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We listened to this book in the car during an ill-fated trip to Florida (curse you Hurricane Michael!). My older two children are taking chemistry in high school and my daughter remarked that she learned more after thirty minutes of listening to this book than in nine weeks of class. My husband and son thought this was a fascinating book and I (being a closet chemistry nerd) enjoyed myself thoroughly.
Admittedly, there were several scientific bits that went over my head but my ignorance didn’t spoil my enjoyment of listening to this book. What I loved best were the personal and human parts to the story which truly made the world of the periodic elements come alive for me.
Admittedly, there were several scientific bits that went over my head but my ignorance didn’t spoil my enjoyment of listening to this book. What I loved best were the personal and human parts to the story which truly made the world of the periodic elements come alive for me.
I ran into this book while searching for a good book on chemistry, something for the layman who is a little bit interested in the subject.
I was recommended this book and.... I was unfortunately a bit disappointed.
While this book contains a lot of information on chemicals and the periodic table, it also contains a lot of rambling. I am a guy who wants the author to get to the point, especially when I am reading non-fiction.
Sams chapters usually starts with him telling a story. And then we get a little bit of information on the chemicals, it's uses, electrons and whatnot. And then we get yet another story which connects to the subject. The problem with this way of writing is I want to shake Sam and ask "Where are you going with this?" And by the time he finally gets to the point, I have forgotten what the hell the chapter was supposed to be about.
It's an easy read, I'll give it that. But I expected something a little bit more academic.
I was recommended this book and.... I was unfortunately a bit disappointed.
While this book contains a lot of information on chemicals and the periodic table, it also contains a lot of rambling. I am a guy who wants the author to get to the point, especially when I am reading non-fiction.
Sams chapters usually starts with him telling a story. And then we get a little bit of information on the chemicals, it's uses, electrons and whatnot. And then we get yet another story which connects to the subject. The problem with this way of writing is I want to shake Sam and ask "Where are you going with this?" And by the time he finally gets to the point, I have forgotten what the hell the chapter was supposed to be about.
It's an easy read, I'll give it that. But I expected something a little bit more academic.
Lots of fun, very much enjoyed all the stories about the discovery of elements or chemical processes due to specific elements.
This is one of those books that can get even liberal arts majors with mediocre mathematics abilities (such as myself) interested in science. The history of anything can be fascinating, and there are so many stories contained in the periodic table that it really does make you appreciate the accomplishments and the sacrifices (especially involving the toxic and radioactive elements) that were made to get us to our current level of understanding. Highly recommended to anyone with even the slightest bent towards history.
informative
medium-paced
Fun, fascinating collection of stories/history about the elements and related scientific discover.
The Disappearing Spoonis perfect for science buffs with a deep appreciation of history. However, while I was reading it, I thought, “So this is how Penny feels when her friends on The Big Bang Theory are talking.” I enjoyed the hearing about the historical context of the elements on the periodic table. My favorite parts were those pertaining to gossip about the scientists researching and/or discovering the elements. Marie Curie had a particularly interesting and scandalous life. However, I did not understand much about the elements themselves. Furthermore, I was expecting a more organized book. I thought that each chapter would cover an element, and then it would move on to other elements, and that the whole thing would be quite boring. However, many elements are mentioned in many chapters. So many elements’ stories are interwoven that Kean’s approach makes for a far more engaging read. Also, his writing style is engrossing and witty, which also make his work delightful. Those who like Kean’s books will enjoy him just as much, if not more, as a speaker. I highly recommend that, provided the opportunity, readers attend one of his author talks.
Really good, with a lot of information, even better, a lot of interesting information. He does have a tendency to slip into some pretty complicated terms and ideas so having a general knowledge of chemistry is helpful, or at least the ability to Google terms/concepts that are higher level. On the whole though Kean gives a really good run down of the periodic table, how elements were discovered, and what those discoveries meant for the world at large. It was like reading a textbook that you want to read, and marvel at how one table got to where it is today. Honestly, I've always wondered about those 2 rows at the bottom of the table and now I know why they are there.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
Interesting stories about many of the elements of the periodic table, their discovery, uses, and controversies. Toward the end, the science got pretty dense and complicated, but overall a very educational and interesting read.