Customer Reviews

Wonder Shows: Performing Science, Magic, and Religion in America

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Wonder Shows provides a fascinating look at the boundary between science and showmanship. Nadis tells the reader of the strange connections between science, magic, and mysticism--some of which persist to this day. He also provides a spellbinding account of the competition between Edison and other innovators in the early days of the electric utility industry. An important book, and an entertaining one as well, Wonder Shows is a must read.

Wonder Shows was entertaining since it depicts an era where science was relatively unknown to the general public, so magic, science and the 'con' were all related. It's interesting to look at it from a present point of view where we can look at many of those ideas and say 'how quaint' or 'how did people fall for this stuff?', but a hundred years from now, what will people be saying about what we generally believe to be true? A well-written and researched book, entertaingly written by Mr. Nadis.