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

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

“The Disappearing Spoon is my favorite kind of science journalism: it reveals a hidden universe in the form of a thrilling tale.” (BoingBoing)

“Arthur C. Clarke once noted that truly advanced science cannot be distinguished from magic. Kean succeeds in giving us the cold hard facts, both human and chemical, behind the astounding phenomena without sacrificing any of the wonder — a trait vital to any science writer worth his NaCl." (Entertainment Weekly)

Science Magazine reporter Sam Kean reveals the periodic table as it’s never been seen before. Not only is it one of man's crowning scientific achievements, it's also a treasure trove of stories of passion, adventure, betrayal, and obsession. The infectious tales and astounding details in The Disappearing Spoon follow carbon, neon, silicon, and gold as they play out their parts in human history, finance, mythology, war, the arts, poison, and the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them.

We learn that Marie Curie used to provoke jealousy in colleagues' wives when she'd invite them into closets to see her glow-in-the-dark experiments. And that Lewis and Clark swallowed mercury capsules across the country; their campsites are still detectable by the poison in the ground. Why did Gandhi hate iodine? Why did the Japanese kill Godzilla with missiles made of cadmium? And why did tellurium lead to the most bizarre gold rush in history? From the Big Bang to the end of time, it's all in The Disappearing Spoon.

©2010 Sam Kean (P)2010 Tantor

Completely Engrossing!

What a fabulous history of science! And a great review of principles of chemistry and physics, all told in easily understood language, with a lot of fun anecdotes. I couldn’t stop listening. The narrator was great, too.

This 3x5 review is of what might be my 8th listen.

I re-listen all the time and it luls me to sleep, brings me to tears, excites my love of science.

Content+ Narrator-

The Book itself is great. For those who like this kind of thing, the book offers a good deal of detail without becoming pedantic. The narrator however leaves much to be desired. His voice is weak, his use of accents inconsistent and the delivery is, well, it detracts from the book.

I like to get into the book without being aware of the narrator - the best can do this, keep you engaged while never knowing they are there. This person is not one of the best.

So book - 4 stars. Narrator 2 stars. You do the math

Wonderful Science History!

I loved this book, even the details about chemistry that I used to find boring in school. I wish I had read this when I was taking College chemistry. Fantastic history and then great insights into the people who made the periodic table and who basically Advanced science for the last hundred plus years. Anybody who enjoys history will love this book.

review

I truely enjoyed the story. there were times where the stories were a little jumpy between stories and I got a lityle lost at time, but that just comes with the complexity of history. Hope you enjoy becaisr I did.

Anecdotes related to the periodic table

I call this type of book "casual science"
I did learn one or two new things, but the book is mainly anecdotes related to discoveries of elements in the periodic table. Generally not my "cup of tea", but I think others may enjoy this.

I think the reading performance was well done.

Recommended. Excellent!

This book was so good, I listened to it twice. Another title for it might be “Star Stuff and the Exciting Stories About People Who Figured It Out”. This book should form the nucleus of a class given in every high school in America. It would hook many on basic science. The author has used the discovery of the nature of physical elements and development of the periodic table of the elements as a framework to tell stories about all the strange and exciting human goings-on surrounding the working out of the stuff our world is made of. Great story telling! Well worth the price.

Periodic Table of Elements

Really enjoyed it. Good for anyone who knows a little about the periodic table of elements and especially if they need to remember it.

Good story, but . . .

At its best, this book is an engaging, interesting, and deeply informative book about the birth of modern chemistry.

At its worst, it is a poorly edited gossip rag that takes indiscriminate potshots -- criticizing scientists for believing too readily, not believing readily enough -- and is filled with unfortunate, cynical schadenfreude.

As to the editing -- Timothy McVeigh did NOT blow up the Oklahoma City Courthouse. He blew up the Murrah Federal Building. That is a MAJOR error that should not have gotten past the editors.

Finally, Mr Kean, while ridiculing pretty much everyone, consistently talks about what atoms and molecules and elements "want to do." As the hard-nosed, error-science writer, he ought to know that atoms, etc., don't "want" anything. They DO things because of their various physical properties.

That is a whole lot of complaining, but I mostly enjoyed this. Mr Kean just needs a dose of the humility that he noticing that others don't have.

This is my favorite audiobook

I listen to this book more often than any other in my huge Audible library. The information is a perfect mix of entertainment and education. The author goes deep enough into each topic to make it worthwhile for those who know a bit more than average about physics and chemistry, yet not so far to be boring to those who are just starting out.

Sean Runnette is an excellent narrator who helps the book move right along at the perfect pace.