The bestselling author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics illuminates the nature of science through the revolutionary ideas of the Greek philosopher Anaximander

Over two millennia ago, the prescient insights of Anaximander paved the way for cosmology, physics, geography, meteorology, and biology, setting in motion a new way of seeing the world. His legacy includes the revolutionary ideas that the Earth floats in a void, that animals evolved, that the world can be understood in natural rather than supernatural terms, and that universal laws govern all phenomena. He introduced a new mode of rational thinking with an openness to uncertainty and the progress of knowledge.

In this elegant work, the renowned theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli brings to light the importance of Anaximander’s overlooked influence on modern science. He examines Anaximander not from the point of view of a historian or as an expert in Greek philosophy, but as a scientist interested in the deep nature of scientific thinking, which Rovelli locates in the critical and rebellious ability to reimagine the world again and again. Anaximander celebrates the radical lack of certainty that defines the scientific quest for knowledge.

Carlo Rovelli's profile page

Carlo Rovelli is a theoretical physicist who has made significant contributions to the physics of space and time. He has worked in Italy and the United States and currently directs the quantum gravity research group of the Centre de Physique Théorique in Marseille, France. His books, including Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, The Order of Time, and Helgoland, are international bestsellers that have been translated into more than fifty languages.

Praise for Anaximander:

“Solid insights into the foundations of science...as usual, Rovelli communicates his ideas with clarity and verve.” —Kirkus
“An insightful survey of the scientific contributions of Greek philosopher Anaximander...Rovelli makes the most of the available evidence in building his case that the philosopher’s emphasis on natural causes marked a sea change in human thought. This is a masterful overview of a pivotal figure in scientific history.” —Publisher's Weekly

"As Rovelli’s fans will expect, this book is excellent. It is never less than engaging, and enviably compendious." —The Telegraph (UK)

“Books discovered in drawers by publishers should often have been left there...Anaximander?... Shouldn’t he stay in the dusty cabinet too? Absolutely not: Anaximander is a delight and so is this book” —Sunday Times (UK)

"A celebration of the scientific spirit of inquiry and the remarkable achievements of one man more than 2,500 years ago." —Times Literary Supplement (UK)
“A bold and persuasive case that this ancient Greek philosopher scientist was… the founder of critical thinking.” —Adam Rutherford, Start the Week

“What [Rovelli] has to say about the Greek philosopher Anaximander from the 6th century BC is fascinating… by the end of the book I was convinced.” —Popular Science