About the author
James Poskett is a historian of science at the University of Warwick. His work reframes the history of science as a global rather than purely Western story, tracing how ideas travelled between Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. His book on the catalogue, Materials of the Mind: Phrenology, Race, and the Global History of Science, 1815-1920, published by University of Chicago Press, follows phrenology as it spread from Victorian Britain to American senators and Indian social reformers, examining how a now-discredited mental science became entangled with ideas about race across continents. Poskett is also known for Horizons, a broader global history of science. His writing combines archival research with attention to the political uses scientific ideas were put to, and it is aimed at readers interested in the history of science, empire, and race rather than the technical history of phrenology alone.
📖 Where to start with James Poskett
💬 What our editors say about James Poskett's books
“James Poskett delivers a rigorous academic analysis that will appeal strongly to specialists in the history of science and postcolonial studies. However, casual readers seeking accessible popular science or straightforward…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Materials of the Mind: Phrenology, Race, and the Global History of Science, 1815-1920
“Poskett delivers a groundbreaking work that effectively dismantles the notion of phrenology as a mere European curiosity, instead presenting it as a vital component of global scientific discourse. The author’s extensive research…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Materials of the Mind: Phrenology, Race, and the Global History of Science, 1815-1920
