Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery That Baffled All of France
Mara Rockliff
In Paris, Dr. Mesmer claims that a mysterious force can cure illness and cause people to swoon, twitch, and tremble. Ben Franklin, already known for work on electricity, investigates Mesmer’s claims through observation, hypotheses, and testing. His inquiry shows that mesmerism depends on suggestion rather than the force Mesmer describes. The book also includes an author’s note about Franklin and Mesmer in Paris.
This book appears on 3 reading lists across 1 edition from 3 organizations.
