According to Thomas the decline of magic is due to science and new technology. But in my view magic was already on the way back (see the medical sector); not the technological progress, but a change of mentality was decisive, namely the new belief in human possibilities. And I agree this belief mainly was generated through innovations in science. So, I think the the effect was more indirect than Thomas proposes. Nevertheless, this is an interesting read, most of all because this book contains a nice overview of the material living conditions in the 16th and 17th Century.