Mesmerized

By Mara Rockliff, Iacopo Bruno (Illustrator)

Can Franklin's science debunk Mesmer's mysterious powers?

4.2/5 Goodreads · 1,664 ratings

48 pages· 2,422 words· Est. 19 min read-aloud

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Bookroo's summary

In Paris, Benjamin Franklin encounters Dr. Mesmer, a man claiming to wield a magical force that captivates the city. Mesmer's shows promise miraculous cures and mind control, but Franklin remains skeptical. Armed with the scientific method, Franklin sets out to uncover the truth behind Mesmer's tricks. Will his logical approach unravel the mystery, or is there more to Mesmer's power than meets the eye? Dive into this historical tale of science versus spectacle, where the stakes are the very understanding of reality itself.

From the publisher

Discover how Benjamin Franklin’s scientific method challenged a certain Dr. Mesmer’s mysterious powers in a whimsical look at a true moment in history. The day Ben Franklin first set foot in Paris, France, he found the city all abuzz. Everyone was talking about something new–remarkable, thrilling, and strange. Something called . . . Science!But soon the straightforward American inventor Benjamin Franklin is upstaged by a compelling and enigmatic figure: Dr. Mesmer. In elaborately staged shows, Mesmer, wearing a fancy coat of purple silk and carrying an iron wand, convinces the people of Paris that he controls a magic force that can make water taste like a hundred different things, cure illness, and control thoughts! But Ben Franklin is not convinced. Will his practical approach of observing, hypothesizing, and testing get to the bottom of the mysterious Mesmer’s tricks? A rip-roaring, lavishly illustrated peek into a fascinating moment in history shows the development and practice of the scientific method–and reveals the amazing power of the human mind.

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