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challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
A fun and interesting read about the history of the periodic table. I found so many of the stories completely fascinating, but while the author never lost me academically, he did, at times, lose my interest. I love chemistry, but some passages (fission and fusion) got overly numerical and repetitive. I loved the history of each discovery, loved the female scientists that were highlighted, and loved the discussion of the "finger of God." I'd recommend this.
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Body horror
Interesting, but kind of inconsistently so.
3.5 stars. Recommended.
3.5 stars. Recommended.
Started strong with my favorite fun fact (mercury laxatives being the reason archaeologists can track the Lewis & Clark expedition) but then fell off for me. I really loved the stories about the interpersonal scientist drama but all of the chemistry and physics explanations of specific elements grew tiresome.
I thought this book wasn’t written well and sorta boring.
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
In my opinion this is the best book written about the periodic system of elements aimed at everyone.
Are you someone with just a passing interest in science and/or chemistry? Read this book. You'll learn about the gallium spoon gag about which the title is written (silly chemists).
Are you someone with no interest in science and/or chemistry but interested in history? I think you'll like this book. Kean roams through many different topics and you'll find at least one that interests you.
Are you a chemistry professor? You find something in this book that you either didn't know or Kean will provide an interesting perspective on something you already knew.
We used to assign this book a few years ago to our General Chemistry I students and received very few negative comments about it.
Are you someone with just a passing interest in science and/or chemistry? Read this book. You'll learn about the gallium spoon gag about which the title is written (silly chemists).
Are you someone with no interest in science and/or chemistry but interested in history? I think you'll like this book. Kean roams through many different topics and you'll find at least one that interests you.
Are you a chemistry professor? You find something in this book that you either didn't know or Kean will provide an interesting perspective on something you already knew.
We used to assign this book a few years ago to our General Chemistry I students and received very few negative comments about it.
challenging
informative
mysterious
slow-paced