Galileo's Daughter: A Drama of Science, Faith and LoveGalileo's Daughter: A Drama of Science, Faith and Love
Score Modern
What it's about
Galileo, the great astronomer, had a daughter, Virginia, who became a nun and took the name Suor Maria Celeste. Over the years, she wrote him more than a hundred letters, which survive. Dava Sobel uses them to tell the story of Galileo's life, his discoveries and his trial by the Inquisition, through the loving relationship between father and daughter.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Pulitzer finalist. It's a warm, human portrait of a scientific revolution.
You'll love it if you liked
The Swerve: How the World Became Modern
The Age of Wonder
Leonardo da VinciGood to know
Galileo's letters to her are lost; only hers survive.
By the numbers
- Readers6 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller12 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #198 of the 198 history books we rank
- #289 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #1539 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2769 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is Galileo's Daughter: A Drama of Science, Faith and Love worth reading?
Yes. It was a Pulitzer finalist. It ranks #2,769 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 53.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Galileo's Daughter: A Drama of Science, Faith and Love about?
Galileo, the great astronomer, had a daughter, Virginia, who became a nun and took the name Suor Maria Celeste. Over the years, she wrote him more than a hundred letters, which survive. Dava Sobel uses them to tell the story of Galileo's life, his discoveries and his trial by the Inquisition, through the loving relationship between father and daughter.
How long does it take to read Galileo's Daughter: A Drama of Science, Faith and Love?
About 14 hours (571 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Galileo's Daughter: A Drama of Science, Faith and Love?
If you liked it, try The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Stephen Greenblatt, The Age of Wonder by Richard Holmes or Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson.