Scan barcode
julcoh's review
3.0
FYI: “Ignition” is now widely available to download online for free in .pdf version.
Any history of science book with a forward written by Isaac Asimov is going on my list, and this one was recommended by a few posters on Reddit.
The story Clark tells is a fascinating one, and he chronicles the long development of rocket fuels in extreme (if academic) detail. Those unschooled in advanced chemistry like myself will find much of the book is over their heads, in terms of the specific compounds and their synthesis, but will find joy in Clark’s dry humor and insight into Government/Defense R&D funding and the wonders of working with highly explosive materials.
Worth the read for those interested, but may bore some. I’ll have to go check out Clark’s fiction.
Any history of science book with a forward written by Isaac Asimov is going on my list, and this one was recommended by a few posters on Reddit.
The story Clark tells is a fascinating one, and he chronicles the long development of rocket fuels in extreme (if academic) detail. Those unschooled in advanced chemistry like myself will find much of the book is over their heads, in terms of the specific compounds and their synthesis, but will find joy in Clark’s dry humor and insight into Government/Defense R&D funding and the wonders of working with highly explosive materials.
Worth the read for those interested, but may bore some. I’ll have to go check out Clark’s fiction.
spokes_propane's review against another edition
Too technical to listen to, would recommend reading unless you have some experience in the field.
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
4.0
This is a niche-interest book. Should you happen to be interested in the history of liquid rocket propellants, then this is absolutely the book for you. If you are interested in the history of the space program more generally, then it will likely also appeal. First published in 1972, it describes efforts to develop rocket propellants for military and space applications. These efforts are dryly described by the author, who was one of the key figures, and entail many unplanned explosions and a plethora of thoroughly noxious--if fascinating--chemicals. N.B. For a personal perspective on space history that is a little less niche, I'd recommend Gene Kranz's account "Failure is Not an Option."
I note that the tone of the book is rather dated, reflecting the era it describes. For instance, I spotted only one brief mention of a female chemist amid the plethora of men. The following highlight from chapter six should give you an idea of whether you would enjoy the book: "It [chlorine trifluoride] is, of course, extremely toxic, but that's the least of the problem. It is hypergolic with every known fuel, and so rapidly hypergolic that no ignition delay has ever been measured. It is also hypergolic with such things as cloth, wood, and test engineers, not to mention asbestos, sand, and water--with which it reacts explosively." In case there is any doubt, I liked this book and the glimpse into extreme chemistry that it provides.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
I note that the tone of the book is rather dated, reflecting the era it describes. For instance, I spotted only one brief mention of a female chemist amid the plethora of men. The following highlight from chapter six should give you an idea of whether you would enjoy the book: "It [chlorine trifluoride] is, of course, extremely toxic, but that's the least of the problem. It is hypergolic with every known fuel, and so rapidly hypergolic that no ignition delay has ever been measured. It is also hypergolic with such things as cloth, wood, and test engineers, not to mention asbestos, sand, and water--with which it reacts explosively." In case there is any doubt, I liked this book and the glimpse into extreme chemistry that it provides.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
frogbone's review
funny
informative
slow-paced
4.5
this is an interesting one, because it's littered with fabulous anecdotes and remarks about some of the most malicious and dangerous chemical substances you can find on earth, and pretty much all of these are delightful and illuminating about what being a working chemist was like in those days. but it is set against a background that is a discussion of all the chemistries that were tried for propellants at some point and then discarded, and that is a substantially drier subject.
the former is readily accessible to anyone, and indeed i found myself sharing plenty of snippets of this book with others.
the latter will pretty much only be accessible to college chemistry students and up, who will find it informative, if substantially out of date. if you have that background, i would say, go for it. if you don't, it might be advisable to skim it a bit when he gets a little too in the weeds on some of this stuff.
the former is readily accessible to anyone, and indeed i found myself sharing plenty of snippets of this book with others.
the latter will pretty much only be accessible to college chemistry students and up, who will find it informative, if substantially out of date. if you have that background, i would say, go for it. if you don't, it might be advisable to skim it a bit when he gets a little too in the weeds on some of this stuff.
jmercury's review
5.0
While this rare, out-of-print book is available online as a free PDF, I prefer physical copies as they are easier on the eyes. I feel extremely fortunate that CSU East Bay had a copy (in excellent condition) available for LINK+ library loans. A treasure of a book like this deserves circulation.
What can I say about Ignition!? First of all, while it's accessible to the layperson, one won't get much out of it without at least a college-level understanding of inorganic chemistry, with organic chemistry a huge bonus. I've only learned the former, myself, so I was at least able to grapple with the enormous amount of chemical information in this book, but a stronger knowledge of OChem would enrich the experience. As it is, I now have a decent handle on liquid rocket propellant chemistry on a very basic level. ...Could come in handy, someday.
Clark organized his book appealingly. Starting with the early history of scientists blowing their hands off in attempts to fuel motors, he progresses from the earliest glimmers of rocket science to the development of liquid O and H, and on to the true birth of the propellant community (funded, it seems, almost exclusively by the government in some form or another during and after WWII). Along the way we're treated to every type of experiment dreamed up by the scientists, including this delight from page 33: "Somebody had the bright idea that the sonic vibrations of a rocket motor might promote combustion [of jet fuel]. So he made a tape recording of the sound of a running motor and played it back at the interacting propellants in the hope that they might be shaken - or shamed - into smooth combustion. (Why not? He'd tried everything else!)" Priceless. Once the playing field is established, further chapters are devoted to individual fields in liquid propellants including monopropellants, boron compounds, and deep space applications. Each idea, lead, and development is teased out for the edification of the reader.
Whenever the text feels like drying out, Clark dashes in a wry remark or footnoted anecdote to produce anything from a smirk and chuckle to outright gales of laughter. Names of people and organizations are sprinkled liberally throughout with embarrassing or exalting stories attached. ("Don Griffin, a free soul if I ever knew one, then took a year's vacation from rocket propulsion, spending it in the Hula-Hoop business. He said it made more sense." p163) Clark is wonderfully specific and, as a primary source, a delightful historian.
Ignition! is a quality addition to the history of science, but it also serves as a reminder (or commiseration) that science is not a swift here-to-there process. It's messy, explosive, and a lot goes wrong. Clark points out failures with grace and acceptance, and saves his most vicious critique for those who have only failed to learn from past mistakes. It is a duty of a scientist to use knowledge effectively...particularly when it comes to deadly chemistry!
What can I say about Ignition!? First of all, while it's accessible to the layperson, one won't get much out of it without at least a college-level understanding of inorganic chemistry, with organic chemistry a huge bonus. I've only learned the former, myself, so I was at least able to grapple with the enormous amount of chemical information in this book, but a stronger knowledge of OChem would enrich the experience. As it is, I now have a decent handle on liquid rocket propellant chemistry on a very basic level. ...Could come in handy, someday.
Clark organized his book appealingly. Starting with the early history of scientists blowing their hands off in attempts to fuel motors, he progresses from the earliest glimmers of rocket science to the development of liquid O and H, and on to the true birth of the propellant community (funded, it seems, almost exclusively by the government in some form or another during and after WWII). Along the way we're treated to every type of experiment dreamed up by the scientists, including this delight from page 33: "Somebody had the bright idea that the sonic vibrations of a rocket motor might promote combustion [of jet fuel]. So he made a tape recording of the sound of a running motor and played it back at the interacting propellants in the hope that they might be shaken - or shamed - into smooth combustion. (Why not? He'd tried everything else!)" Priceless. Once the playing field is established, further chapters are devoted to individual fields in liquid propellants including monopropellants, boron compounds, and deep space applications. Each idea, lead, and development is teased out for the edification of the reader.
Whenever the text feels like drying out, Clark dashes in a wry remark or footnoted anecdote to produce anything from a smirk and chuckle to outright gales of laughter. Names of people and organizations are sprinkled liberally throughout with embarrassing or exalting stories attached. ("Don Griffin, a free soul if I ever knew one, then took a year's vacation from rocket propulsion, spending it in the Hula-Hoop business. He said it made more sense." p163) Clark is wonderfully specific and, as a primary source, a delightful historian.
Ignition! is a quality addition to the history of science, but it also serves as a reminder (or commiseration) that science is not a swift here-to-there process. It's messy, explosive, and a lot goes wrong. Clark points out failures with grace and acceptance, and saves his most vicious critique for those who have only failed to learn from past mistakes. It is a duty of a scientist to use knowledge effectively...particularly when it comes to deadly chemistry!
tau_cannon_from_half_life's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
4.5
i am the tau cannon from half life
rrunner1's review
4.0
huh
this book was phenomenal, the author was great, and the whole book was very enjoyable. The author wrote in a very friendly, informal way and wrote his own personal opinion and added jokes. It was a great book, really, and I so, so wish I could give it 5 stars but, in all honesty I had no idea what I was reading. This book was recommended to me by my brother, who is a mechanical engineer, and is obsessed with rockets. Well, about an eighth of this book was written in a different language (math) and I couldn't comprehend about 4/5 of it. Please, its a great book, but if your going to read it, flip to any page, and try to pronounce the words. The whole book is like that.
Overall great book! Totally Recommend!
this book was phenomenal, the author was great, and the whole book was very enjoyable. The author wrote in a very friendly, informal way and wrote his own personal opinion and added jokes. It was a great book, really, and I so, so wish I could give it 5 stars but, in all honesty I had no idea what I was reading. This book was recommended to me by my brother, who is a mechanical engineer, and is obsessed with rockets. Well, about an eighth of this book was written in a different language (math) and I couldn't comprehend about 4/5 of it. Please, its a great book, but if your going to read it, flip to any page, and try to pronounce the words. The whole book is like that.
Overall great book! Totally Recommend!