Knowing What We Know: The Transmission of Knowledge: From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Magic

I am a long time reader of Simon Winchester's books, dating all the way back to Their Noble Lordships in 1982. He has never produced a dull or non worthwhile work. So I bought Knowing What We Know in the expectation that I would enjoy reading it. How useless the word "enjoy" is to describe the immense pleasure with which I read every page of this monumental work of nearly 400 pages of rather small print (you might want to keep a magnifying glass handy to read the footnotes, by the way, because they are at least as fascinating as the main body.)The book has a broad theme: the transmission of knowledge (as well as wisdom, we hope) through the centuries. It is filled with fascinating anecdotes and details, and while the discussion ranges far and wide the main theme: how knowledge has passed down and how we are affected by its transmission, remains the same.Knowing What We Know is not a book to rush through. You should keep it at hand to read and savor. You will find Winchester occasionally tendentious, but you will never find him to be less than erudite, readable, and impressive.

Absolutely fascinating book by an author who never fails to amaze me. Interesting, eye-opening and thought provoking.

I actually listened to the audiobook version of this, and decided I might want to be able to cite from it so I bought a physics copy.Mr Winchester’s clear and engaging writing (and excellent reading in the audiobook version) take the reader on an intellectual journey spanning ancient conceptions of knowledge through modern understandings of what is known and knowable. Listening created multiple “driveway moments,” during which I could not bring myself to stop until I finished hearing a section.I wouldn’t call this book light reading; rather, it is accessible to the intelligent and curious reader.

Arrived quickly and in excellent condition. Thank you.

I am alluding to that old Monty Python routine wherein an old Cockney lady says Dr. Bronowski knows everything and the other says "I wouldn't like that. Would take all the mystery out of it." In his discussion of knowledge, Simon Winchester does appear to know everything. Although I haven't finished it yet, the book is most readable and informative. A good essay to splice in with your fiction and journal readings.