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

Very informative

Fun. The author tells a very educational and entertaining story. He goes about as deep as possible into how and why elements act and react, to each other and when put under stress.

Science at its best!

This book is interesting and entertaining throughout. if you have any interest in Science please check this book out ASAP!

Enjoyable to wonder through the table

Providing an interesting journey through the periodic table, the stories will amaze and often supply amble head shaking around the politics of Science. It was a nice balance between fun facts and history - well worth the read.

I can only anticipate what elements will be in our future - and the possibility behind quantum dots.

Where were you in 1983?

Well if I'd read this book before i did my final year of high school then I would have glided rather than snow plowed through chemistry at university. Helpful if not three decades too late to give me additional and alternative views of the periodic table. Thank you Sam

Fantastic

What did you like best about this story?

Who would have thought that a book about the periodic table of elements would be fascinating to a "non science" guy. It's more a history.

great read, nothing earth shattering, well read

Hello, This book makes good listening on many short trip. The stories are short and clean while maintaining a historical tread. The stories (life and times) of science's giant had me Googling them to know more. Over all a great book, a fun look at science, and it's history.

Totally worth the listen!

This was both fascinating and easy to follow....no chemistry degree required, just an interest in science.

perfect post-chemistry class

I recently took a chemistry class, and it really helped to understand most of this book. what I enjoyed the most were the back stories of the elements and how they came to be and the people behind them. it got confusing toward the end when they were talking about theory, but overall and interesting book.

Sam Kean's stories never disappear from your mind!

What did you love best about The Disappearing Spoon?

Sam Kean has a way with words and knows his way around the periodic table. This is a very entertaining and informative book. I own it in two formats, audio and e-book. I teach Chemistry and refer to his stories often in my lectures. It is hard to pick, but I think my favorite line is: "Elements Shed, Share or Steal electrons." Even if you are not interested in the chemistry, the stories are well worth hearing.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Disappearing Spoon?

The most memorable is Sams telling of the story of Fritz Haber and his treatment of his wife. It almost makes me not want to lecture on the Born-Haber cycle.

Have you listened to any of Sean Runnette’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I haven't. He does a great job reading this one.

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

Yes, when Fritz Haber's wife, Clara Immerwahr, shot herself, and Sam Kean pointed out that she could have been another Marie Curie had she married differently.

Any additional comments?

I plan to explore other books by Mr. Kean!

Uneven register

Overall the book is interesting and compelling, but the author frequently shits between a formal and informal register; switching between colorful but restrained descriptions of the elements and the individuals and historic events surrounding them and jarring switches to using words like "frigging awesome" to describe some discovery or other.

While the book lacks polish in this regard, the content makes for en enjoyable "read".