repcheck to give substance to what would otherwise become an essay for two thirds of the book barely deals with Hutton, more with the history of various personages at the time. As such, under the guise of dealing with Hutton's youth it becomes apparent that this author has little source material so we are treated to a lengthy chapter on the Jacobite uprising and the battle of Culloden. None of which Hutton appears to have actively participated in. Still, it is presented in an interesting manner.
To begin we are given a somewhat nostalgic and romantic scene of an aging man finally proving his theories off Scotland's windswept coasts (the kind of thing that might open a tv documentary) and we then move swiftly into a commentary on previous scientific thinkers such as Luther, Gallileo et al and how they tentatively challenged Christian representation of the earth's origins to fit in with doctrinal requirements. We are also given details on how early Church thinkers kept altering the date of the world's creation to ensure that foretold events were always pushed back as the apocalyptic event approached. An opening page on the uniqueness of Castle rock's composition allow Repcheck to give us an early history of Edinburgh. Then we move into a seventy page history lesson on the early eighteenth century (roughly 1715 - 45) focusing on Bonnie Prince Charlie that just keeps on the titular track by telling us where Hutton was at each point as he studied to be a lawyer, then a doctor before, come 1745, settling onto a farm at Slighhouses where his management led to his fascination with soil and erosion.
The second half of the book devotes itself entirely to following the greatest thinkers of the Enlightenment - Watts, Black, Hume, Hutton and Smith (plus several others) and how they formed their own 'Inklings' that met discussed and formed a scientific clique in Edinburgh. As a result we then move rapidly on through his years spent study rock strata, his formulation of geothermal science to explain the cyclic nature of an ancient Earth, contradicting opponents like Werner who espoused the universal ocean theory. Eventually Hutton delivered his two lecture, 500 single print texts and promptly was the focus of both support and attack from those who say his statement that placed the earth as extremely ancient. The argument raged well beyond his death until eventually people like Lyle and Darwin saw the inevitability of fact and serious attempts began at dating the earth (eventually via isotopic decay in the 1950s).
If you had only read half this book you might be forgiven for thinking it had very little to do with Hutton and admittedly in the first part this is one of those books where the content tends to wander off the subject matter but it is done in a manner that the extra information about the period is fascinating in itself. However, come the latter stages, Hutton's presentation of his theories is placed within the intellectual context of the age, stressing its importance to the scientific community as a whole and permitting further achievements. What this book attempts to do with some success is give the modern reader an elegy to the Father of Geology from who simple observations contradicted the human view in an altogether Galilean way.
Rating:
Summary: The Father of Modern Geology Finally Gets His Due
Review: The book "The Man Who Found Time," by J. Repcheck is about James Hutton, the eighteenth century Scottish geologist who deserves to stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Newton, Darwin, and Einstein in the pantheon of History's greatest and most important scientists. Unlike these other great men who are rightly famous, Hutton is little known outside of the Earth sciences community. I first learned of Hutton's work many years ago when I was a student of geology and sadly, have seldom heard his name mentioned since then. Hutton's theory of the Earth is a truly remarkable accomplishment. His rare ability to free himself from many of the religious and dogmatic fetters of his day and his sheer brilliance and perspicacity made it possible for him to formulate the first viable and more-or-less correct theory of how the Earth works. His discovery of "Deep Time" was crucial to later advances in geology and of great importance to many of those made in biology and astronomy as well. In his book, Mr. Repcheck attempts to rescue the father of geology from the unfortunate and undeserved obscurity in which he has languished for more than two centuries. A book such as this is long over due and I hope that it is widely read so that this great scientist and exemplar of the Scottish Enlightenment will finally get the recognition that he deserves. As a previous reviewer pointed out, Repcheck is on occasion rather loose with his history and perhaps not as objective as he should be. He probably should have made it more clear, as other authors have, that Hutton was not a modern empiricist, that he relied heavily on the works of earlier natural philosophers, and that he got some things wrong. But when viewed within the context of his time, Hutton's evident shortcomings are quite forgivable and do not change the fact that modern geology is the direct descendant of Hutton's geology. I am a little disappointed that Repcheck does not mention the fact that Hutton posited an idea of organic evolution through natural selection (although he did not call it that) decades before Darwin independently formulated his magnificent theory. I also think that Repcheck's argument would be more effective had he presented his explanation of why Hutton is so important early on in the book rather than relegating it to the later chapters. I do not agree with Repcheck and many others that Hutton was overlooked by history largely because of his inarticulate and turgid writing style. I have read some of Hutton's original works and do not find his writings to be "impenetrable" as compared to those of other eighteenth century authors. Perhaps Hutton was rejected in his own day and later nearly forgotten because he was simply too far ahead of his time. His contemporaries could neither let go of biblical creation myths nor countenance the notion that the Earth is many millions of years old and powered by an, at that time, inexplicable subterranean heat source. In spite of these few minor criticisms, this is an excellent and much needed book. Repcheck writes well and presents his case cogently and effectively. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in science or the history of science.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: The topic of this book - the story of the man who first discovered how the earth had evolved over countless ages of geologic time - is intriguing and full of promise. Unhappily, the book does not live up to the promise. To be fair, not a great deal seems to be known about James Hutton and any writer would be stretched to develop a book-length manuscript with so little directly relevant material. This explains the tediously detailed tangents that the writer chooses to indulge in. They provide background and context but are pedestrian and uninspired. The writer is introduced on the back cover as an editor "with a long career of publishing works of science". It seems that this is the first book he has written and one should therefore be tolerant. It doesn't explain why it is so poorly edited. The copy editing alone is abysmal - was there no-one to check typos and spellings? He over-uses the word "rigorous" which only goes to point out that his own work is less than rigorous. The book is noticeably US-centric and in parts the US-based vocabulary is both inappropriate and distracting. A greater sensitivity to words would have added a lot. We have to be grateful to the writer for introducing this little-known scientist to a wider readership. However, he does not do his subject justice.
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