Scan barcode
mishacoleman's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
4.25
Levi describes it as a micro-history of a professional chemist, loosely woven together using chemical elements to guide the stories told. Incidentally, Levi was also an Italian-Jewish Holocaust survivor, a fact that does not dominate the narrative but does cast a shadow throughout.
I worried this would be hard to read as America takes an authoritarian turn, but its emotional honesty paired with a dry humor were much appreciated.
I worried this would be hard to read as America takes an authoritarian turn, but its emotional honesty paired with a dry humor were much appreciated.
gnegroncioffi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
pveeto's review against another edition
5.0
Come avevo intuito leggendo La tregua, Primo Levi è un grande narratore: in questi racconti "a sfondo chimico", che siano episodi di vita vissuta o fiction, mi ha confermato il suo talento tenendo incollato me, lettore disinteressato a chimica e dintorni, alle pagine che trattano i più svariati argomenti, dal più tecnico al più umano, ma sempre molto emozionanti e avvincenti.
Mi viene da pensare che è un vero peccato che Levi sia noto praticamente solo per i suoi, seppur ottimi, scritti sui lager.
Mi viene da pensare che è un vero peccato che Levi sia noto praticamente solo per i suoi, seppur ottimi, scritti sui lager.
paulitzer's review against another edition
5.0
The best book I've read for some time. Simple, moving, memorable.
chairmanbernanke's review against another edition
4.0
Engaging and personal stories of chemistry and life
edenali's review against another edition
2.0
The concept was fascinating, but the stories a little too meandering to draw me in.
snarkycrafter's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
3.0
It was interesting to hear his stories of his experiences living in Italy at this time in history. It was more science-y than I thought it would be, and I’m sure a lot of the chemistry-related intricacies went over my head.
westford14's review against another edition
4.0
Instead, I will tell just one more story, the most secret, and I will tell it with the humility and restraint of him who knows from the start that his theme is desperate, his means feeble, and the trade of clothing facts in words is bound by its very nature to fail.