Autobiography of an Italian scientist of the 16th century. Girolamo Cardano “On My Life” is a unique and still largely underestimated document of the Renaissance era. It contains amazing not only the author’s stories about the dramatic ups and downs of his life, but also his detailed description of his own person: appearance, character, vices, habits, illnesses, miraculous abilities. It also immerses the reader in the bizarre world of the Renaissance man of science, in which medicine, philosophy, astrology, mechanics, and cryptography are strangely intertwined. The publication is intended primarily for students and university teachers - historians, philosophers, cultural experts, psychologists, historians of science. It is also addressed to the widest range of readers interested in the culture and everyday life of Italy of the era Renaissance. On the cover: portrait of Cardano - engraving by R. Cooper (early 19th century) from the original of the 16th century; 17th century star map Frederica de Vita. CONTENTS: From the compiler (9). Girolamo Cardano and his autobiography (11). ABOUT MY LIFE (25). Chapter I. Homeland and ancestors (26). Chapter II. About my birth (28).Chapter III. About some traits and habits of my parents (31). Chapter IV. A brief description of my life from its beginning to the present day (i.e., until the end of October 1575) (32). Chapter V. Growth and appearance (40). Chapter VI. About diseases (41).Chapter VII. On bodily exercises (46). Chapter VIII. Nutrition (47).Chapter IX. About how I cherished the idea of perpetuating my name (50). Chapter X. About the way of life (53). Chapter XI. About reason (58). Chapter XII. Classes in debate and teaching (59).Chapter XIII. My morals, vices and errors (62).Chapter XIV. On virtues and perseverance (67). Chapter XV. About friends and patrons (71). Chapter XVI. About enemies and rivals (74). Chapter XVII. Slanders, gossip and intrigues of my accusers (74). Chapter XVIII. My hobbies (77).Chapter XIX. Chess and dice (78).Chapter XX. About clothing (79).Chapter XXI. Walking and Reflections (80).Chapter XXII. Religion and Piety (81). Chapter XXIII. About the special rules I observed (82). Chapter XXIV. The houses in which I lived (85).Chapter XXV. Poverty and loss of paternal inheritance (86). Chapter XXVI. My Marriage and Children (87). Chapter XXVII. The unfortunate fate of my children (88).Chapter XXVIII. About my constant litigation (91). Chapter XXIX. About my travels (92).Chapter XXX. About the dangers and accidents to which I was exposed, as well as about the numerous, varied and continuous intrigues against me (95). Chapter XXXI. About happiness (98).Chapter XXXII. The honors that I have been awarded (112).Chapter XXXIII. My dishonor and the role of dreams in this regard. About the swallow in my coat of arms (120). Chapter XXXIV. My teachers (127).Chapter XXXV. Pupils and students (127).Chapter XXXVI. About spiritual wills (128). Chapter XXXVII. About some properties inherent in me by nature and, among other things, about dreams (129). Chapter XXXVIII. About five properties that helped me in life (140). Chapter XXXIX. About my learning (143). Chapter XL. Successful treatment of diseases (147).Chapter XLI. The phenomena, apparently natural, but amazing, which marked my whole life, and my son’s retribution (159). Chapter XLII. My ability to predict, both in the field of medicine and in other fields (166). Chapter XLIII. Truly supernatural cases (170).Chapter XLIV. What new and worthy of mention have I introduced into various branches of science (178).Chapter XLV. Books I've written. About the time, reasons and circumstances of their writing (182). Chapter XLVI. About myself (196). Chapter XLVII. Spirit (198).Chapter XLVIII. Testimonies of famous people about me (204). Chapter XLIX. Discourse on the affairs of this world (209). Chapter L. Sayings that should be guided. Lamentation for a dead son (214). Chapter LI. About the shortcomings that I am aware of in myself (225). Chapter LII. About changes in me due to age (227). Chapter LIII. Features of my treatment (231). Conclusion (234). APPENDICES Girolamo Cardano Selected aphorisms from the “Seven Segments” (239). General aphorisms (239). Aphorisms related to natal charts (244). Aphorisms about revolutions (259). Aphorisms related To decumbiturs, diseases, medicines, etc. (263).Aphorisms about elections (270).Aphorisms about comets and eclipses (272).Aphorisms concerning weather, meteors, etc. (275). Several aphorisms related to agriculture (276). Aphorisms about general events (277). V.P. Zubov. Notes on Girolamo Cardano (279).BIBLIOGRAPHY (334).