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trizhaster's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
2.75
Ill tell you what science is magical, the fact that my ass is so fat yet it produces no earthquakes
hiveretcafe's review against another edition
4.0
Incredibly fascinating. I've always been fond of mythology and I'm deeply interested in ancient history. This book takes some of the beliefs and objects written about in myth puts them to the test to see if they could really have been feasibly performed by people in ancient times.
This book mostly focuses on Greco Roman mythology with a smattering of Nordic myth, Biblical myth and Mayan myth before taking on "modern" magic.
It's written like a long form article with some personal and humourous interjections, which make it all the more interesting as Kaplan recounts his own experiments while researching for the book. I feel like at some parts there's a need to have a basic scientific understanding as he delves into chemical reactions and the like.
Overall, it was a very interesting read and I look forward to picking up his previous book, The Science of Monsters at some point in time.
This book mostly focuses on Greco Roman mythology with a smattering of Nordic myth, Biblical myth and Mayan myth before taking on "modern" magic.
It's written like a long form article with some personal and humourous interjections, which make it all the more interesting as Kaplan recounts his own experiments while researching for the book. I feel like at some parts there's a need to have a basic scientific understanding as he delves into chemical reactions and the like.
Overall, it was a very interesting read and I look forward to picking up his previous book, The Science of Monsters at some point in time.
hampton_reads's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
2.0
somehow both in depth about a lot of things and then really really broad on other things. this work felt a little like having a friend's dad corner me at a luncheon to talk to me about his hobbies. I also found the sections on both transgender identity and autism to be problematic, both in their content and in their approach -- while Kaplan interviewed like 3 people about livers (mostly butchers), he didn't talk to any autistic or trans people. In so many ways this text ends up feeling really insular, even if there is occasionally something insightful here.
kimbersul's review against another edition
5.0
I have found another new fave author - right up there with Mary Roach. LOVED this book. It was deeply researched, full of amazing science and well written with a little humor thrown in. Reading the footnotes alone would be worth it. I have recently started reading the Economist and hope to see more of his writing soon. Science of the Monsters is on my read immediately list.
The author is now on my list of people I would invite to my last dinner.
The author is now on my list of people I would invite to my last dinner.
superpowers's review against another edition
3.0
This book is fine! Some interesting tidbits. The point is that knowing the science behind magic actually makes it more interesting but it does manage to come off as pretty dismissive.
Some of it is very interesting and some of it is frustratingly cursory.
Perhaps my problem is it is a little too broad?
Some of it is very interesting and some of it is frustratingly cursory.
Perhaps my problem is it is a little too broad?
raven_morgan's review against another edition
4.0
**An eARC was received from the publisher via Netgalley**
One of the recurring themes in my life has been the dichotomy of science vs spirituality, and it's no surprise that I was immediately drawn to this book, which proposed to examine a selection of magical beliefs in a scientific manner.
What I was not prepared for or expecting was the humour in this book. Kaplan writes with a snarky, sardonic wit, and the footnotes especially demonstrate this. There's a keen mind behind that wit, too, so don't mistake this for some fluffy text - but the humour and voice make this a book which is very easy to read.
There are so many things explored in this book - the philosopher's stone, the effect of moon cycles, Berserkers, the Sybils - and each of them is examined in depth, with Kaplan bringing in experts aplenty and taking journeys to investigate the "magical" phenomena (including trying to get past a locked gate into a cave containing poison gas, and realising that the locks and gates were there for a very good reason).
Very readable and fascinating. Recommended.
One of the recurring themes in my life has been the dichotomy of science vs spirituality, and it's no surprise that I was immediately drawn to this book, which proposed to examine a selection of magical beliefs in a scientific manner.
What I was not prepared for or expecting was the humour in this book. Kaplan writes with a snarky, sardonic wit, and the footnotes especially demonstrate this. There's a keen mind behind that wit, too, so don't mistake this for some fluffy text - but the humour and voice make this a book which is very easy to read.
There are so many things explored in this book - the philosopher's stone, the effect of moon cycles, Berserkers, the Sybils - and each of them is examined in depth, with Kaplan bringing in experts aplenty and taking journeys to investigate the "magical" phenomena (including trying to get past a locked gate into a cave containing poison gas, and realising that the locks and gates were there for a very good reason).
Very readable and fascinating. Recommended.
breadandmushrooms's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0