Bedeviled: A Shadow History of Demons in Science

by Jimena Canales

When reading key works in the history of science—that story of how we turned from believing that everything that happens around us is the work of gods and supernatural forces to understanding bacteria, gravity etc—historian of science Jimena Canales noticed how often ‘demons’ made an appearance. Bedeviled is her exploration of—and reflections on—that contradiction, starting in the 17th century with René Descartes. This is not a book for beginners, but if you’re interested in the history of science and how scientific discoveries are made, it’s a really fascinating paradox that she explores.