Cover of The Discovery of Witchcraft

Book · 1584 · Early works to 1800

The Discovery of Witchcraft

by Reginald Scot · Recommended by 2 people on 2 podcasts

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Well the first one was like uh I think it was called discovery of Witchcraft from like 1584 or something like that and a guy wrote all these secrets of methods that like witches were using and they were being burned alive.
David Blaine · The Joe Rogan Experience · Nov 2023 Listen at 1:41:07

The best things said about it

1 of 2 · every mention
Discussed
And in the west we sort of put that at the year 1584 with the publication of a book called the discovery of Witchcraft by Reginald Scott.
Joshua Jay People I (Mostly) Admire · Feb 2021

Why people recommend it

The Discovery of Witchcraft by Reginald Scot is a landmark 1584 publication that historically sought to expose fraudulent magical practices while defending people wrongly accused of witchcraft. David Blaine discussed the book on an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, noting that it stands as one of the earliest magic texts detailing the secret methods used by individuals who were subsequently burned alive during witch trials. Joshua Jay also cited the book on an episode of People I (Mostly) Admire, identifying the 1584 publication by Reginald Scot as a pivotal moment in Western history that helped separate legitimate conjuring and illusion from the superstitious persecution of witchcraft. These podcast references highlight the profound historical importance of the text in bridging the gap between ancient mysticism, early stage magic, and scientific skepticism. Scholars and master magicians alike continue to reference the work as a foundational document that challenged prevailing fears and fostered a more rational understanding of trickery, illusion, and human credulity throughout the centuries.

Every mention

2 counted mentions
David Blaine well the first one was like uh I think it was called discovery of Witchcraft from like 1584 or something li… 1
Discussed
“well the first one was like uh I think it was called discovery of Witchcraft from like 1584 or something like that and a guy wrote all these secrets of methods that like witches were using and they were being burned alive”
Joshua Jay and in the west we sort of put that at the year 1584 with the publication of a book called the discovery of… 1
Discussed
“and in the west we sort of put that at the year 1584 with the publication of a book called the discovery of Witchcraft by Reginald Scott”

Also mentioned in the same episodes

Portraits from Wikimedia Commons: David Blaine, David Shankbone / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).