Tamara Plakins Thornton Bücher

Focusing on Nathaniel Bowditch's multifaceted contributions, this biography explores his influence as a mathematician, astronomer, and navigator during the early 19th century. Recognized for his Enlightenment ideals, Bowditch played a pivotal role in shaping capitalism and American society. His innovative approaches to institutions, including financial corporations and Harvard College, highlight the interplay between science and social dynamics of the time. Thornton's work offers insights into the political and social controversies that accompanied Bowditch's legacy, illuminating the emergence of American scientific and capitalist thought.

Copybooks and the Palmer method, handwriting analysis and autograph collecting - these words conjure up a lost world, in which people looked to handwriting as both a lesson in conformity and a talisman of individuality. In this engaging history, ranging from colonial times to the present, Tamara Plakins Thornton explores the shifting functions and meanings of handwriting in America.