The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales from the Periodic Table by Sam Kean

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales from the Periodic Table

Sam Kean

391 pages first pub 2010 (editions)

nonfiction history science informative medium-paced

Description

Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? Why did the Japanese kill Godzilla with missiles made of cadmium (Cd, 48)? 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 histo...

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Community Reviews Summary of 2,648 reviews

Moods

informative 96%
funny 33%
challenging 26%
reflective 18%
inspiring 17%
lighthearted 16%
adventurous 5%
relaxing 5%
hopeful 4%
dark 2%
mysterious 1%

Pace

slow 46%
medium 44%
fast 9%

Average rating

3.83

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