Take a photo of a barcode or cover
informative
medium-paced
This was a cool read. There was definitely a lot that went over my head (though it should be noted I have absolutely no knowledge of chemistry), but a lot of it was accessible. I thought the stories were interesting and well-told, but I'll admit that at some points it was boring.
Definitely a fun read - I think I would have preferred shorter, bite-sized stories, but overall it was cool.
Definitely a fun read - I think I would have preferred shorter, bite-sized stories, but overall it was cool.
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
A great collection of tales and facts about nearly every element on the periodic table. There were some parts that I read with little comprehension as chemistry was never my strong suit, but that didn't make the rest of this any less enjoyable.
This is possibly the most beautiful book I’ve ever read. It’s so well written and so inviting, it doesn’t talk down to non-stem people, it just welcomes you to get excited about science in the purest way.
informative
slow-paced
Fantastic book! Sam Kean, like another of my favorite authors, Mary Roach, has mastered the art of taking an exhaustive, in-depth look at a subject both broad and specific, in this case one of my favorite subjects, the periodic table.
The anecdotes were interesting but I found the writing a little heavy and tough to get through. I thought Caesar’s Last Breath was a more captivating read- definitely check that one out!
i never really studied chemistry at school and to be fair i am no wiser now than i was then. The main thing i got from this is the underhanded, political nature of chemical discovery.
This book was a great, light science read. There were lots of facts and stories, all loosely based around the periodic table. I learned why Lithium is prescribed to manic depressives. I learned the narratives of how new elements were discovered and what they were named for.
Overall, there's not a lot of cohesion in the narrative, but this book is designed for entertainment value, which is all I was looking for.
Overall, there's not a lot of cohesion in the narrative, but this book is designed for entertainment value, which is all I was looking for.