Galileo Galilei is one of the larger-than-life heroes of intellectual history. There aren’t many scientists whose lives and achievements have inspired plays (such as Brecht’s Life of Galileo), scores of poems, and even an opera (by Philip Glass). For Albert Einstein, Galileo was “the father of modern physics—indeed, of modern science altogether.”

Astrophysicist Mario Livio traces this fascinating life as he examines Galileo’s monumental achievements in astronomy, mechanics, and the development of the scientific method. He also analyzes Galileo’s complex and tragic interaction with the Catholic Church, which eventually led to the scientist being denounced as a suspected heretic by the Inquisition.

Livio, author of Galileo and the Science Deniers, emphasizes Galileo’s relevance for our world today. In particular, he clarifies the relationship between science and religion and explains why there is no schism between the humanities and the sciences. For Livio, Galileo’s life serves as a potent reminder of the importance of freedom of thought, and though his richly intricate personality was grounded in late-Renaissance Italy, the impact of his enduring contributions to science and thought spans time and cultures.

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