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josiahrichardson's review against another edition
5.0
This was a super fun book. It mixes science, history, and philosophy all into gripping stories revolving around elements from the periodic table. Every element has a story, from the ones who discovered the elements, to the historical context, to the future applications. If you have any interest in science and history, you will speed read through this book.
bookwrmsign25's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.25
baileysendsword's review against another edition
4.0
I almost put this book down in the beginning because it seemed like a dry repetition of every chemistry class I've had to sit through. But I'm really glad I didn't. Give this one some time. Make it past the first two chapters, because that's when it starts to get interesting. There were a few dry spots throughout and the writing is a little clunky in places, but I found myself forgiving Kean (something I rarely do when it comes to clunky writing) because the stories were so interesting. I'm surprised that some other reviews say the chemistry jargon is too much. I found it extremely accessible, and I haven't taken a chemistry class in years (and I wasn't so great at it back then). Could I look for these things in a lab? Um, no. But do I get what he means enough to be interested? Definitely yes. This one took me a while to get through, but only because I knew if I read quickly, it would be over that much sooner. That's always the sign of a good book to me.
jrosenstein's review against another edition
4.0
A pretty entertaining and educational tour through the periodic table and the histories and personalities of many of the scientists whose research led to our current understanding of elements and their physics and chemistry. I can't say I always grasped all the science, but I was interested and entertained throughout. I like Kean's breezy writing style and emphasis on the human more than the elemental.
jgelmini's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a fun and interesting history of the elements that make up the periodic table as well as the table itself. I can't wait to read it a second time. :)
Enjoyability: 4 stars
Writing Style: 4 stars
Enjoyability: 4 stars
Writing Style: 4 stars