Jago uses very few direct quotes from primary sources, and because of this, it's difficult to know what in the book is 'fact' and what is artistic hypothesis. Like many authors of popular nonfiction pieces today, Jago delivers The Northern Lights in a narrative style which kept a relatively brisk pace but, for me, lacked intimate details and connections to the people. As I mentioned above, I know virtually nothing about Norway, and it was interesting to see how Birkeland's scientific endeavors were supported, in part, by a desire to bring prestige to the country. The Northern Lights also gives the reader a unique view of Norwegian history, particularly as the country sought independence. Birkeland was a man of considerable intellect with an enormous amount of ideas, but like many genuises, his work was also a plague to him, and he rarely seemed happy. What did keep me reading, though, was the in-depth look at one man's single-minded pursuit of science and the relationship of that pursuit to Norway's politics. Personally, I was not especially interested by the science, although I imagine the book certainly would be of interest to physicists. So considering my total lack of initial interest in the subject matter, I was surprised that I found the book compelling enough to finish it. I couldn't even find the frickin' moon in my telescope.ģ. I took astronomy in college (lab science requirement), which was a gigantic mistake. Pretty lights in the sky, right? And I've never really wondered.Ģ. I know pretty much nothing about the aurora borealis. Musings: Here are some reasons why it makes no sense that I picked up this book:ġ. Summary: A biography of Kristian Birkeland, a Norwegian scientist in the early 20th century who discovered the cause of the aurora borealis.

The northern lights lucy jago