The Modern Scholar: Elemental Matters

An Introduction to Chemistry

By: Professor Deborah G. Sauder

Narrated by: Professor Deborah G. Sauder

In "Elemental Matters", Professor Deborah Sauder leads a comprehensive overview of chemistry, a subject that influences every aspect of daily life. Kicking off the lecture series with a revealing look at one of the planet’s most vital chemicals—water—Sauder then delves into the basics of molecular structure and chemical reactions. The course concludes with an eye-opening glimpse of 21st-century applications, such as nanotechnology and energy alternatives."

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2011 Deborah G. Sauder (P)2011 Recorded Books

Unequivocally superior to similar audiobooks

The economy and layout of this audiobook are really excellent; it proceeds through concepts in a bottom-up, meticulous way, and covers a lot of ground. Clarifying details are given at the right moments to forestall popular misconceptions. By listening carefully, a person with no background in chemistry might arrive at a creditable understanding of tricky concepts and modern developments in relatively little time. Very few people learn at speed however, which makes this higher-order concision typically suited to people in the field rather than novices.
It’s a slightly gruelling listen. Sauder has a clear and somewhat pleasant voice, and similar to the book itself the lectures are in a way perfectly precise. Unfortunately she’s a halting, unnatural reader so I found the audio a bit difficult to follow in places, and had to rewind often. By hiring an actor to narrate this audiobook would've gone over more smoothly, and the punters carrying on about Sauder's lack of charisma would perhaps be satisfied. Only more often than not actors become lost in highly technical texts, mispronouncing words and stressing the wrong parts of sentences because they've no idea what they're reading.
On balance, this is the best of its type. If you fancy a history lesson or a list of easily-digestible facts to impress your friends, find another audiobook. If you want a science lesson, a proper conceptual understanding, or are revising for a chemistry course, Sauder actually cuts through the meat of it.

Textbook On Wheels

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

Yes.

Any additional comments?

Make no mistake - this is not popular science but rather a hardcore chemistry text so likely would have limited popularity. Being a chemistry student I enjoyed the book and found it very helpful in reviewing some fundamental chemistry concepts while in the car or on the trail.

From Basic To Complicated With No In Between

Each lesson starts with very basic ideas, which is good, but then it seems to jump right to more complicated aspects of the topics. The reader was average, but I would not recommend this unless you need a refresher and the jump will not matter.

Need to be more enthusiastic...

Needs to be more enthusiastic couldn't get in to the audio done done done done

Not structured for audio

What would have made The Modern Scholar: Elemental Matters better?

The content was too disjointed to work well via audio. It may have worked in a written form, or on video. The explanations weren't linear enough to grasp while listening. I would lose track of what she was trying to explain before she got there. Lest you think it's short attention by your's truly, I have listened to courses on biology and genetics and didn't have the same problem.

Would you ever listen to anything by Professor Deborah G. Sauder again?

No

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narration was fine

A poor presentation of Chemistry

While the material covered is solid chemistry there were several aspects that make this a very poor audiobook. The first is that it is not meant to be stand alone material, from the beginning it is suggested that you buy and read another textbook! Which in my opinion defeats the purpose of an audiobook. Second the narration quality is very poor. In many instances incorrect words were used and then corrected by the reader which is fine if someone is reading it live but the decision not to edit or rerecord those sections is ridiculous for a paid narration. Also the reader as a sleight tremble to their voice that I found hard to listen to and often times they made hard pauses that usually indicate the end of a sentence mid sentence which made it really hard to follow the ideas being presented. Lastly I had a hard time figuring out who the book is written for. I have a general background in chemistry which made some sections incredibly boring as basics are reviewed and then suddenly it changes to very advanced topics that left me in the dust.
Overall if you have a solid knowledge of chemistry and want a review then this is good. Otherwise look elsewhere.

A Form Of Slow Torture

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Nobody

Has The Modern Scholar: Elemental Matters turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not at all. I love The Modern Scholar in particular and science in general.

How could the performance have been better?

If the reader/lecturer had shown even the slightest hint that she found the topic interesting.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Modern Scholar: Elemental Matters?

I would have selected a better reader/lecturer.

Any additional comments?

The lecturer is so flat, her tone so monotonous, and her presentation is so dry that it is nearly impossible to follow the material she covers.

Love science, couldn't stand this book

What was most disappointing about Professor Deborah G. Sauder’s story?

Professor Deborah G. Sauder maybe great at chemistry, but has no business teaching. Save your credit for anything else.