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The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History
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The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements Hardcover - 2010 - 1st Edition

by Sam Kean

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.


From the publisher

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.

Details

  • Title The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements
  • Author Sam Kean
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition number 1st
  • Edition 1
  • Pages 400
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Little Brown and Company, New York
  • Date 2010-07-12
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9780316051644 / 0316051640
  • Weight 1.34 lbs (0.61 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.56 x 6.58 x 1.39 in (24.28 x 16.71 x 3.53 cm)
  • Reading level 1210
  • Library of Congress subjects Chemical elements, Periodic law - Tables
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2009040754
  • Dewey Decimal Code 546

Media reviews

Citations

  • Booklist, 07/01/2010, Page 15
  • Choice, 12/01/2010, Page 0
  • Entertainment Weekly, 07/23/2010, Page 86
  • Kirkus Reviews, 04/15/2010, Page 0
  • Library Journal, 10/01/2010, Page 102
  • Publishers Weekly, 05/10/2010, Page 1
  • Shelf Awareness, 01/01/0001, Page 0

About the author

Sam Kean is the New York Times bestselling author of Caesar's Last Breath, The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons, The Disappearing Spoon, and The Violinist's Thumb, all of which were also named Amazon top science books of the year. The Disappearing Spoon was a runner-up for the Royal Society of London's book of the year for 2010, and The Violinist's Thumb and The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons were nominated for the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award in 2013 and 2015, as well as the AAAS/Subaru SB&F prize. His work has appeared in the Best American Nature and Science Writing, the New Yorker, the Atlantic, the New York Times Magazine, Psychology Today, Slate, Mental Floss, and other publications, and he has been featured on NPR's "Radiolab," "All Things Considered," and "Fresh Air."
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The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

by Kean, Sam

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The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from...

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

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Little, Brown and Company, 2010. Hardcover. Acceptable. Disclaimer:A readable copy. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. Pages can include considerable notes-in pen or highlighter-but the notes cannot obscure the text. An ex-library book and may have standard library stamps and/or stickers. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from...

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

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Little, Brown and Company, 2010. Hardcover. Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from...

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by Kean, Sam

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The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from...

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

by Kean, Sam

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Little, Brown and Company, 2010. Hardcover. Acceptable. Disclaimer:A readable copy. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. Pages can include considerable notes-in pen or highlighter-but the notes cannot obscure the text. The dust jacket is missing. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from...

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

by Kean, Sam

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Little, Brown and Company, 2010. Hardcover. Acceptable. Disclaimer:A readable copy. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. Pages can include considerable notes-in pen or highlighter-but the notes cannot obscure the text. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from...

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

by Kean, Sam

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

by Kean, Sam

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

by Kean, Sam

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

by Kean, Sam

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