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Modern Alchemy: Occultism and the Emergence of Atomic Theory

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This is a fascinating book for many reasons. I have always been interested in that area where cutting edge science meets conventional religion and occultism. I count "The Tao of Physics", "The Dancing Wu-LI Masters" and "Meetings With Remarkable Men" among my favorites. Naturally I was drawn to "Modern Alchemy" if only by the title. It more than met my expectations. I mean how can a book that includes, among many others, Thomas Aquinas, H.P. Blavatsky, William Jennings Bryan, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Edgar Cayce, Aleister Crowley, Michael Faraday, Carl Jung, Anton Mesmer and J.R.R. Tolkein, be less than fascinating?

Morrison traces the history of atomic science from the end of the 19th century until the 1030's. However this is not some dry survey of "scientific progress." Among the surprises is that when scientists first observed radioactive elements decaying they saw connections to alchemical transmutation. This was happening as alchemists, threatened by earlier scientific challenges to the idea of physical transmutation had begun to speak in terms of the "spiritual transmutation" of the individual as the goal of alchemical studies.

The book also examines how radiation and atomic theory were seen in popular culture. Want to know what might happen to the world economy if some atomic scientist could change base metals into gold? You could read H.G. Wells or get a more comprehensive view Chapter 4 in "Modern Alchemy."