The Adventures of Sir Thomas Browne in the 21st Century

In many ways this is excellent and excellently written. At one point it seemed as though it would go a long way towards filling in the gaps in my knowledge of scientific thought pre-Newton, but it is much more revealing of the attitudes of Mr. Aldersey-Williams and his associates.

If you're a Thomas Brown fan then this book is for you! The style perfectly matches the man and provides tit-bits that intrigue and delight. If you're not yet a Thomas Browne fan then this book should convince you.

What could have been a very interesting subject is made turgid and boring by the author. I plodded through the first 100 pages waiting for a spark, something which brought the text to life.The author has an intense dislike of Richard Dawkins, but had Browne been more like Dawkins two innocent women may have been saved from being killed as witches. And Dawkins has usefully started a conversation that nobody else seemed to have the will to.He makes a few good points about modern medicine, but has a strange praise for the medical "system" of the four humours. He, (the Author, not Browne) says: "Overall the system was remakably robust and self consistent". What does that mean? Did it work or not? Astrology is self consistent, but it does not work.He also talks about modern "secular desperation". I'm secular, but I'm not desperate. He does not explain the phrase.This is a confusing turgid, and boring book, with admittedly a few bright and high points.

Good book