Although it centers on the life of Joseph Priestley, the 18th century English chemist and clergyman, Steven Johnson's "The Invention of Air: A Story of Science, Faith, Revolution, and the Birth of America" is far from a conventional biography. It is the story of Priestley's ideas -- who inspired them, whom they influenced and how they came to be.
Thus, this book, which I briefly referenced earlier, is in effect an intellectual history. This reflects the author's past works, but for those who find that sort of thing a bit boring, it is not only quick about it (a bit over 200 pages), but also provides enough narrative of his life for those who like that sort of thing too. In fact, the intellectual history -- the history of ideas stuff -- is only a relatively small part of the book as a whole. It is an important part, since putting historical characters in perspective is necessary to truly understand history.
Joseph Priestly, if one might forgive a less well known "JP," had eclectic interests.* This was not uncommon in his era -- his mix of religion (a pioneer of the Unitarian Church, and a major influence of Jefferson on this point), politics and science is underlined by a common term of the times -- "natural philosophy." The index cross-references the term with "science." This is telling, especially for those who based their philosophy of government on the laws of "nature's God." And, a good understanding of science remains important:
We live in troubling times, filled with signs of a great economic apocalypse, politicized science on topics from birth control to climate change, and religious zealots who kill innocents rather than live peacefully with them. This is exactly the moment to learn from Priestley, who survived riots, threats of prosecution, and other hardships and yet never doubted that "the world was headed naturally toward an increase in liberty and understanding." Ironically, The Invention of Air underscores that there is nothing natural about progress and liberty, each of which must be fought for and defended every single day by visionary individuals.
Steven Johnson notes that Priestly succeeded in revolutionizing science because various factors worked together to provide the right combination for this to occur. This is both a reflection of his times and his specific situation, including having the time (akin to a research professor who teaches a few classes, he had various patrons) to do his experiments, an open process to share ideas and the people with whom to share them. This included the "Lunar Society," whose industrialist members helped him in ways industrial research scientists would today, though without the proprietary secrecy now often involved.
Priestly shared the optimism of others in his times, a true progressive, who thought the world was on an upward path. As with his inability to let go of certain dubious religious beliefs (e.g., connecting the French Revolution to the book of Revelations), such optimism could blind him in certain ways. But, such is the nature of things -- imperfection is nature to man.** He also was a popularizer -- an important step on the road to his success was a proposal to collect the works of scientists like Franklin (the result made science not only seem like a work for demigods like Newton, but helped to make Franklin's kite experiment so famous) into a narrative history.
Overall, Joseph Priestley is a fascinating historical subject, an important symbol of the age. Johnson provides a very good snapshot, while also teaching us a bit about the at times underreported intellectual history aspect of things in the process. For instance, how could it take so long for people to realize the carbon dioxide/oxygen interplay of animals/plants, why Priestley in particular (with an important assist from Franklin -- who also discovered the Gulf Stream) found out, but still could not give up a misguided theory on why things burned all the same. The complexity of the whole thing, plus the charming nature of the man involved, makes for a great read.
Thanks Steven Colbert for inviting him on your show to talk about it.
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* Malcolm Gladwell, another intellectual historian of sorts -- as shown by Tipping Point -- uses that word in his blurb. The "tipping point" theory comes to mind while reading this book too, including Johnson's argument that information networks are necessary for the shaping of new ideas, not a simplistic "light bulb" moment. I'm quite supportive of this view, one I'm of course not really describing with any real detail here.
** Priestley even was optimistic about the not too pleasant ride over to America once he was hounded out of England for his beliefs. This is not a matter of ignoring the dark side of things -- he lashed out at his enemies too -- but a matter of focusing on the good side of things. Things do not "happen for a reason," but we can make the best of things all the same.