Items related to The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness,...

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements - Softcover

3.92 avg rating
( 48,540 ratings by Goodreads )
 
9780316051637: The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements
View all copies of this ISBN edition:
 
 
From New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean comes incredible stories of science, history, finance, mythology, the arts, medicine, and more, as told by the Periodic Table.

Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why is gallium (Ga, 31) the go-to element for laboratory pranksters?*

The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. THE DISAPPEARING SPOON masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery--from the Big Bang through the end of time.

*Though solid at room temperature, gallium is a moldable metal that melts at 84 degrees Fahrenheit. A classic science prank is to mold gallium spoons, serve them with tea, and watch guests recoil as their utensils disappear.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:
Sam Kean is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Disappearing Spoon and The Violinist's Thumb and the forthcoming book The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons. His work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Mental Floss, Slate, and New Scientist and has been featured on NPR's Radiolab, All Things Considered, and Fresh Air.
From AudioFile:
The periodic table of the elements, generally credited to the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869, provides "a useful framework to classify, systematize, and compare all of the many different forms of chemical behavior." The author uses Mendeleev's table and its numerous revisions to write a history of science and scientists, which at times, may poke its head above the comfortable lexicon of many general listeners. However, writer Kean's ability to ferret out the lighter side of events makes for an addictive and educational experience. Narrator Sean Runnette proves himself to be the perfect surrogate for the author as he pronounces every name and obscure technical term without flaw. His connected reading shows that he understands the subtle humor, irony, and impact of such a clever history. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780552777506: Disappearing Spoon and Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  ISBN 13:  9780552777506
Publisher: Black Swan, 2011
Softcover

9780316051644: The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

Little..., 2010
Hardcover

9780316185349: The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

TIME W..., 2011
Softcover

9780857520265: Disappearing Spoon and Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

Double..., 2011
Hardcover

9780857520272: The Disappearing Spoon

Transw..., 2011
Softcover

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Stock Image

Kean, Sam
Published by Back Bay Books (2011)
ISBN 10: 0316051632 ISBN 13: 9780316051637
New Softcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
GF Books, Inc.
(Hawthorne, CA, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. Book is in NEW condition. Seller Inventory # 0316051632-2-1

More information about this seller | Contact this seller

Buy New
US$ 15.23
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Seller Image

Kean, Sam
Published by Back Bay Books (2011)
ISBN 10: 0316051632 ISBN 13: 9780316051637
New Soft Cover Quantity: 20
Seller:
booksXpress
(Freehold, NJ, U.S.A.)

Book Description Soft Cover. Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 9780316051637

More information about this seller | Contact this seller

Buy New
US$ 15.66
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Kean, Sam
Published by Hachette Book Group (2011)
ISBN 10: 0316051632 ISBN 13: 9780316051637
New Softcover Quantity: > 20
Seller:
INDOO
(Avenel, NJ, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. Brand New. Seller Inventory # 0316051632

More information about this seller | Contact this seller

Buy New
US$ 12.01
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.99
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Kean, Sam
Published by Back Bay Books (2011)
ISBN 10: 0316051632 ISBN 13: 9780316051637
New Softcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Irish Booksellers
(Portland, ME, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. book. Seller Inventory # MB00KEVHKHQ

More information about this seller | Contact this seller

Buy New
US$ 16.02
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Seller Image

Kean, Sam
Published by Back Bay Books (2011)
ISBN 10: 0316051632 ISBN 13: 9780316051637
New Softcover Quantity: 5
Seller:
GreatBookPrices
(Columbia, MD, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 12539685-n

More information about this seller | Contact this seller

Buy New
US$ 13.77
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 2.64
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Kean, Sam
Published by Back Bay Books (2011)
ISBN 10: 0316051632 ISBN 13: 9780316051637
New Softcover Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Lakeside Books
(Benton Harbor, MI, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. Brand New! Not Overstocks or Low Quality Book Club Editions! Direct From the Publisher! We're not a giant, faceless warehouse organization! We're a small town bookstore that loves books and loves it's customers! Buy from Lakeside Books!. Seller Inventory # OTF-S-9780316051637

More information about this seller | Contact this seller

Buy New
US$ 12.53
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.99
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Seller Image

Kean, Sam
Published by Back Bay Books 6/6/2011 (2011)
ISBN 10: 0316051632 ISBN 13: 9780316051637
New Paperback or Softback Quantity: 5
Seller:
BargainBookStores
(Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.A.)

Book Description Paperback or Softback. Condition: New. The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements. Book. Seller Inventory # BBS-9780316051637

More information about this seller | Contact this seller

Buy New
US$ 16.69
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Kean, Sam
Published by Back Bay Books (2011)
ISBN 10: 0316051632 ISBN 13: 9780316051637
New Softcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Ebooksweb
(Bensalem, PA, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. . Seller Inventory # 52GZZZ00C3FL_ns

More information about this seller | Contact this seller

Buy New
US$ 19.44
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Kean, Sam
Published by Back Bay Books (2011)
ISBN 10: 0316051632 ISBN 13: 9780316051637
New Paperback Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Save With Sam
(North Miami, FL, U.S.A.)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. Brand New!. Seller Inventory # 0316051632

More information about this seller | Contact this seller

Buy New
US$ 19.45
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Kean, Sam
Published by Back Bay Books (2011)
ISBN 10: 0316051632 ISBN 13: 9780316051637
New Softcover Quantity: 5
Seller:
APlus Textbooks
(Alpharetta, GA, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. Limited Copies Available - New Condition - Never Used - DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY CDs OR ACCESS CODES IF APPLICABLE. Seller Inventory # 519ZZZ02WQ5K_ns

More information about this seller | Contact this seller

Buy New
US$ 15.47
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.99
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

There are more copies of this book

View all search results for this book