"Galileo's Daughter : A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love" by Dava Sobel

Truthfully, a very small portion of this book is dedicated to the life of the daughter of Galileo. Very little is known about the correspondence between father and daughter since only a few letters remain to testify of their intimate communication that span over several years. One thing is clear - Maria Celeste was the strongest emotional support for Galileo during the time of his trial and subsequent home arrest. Careful readers will find a lot more written in-between the lines of Maria Celeste's letters to her father than noticeable at first glance.
The major part of the book is dedicated to the life of Galileo, following him from his early years as a professor in mathematics to his elder years of forced seclusion. Within the pages of this book the author brings to life the age of darkness when religious fervor penalized scientific minds with dogmas, trials and punishment. Among other things, readers will learn about Copernicus' sun-centered theory, explore Galileo's astronomical observations, documentations and publications of his discoveries and then will be shocked at the ultimate prize for Catholic disobedience.
Despite the few remaining letters, the author successfully weaves around them Galileo's biography to capture the spirit of love and devotion. You'll see the beauty of a daughter's caring heart (despite spending her entire life in a convent as a nun). You'll even share a tear with the rest of us (who read the story) when you find out about the outcome of their final union.
Beautifully written, this book makes for a great reading and is both good for readers interested in family relationships as well as non-fiction readers curious about the life of one of the first pioneers of modern science.

-by Simon Cleveland