“Mythology and ancient esoteric beliefs are finally found in cutting-edge science.”—Rick Rubin, bestselling author of The Creative Act 

From the author of the global bestseller The Secret History of the World comes an epic new history of the relationship between spiritual belief and cutting-edge science. Includes beautiful black-and-white illustrations throughout.

A sweeping, character-driven history of mysticism and its influence on modern science—from nuclear physics to the latest AI—Mark Booth shows how scientists have walked a line between genius, madness, and ancient mystical ideas to create a picture of the universe which is deeply mysterious and unexpectedly spiritual. 

The Secret History of the Universe is pure intellectual entertainment, full of dark drama, humorous anecdotes, and wild ideas. Readers will embark on an exhilarating journey in the company of some of the greatest minds of our age—from Marie Curie to Alan Turing—toward a deeper understanding of our place in the cosmos.

The result of many years of research and deep conversations with prominent academics in the field, The Secret History of the Universe aims to illustrate a broader cultural perspective, how it can help us to understand the implications of the new science, and how it impacts the psyche and our philosophy of life.