Man and Nature in the Renaissance

Decades ago Allen Debus made many important, key contributions to the history of science by demonstrating the central (though marginalized) place of alchemy in the development of many disciplines. This is the most concise and easily accessible of the many texts of his you will read hungrily if you take an interest in the subject. Fair and insightful treatment of many theological, mystical and occult personalities make this book an important milestone in the new direction of historical studies dealing with the so-called "scientific revolution" and its murky "prehistory."

I almost never read books about man and nature in the renaisance, and this was one of the best ones I have read, if not one of the very best. Read up!