Ancient and modern

Why did the West win the “science race”, when Chinese and Islamic countries were once several centuries in the lead? The Rise of Early Modern Science: Islam, China and the West by Toby E. Huff (Cambridge University Press, £13.95 pbk, ISBN 0 521 498 33 3) is a fascinating, rather studious, discussion exploring the historical relation of thought and culture. The insights are especially important now the Net is the current revolution, with its own ideas of worldwide progress.