---
product_id: 61153718
title: "The Secrets of Alchemy (Synthesis)"
price: "KSh9869"
currency: KES
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.co.ke/products/61153718-the-secrets-of-alchemy-synthesis
store_origin: KE
region: Kenya
---

# The Secrets of Alchemy (Synthesis)

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## Description

Buy The Secrets of Alchemy (Synthesis) Illustrated by Principe, Lawrence (ISBN: 9780226103792) from desertcart's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

Review: Not just the Philosophers Stone! - The first thing to note about this book is that the title is somewhat misleading. It would be more accurate to call it a history of alchemy. I was nearly put off buying it because of its title, but in retrospect I'm glad I wasn't, because it's a very interesting book. What the author sets out to do is to restore an understanding alchemy within its historical and cultural framework. I think he succeeds in this aim. There is in Western society a tendency to think of alchemy as being something vaguely to do with magic - but nothing could be further from the truth. The work of most alchemists would be recognized today as experimentally rigorous, and based on the best theories of the nature of matter that existed at the time. Take, for instance, the search for the legendary Philosopher's Stone, the secret of turning lead into gold. We know that's not possible to do chemically today. Why do we know that? Because we know that lead and gold are elements. The elements are defined by the number of protons in their nucleus. Chemical reactions only work on the electrons in atoms, and you can't change the make up of an atomic nucleus by fiddling with its electrons. But we didn't find this out until about a hundred years ago. In the golden age of alchemy, which roughly coincides with the Scientific Revolution (1500-1700), the belief was that matter was a compound, and the properties of any given piece of matter were determined by the proportions of more fundamental substances. Theoretically, if this were the case it should have been possible to change, for instance, lead into gold by altering those proportions in lead until they matched the proportions that defined gold. It was this theoretical view that drove the search for a substance that alter these proportions. (This is a simplified view the book explains in much more detail.) The book covers the history of alchemy from it's beginnings in the third century AD through to its effective demise at the end of the 19th Century. Along the way it it discusses many other aspects of alchemy, including its impact on early medicine, laboratory work, and chemistry. It also looks in more depth at some of the work of famous alchemists, including the attempts of the author to recreate their work in the lab - with interesting results. Well worth a read if you have any interest in the history of science.
Review: A fascinating read - An interesting account of the history of alchemy. I was hoping for a little more on the early, graeco-roman period, but the lack of material is historical, and not the author's fault. He makes an interesting case for the theories of some of the Arabic alchemists to be considered as proto-scientific. This is not a book for New Age types, but for those with a rational interest in the subject.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | 121,998 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 116 in History of Science (Books) 369 in Occult Magic 626 in New Age Mysticism |
| Customer reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (231) |
| Dimensions  | 22.81 x 15.49 x 1.83 cm |
| Edition  | Illustrated |
| ISBN-10  | 022610379X |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0226103792 |
| Item weight  | 408 g |
| Language  | English |
| Part of series  | Synthesis |
| Print length  | 288 pages |
| Publication date  | 26 Nov. 2013 |
| Publisher  | University of Chicago Press |

## Images

![The Secrets of Alchemy (Synthesis) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/717WsH69SEL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Not just the Philosophers Stone!
*by A***N on 9 October 2014*

The first thing to note about this book is that the title is somewhat misleading. It would be more accurate to call it a history of alchemy. I was nearly put off buying it because of its title, but in retrospect I'm glad I wasn't, because it's a very interesting book. What the author sets out to do is to restore an understanding alchemy within its historical and cultural framework. I think he succeeds in this aim. There is in Western society a tendency to think of alchemy as being something vaguely to do with magic - but nothing could be further from the truth. The work of most alchemists would be recognized today as experimentally rigorous, and based on the best theories of the nature of matter that existed at the time. Take, for instance, the search for the legendary Philosopher's Stone, the secret of turning lead into gold. We know that's not possible to do chemically today. Why do we know that? Because we know that lead and gold are elements. The elements are defined by the number of protons in their nucleus. Chemical reactions only work on the electrons in atoms, and you can't change the make up of an atomic nucleus by fiddling with its electrons. But we didn't find this out until about a hundred years ago. In the golden age of alchemy, which roughly coincides with the Scientific Revolution (1500-1700), the belief was that matter was a compound, and the properties of any given piece of matter were determined by the proportions of more fundamental substances. Theoretically, if this were the case it should have been possible to change, for instance, lead into gold by altering those proportions in lead until they matched the proportions that defined gold. It was this theoretical view that drove the search for a substance that alter these proportions. (This is a simplified view the book explains in much more detail.) The book covers the history of alchemy from it's beginnings in the third century AD through to its effective demise at the end of the 19th Century. Along the way it it discusses many other aspects of alchemy, including its impact on early medicine, laboratory work, and chemistry. It also looks in more depth at some of the work of famous alchemists, including the attempts of the author to recreate their work in the lab - with interesting results. Well worth a read if you have any interest in the history of science.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A fascinating read
*by C***S on 23 April 2013*

An interesting account of the history of alchemy. I was hoping for a little more on the early, graeco-roman period, but the lack of material is historical, and not the author's fault. He makes an interesting case for the theories of some of the Arabic alchemists to be considered as proto-scientific. This is not a book for New Age types, but for those with a rational interest in the subject.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ i did not want to know this
*by C***S on 3 January 2015*

For me, who was looking for, and is interested in "spiritual alchemy", it was very disappointing to read in this book, about the history, and developmet of alchemy. another illusion, and romantic notion shattered. But that does not mean is is a badly written, or badly informed book. The writer seems to know, both in practice and theory, what he is writing about, and his writing style, is also, not to bad.Just a shame.

## Frequently Bought Together

- The Secrets of Alchemy
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*Last updated: 2026-01-31*