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Periodic Tales
A Cultural History of the Elements, from Arsenic to Zinc
Like the alphabet, the calendar, or the zodiac, the periodic table of the chemical elements has a permanent place in our imagination. But aside from the handful of common ones (iron, carbon, copper, gold), the elements themselves remain wrapped in mystery. We do not know what most of them look like, how they exist in nature, how they got their names, or of what use they are to us. Periodic Tales isa dazzling tour through history and literature, science and art, in which you'll meet iron that rains from the heavens and neon as it lights its way to vice. You'll learn how lead can tell your future and why zinc may one day line your coffin. You'll discover what connects the bones in your body with the White House in Washington, and the glow of a streetlight with the salt on your dinner table. From the Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist for The Most Beautiful Molecule, Periodic Tales reveals the true stories of these fascinating, mysterious building blocks of the universe.
"With a distinct British wit and a zest for science history, Aldersey-Williams turns his boyhood passion for the chemical elements into an insightful biography of the periodic table's denizens . . . Be prepared to laugh along." —Discover
"A lucid, enjoyable collection . . . that, element by element, demystifies the iconic periodic table." —Kirkus Reviews
"Aldersey-Williams's playful, hands-on approach to scientific exploration shines through the book." —The Boston Globe
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Release date
April 16, 2024 -
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780062078810
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780062078810
- File size: 7565 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Publisher's Weekly
May 30, 2011
British author Aldersey-Williams, whose range includes architecture, design, and science, delves into the elementalâthe perfect subject matter for his lighthearted erudition. Aldersey-Williams presents a veritable blizzard of facts, anecdotes, and cultural allusions in this informative look at the world's building blocks. Beginning with gold, he ponders the intriguing question of the source of its mysterious value, quoting the ancient philosopher Pliny the Elder who wisely said, "the first person who put gold on his fingers committed the worse crime against human life." When pursuing chlorine, Aldersey-Williams invokes Wilfred Owen's WWI poem "The old Lie," comparing it to John Singer Sargent's painting, Gassed, from the same period. Seemingly unremarkable lead is unmasked as a source of two of the most formative changes in western culture: the foundation for the type in Guttenberg's printing press and ammunition. Whether discussing arsenic's poisonous past or emerald's color, which "we are biologically programmed to appreciate," Aldersey-Williams puts truth behind the notion "each allocation is a little bit of our civilization." His virtuoso tour of the periodic table reflects its full complement of the human condition.
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Formats
- Kindle Book
- OverDrive Read
- EPUB ebook
subjects
Languages
- English
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