本書敘述科學家伽利略的生平事蹟與科學成就;其與一般伽利略傳記不同之處,是以伽利略長女馬利亞修女與父親來往書信的摘錄內容,作為串聯故事的一大主軸,勾勒出這位偉大科學家的思想、性格與際遇。美國作家戴瓦.梭貝爾發揮高人一等的敘事功力,巧妙結合翔實的史料與精心鋪排的情節,將伽利略的科學精神與研究發現的過程,活靈活現的展現在讀者眼前。本書除登上美國《紐約時報》、英國《泰晤士報》暢銷書排行榜,並獲得《洛杉磯時報》書卷獎(Los Angeles Times Book Prize)。伽利萊奧?伽利略( Galileo Galilei )是愛因斯坦口中的「現代物理學之父,更是現代科學之父」。本書作者戴瓦?梭貝爾長期私淑伽利略,加上受到現存伽氏長女書信之感動,結果完成了伽利略的傳記。伽利略是音樂家之子,原先計劃從事神職工作,但卻學到種種技藝,成為當時最傑出的科學家。伽氏終生未曾離開義大利一步,但是他的發明和發現卻能馳譽全球。他利用自製的望遠鏡揭露前人未見的天空奧祕,有利的支持了地球繞日的理論。結果為了這個信仰,遭到宗教法庭的審判,被控異端,餘年遭受軟禁直到去世。
In this photo provided by the South Korean Unification Ministry, South Korean National Security Director, Kim Kwan-jin, right, and Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo, second from right, shake hands ... 較多In this photo provided by the South Korean Unification Ministry, South Korean National Security Director, Kim Kwan-jin, right, and Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo, second from right, shake hands with Hwang Pyong So, left, North Korea' top political officer for the Korean People's Army, and Kim Yang Gon, a senior North Korean official responsible for South Korean affairs, during their meeting at the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015. South Korea and North Korea agreed Saturday to hold their first high-level talks in nearly a year at a border village to defuse mounting tensions that have pushed the rivals to the brink of a possible military confrontation. (The South Korean Unification Ministry via AP) 較少