You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
informative
medium-paced
challenging
informative
medium-paced
This is an absolutely fabulous book! I kept finding myself stopping reading to tell my wife some anecdote I had just read (she likely did not enjoy this). The book tells the story of the periodic table, just about all of its elements, and the men and women who contributed to their discovery in an entertaining and enlightening manner. The author does not rely on chronology or periodic family, but instead chooses elements whose stories intertwine. I am even planning on having my high schoolers read this for chemistry class this year
The only complaint I have is that I would like to have seen the various footnotes on the page rather than at the back o the book. Having to keep two bookmarks and continually flip to the back of the book did get a bit frustrating.
.
The only complaint I have is that I would like to have seen the various footnotes on the page rather than at the back o the book. Having to keep two bookmarks and continually flip to the back of the book did get a bit frustrating.
.
funny
informative
fast-paced
I really really wanted to like this book. It has a lot of great information and quirky stories of scientists (including lady scientists!), but I just couldn't find the rhythm of the book. I think the author was probably aiming for easily digestible anecdotes, but the integrity of the whole was lost because of that approach. I had trouble finding threads and didn't feel pulled into the big narrative of the periodic table, though I really wanted to be.
Just like reading the original it was a rough start. But there is so much wonderful later on.
DNF. i tried and had high hopes. I really wanted to like this book. I will try again during another season of life.
informative
If you're into science, you'll find this fascinating, for the rest of us it's a bit odd.