Book Description
Characters
Jospeh Priestley, a contemporary of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, is the main character of this novel. The books begins with his voyage across the Atlantic from England to America in the 1780’s. Like many men of that age, Priestley is a scientist but also deeply religious and political.
Setting
While the book starts with an exciting description of a waterspout on the voyage across the Atlantic, most of the book takes place on land in America in the 1780’s. There are also some brief sections about England and Priestley’s previous experiences there.
Plot
The book is an exploration of how ideas (and politics and religion) intermingle. This is set against the backdrop of Priestley trying to isolate elements of the air using chemistry.
See description and other reviews on GoodReads.
An Editor’s Book Review
Character Development
The lesser known Priestley is often described in the context of his friends in America, including Benjamin Franklin. While readers may appreciate getting to know a more invisible figure in American history, Priestley is described more as a part of a system than an individual. The focus of the book is the intermingling of ideas, not Priestley’s quirks. While he can be an engaging character, I did not identify with him as much as some other leading characters in science history.
Pacing
The pacing of this book is rather slow. It has a lengthy timeline over which the narrative is built. The isolation of the elements of air provides a clear goal, and readers may be eager to see the results. But this narrative is not the sole focus of the book, and Johnson often zooms out to show the larger context. This is very interesting in most cases, but it does not lead to a fast-paced book.
Writing Style
Steven Johnson’s writing style is main reason that I read his books. He is excellent at using a small event to demonstrate the impact of a larger one. His writing is bit more scholarly than some other popular science history writers, but I enjoy his word choice and metaphors.
Related Recommendations
If you enjoyed The Invention of Air, Steven Johnson’s The Ghost Map may be a good fit for you. It also explores science and innovation in a later era (1850’s).