Things Not Generally Known: Popular Errors Explained & Illustrated

Things Not Generally Known: Popular Errors Explained & Illustrated by John Timbs. This Victorian compendium surveys common mistakes across science, medicine, history, and everyday life, collecting memorable examples of errors and credulities—from economic fallacies and superstitions to misreadings of natural phenomena and classical literature. Timbs explains these errors with concise, accessible argument, drawing on Browne, Shakespeare, and other authorities, while also incorporating mid-19th-century scientific and medical developments. Organized as a series of short essays under headings such as Popular Errors Explained, Erroneous Views of Natural Phenomena, Errors in Science and Invention, and Errors in History, the volume aims to refine readers’ judgments by showing how false conclusions arise from misleading appearances, insufficient evidence, or reliance on tradition. It invites curiosity and critical thinking, offering vivid illustrations and notes, and remains a classic example of popular science writing for lay readers and students alike, bridging entertainment and instruction in the pursuit of rational understanding.