Medicine, Magic, and Literacy in Early Modern England with Dr. Melissa Reynolds

Chasing Leviathan

On this episode of Chasing Leviathan, PJ and Dr. Melissa Reynolds discuss the relationship between ordinary people and books in early modern England. She focuses on practical manuscripts that contain medical recipes and astrological wisdom, or "prognostications," which were accessible to a broader population. Dr. Reynolds examines the consequences of putting common people at the center of the new information economy and how it shaped English culture and the trajectory of knowledge, as well as how the rise of information availability in the 15th and 16th century mirrors contemporary conversations of (mis)information access.

For a deep dive into Melissa Reynolds, check out her book: Reading Practice: The Pursuit of Natural Knowledge from Manuscript to Print 👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/0226834891/

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Who thinks that they can subdue Leviathan? Strength resides in its neck; dismay goes before it. When it rises up, the mighty are terrified. Nothing on earth is its equal. It is without fear. It looks down on all who are haughty; it is king over all who are proud.

These words inspired PJ Wehry to create Chasing Leviathan. Chasing Leviathan was born out of two ideals: that truth is worth pursuing but will never be subjugated, and the discipline of listening is one of the most important habits anyone can develop.

Every episode is a dialogue, a journey into the depths of a meaningful question explored through the lens of personal experience or professional expertise.