Book Description
Characters
The stars of this science history book are the different elements found on the periodic table. They are grouped in surprising ways; each group gets a chapter. Various people are introduced in relation to the elements, but the elements themselves are the stars.
Setting
The timeline of the book jumps around according what elements make up the chapter. Elements that have been known for a long time (like gold) may have a chapter set further in the past. Recently discovered elements will be discussed in the context of modern laboratories.
Plot
This book reads like a collection of short stories with the theme as the discovery and response to elements of the periodic table.
See description and other reviews on GoodReads.
An Editor’s Book Review
Character Development
While Sam Kean does a great job describing people well but concisely, there’s such a multitude of characters (and even elements) in the book that none of them are particularly memorable. Certain situations will stick in your head long after reading the book. They make for interesting quips at parties (“did you know that gallium….”) But readers that prefer to follow a single character from start to finish will be disappointed.
Pacing
The benefit of picking and choosing stories about the elements is that the author chooses the oddest and quirkiest stories. By selecting the stories carefully, the author actually maintains a pretty fast pace. Additionally, if there’s a story that bores you as a reader, it will be short. Just a few pages later, another story will begin.
Writing Style
Sam Kean’s writing style is what keeps me coming back to his books. He has a sense of humor that guides the selection and development of each story. His books make science seem a bit more chaotic, random and funny, instead of a slow stately march toward progress.
Related Recommendations
If you enjoyed The Disappearing Spoon, you might like The Invention of Air, which explores how a scientist worked to isolate the element oxygen in early America.