Before Copernicus, educated people believed without a doubt that the sun and the planets traveled around Earth. Through his brilliant thinking and years of careful observation and documentation, Copernicus turned this idea on its head, making the astonishing assertion that Earth revolves around the sun. In this engaging biography, the author traces the great scientist's life and influences in Europe in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, including his work in the Roman Catholic Church. The title is an excellent resource for Common Core anchor standard 3: analyzing the development of individuals, events, and ideas.