This book takes readers back to the 17th century, when magic was part of everyday life. Wizards begins in 1655 with 12-year-old Isaac Newton serving as apprentice to an apothecary. He learns to mix healing potions and marvels at the secret powers of nutmeg and dried newts. In this atmosphere of magic and mystery, the determined schoolboy sets out to master the hidden powers that make the universe work.

Author Candace Savage describes natural magic, divination, astrology, alchemy, and the dark arts. She also explains how magic and science were interconnected during that era, and how most people saw no distinction between them.

The wizards' quest to unlock the secrets of the hidden world leads some, including Newton, into the realm of mathematics and science. These pioneers develop mathematical formulas and calculate the effects of gravity, among other scientific accomplishments. As the book ends in 1693, Newton, now famous for his laws of gravity and thermodynamics, has helped lead the Scientific Revolution.