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

Interesting and quick paced

I really enjoyed listening to this book! I learned a lot about world history as it tied into science, an interesting connection!

Great book

What made the experience of listening to The Disappearing Spoon the most enjoyable?

It was rich in information, on point and a great dry wit.

Who was your favorite character and why?

N/a

What does Sean Runnette bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

N/a

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

None

Any additional comments?

You will love it

amazing!

wonderfully literary take on a science topic. if you like science, you'll like this. if you like books on generally knowing stuff, you'll like this. I am not that into science, but I loved this book! highly recommended. very entertaining and lots of humor.

The best of the modest

Great premise, decent delivery, alright performance, and a sickening number of self-promoting footnotes. I'd buy again if I had a spare credit, but wouldn't spend any actual cash on it

Thought is was something different

Any additional comments?

I understand the chemistry that makes the periodic table the periodic table. What I expected was some stories about the elemental discoveries or interesting uses of the elements. I wanted more casual conversation starter topics, instead I got a basic chemistry lesson on the outer electron shell. Makes a very boring listen, like a chemistry lecture. There are some great interesting stories layered in but they are far and few in-between to really keep my interest.

Clever and Fascinating Tales

This is a science book and while written to appeal to a mass audience, even with my science background I had to stop and think about some of the conclusions and facts proposed during the read. In a good way though. It made me think and try to recollect my chemistry and physics courses from old.

The book is broken down into sections around a handful of elements usually related in various fashions and this reads quite well. If you are a science geek you will most definitely like this book. Enjoy

Excellent subject around which to tell history

Great explanations of things I ‘learned’ in college but never fully understood. Not every chapter was excellent or even necessary but a fun read for someone who’s into science and origin stories.

Narration is Fantastic

I love this book, I’ve read and listened to it many times and I just adore the narrator for the audiobook. I think anyone with even a vague interest in chemistry or at least an interest in science history would enjoy this book

Great Book, Great Narration, But...

"The Disappearing Spoon" does what many might think impossible. It makes chemistry (and physics) sound fun and exciting, not just a drab exploration of covalent bonds and nuclear half-life. Sam Kean explores each of the elements on the periodic table by telling about their weird and wacky properties, tells us stories about them, and tells us even more stories about the people who discovered them. He does it all with a great sense of humor. Would you ever expect to run across the word "bitchin" in a book about chemistry???

Sam Runnette does a fabulous job or narration. His style is very conversational and he know which parts of the book are funny rather than serious and emphasizes that. I will be looking for more of his narrations.

Now for the "but". I kind of wish I had read this book in print. It is so jam-packed with detail and has so many anecdotes that I found that I really missed stuff if my attention wandered for even a minute. I did so much rewinding that I probably added 1/3 to the length of the book. I think I could have focused better in print.

A Home Run

I strongly recommend this to anyone who has an interest in science. Engaging, interesting, fun, and well read. Another review referred to James Burke and that is exactly what I thought of listening to this book. A real treat.