“Endlessly fascinating” – Book Browse — “Watson’s writing style borders on poetic. . .  I found Light to be endlessly fascinating and remained thoroughly captivated by the history presented… A delight.”

“A delightful journey” – Washington Post — “Bruce Watson’s new book, a sweeping cultural and scientific history of our understanding of light, is filled with vivid and charming scenes… a delightful journey…” – Alan Lightman, author of Einstein’s Dreams.

“Lyrical and deft” – Nature — “Watson’s touch is lyrical and deft. . . Light is an eye-catching display, reflecting and refracting like a gemstone.” 

“Masterful… Important” – Christian Century — “This is why Watson’s book is so important, why it can be such a boon to preachers and teachers: he reminds us just how magical and mysterious light really is.”

“A Dazzling Book!” – ALA Booklist – Starred Review — “A story and a book chock-full of great and fascinating figures… a dazzling book, as seems completely appropriate.” 

“Engrossing” -- Publishers’ Weekly — “An engrossing tour of humans’ longtime fascination with and study of light. . . Weaving his own journeys and experiments throughout the work, Watson provides a panoramic view of human engagement with this most curiosity-inducing phenomenon.”

 “Never less than engaging…” – New Statesman — “Watson leaps with brio into a story that encompasses the history of art, the history of religion, the history of philosophy, and the history of science.  The book’s pages are tightly packed with everything from arc lamps to Zoroaster and much in between, but it is never less than engaging.”

 “Illuminating…” – Dallas Morning News — “An illuminating tour of the science of optics, the history of art, and the psychology of what it means to see the sun rise every day in the east… Watson deftly guides the reader through the evolution of ideas without getting bogged down in technical detail.”

“Impressive in scope…” – Country Life — “The book is impressive in scope, shifting seamlessly between cultural beliefs and historic facts. . . thoroughly researched and clearly written.”

Average of 120 Amazon and Goodreads ratings — 4.3 stars