The Alchemy of Air

A Jewish Genius, a Doomed Tycoon, and the Scientific Discovery That Fed the World but Fueled the Rise of Hitler

By: Thomas Hager

Narrated by: Adam Verner

Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

A sweeping history of tragic genius, cutting-edge science, and the discovery that changed billions of lives - including your own.

At the dawn of the 20th century, humanity was facing global disaster. Mass starvation, long predicted for the fast-growing population, was about to become a reality. A call went out to the world's scientists to find a solution. This is the story of the two enormously gifted, fatally flawed men who found it: the brilliant, self-important Fritz Haber and the reclusive, alcoholic Carl Bosch.

Together they discovered a way to make bread out of air, built city-sized factories, controlled world markets, and saved millions of lives. Their invention continues to feed us today; without it, more than two billion people would starve.

But their epochal triumph came at a price we are still paying. The Haber-Bosch process was also used to make the gunpowder and high explosives that killed millions during the two world wars. Both men were vilified during their lives; both, disillusioned and disgraced, died tragically. Today we face the other unintended consequences of their discovery - massive nitrogen pollution and a growing pandemic of obesity.

The Alchemy of Air is the extraordinary, previously untold story of two master scientists who saved the world only to lose everything and of the unforseen results of a discovery that continue to shape our lives in the most fundamental and dramatic of ways.

©2008 Thomas Hager (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This scientific adventure spans two world wars and every cell in your body." ( Discover magazine)

“I know of few other books that provide the general reader with a better portrait of chemistry as the most useful of sciences, and I intend to recommend it to scientists and non-scientists alike.” ( The Journal of Chemical Education)

Excellent history of great inventors

Amazing history of true facts and lives of great inventors who schanged course of humanity

The story of how the world has come to be.

it's a biography, but it reads like a novel. precise, concise, and we'll narrated.

A Gem

One of the best books I've ever read. I learned so much from this story.

Best Non Fiction I have listened to so far

What did you love best about The Alchemy of Air?

It was fasinating to follow the tangents that developed through the story

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Alchemy of Air?

Little tidbits like the acronym SHIT store high in transit

What about Adam Verner’s performance did you like?

Clear concise read that made you feel like you were reading not listening

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

This is the first reveiw I have made. This book compelled me to reveiw as it deserves every accolade.

An engrossing, gripping, very relevant story.

This book brings to life the story of invention and determination that had the most profound effect on humanity - in a global way. These men had significant impact on the events of two world wars, and the feeding of the entire planet, with their impact only growing in our day. The reading was done so wonderfully as to bring the book alive. This was a book I had a hard time putting down.

Fascinating Technology, People &Historical Period

The book is excellent. It shows how technology transcends Nazism, Marxism, Democracy and Racism.

It is very good lesion in history and economics. It brings to life some extremely interesting and important people

Somewhat sensationalized, but really interesting!

This is an account of two German men (Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch) responsible for figuring out how to fix nitrogen on a large scale, and about their experiences during World Wars I and II. This was a little too sensationalized for my liking at times, and definitely too repetitive, and I thought the way Hager chose to end it was kind of strange, but it's still a very interesting story. Good narration as well.

Essential knowledge

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. This very interesting history portrays the heartbreak of a genius who did everything humanly possible to be accepted but to no avail.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This story is about Fritz Haber, a nobel prize winner and also some think a war criminal.

What about Adam Verner???s performance did you like?

He did not envolve himself in the story, it went smoothly and the reader just did his job and that is to read.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The man who has saved the lives of 4 billion people

Any additional comments?

This critical biography is a must for any who have a good interest in history.

Superb: best-of-class science non-fiction

Makes my all-time top 10 non-fiction list. Seamlessly combines human drama and an epic scientific story. Tight narrative; clear & clean presentation of technical details; vivid historical context.

Enlightening and entertaining

Would you consider the audio edition of The Alchemy of Air to be better than the print version?

Haven't read the print version.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Karl Bosch. Tireless dedication to the process, and for somewhat defying the Nazism.

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

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes