It’s fascinating to watch the author, with his 16th-century scientific background (heavy on Aristotle), try to tackle the science behind subjects like weather, volcanoes and animal migration, almost as if starting from scratch.Īcosta turned out to have an incredible talent for inference and scientific thinking. It’s written as a guide to the Americas by a newly arrived European, and what amazed me was the first half, on the geography, geology and wildlife of his new home. Duke University published an English translation in 2002. I know this one is familiar to lots of historians, but I stumbled on it by accident when searching a database for something else. I have sort of a weird answer: “Natural and Moral History of the Indies,” published in 1590 by José de Acosta, a Spanish priest in Peru. I feel like books are like cameras - the best book is always the one you have with you. I always want to find the kind of book that’s so engrossing that you don’t care how you’re reading it. I know lots of people have strong feelings about which book formats they prefer, between printed books, e-ink readers, phones, paperbacks, etc., but I’m honestly not very picky. I was one of those kids who would read a book as they walked, or while sitting in class hiding the book in my desk, so I’m used to reading in less than ideal circumstances.
0 kommentar(er)
