The Disappearing Spoon

And Other True Tales of Rivalry, Adventure, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements (Young Readers Edition)

By: Sam Kean

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

A young readers edition of the New York Times bestseller The Disappearing Spoon, chronicling the extraordinary stories behind one of the greatest scientific tools in existence: the periodic table.

Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why did tellurium (Te, 52) lead to the most bizarre gold rush in history?

The periodic table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, greed, betrayal, and obsession. The fascinating tales in The Disappearing Spoon follow elements on the table as they play out their parts in human history, finance, mythology, conflict, the arts, medicine, and the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them.

Adapted for a middle grade audience, the young readers edition of The Disappearing Spoon offers the material in a simple, easy-to-follow format, with approximately 20 line drawings and sidebars throughout. Students, teachers, and burgeoning science buffs will love learning about the history behind the chemistry.

Nice history stories but....

Nice history stories but a bit disjointed. The editors brief is a bit vague. I now know why. This collection of stories while interesting I don’t think could keep the interest of a teenager. It could barely hold mine.

Would be tough for kids

Jumps around a lot but is generally pretty funny and informative. I would recommend it for adults.

Great stories for science lovers!

The audiobook narrated by Robert Petkoff was great! I enjoyed it all and almost couldn't stop listening! I loved the stories as well, so I ordered the actual book in the original edition :) looking forward to receiving it!

excellent listen

even with a chemistry background I learned a lot. wish I heard this when I was in school.

history with soul

Sam breathes life into the scientific community with his vibrant portrayal of one of the dusty grey tomes of Earth's history: the development of the periodic table. I've listened to it 4 times and I'm looking forward to many more.