A tour through the history of human curiosity - from its original condemnation as sin, blossoming through the lives of Galileo and Newton, to its current role central to modern society.

"Philip Ball, like Levi, displays a polymath's enthusiasm for knowledge of all kinds, and writes of science with humility and intelligent generosity." -- Ian Thomson Telegraph "Ball's fascinating book revels not just in the experiments of these early scientists, but also in their humanity, foibles and passions" -- Ian Critchley Sunday Times "A wonderfully nuanced and wise study of the scientific revolution" Guardian "Fascinating" Daily Telegraph "Philip Ball's scintillating history of curiosity brims with treats" Nature Magazine

Philip Ball is a freelance writer and a consultant editor for Nature, where he previously worked as an editor for physical sciences. He writes regularly in the scientific and popular media, and his many books on scientific subjects include Critical Mass: How One Thing Leads To Another, which won the 2005 Aventis Prize for Science Books. His latest books include The Music Instinct, Universe of Stone: Chartres Cathedral and the Triumph of the Medieval Mind, and, most recently, Unnatural: The Heretical Idea of Making People. Philip obtained a PhD in physics from the University of Bristol.