Science of the Magical
From the Holy Grail to Love Potions to Superpowers
Ratings4
Average rating2.8
15
From the Holy Grail to Love Potions to Superpowers
Ratings4
Average rating2.8
“Filled with cool cocktail-party tidbits, Matt Kaplan considers how things that were once the stuff of legends could one day become reality” (The Atlantic) in this fun scientific inquiry into the mystical places and magical objects of ancient and contemporary lore—from the fountain of youth, to love potions, to Super Mario’s mushrooms. Can migrations of birds foretell our future? Do phases of the moon hold sway over our lives? Are there sacred springs that cure the ill? What is the best way to brew a love potion? How do we create mutant humans who regenerate like Wolverine? “In Science of the Magical, Matt Kaplan takes us on a journey spiced with the wonders of myth, history and art, leavened with impeccable research, endlessly fascinating. And the result is both a compelling read and a deeply thoughtful exploration of the world around us and the ways we seek to understand it” (Deborah Blum, author of The Poisoner’s Handbook). Like Ken Jennings and Mary Roach, Kaplan serves as a friendly armchair guide to the world of the supernatural. From the strengthening powers of Viking mead to the super soldiers in movies such as Captain America, Kaplan explores cultures and time periods to point out that there is often much more to these enduring magical narratives than mere fantasy. Informative and entertaining, Science of the Magical is “a sprightly survey” (The Wall Street Journal) and “a joy to read…highly recommended” (Library Journal, starred review).
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This is the written equivalent of the old “In Search Of...” documentary television series. The series would offer rational explanations for topics like Noah's ark, or vampires, or other things that straddle history and myth. The series was vastly entertaining, but essentially fluff.
This book seems to have higher quality material than the old series. Some of it was top-notch speculation, e.g., the oracle at Delphi, but some of it went of the tracks, e.g., the Adam and Eve story is about humans consuming mind-expanding mushrooms. The writing as a whole was breezy and entertaining. The author, Matt Kaplan, is a science writer, so he is up to date on current science. He liberally sprinkles his knowledge into his sections on various ancient “magic” to provide an explanation for the lore, and, on occasion, he tests his theories. I enjoyed his descriptions of his personal experiences “in search of” answers, and the book had sections that provoked a “gosh-wow!” reaction for me.
The book is enjoyable, but not deep.
