Imagine developing a set of laws that describe motion succinctly, clearly and mathematically. Imagine also that these laws apply equally to motion occurring on Earth and throughout the solar system. This was the contribution to science made by Sir Isaac Newton. But Newton didn’t come to his conclusions by himself. Earlier researchers developed ideas and mathematical tools that paved the way for his work. Newton himself said that he “stood on the shoulders of giants.” From early Greek thinkers to quantum mechanics, the men and equipment (e.g., particle accelerators) that contributed to the laws of motion are presented in succinct text supported by color photographs and dynamic graphics. Sidebars, offset in contrasting colors, add relevant details to the text on each page. “Quick Facts,” offset within the image of a magnifying glass, add one- to three-sentence summaries of interesting, related information. This book from the “Shaping Modern Science” series closes with a timeline, a glossary, a list of books and websites titled “For More Information,” and an index. It would be a good addition to a middle or high school science class or library. Reviewer: Hazel Buys