A review by librarymouse
The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean

funny informative medium-paced

4.0

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The author is genuinely funny in his delivery of the material, making jokes and grounding theoretical subjects in tangible metaphors/analogies/examples. At a certain point, near the 3/4 mark of the book, the physics and chemistry started to go over my head, and kept at that level. The history aspect was consistently engaging and accessible to someone who hasn't had formal instruction in physics or chemistry for the better part of a decade The author consistently ties the biographical information and historical events back into the science science, referencing back to the individuals mentioned in earlier chapters as they came up again and again. Overall, a really engaging read. I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 because I had to restart the book after my first attempt at the introduction and first chapter. That very well may have just been a me problem, and not the book.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings