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3rd out of 93 books
—
25 voters
Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History
Though many factors have been proposed to explain the failure of Napoleon's 1812 Russian campaign, it has also been linked to something as small as a button-a tin button, the kind that fastened everything from the greatcoats of Napoleon's officers to the trousers of his foot soldiers. When temperatures drop below 56°F, tin crumbles into powder. Were the soldiers of the Gra...more
Hardcover, 384 pages
Published
April 28th 2003
by Tarcher
(first published 1991)
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The seventeen molecules:
1. Peppers, Nutmeg, and Cloves
2. Ascorbic Acid
3. Glucose
4. Cellulose
5. Nitro Compounds
6. Silk and Nylon
7. Phenol
8. Isoprene
9. Dyes
10. Wonder Drugs
11. The Pill
12. Molecules of Witchcraft
13. Morphine, Nicotine, and Caffeine
14. Oleic Acid
15. Salt
16. Chlorocarbon Compounds
17. Molecules versus Malaria
Now, I happened to (mostly) enjoy my time spent in the trenches of orgo, so I'm looking forward to reading this book.
Post-reading: this is fantastic. There's often been too much...more
1. Peppers, Nutmeg, and Cloves
2. Ascorbic Acid
3. Glucose
4. Cellulose
5. Nitro Compounds
6. Silk and Nylon
7. Phenol
8. Isoprene
9. Dyes
10. Wonder Drugs
11. The Pill
12. Molecules of Witchcraft
13. Morphine, Nicotine, and Caffeine
14. Oleic Acid
15. Salt
16. Chlorocarbon Compounds
17. Molecules versus Malaria
Now, I happened to (mostly) enjoy my time spent in the trenches of orgo, so I'm looking forward to reading this book.
Post-reading: this is fantastic. There's often been too much...more
Aug 08, 2007
Pete mohan
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
chem/science fans, history of industries, people who think they're smart
If you like Organic chemistry like i do, have a short attention span like i do, and have a passing interest in the economic, political, and cultural histories of textiles, dyes, and pharmaceuticals - you too may enjoy this nicely written non fiction work
The title of this book may put some readers off but for those that like looking at history as more than just a bunch of dates and dead people, it is a fascinating read.
The title comes from speculation that the tin buttons used by the French army may have decomposed as result from exposure to bitter cold during the Invasion of Russia. When Napoleon's Buttons (or at least those of his army) crumbled, the soldiers could not keep their coats closed and thus were further exposed to the weather. By lo...more
The title comes from speculation that the tin buttons used by the French army may have decomposed as result from exposure to bitter cold during the Invasion of Russia. When Napoleon's Buttons (or at least those of his army) crumbled, the soldiers could not keep their coats closed and thus were further exposed to the weather. By lo...more
I had known about this book for some time but simply did not believe that a couple of organic chemists could possibly write a captivating history. I am now printing out that sentence so I can eat it. This was one of the most original spins on world history that I have ever read.
Drs. Le Couteur and Burreson do indeed fill a hefty number of pages with diagrams of chemical structures and formulae but none of them are essential to the understanding of this book. It is absolutely a book on history, n...more
Drs. Le Couteur and Burreson do indeed fill a hefty number of pages with diagrams of chemical structures and formulae but none of them are essential to the understanding of this book. It is absolutely a book on history, n...more
Finalmente un libro di divulgazione in ambito chimico davvero interessante e ben scritto. C'è pane per i denti di tutti i curiosi: per i neofiti della chimica, ai quali verranno spiegate, in modo semplice, le regole base per comprendere la struttura delle molecole, e per gli 'addetti ai lavori', i quali potranno scoprire interessanti e inaspettate analogie tra molecole all'apparenza lontanissime. Senza il solito timore che accompagna i divulgatori per il grande pubblico, spesso restii a mostrare...more
Sep 26, 2012
Rebecca
added it
I can't rate this book because I didn't finish it; I was listening to it as an audiobook, and it was too confusing without the diagrams. Also, the sections I listened to were about subjects I'd read about before, like the spice and sugar trades, so wasn't new information.
I decided to review it, though, because I was offended by the overly emphatic tone the narrator took when reading about the slave trade. There seem to be three possible reasons for this:
1. Shaming/blaming the reader. "Look at th...more
I decided to review it, though, because I was offended by the overly emphatic tone the narrator took when reading about the slave trade. There seem to be three possible reasons for this:
1. Shaming/blaming the reader. "Look at th...more
This book is a combination of chemistry and anthropology/history of science. There are a lot of books out there, many of them well written, about the history of science and how scientific advances and discoveries changed changed civilizations, but very few books that mix in chemistry in a way that's designed to appeal to the layperson. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a diagram of a molecule in any pop science book I've read, and I read voraciously on this subject.
After a quick overview of...more
After a quick overview of...more
Jun 05, 2011
Lissa Notreallywolf
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
history-of-science,
goned
This is a popular history of science which acts as a great refresher course to dimly remembered organic chemistry courses. It is scholarly enough to provide a bibliography. The title derives from the fact that Napoleans army was equipped with tin buttons which disintegrated during the Winter march on Russia, probably contributing to the death of the soldiers and its ultimate defeat. Other contributing factors may have been ergotism and scurvy. The book is a good companion to people who enjoyed M...more
Molecules change history? Yes, definitely. While the title refers to the fact that the Napoleon’s retreat in Russia might have been influenced by the failure of the tin buttons on his men’s uniforms (thus making the army more vulnerable to the cold weather), that’s actually a minor effect of chemistry on history compared to most of the other ones in the book.
The book starts with piperine, eugenol and isoeugenol, the molecules that give black pepper, cloves and nutmeg their flavor and kick. The...more
The book starts with piperine, eugenol and isoeugenol, the molecules that give black pepper, cloves and nutmeg their flavor and kick. The...more
This books takes a somewhat disjointed ride through how seventeen loosely defined classes of molecules changed world history.
I was intrigued by the book's premise - not to describe the history of chemistry, but rather to reveal the chemistry of history. The book does an admirable job of assembling anecdotes of interesting molecules that have affected our world. Unfortunately, the structure of the book is a bit disjointed, the tone is uneven, and the numerous stories could use either some additio...more
I was intrigued by the book's premise - not to describe the history of chemistry, but rather to reveal the chemistry of history. The book does an admirable job of assembling anecdotes of interesting molecules that have affected our world. Unfortunately, the structure of the book is a bit disjointed, the tone is uneven, and the numerous stories could use either some additio...more
Una delle cause che sono state proposte per la disfatta dell'armata napoleonica in Russia dà la colpa ai bottoni delle divise, che erano di stagno. Alle basse temperature, lo stagno si polverizza letteralmente, e non è così facile fare una battaglia tenendosi su i pantaloni! L'aneddoto è probabilmente falso, ma dà comunque il titolo a questo libro dove i due autori, chimici organici, raccontano la storia di diciassette molecole che "hanno cambiato il mondo". Si spazia dall'aspirina agli oppiacei...more
Dec 12, 2008
Renee
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Chemistry students
Recommended to Renee by:
Timmy
Back in the day I passed 6th form chemistry by the skin of my teeth. If you told me then that I would even pick up, let alone read cover to cover, a book on chemistry again, I would have socked you in the snot locker (as my Grandma says...). My loathing for physics (sorry Huyen) only possibly exceeds my distain for chemistry.
However, this summer, owing to losing my Rotorua library card, I found myself desperately borrowing any reading material on hand. It is well known that books are essential i...more
However, this summer, owing to losing my Rotorua library card, I found myself desperately borrowing any reading material on hand. It is well known that books are essential i...more
I read this book about 5 years ago and it remains one of the best books of this type that I have ever read. It is history in a totally new way. Taking 17 molecules, the authors show the history and uses of these organic molecules through history. We all know that nitroglycerin is used both as an explosive and a heart medicine but did you know that Alfred Nobel of Nobel Prize fame and munitions manufacturer had trouble with his heart but refuse to take something that would blow his chest out. Did...more
Great fun. I know virtually nothing of chemistry, so the slightest bit of education I get on the subject is welcome, especially if I'm given a historical context for the chemistry in question - what it means to humans, what effect it has had on us throughout history, how it intersects with our politics, culture, and society. This will serve as a great primer for anyone wondering why chemistry matters or what role it has played in the saga of our species in the modern age. In fact, it would be fa...more
Fantastic book and very accessible even if you never took a single organic chemistry class in your life. In fact, I kind of want to go back to school and take a couple of those classes. The basic premise of the book is that many single molecules or compounds have significantly impacted life/culture as we know it. The title of the book refers to the French leader's attempt to take over Russia way back in the day. His army's uniforms/coats' buttons were made of tin, which when exposed to extreme c...more
The cornerstone of the plot line is the interwoven story of human history and chemistry. The title is misleading since many more molecules are covered within each chapter. There is a definite author bias toward organic molecules and I wish other types of metals such as iron had been explored. I was very much disappointing with the title. The story of Napoleon’s button is mentioned as an anecdote in the prologue and as an afterthought throughout the rest of the book. The authors obviously know ab...more
My reading this book just sort of happened... I started it somewhere in the middle and nibbled around until I found I had finished
Okay, an ad about highlife snowboards is obscuring the review window and nobody here can get it off the page so I
so I don't know how the review reads, this goodreads ad thing has become ridiculously inconvenient, it sucks!
So to hell with it, the book is sometimes over simplified, especially when it comes to the historical anecdotes,
but then it has all these nifty ske...more
Okay, an ad about highlife snowboards is obscuring the review window and nobody here can get it off the page so I
so I don't know how the review reads, this goodreads ad thing has become ridiculously inconvenient, it sucks!
So to hell with it, the book is sometimes over simplified, especially when it comes to the historical anecdotes,
but then it has all these nifty ske...more
The good news is that there wasn't too much history for my tastes in the book. The bad news is that I've read more insightful Wikipedia entries on some of these historic topics. Further, the two authors just didn't seem to bother to do any in-depth historical research. For example, they didn't even bother to verify/figure out what the buttons on the French uniforms were made of! Augh! And don't even get me started on the whole Romeo/Juliet thing (hello, fiction!!) or the complete lack of footnot...more
Napoleon's Buttons is an extraordinary book!
I had the luck to find it and the pleasure of its reading. Chronological and chemistrily organized, it counts as some molecules were discovered, investigated or created through the years and your surprising capacity in influencing historical facts (conquests and explorations) with important repercussions until the current days in the most diverse scientific and social areas. In this fascinating book, as well as in our lives, small details can make all...more
I had the luck to find it and the pleasure of its reading. Chronological and chemistrily organized, it counts as some molecules were discovered, investigated or created through the years and your surprising capacity in influencing historical facts (conquests and explorations) with important repercussions until the current days in the most diverse scientific and social areas. In this fascinating book, as well as in our lives, small details can make all...more
Книга в духе самых совершенных образцов жанра популярной науки, к сожалению в нашей стране давно забытого, читается очень легко даже для людей, незнакомых с основами химии. Честно, вспомнил детство, именно на таких книгах я и вырос. Напомню, были замечательные издательства - Наука, Техника, библиотека Квант, переводные книги издательства Мир, куда они все пропали, можно догадаться с трех раз. Жаль что таких книг очень мало, чаще встречаются переиздания 70-х и 80 -х годов. Хочу поблагодарить авто...more
Especially going into the book with a mediocre amount of chemical knowledge, this book provided a great walk-through of chemistry topics both new and previously covered. Being a huge history buff, this book held my attention quite easily. Each chapter has sections provided specifically for history, chemical structure, and usage then and now. Gives the reader an understandably in-depth outlook of chemicals and their impact on history while keeping it simple and not taking it too much out of conte...more
This book is an unusual take on history. You don't have to be a scientist to enjoy it -- but it helps if you are a little bit interested in chemistry, too. The title is illustrative: We all know that thousands of Napoleon's men died on the long march back from a Russian defeat in winter. But did you know that the army's uniforms had buttons made of tin? Tin crumbles like an old cookie when the temperature falls below a certain point. So Napoleon's men could not keep their coats buttoned and froz...more
An entertaining and fascinating read. Familiar and not-so-familiar chemical compounds each get a treatment covering history of use, their exploration by chemical researchers, and their synthesis or mass production. The key point, however, is their impact on history. Drawing a fine line between making the connection, and overstating the compounds' importance, is one occasionally missed but that doesn't detract from the book at all.
The authors clearly know their chemistry - I was less convinced of...more
The authors clearly know their chemistry - I was less convinced of...more
As a whole I felt this book was less well researched and contained more fluff when compared to "The Disappearing Spoon." The focus leaned more toward the tangential qualities of each of the molecules and less regarding the science of the molecules and examples of their impact. One of the best parts of "The Disappearing Spoon" came from the close ties to historical figures and events, which was less emphasized in this book. To be fair, I will probably advocate for more chemistry in any book perta...more
Though many factors have been proposed to explain the failure of Napoleon's 1812 Russian campaign, it has also been linked to something as small as a button-a tin button, the kind that fastened everything from the greatcoats of Napoleon's officers to the trousers of his foot soldiers. When temperatures drop below 56°F, tin crumbles into powder. Were the soldiers of the Grande Armée acutee fatally weakened by cold because the buttons of their uniforms fell apart? How different our world might be...more
Non-fiction exploration of scientific elements which had an effect on life throughout the history of man.
Writers searching for conflict to use in their stories may well want to buy this volume for the multitude of possibilities.
My Take
This was excellent. Couteur/Burreson beautifully provided a look at how history was affected along with an examination of the actual molecules---and I do mean a microscopic look at the molecule! I'm a history geek so I adored that side and, it's saying something, w...more
Writers searching for conflict to use in their stories may well want to buy this volume for the multitude of possibilities.
My Take
This was excellent. Couteur/Burreson beautifully provided a look at how history was affected along with an examination of the actual molecules---and I do mean a microscopic look at the molecule! I'm a history geek so I adored that side and, it's saying something, w...more
One of the most intriguing things about history is how the smallest thing can change everything. The authors take this to the penultimate level by discussing how 17 molecules have affected the course of history.
Even though Napoleon's buttons are only truly discussed in the introduction, this serves as an example--albeit one that has its critics. The buttons of Napoleon's Grand Army were made of tin. Tin disintegrates at cold temperatures, something known as "tin pest." It is theorized that this...more
Even though Napoleon's buttons are only truly discussed in the introduction, this serves as an example--albeit one that has its critics. The buttons of Napoleon's Grand Army were made of tin. Tin disintegrates at cold temperatures, something known as "tin pest." It is theorized that this...more
I have a degree in chemistry and I love to read about chemistry and the history of chemistry. I was so excited when I heard about this book! Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment for me.
Let me start by saying that this book is NOT the story of how 17 molecules changed history. A simple look at the chapter titles will tell you that:
1. Peppers, Nutmeg, and Cloves
2. Ascorbic Acid
3. Glucose
4. Cellulose
5. Nitro Compounds
6. Silk and Nylon
7. Phenol
8. Isoprene
9. Dyes
10. Wonder Drugs
11. The Pill
12....more
Let me start by saying that this book is NOT the story of how 17 molecules changed history. A simple look at the chapter titles will tell you that:
1. Peppers, Nutmeg, and Cloves
2. Ascorbic Acid
3. Glucose
4. Cellulose
5. Nitro Compounds
6. Silk and Nylon
7. Phenol
8. Isoprene
9. Dyes
10. Wonder Drugs
11. The Pill
12....more
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a fascinating look at how chemistry, invention and exploration help shape history. The claim is essentially this: Some chemicals have been so fundamentally important to human development that they have drastically changed the course of human history. The authors are clever enough to realize that no historical outcome can be traced to one single factor (i.e. Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo). But, for example, where would Captain Cook have been without ascorbic a...more
It is not an exaggeration to say that history is shaped by certain chemical substances. This book tells us the story of 17 such substances, along with their derivatives and relatives, and the role they played in determining the course of civilization. The reason for the substances' significance ultimately lies in their molecular structure, which explains their properties and characteristics. Catalyzed by human nature and ingenuity, these substances form the very cornerstones of our modern societ...more
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(This is me being literal for a change.)
:)
Aug 05, 2008 01:31pm
Aug 05, 2008 07:20pm