The World

He was the godfather of science writing. Sir Thomas Browne’s exacting observations and gorgeous prose anticipated modern science writers like Rachel Carson, Stephen Jay Gould, and Oliver Sacks. But Browne lived in the 1600s, and his way of reconciling the scriptures with science looks surprisingly like what we call “intelligent design.” Produced by Sarah Montague (with performances by actors Daniel Gerroll and Jonathan Hadary).

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