The Man Who Changed Everything : The Life of James Clerk Maxwell

Rating:
Summary: A good biography of a great scientist
Review: James Clerk Maxwell is one of the greatest scientists not only because of his many great contributions but also because he inspired so many others who went on to become outstanding
scientists. The impact of his work is so far-reaching that it
is difficult to find the right words to describe it. Thus, it
is rather curious that no major biographies of Maxwell have been published.

This biography by Basil Mahon attempts to address this void.
This is a good book that is enjoyable to read. James' strengths, both scientific and personal, are presented in
an engaging style. But, one cannot but feel that, given the greatness of the subject, the biography is not as vast in scope as one might expect. This is a simple biography of a great man.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Tribute to a Truly Great Man
Review: The scientific accomplishments of James Clerk Maxwell are astounding! To think that he was able to accomplish so much in electromagnetism, optics, thermodynamics, etc., in so short a life boggles the mind. This biography is well done. The writing is clear and engaging. The various scientific explanations give a good indication of how Maxwell the scientist approached and solved physical problems. His charming personality and his wittiness stand out to give one a good overall impression of Maxwell the man. Notes at the end of the book provide added information on some issues discussed in the main text. Complete with an index and a bibliography, this book should be read by anyone interested in knowing more about one of the greatest, yet less known, all-time giants of the scientific world.