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Periodic Tales: A Cultural History of the Elements, from Arsenic to Zinc
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Author:
Aldersey-Williams, Hugh
Published:
HarperCollins 2011
Status:
Available from OverDrive
Description
In the spirit of A Short History of Nearly Everything comes Periodic Tales. Award-winning science writer Hugh Andersey-Williams offers readers a captivating look at the elements—and the amazing, little-known stories behind their discoveries. Periodic Tales is an energetic and wide-ranging book of innovations and innovators, of superstition and science and the myriad ways the chemical elements are woven into our culture, history, and language. It will delight readers of Genome, Einstein’s Dreams, Longitude, and The Age of Wonder. 
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Subjects
Subjects
History
Science
Chemistry
Nonfiction
More Details
Format:
Adobe EPUB eBook, Kindle Book, OverDrive Read
Street Date:
03/29/2011
Language:
English
ISBN:
9780062078810
ASIN:
B004J17VTO
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Citations
APA Citation (style guide)

Hugh Aldersey-Williams. (2011). Periodic Tales: A Cultural History of the Elements, from Arsenic to Zinc. HarperCollins.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide)

Hugh Aldersey-Williams. 2011. Periodic Tales: A Cultural History of the Elements, From Arsenic to Zinc. HarperCollins.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide)

Hugh Aldersey-Williams, Periodic Tales: A Cultural History of the Elements, From Arsenic to Zinc. HarperCollins, 2011.

MLA Citation (style guide)

Hugh Aldersey-Williams. Periodic Tales: A Cultural History of the Elements, From Arsenic to Zinc. HarperCollins, 2011.

Note! Citation formats are based on standards as of July 2022. Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy.
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Date Added:
Jun 12, 2018 17:42:57
Date Updated:
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OverDrive Product Record

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In the spirit of A Short History of Nearly Everything comes Periodic Tales. Award-winning science writer Hugh Andersey-Williams offers readers a captivating look at the elements—and the amazing, little-known stories behind their discoveries. Periodic Tales is an energetic and wide-ranging book of innovations and innovators, of superstition and science and the myriad ways the chemical elements are woven into our culture, history, and language. It will delight readers of Genome, Einstein’s Dreams, Longitude, and The Age of Wonder. 
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        "[A] virtuoso tour of the periodic table." — Publishers Weekly

        "[C]harming. . . . Aldersey-Williams writes with simplicity and elegance. The stories may not help you on your next chemistry test, but they'll help you appreciate the building blocks that are all around us yet all too easy to overlook." — Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers

        "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." — Boston Globe

        For the UK edition: "[F]ascinating and beautiful. . . . If only chemistry had been like this at school. . . . [A] rich compilation of delicious tales." — Matt Ridley, Prospect magazine

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        May 30, 2011
        British author Aldersey-Williams, whose range includes architecture, design, and science, delves into the elemental—the 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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