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This book is great. Kean is very good at explaining difficult or abstract chemical or physics concepts, though the book could be helped by an additional diagram or four in a couple places. Sometimes it's better to illustrate a concept than spend five hundred words on it. The photos that do exist don't typically illuminate anything—it seems more like Kean got permission to use them, so he did.
There's a couple places where a concept is teased out, then Kean seems to change the subject completely. I found this frustrating since the ideas seem totally disconnected. This works in radio, or television, where you can give audio or visual clues that you're returning to the previous idea in a minute (though I see no evidence Kean has ever done any writing except for the printed page). These issues could so easily be solved with the addition of a transitional phrase, such as "let me explain" or "first, some backstory".
Regardless, the book is often fascinating in spite of the sea of names and scientific ideas that can blend together if you're not in that scientific world. The book could use an update, as there's a few times Kean mentions "scientists are currently exploring this idea", and there's a few new elements humans have found in the years since publication. It's not the best written book, and could use a deft editing hand, but it would be an ideal companion for someone taking a high-school chemistry class—or anything fascinated by the building blocks of the universe.
There's a couple places where a concept is teased out, then Kean seems to change the subject completely. I found this frustrating since the ideas seem totally disconnected. This works in radio, or television, where you can give audio or visual clues that you're returning to the previous idea in a minute (though I see no evidence Kean has ever done any writing except for the printed page). These issues could so easily be solved with the addition of a transitional phrase, such as "let me explain" or "first, some backstory".
Regardless, the book is often fascinating in spite of the sea of names and scientific ideas that can blend together if you're not in that scientific world. The book could use an update, as there's a few times Kean mentions "scientists are currently exploring this idea", and there's a few new elements humans have found in the years since publication. It's not the best written book, and could use a deft editing hand, but it would be an ideal companion for someone taking a high-school chemistry class—or anything fascinated by the building blocks of the universe.
Admittedly, I don't have a background in chemistry (beyond barely keeping awake in high school chem class), so the first couple of chapters covering ins and outs of elements was a little above my head. But stick with it - it's a slow burner, and eventually Kean kicks in with the interesting backstories behind the periodic table and various elements' discoveries and uses, from bombs and medicines to poisons and star stuff.
If you kinda loved your college Chem class, you will enjoy this. It's like Bill Bryson teaching Chem class. Lots of fun. At some points, the periodic table connections seemed thin, but he brings it back around in the end.
The idea was an intereseting one but the execution was a bit off...
I haven't read the adult version of this book but the Young Readers Edition was an engaging, easy-to-digest, and interesting audiobook about the history of the elements in the periodic table. I learned quite a bit but my main complaint is that the order of the information presented was all over the place and difficult to follow at times.
Nevertheless, this book offered plenty of fun facts related to the elements including how they were discovered and named, their unique properties, and the role they played in history.
Nevertheless, this book offered plenty of fun facts related to the elements including how they were discovered and named, their unique properties, and the role they played in history.
4.5/5.
Again, I'll give it a proper review after my finals -if I wasn't so spent then- but I feel the need to say I absolutely loved it.
Will totally read everything by Sam Kean.
Again, I'll give it a proper review after my finals -if I wasn't so spent then- but I feel the need to say I absolutely loved it.
Will totally read everything by Sam Kean.
Man I wish I had more patience to enjoy this book. Most of the time, however, I found it pretty boring.
This is not one of those tell everyone to read it 4-star books. This is one of those quirky, nerdy, delightfully eccentric 4-star books.
I hated chemistry in school (and there wasn't much love lost on physics either, to be honest). I did, however, love life and earth sciences, so all was not lost. Had chemistry been infused with the stories of madness, greed, love, alchemy, brilliance, and eccentricity highlighted in The Disappearing Spoon's explanation of the periodic table, I would have had much more interest.
The book is full of the author's quirky style which will drive grammarian purists nuts if read vs consumed via audio, because the book is written like the author likely speaks. It delves very deep into some spots, which didn't interest me as much as the stories, but there is enough balance to hold the attention of most science nerds and casual science looky loos.
I'll definitely drag this out again when my kids start learning chemistry. It is a great primer.
I hated chemistry in school (and there wasn't much love lost on physics either, to be honest). I did, however, love life and earth sciences, so all was not lost. Had chemistry been infused with the stories of madness, greed, love, alchemy, brilliance, and eccentricity highlighted in The Disappearing Spoon's explanation of the periodic table, I would have had much more interest.
The book is full of the author's quirky style which will drive grammarian purists nuts if read vs consumed via audio, because the book is written like the author likely speaks. It delves very deep into some spots, which didn't interest me as much as the stories, but there is enough balance to hold the attention of most science nerds and casual science looky loos.
I'll definitely drag this out again when my kids start learning chemistry. It is a great primer.
funny
informative
fast-paced
very readable history of the intrigue, personalities and science of the periodic table...really....stop making that face!
Ok...Sam is OBSESSED with the Nobel Prize...I would love to do a count of how many times the "prize" makes an appearance in this book; nonetheless, if you are remotely chemistry, physics or electrical...ly? interested, this is one cool book. You may need to skim a little here and there if too much talk of covalent bonds and chilrality make your eyes glaze over.
Lots of history, politics, etc.
Ok...Sam is OBSESSED with the Nobel Prize...I would love to do a count of how many times the "prize" makes an appearance in this book; nonetheless, if you are remotely chemistry, physics or electrical...ly? interested, this is one cool book. You may need to skim a little here and there if too much talk of covalent bonds and chilrality make your eyes glaze over.
Lots of history, politics, etc.