As I noted earlier, today is the anniversary of the birth of Thomas Willis in 1621. Willis is remembered as the father of modern neurology with his publication in 1664 of Cerebri Anatomi. He was also co-founder of the Royal Society of London in 1662 and discoverer of the circle of Willis (pictured above).
Our very own Carl Zimmer has written a fantastic book (Soul Made Flesh) which not only deals with Willis and the Royal Society but is wonderfully evocative of the era.
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That is indeed a fantastic book - very readable and crammed with fascinating information. I happened to read it shortly before visiting London, and it made me hunt out Willis's tomb in St Paul's.