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A Magical World: Superstition and Science from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment
Spanning some of the most vibrant and fascinating eras in European history, Cambridge historian Derek Wilson reveals a society filled with an ardent desire for knowledge and astounding discoveries—and the fantastic discoveries that flowered from it. There was the discovery of the movement of blood around the body; the movement of the earth around the sun; the velocity of falling objects (and why those objects fell).
But these these thinkers were steeped in—and drew from—intellectual traditions that might surprise us. There was folk religion, which in its turn had deep roots in a pagan past. Others referred to spirits or tapped into stores of ancient wisdom and herbal remedies. This was the world of wise women, witches, necromancers, potions and incantations.
Even the mighty Catholic Church, which permeated all elements of life, had its own "magical" traditions. Devote believers and accomplished scientists alike both pursued alchemy. Astrology, also a rapidly developing field, was based on the belief that human affairs were controlled by the movement of heavenly bodies. Casting horoscopes was a near-universal practice, from the papacy to the peasantry. Yet from this heady cultural mix, the scientific method would spring.
But it was not just Europe where this tidal wave of intellectual innovation was colliding with folk wisdom to create something new. The twelfth-century Islamic polymath, Averroes, has been called 'the father of secular thought' because of his landmark treatises on astronomy, physics and medicine. Jewish scholars melded mysticism to create the esoteric disciplines of the Kabbalah.
By the mid-seventeenth century, "science mania" was in full flower. In 1663, The Royal Society in London received its charter. Just three years later, the French Academy of Sciences was founded, and other European capitals rapidly followed suit. In 1725, the word "science" was at last defined as "a branch of study concerned either with a connected body of demonstrated truths or with observed facts systematically classified." Yet just nine years before, the last witch had been executed in Britain. Fascinating and thought-provoking, A Magical World is a reminder of humanity's paradoxical nature—our passionate pursuit of knowledge alongside deep-rooted fears, superstitions, and traditions.
But these these thinkers were steeped in—and drew from—intellectual traditions that might surprise us. There was folk religion, which in its turn had deep roots in a pagan past. Others referred to spirits or tapped into stores of ancient wisdom and herbal remedies. This was the world of wise women, witches, necromancers, potions and incantations.
Even the mighty Catholic Church, which permeated all elements of life, had its own "magical" traditions. Devote believers and accomplished scientists alike both pursued alchemy. Astrology, also a rapidly developing field, was based on the belief that human affairs were controlled by the movement of heavenly bodies. Casting horoscopes was a near-universal practice, from the papacy to the peasantry. Yet from this heady cultural mix, the scientific method would spring.
But it was not just Europe where this tidal wave of intellectual innovation was colliding with folk wisdom to create something new. The twelfth-century Islamic polymath, Averroes, has been called 'the father of secular thought' because of his landmark treatises on astronomy, physics and medicine. Jewish scholars melded mysticism to create the esoteric disciplines of the Kabbalah.
By the mid-seventeenth century, "science mania" was in full flower. In 1663, The Royal Society in London received its charter. Just three years later, the French Academy of Sciences was founded, and other European capitals rapidly followed suit. In 1725, the word "science" was at last defined as "a branch of study concerned either with a connected body of demonstrated truths or with observed facts systematically classified." Yet just nine years before, the last witch had been executed in Britain. Fascinating and thought-provoking, A Magical World is a reminder of humanity's paradoxical nature—our passionate pursuit of knowledge alongside deep-rooted fears, superstitions, and traditions.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 6, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 19, 2018
A more accurate title for this book would have been:
Here Are Some Things I Know About European History.
It's all very correct, very competently written, and very diligently researched. But the information included has only a tangential relationship with magic and superstition.
While the text is an accurate history of science and religion and does a decent job of linking the two together, it fails to connect these things to the purported topic of the book, leaving the reader frustrated by a very misleading title and dust jacket summary.
Perhaps even more bothersome: What is the author actually trying to SAY? Very little that is unique, evidently. While all the information included is, as previously mentioned, correct and competently delivered, it's all well-established knowledge that could be gleaned from most college courses on European history.
Lovely, were the reader expecting a text book. But the author leads us to believe he has an original point which will surface out of all of this, yet it just never lands. The only point on which he becomes animated or even attempts to pose any sort of argument is in saying that "the dark ages weren't really all the dark." True, but also something that anyone with a decent liberal arts education already knows.
In all, a misleading title and publisher's summary combined with the author's failure to produce a single original point make this a huge disappointment. Might be a decent read if you're just looking for a refresher on European history, but in its supposed aim, it fails spectacularly.
Here Are Some Things I Know About European History.
It's all very correct, very competently written, and very diligently researched. But the information included has only a tangential relationship with magic and superstition.
While the text is an accurate history of science and religion and does a decent job of linking the two together, it fails to connect these things to the purported topic of the book, leaving the reader frustrated by a very misleading title and dust jacket summary.
Perhaps even more bothersome: What is the author actually trying to SAY? Very little that is unique, evidently. While all the information included is, as previously mentioned, correct and competently delivered, it's all well-established knowledge that could be gleaned from most college courses on European history.
Lovely, were the reader expecting a text book. But the author leads us to believe he has an original point which will surface out of all of this, yet it just never lands. The only point on which he becomes animated or even attempts to pose any sort of argument is in saying that "the dark ages weren't really all the dark." True, but also something that anyone with a decent liberal arts education already knows.
In all, a misleading title and publisher's summary combined with the author's failure to produce a single original point make this a huge disappointment. Might be a decent read if you're just looking for a refresher on European history, but in its supposed aim, it fails spectacularly.
March 14, 2018
In spite of the title, this is neither a history of superstition nor a history of science. It is more about attitudes toward knowledge and learning, or how superstition and "rational inquiry" affected philosophy and religious thought than anything else. I'm still not sure what point the author was trying to make.
April 11, 2018
A Magical World was not a bad book - don't get my rating wrong - it was simply not the book that I expected it to be based upon the title and description. I was expecting, and hoping, for a book about the history of superstitious thought and how it changed over time. I was expecting reference to the fairy faith, and the very different way that the world was viewed before the advent of the scientific revolution. I was hoping for the analysis of how one could contend with something being both a stone and a troll at the same time. A world where dragons and giants exist, but not here, simply the next valley over... that sort of thing.
Unfortunately, that very much was not what this book was.
This book, instead, was a very interesting look at the change in religious and scientific thought over the period before mentioned. Each chapter focused upon different people, offering small biographies and commentary on how they changed the world around them - whether they were accepted in their time or not, and how their beliefs and discoveries were informed by the time in which they live. While the book was fascinating, and indeed very interesting, it was also a bit dry in its delivery of facts and not what I had hoped it would be.
So, this is a good book for what it truly is, and an interesting one. Just not what I was looking for. Still, quite a nice history of church and science and how the two intersect. Also, a rather more detailed biography of Newton exists in it than what I had ever read before... and it did a good job of correcting commonly held beliefs about Galileo, Bruno, Newton, etc. that still get passed on today. So, kudos to it for that.
Unfortunately, that very much was not what this book was.
This book, instead, was a very interesting look at the change in religious and scientific thought over the period before mentioned. Each chapter focused upon different people, offering small biographies and commentary on how they changed the world around them - whether they were accepted in their time or not, and how their beliefs and discoveries were informed by the time in which they live. While the book was fascinating, and indeed very interesting, it was also a bit dry in its delivery of facts and not what I had hoped it would be.
So, this is a good book for what it truly is, and an interesting one. Just not what I was looking for. Still, quite a nice history of church and science and how the two intersect. Also, a rather more detailed biography of Newton exists in it than what I had ever read before... and it did a good job of correcting commonly held beliefs about Galileo, Bruno, Newton, etc. that still get passed on today. So, kudos to it for that.
July 21, 2018
Not what it says on the tin. Title says "Superstition," but really this book is all about religion and science intersecting in the early modern era. The information is very interesting, and the book is enjoyable as vignettes. However, when put together, I can't make heads or tails of what Wilson's organizational scheme is. He discusses science and religion's intersection by briefly talking on different figures throughout the period, loosely in chronological order. I'm not sure what I was supposed to get from this.
January 6, 2020
If you want to read about science and religion in the 16th through 18th centuries, you should read this book.
If you want to read about magic and superstition - don't.
The title is very deceitful, as there is no magic and hardly any superstition recorded. Be prepared; you had better be well informed when it comes to all the branches of Christianity (I am not). I had hoped for more folklore and tales of what people believed outside of the church, so I was very disappointed.
If you want to read about magic and superstition - don't.
The title is very deceitful, as there is no magic and hardly any superstition recorded. Be prepared; you had better be well informed when it comes to all the branches of Christianity (I am not). I had hoped for more folklore and tales of what people believed outside of the church, so I was very disappointed.
September 29, 2021
I mean if you needed the reminder that people are just as religious 300 years ago as they are today then like? it’s a good book? Unfortunately, I was hoping for something spicier. At minimum I was hoping for some forays into non-Christian religion, but even that was too much to ask apparently.
April 21, 2018
A British historian offers a richly detailed whirlwind of great thinkers in the years leading up to the mid-18th century. While many are familiar names such as Isaac Newton and Galileo, there are many others who contributed to the ultimate question of "How can I be saved?"
It is hard to understand today how slowly information moved then between countries and across oceans. This sheds light on key issues that emerged through several centuries. With so much famine, pestilence, and plague most people died quite young so "How can I be saved?" takes on special meaning. Should people turn to medicine which killed as many people as it saved, or turn to Christianity? Wilson does an excellent job of explaining why so-called witches were executed. Education was so sparse and inadequate that when a famine struck, people needed someone to blame.
Much more than today, religion had a particular hold over the thinking of those days. Power and wealth were tied to the church which then leads to understanding why absolutely ruthless wars were waged throughout Europe. Wilson I think attempts to not use overly scientific or lofty language though there is some of this. Rather he gives brief snapshots of many key figures and helps the reader understand how one influenced another either through support or defiance.
Belief in magic, mysticism, religion, science and philosophy juggle for their rightful place. It is interesting today still that some of the ancient belief systems are actually still in place as people show interest in psychics and miracles while retaining strife between science and religion.
It is hard to understand today how slowly information moved then between countries and across oceans. This sheds light on key issues that emerged through several centuries. With so much famine, pestilence, and plague most people died quite young so "How can I be saved?" takes on special meaning. Should people turn to medicine which killed as many people as it saved, or turn to Christianity? Wilson does an excellent job of explaining why so-called witches were executed. Education was so sparse and inadequate that when a famine struck, people needed someone to blame.
Much more than today, religion had a particular hold over the thinking of those days. Power and wealth were tied to the church which then leads to understanding why absolutely ruthless wars were waged throughout Europe. Wilson I think attempts to not use overly scientific or lofty language though there is some of this. Rather he gives brief snapshots of many key figures and helps the reader understand how one influenced another either through support or defiance.
Belief in magic, mysticism, religion, science and philosophy juggle for their rightful place. It is interesting today still that some of the ancient belief systems are actually still in place as people show interest in psychics and miracles while retaining strife between science and religion.
October 7, 2022
I think A Magical World was perhaps the wrong name for this book as I did except a bit more… magic in it. It was heavily centred towards the more religion side and half way through the book there seemed to be little mentioned but a bit of everything.
It was probably perfectly set up for what it says on the tin ‘superstition’ from renaissance to enlightenment with the old tale and story of how the advancement of science was initiated. With some of the heavy hitting famous names (Galileo etc) and I enjoyed the chapter on Dee, Tycho and Bruno as well as early medicine. It was religion heavy with plenty of history but I would have liked perhaps a little bit more alchemical history and it’s fusion with science with a sprinkling of magic and witchcraft as superstition.
It was written well and had some really interesting tidbits but not all of the book was to my interest with some chapters holding me more than others. It’s more of a personal interest thing than fault with the book which read well.
I loved the spotlights on certain scholars and philosophers and it was a nice addition reading about snippets of their early lives and the paths to their discoveries and later fame. But I was expecting a little more superstition content with myths and folklore and how it entwined with history.
It was probably perfectly set up for what it says on the tin ‘superstition’ from renaissance to enlightenment with the old tale and story of how the advancement of science was initiated. With some of the heavy hitting famous names (Galileo etc) and I enjoyed the chapter on Dee, Tycho and Bruno as well as early medicine. It was religion heavy with plenty of history but I would have liked perhaps a little bit more alchemical history and it’s fusion with science with a sprinkling of magic and witchcraft as superstition.
It was written well and had some really interesting tidbits but not all of the book was to my interest with some chapters holding me more than others. It’s more of a personal interest thing than fault with the book which read well.
I loved the spotlights on certain scholars and philosophers and it was a nice addition reading about snippets of their early lives and the paths to their discoveries and later fame. But I was expecting a little more superstition content with myths and folklore and how it entwined with history.
August 20, 2019
Read this if you like: history, biographies, history of science, religion, law, nonfiction.
I feel like this book jacket was on the wrong book... this book is advertised as being about the intersections of science, religion, & magic from the renaissance through the enlightenment. It is really more snippets of biographies of (white) men involved in science, math, astronomy, law, & religion across this vast timeline.
There was, in my opinion, very little history of magic, witchcraft, etc. Also only 2-3 women mentioned the whole book. While it was discussed how many of the men studied Astrology, alchemy, & more it didn’t really dive into it as deeply as I had hoped based on the description & cover. There was also no intersections of local folklore, magic/religion/science in other cultures etc. I was disappointed in the lack of diverse perspectives.
I have to give the author a lot of credit for the immense work he put into researching and compiling so much history. I think I would have found it easier to stay focused on if the chapters were smaller and more specific either to the timeframe or to the men. It often felt scattered and hard to follow. I did learn some interesting facts for sure, and a few things to consider.
I feel like this book jacket was on the wrong book... this book is advertised as being about the intersections of science, religion, & magic from the renaissance through the enlightenment. It is really more snippets of biographies of (white) men involved in science, math, astronomy, law, & religion across this vast timeline.
There was, in my opinion, very little history of magic, witchcraft, etc. Also only 2-3 women mentioned the whole book. While it was discussed how many of the men studied Astrology, alchemy, & more it didn’t really dive into it as deeply as I had hoped based on the description & cover. There was also no intersections of local folklore, magic/religion/science in other cultures etc. I was disappointed in the lack of diverse perspectives.
I have to give the author a lot of credit for the immense work he put into researching and compiling so much history. I think I would have found it easier to stay focused on if the chapters were smaller and more specific either to the timeframe or to the men. It often felt scattered and hard to follow. I did learn some interesting facts for sure, and a few things to consider.
November 15, 2023
I loved this book. Wilson impressively weaves together the web of connections amongst scientific, religious, magical, philosophical, and political thought from the fifteenth through to the eighteenth century. His study extends and explores the connections across the European continent and even into the new world. Through detailing not only the conflicts but the connections of Church, State, and empirical discoverers, he reveals the complexity of social and philosophical perspectives that led to an evolving understanding of creation. His research in primary and secondary sources is convincing as he deals with various players in terms of influential predecessors, their interactions with contemporaries, and the influence or inspiration that his subjects exerted into the future. This book would be useful to undergrads by giving them a foundation on the interlinking social, intellectual, and spiritual thought of the eras covered. More experienced scholars will profit from better seeing how individual players interacted as part of a schema. The writing is clear and engaging, so intelligent non-academics can enjoy it as well.
March 14, 2022
This book looks at approaches to the supernatural in European history from the end of the Middle Ages until the 18th century. The author looks at the well-known debates and conflicts between religion and science that occurred during this period (although he shows how many scientists of the period were personally religious, and many people in religious life at the time were open to the use of rationality). He also looks at the impact of folk religion in Europe during this period (most notably witchcraft trials, although he looks at other aspects as well), and how this type of religion coexisted with more sophisticated approaches to the supernatural. The book was a lot to take in, because it covered so many different aspects of subjects that are not normally discussed together. However, the author has a very readable style, and I found myself drawn in to the book, despite being confused in some places. Very highly recommended to anyone with an interest in religion (especially folk religion), science, or early modern European history.
September 30, 2019
3.5 stars. This was an interesting book arguing that scientific developments did not occur in separation of religious developments, and that the former sometimes even drew on more folksy, superstitious beliefs. I thought it did a good job of showing how those individuals who contributed to the scientific revolution were also deeply influenced by the religious schisms that marked Europe at the time. Those at the forefront of the scientific revolution embraced both science and religion, though they did so in a host of different ways. The book succeeds really well in placing these scientific developments within their socio-political context. I did find that the book meandered sometimes and, as other reviewers have already pointed out, the element of the 'supersitition' was not clearly or sufficiently developed. But as a non-expert in the history of science I nonetheless enjoyed reading it and found it informative.
June 21, 2018
I found this book very interesting it is a book about superstitions, religion,science and the surprising thing is the more you read it the more you begin to see that all of these things were interrelated not nearly as separate as people believe today, for instance churches were involved in educating people because they wanted them to be able to read the bible Etc. Church was not as far removed from science as people think monks were looking into many areas of study from astronomy to plants Etc. Very interesting to see that more things are close together rather than far apart. If you are interested in how some of these things got their start this is a good book to check out
July 21, 2021
DNF - The book title is rathe misleading. There was very little discussion on superstition. Much more focus was out on ecclesiastical events than anything else, which sure, is relevant, but it was predominantly that.
It’s clear the book is well researched, but gods was it boring. I had high hopes based on the title and the opening with Hitchhiker’s Guide references, but this wasn’t for me.
It’s clear the book is well researched, but gods was it boring. I had high hopes based on the title and the opening with Hitchhiker’s Guide references, but this wasn’t for me.
February 27, 2018
This was not quite what I expected. What is here is good, but it's stuff I already knew and very much like a condensed text book. I was fairly bored, but if the reader is new to this material, it will interest them.
March 1, 2019
I really enjoyed the content that this book provided, but overall it was very challenging. Throughout the book it illustrated almost a fantasy type of life in the text mentioning philosophers, fairies, wizards etc. Allowed me to obtain knowledge from the Renaissance's transition to Enlightment.
March 16, 2018
An interesting book although a bit dry to read. I loved learning more about famous scientists, etc.
April 28, 2018
Or, "A Magical Word: A Vague History of the Church After the Middle Ages."
Will write a full review later.
Will write a full review later.
November 19, 2018
A very interesting book about Europe in the Renaissance and the fears and
February 7, 2019
Survey of the developing sciences through the enlightenment.
January 14, 2020
Half finished. Got bored tbh.
October 27, 2023
DNF at page 112. It wasn't what expected, and I think I subconsciously just wanted to give it a fair shake before weeding it from my library.
March 8, 2025
This was a complex read but I took it out again from the library and w o w. Went from two stars to five!
Wilson seems to be saying that it’s much less a ‘magical’ world than a pyramidal set of competing institutions leaving most of us in its dust. I have so much more percolating from this 2018 book. Among the sentiments: "It should also be noted that in practice what motivated charity in the ancient Greeks and Romans was not the poor man, the man in need of support. Instead charity was exercised as part of a certain social ritual, used by the people of power, seeking to build their reputation before elections; and by the poor who ‘deserved’ support. However, people generally had nothing but contempt for the poorest, slaves, children, the elderly and the sick."
Wilson seems to be saying that it’s much less a ‘magical’ world than a pyramidal set of competing institutions leaving most of us in its dust. I have so much more percolating from this 2018 book. Among the sentiments: "It should also be noted that in practice what motivated charity in the ancient Greeks and Romans was not the poor man, the man in need of support. Instead charity was exercised as part of a certain social ritual, used by the people of power, seeking to build their reputation before elections; and by the poor who ‘deserved’ support. However, people generally had nothing but contempt for the poorest, slaves, children, the elderly and the sick."
July 9, 2018
So boring... Not even remotely about magic, and barely even about superstition. Astrology is mentioned frequently, but the rest is just a history of the Christian church, where evidently there is no superstition because super smart thinkers decided Christianity must be true so all the superstition is science instead. I'm not sure if any of the ideas or opinions belonged to the author or if it was all historical, but I disagree with some of the conclusions (like that atheists who called for the abolition of religion weren't actually atheists, but just wanted a clearer idea of God... News flash, atheists have always existed).
March 1, 2018
For the most part I enjoyed reading this novel, however, it wasn't really what I was expecting based on the synopsis but overall, it was very well researched and written.
gave-up-on
November 11, 2018I tried and tried but just could not get myself to care enough to finish this. Too much detail for my taste. Well written and for the right person this would probably be very interesting, but I just didn't find it that interesting for me, personally.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews