who was copernicus? >> is a person to turn the universe inside out. >> how so? >> he was brave enough to say that the earth was actually moving, turning around and moving around the sun. at a time when everybody thought yours was the center of the universe and did not move. >> and what did that revelation create? >> havoc. that's what sent galileo to trial. but copernicus was really trying to figure out a way to predict the positions of the planet. that would make sense. and he realized that if you put the earth in motion, you didn't have to move the sun or the stars. and everything that had been confusing came into better sense. >> tell us a little bit about copernicus. >> he was an amateur astronomer. he was an administrator for the catholic church. so people often think was the church opposed to the idea. not until later. and he had studied law and he was also a medical doctor. so he was the bishop's personal physician. and he was nevertheless unafraid to publish his books because he thought everybody would laugh at him and he was worried about ridicule and i

estimate light today are you writing about copernicus? >> i had something new to bring to him which was the idea of writing a play about this unusual meeting between the old recluse and the young itinerant mathematician, different religions, different backgrounds, different sexuality, but they overcame all of those things for the purpose of an idea, and telling the world about that idea. >> a more perfect have been comes out and october, 2011. >> thank you. >>> coming up next, book tv presents "after words," an hourlong program where we invite a guest host interview authors. this week, dana priest and her latest book, quote coach top-secret america the rise of the new american security state."

and it changed the world. >> why today are you writing about copernicus? >> i actually had something new to bring to him, which was the idea of writing a play about this unusual meeting between the old reckless and the young mathematician, different religions, different backgrounds, different sexuality. but they overcame all of those things, the purpose of an idea. and telling the world about that idea. >> "a more perfect heaven" by dava sobel comes out in october 2011. >> thank you. >> is a booktv.org to watch any of the programs you see here online at type the author or book title in the search more in the upper left side of the page and click search. you can also shoot anything you see on booktv.org easily by clicking share on the upper left side of the page and selecting the format. booktv streams live online for 48 hours every weekend with top of nonfiction books and authors. booktv.org. >> former mexican foreign minister jorge castaneda has written another new book, "manana forever?." i want to start with the subtitle of this book, mexico and mexican

did he make a history gaffe and confuse it with his predecessor copernicus?they need more evidence before being taken seriously? we know galileo, a man of science, a hero. rick perry is not galileo. >>> for the big number, during the debate at the reagan library, the candidates spard on afltd issues. one name kept popping up as an example they about strive to follow. >> ronald reagan was committed to america being a force for good. >> ronald reagan flup flew this plane i. served during the reagan campaign i strongly supported ronald reagan. >> the message of ronal reagan. >> ronald reagan made a deal. >> if president reagan were here. >> referencing president range. >> we're in the reagan library. >> president range. >> president reagan. >> ronald reagan that would be ronald reagan. >> the reagan tradition. >> i'm with president reagan. >> wow. that's right. ronald reagan was the hot topic. how many times was the former president mentioned by the candidates throughout the evening? it seemed like more, but only 24 times. the only candidate to refrain, mitt rom