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Do You Believe in Magic? (a Wild Thing Book): The Search for Wonder, from Sorcery to Science — Spooky For Kids

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Do You Believe in Magic? (a Wild Thing Book): The Search for Wonder, from Sorcery to Science

Name: Do You Believe in Magic? (a Wild Thing Book): The Search for Wonder, from Sorcery to Science
Price: 16.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781419758225

✍️ Krantz, Laura

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$16.99 ~~$19.99~~ Save $3.00 (15%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Journalist Laura Krantz embarks on a fascinating quest, using her keen investigative skills to explore the historical and cultural underpinnings of what we call 'magic.' From the alchemical dreams of transforming lead to gold to the protective power of ancient curses, Krantz delves into humanity's enduring fascination with the unseen and unexplained. She reveals how many seemingly magical practices were, in fact, early forms of scientific inquiry, laying the groundwork for chemistry, botany, and astronomy. This book invites readers to critically examine the thin veil between mystical belief and empirical discovery, encouraging a deeper appreciation for wonder through a scientific lens.

Krantz, Laura

📚 all books by this author (2) →

Praise for this book

“[T]houghtful...engaging...This will be equally palatable to skeptics, true believers, and the curious.”

— Booklist

🏛 Harry N. Abrams 📅 2024 📖 176 pages 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781419758225

Fun Fact

Laura Krantz's 'Do You Believe in Magic?' offers a delightful and thoughtful exploration for the young, curious mind. It excels at demystifying ancient magical practices by linking them directly to the origins of modern science, encouraging critical thinking without sacrificing an ounce of wonder. While readers seeking practical spells will be disappointed, those interested in history, science, and the human quest for understanding will find this an invaluable and engaging read. It bridges the gap between folklore and fact, making it a unique and accessible addition to any occult and esoteric collection for younger audiences.

📝 Description: Do You Believe in Magic? (a Wild Thing Book): The Search for Wonder, from Sorcery to Science

Inspired by her popular Wild Thing podcast, journalist Laura Krantz incorporates the scientific method and her journalistic skills to determine if magic might be real in Do You Believe in Magic? Magic--spells and curses, hexes and potions, superstition, and rituals. We've all heard stories of alchemists attempting to turn abundant lead into precious, rare gold. Or of poor, unfortunate souls asking potion masters to brew up unappetizing concoctions that will help them find love. And of course, we're familiar with curses--muttering magical words for the purposes of exacting revenge on an enemy, or protecting a hidden treasure. Who wouldn't like the idea of special powers, or control over the natural world? It seems pretty fun, even if it's just the stuff of fantasy books and movies. But a lot of what we call "magic" has grounding in real practices. In fact, magic is at the root of many scientific fields--from chemistry to botany to astronomy--and has been an important part of human culture for thousands of years. Do You Believe in Magic? takes readers through a world where magic and science collide. What do they have in common? Where do they differ? What role has magic played in our history, and the history of science? Why is magic still significant, even when it doesn't seem to line up with reality? And is it possible to be scientifically minded and still believe in magic? Readers are encouraged to weigh the facts and go beyond their gut assumptions, to stretch their imaginations and think about why magic and science might be two sides of the same coin. Includes color illustrations, an at-home science/magic experiment, glossary, bibliography, and index

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Krantz delivers an engaging journalistic exploration of how ancient magical practices inadvertently fostered modern science. The narrative effectively traces the lineage from alchemy to chemistry, making it accessible and intellectually stimulating for general readers. However, those seeking rigorous academic analysis or strictly supernatural validation may find the scientific lens too reductive or dismissive of mystical experience. It is not suited for hardline skeptics who reject any historical value in occultism, nor for traditionalists who view the separation of magic and science as a loss rather than an evolution. A solid choice for those open to reevaluating the boundaries between wonder and empirical discovery.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is ideal for curious minds who appreciate the intersection of history, science, and spirituality. Readers interested in the origins of chemistry, botany, or astronomy will find it illuminating to see how ancient sorcery evolved into systematic inquiry. It appeals to those seeking wonder through a rational lens, offering a refreshing perspective that honors mystical traditions while highlighting their role in scientific progress. If you enjoy investigative journalism that demystifies the past without diminishing its magic, this title provides a compelling narrative of human ingenuity and the enduring quest for understanding the unseen.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

If you're a curious seeker intrigued by the blurred lines between ancient belief and modern discovery, or if you enjoy unraveling historical mysteries with a critical yet open mind, this book is for you. It's an excellent entry point for young minds eager to explore the world's hidden connections.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Krantz delivers an engaging journalistic exploration of how ancient magical practices inadvertently fostered modern science. The narrative effectively traces the lineage from alchemy to chemistry, making it accessible and intellectually stimulating for general readers. However, those seeking rigorous academic analysis or strictly supernatural validation may find the scientific lens too reductive or dismissive of mystical experience. It is not suited for hardline skeptics who reject any historical value in occultism, nor for traditionalists who view the separation of magic and science as a loss rather than an evolution. A solid choice for those open to reevaluating the boundaries between wonder and empirical discovery.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, this book is not a practical guide to sorcery. Instead, it's an investigative journey that examines the historical and cultural roots of magical beliefs, exploring their connections to early scientific thought and their role in shaping human understanding.

Laura Krantz approaches the subject with a journalist's skepticism and curiosity. She explores how many ancient 'magical' practices had logical, albeit primitive, explanations or were precursors to scientific discoveries, rather than endorsing supernatural claims.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Magic's Scientific Genesis

This work meticulously illustrates how many practices once deemed 'magic' were crucial precursors to established scientific disciplines. From the alchemist's forge inspiring chemistry to the astrologer's sky-gazing leading to astronomy, Krantz highlights the often-overlooked lineage connecting ancient esoteric knowledge with the rigorous methodologies of modern science, revealing wonder in the origins of discovery.

Cultural Resonance of Wonder

The book explores how the human drive for understanding and influencing the world manifested across diverse cultures through spells, rituals, and superstitions. Krantz emphasizes that this universal quest for control over nature, love, or destiny is not merely fantastical, but deeply rooted in our collective history, reflecting humanity's perpetual search for meaning and agency in a mysterious world.

Investigating the Unseen

Employing a journalist's discerning eye, Krantz approaches magic not as mere fantasy, but as a subject worthy of serious investigation. She encourages readers to differentiate between myth and nascent fact, challenging them to apply critical thinking to historical claims while still appreciating the profound sense of wonder that has always accompanied humanity's attempts to comprehend the unknown.

📜 Historical context

This book contributes to a long tradition of works that bridge the mystical and the rational. It echoes the spirit of Enlightenment thinkers who sought to demystify phenomena while appreciating the human impulse for wonder. By examining ancient 'magic' through a modern, scientific lens, Krantz places her work firmly within the lineage of those who explore humanity's evolving understanding of the natural world, from alchemists to contemporary scientists.

📚 Glossary

Alchemy
Superstition
Journalism

📔 Questions to reflect on

Reflect on a 'magical' belief or superstition you've encountered. How might it be reinterpreted through a scientific or historical lens?
If ancient practices like alchemy were early forms of science, what contemporary 'magical' thinking might one day be understood scientifically?
How does maintaining a sense of wonder, even when applying scientific rigor, enhance our understanding of the world?