The Ring of Truth: Inquiry Into How We Know What We Know - 1st Edition/1st Printing Hardcover – January 1, 1987

This book helps to answer the question, "How we know what we know?" It is designed for scientists and non-scientists alike - giving a glimpse of the logic and thought processes that have gone in to the most important discoveries of our human existence.Have ever wondered how we figured out the earth was round and went around the sun before we could fly? Have you pondered how we went so quickly from earth, air, fire and water to thinking about the world in terms of atoms? This is just a taste of what you will find.These questions and much more are handled in a sensitive, easy to read manner in a book which is part science text, part history lesson and part tall-tale. Expect details on the lives of some of the most famous scientists in history, fascinating information on how they designed and implemented their famous experiments, and remarkable discussion on the implications of that work.Although the book is a bit dated, the histories described haven't changed. The illustrations are quite useful, if again, a bit old.

When this series was on TV in the late 80s I watched it over & over (I had taped it)& loved Morrison's graphic demonstrations of science principles. He was so good at boiling things down to their most basic essence which showed you exactly why those truths were undeniable. I owned this book The Ring of Truth: An Inquiry into How We Know What We Know  for a long time but when my house burned I lost it so went looking for it online-found it on Amazon's website & ordered it! Now I am looking for a few hundred other books also lost in the fire.

This book completes my library on Philip Morrison, a scientist for whom I have the greatest admiration.He helped me see the mathematics in the natural world around me.Book came on time and was/is in exemplary condition.Thank you

I read this book about 10 years ago, and have lent it to so many people, I finally lost track of it. I still want it, so I ordered it again. I want to share it with my kids. The writing is simple, but explains a lot. It explains HOW we know what we know, not WHAT we know. It talks about the development of the human mind vs. all other animals, how we learn, and how we came up with such fantastic inventions and discoveries. It's the best bbok on the subject that I've ever read.