The Science Of Harry Potter: How Magic Really Works – Roger
Highfield
*Warning – may contain spoilers*
Author: Roger
Highfield
Publisher: Headline
Book Publishing
First published: 2002
Edition: Hardback
Pages: 374
Blurb: There
are features of Harry Potter’s world that, though they are more understandable,
still remain magical when ones takes a scientific view. Invisibility cloaks may
use clever stealth technology that is only now being developed by Muggles.
Broomsticks could switch off the tug of gravity, a feat that still seems
incredible.
Giants, Lobalugs, Hinkypunks and
the rest of the magical menagerie could be the result of genetic modification,
a science in its infancy, while Bott’s beans could exploit new understanding of
our sense of taste and smell.
History of my copy: I picked up this
book at a rally for £3 about 8 years ago.
I started reading The Science of Harry Potter soon after I
bought it, but soon gave up because I found the language and science too
advanced. Over the past year or so, I have been reading it on and off. Thanks
to taking biology, chemistry and physics for a-levels, it has become a lot more
understandable to me and so I’ve been able to enjoy it more.
It’s definitely an interesting read if you are
scientifically minded, as it tries to look at scientific explanations behind
the magical phenomenon, e.g. invisibility cloaks. It’s probably rather out of
date now, so you might be able to find a more recent book of a similar ilk.
To read or not to
read: Don’t read. Unless you are
very scientific, I don’t think it’s worth the effort. I quite enjoy science,
and have a relatively good understanding of it, but even I found it dry. Stick
with the magical theories behind it all!
