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There are currently 35 member reviews
for The Philosophical Breakfast Club
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Mary Ellen (Canfield, OH)
The Philosophical Breakfast Club
The Philosophical Breakfast Club fulfills its promotional materials as a vivid portrait of four extraordinary men of 19th century science. The author has done extensive research into the details of their personal lives and scientific contributions, however occasionally these details were distracting. The four friends lived in an exciting time in scientific development and were instrumental in its progress. Laura Snyder gives us a renewed appreciation of this. If you have an interest in science, this is a must read.
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WDH (New Port Richey, FL)
Well Researched, A Bit Dry
This book is well-researched and it's obvious the author was interested in her subjects and has a great vocabulary. The book provides a look at four influential men and covers brief information about their upbringing, places in society and their families. The heart of their story begins when they meet in college and discover they have 'like minds' then follows them as they formulate and promote the idea of what the 'art of science' and being a 'scientist' means. (The idea for the word 'scientist' stuck with me and is probably what I'll remember about this book.) They were brave, adventurous, ambitious men who were full of ideas and willing to take risks in the name of progress. While I'm glad I read this because I learned about early science/scientists and four people that I didn't know much about, this was not an easy read by any means - you really have to stay focused and follow the details in order to remain connected the storyline.
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Jeanne M. (Vancouver, WA)
Philosophers Who Would be Scientists
"The Philosophical Breakfast Club," is a stretch for a title in my estimation. While the four philosophers/scientists do have breakfast together early in their academic lives, their connection is more scientific in that they encourage each others efforts in their areas of expertise for more than 50 years. More importantly their thinking and leadership set the stage for the development of 19th Century scientific thought that had previously been promoted as philosophical thought.
The book covers far more than the four friends who are connected through their activities. It extends to the influence they had in the scientific methods that have become standard even in today's world.
Be ready for a long dense read that includes many of the philosophers and scientists of the 19th Century.
Interesting read, though I felt at times that I was back in school reading a textbook.
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Peggy H. (North East, PA)
Fascinating, But Dry
This book was jam-packed with interesting information about the Victorian era and the four men that it highlights. I was not familiar with three of the four, and the details were well-researched. The style, however, was a bit dry and pedantic. I would have loved to read this as historical research, but as a pick up and read book...it drags a bit.
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Valerie C. (Chico, CA)
Well done
The reading is a little dry in places, but overall well worth the effort to read!
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Beth T. (Savannah, GA)
Enjoyable and Informative
I am SO not a nonfiction reader, but enjoyed this book nevertheless. It's an easy read, most of the time, and the details about the different characters and the time period keep it pretty lively. I think that people who have an interest in science and history will particularly enjoy this book.
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Mary Ann B. (Louisville, KY)
Science in the Making
If you have ever thought about how scientists think, read this book. Much of the process was put into practice by members of the Philosphical Breakfast Club. Of course in the 19th century, philosphical had a somewhat different meaning than today, but these gentlemen shaped how we have come to look at rational thinking in the area of proving theory. One caveat, it does get bogged down with other information, so it takes a while for the meat of the story to emerge.
