One of the most popular and widely known characters in all of
fiction, Sherlock Holmes has an enduring appeal based largely on
his uncanny ability to make the most remarkable deductions from the
most mundane facts. The very first words that Sherlock Holmes ever
says to Dr. Watson are, "How are you? You have been in Afghanistan,
I perceive." Watson responds, "How on earth did you know that?" And
so a crime-solving legend is born. In The Scientific Sherlock
Holmes, James O'Brien provides an in-depth look at Holmes's use of
science in his investigations. Indeed, one reason for Holmes's
appeal is his frequent use of the scientific method and the vast
scientific knowledge which he drew upon to solve mysteries. For
instance, in heart of the book, the author reveals that Holmes was
a pioneer of forensic science, making use of fingerprinting well
before Scotland Yard itself had adopted the method. One of the more
appealing aspects of the book is how the author includes real-world
background on topics such as handwriting analysis, describing how
it was used to capture the New York Zodiac killer and to clinch the
case against the Lindbergh baby kidnapper. Sherlock Holmes was
knowledgeable about several sciences, most notably chemistry.
Therefore the book takes a close look at Holmes the chemist and
discusses, for example, chemical poisons such as carbon monoxide,
chloroform, and Prussic acid (the historical name for hydrogen
cyanide). The author also debunks Isaac Asimov's famous assertion
that Holmes was a blundering chemist. In addition, the book
discusses mathematics, physics, biology, astronomy, meteorology,
and geology, always in the context of Holmes's exploits. Sherlock
Holmes continues to fascinate millions of readers and movie goers
alike. The Scientific Sherlock Holmes is a must-read for the legion
of fans of this most beloved of all fictional detectives. The
paperback version will continue to interest two primary groups: the
community of avid Holmes fans who meet regularly to celebrate and
discuss the stories, and the scientific community. What scientist
would not wish to be "the most perfect reasoning and observing
machine that the world has seen"? Sherlock Holmes, Watson assures
us, was precisely that. Scientists admire Holmes's devotion to
fact, his intellectual brilliance, and the way he separates emotion
from his work, and will be especially attracted by a book that
explicitly discusses Holmes from a scientific perspective.
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