{"product_id":"science-and-the-secrets-of-nature","title":"Science and the Secrets of Nature","description":"By explaining how to sire multicolored horses, produce nuts without shells, and create an egg the size of a human head, Giambattista Della Porta's Natural Magic (1559) conveys a fascination with tricks and illusions that makes it a work difficult for historians of science to take seriously. Yet, according to William Eamon, it is in the \"how-to\" books written by medieval alchemists, magicians, and artisans that modern science has its roots. These compilations of recipes on everything from parlor tricks through medical remedies to wool-dyeing fascinated medieval intellectuals because they promised access to esoteric \"secrets of nature.\" In closely examining this rich but little-known source of literature, Eamon reveals that printing technology and popular culture had as great, if not stronger, an impact on early modern science as did the traditional academic disciplines.","brand":"Princeton University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54228764819800,"sku":"9780691026022","price":74.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/1295\/4195\/files\/9780691026022.jpg?v=1768026640","url":"https:\/\/agendabookshop.com\/products\/science-and-the-secrets-of-nature","provider":"Agenda Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}