The Knowledge: The Periodic table

by Paul Strathern

The formulation of the periodic table, in 1869, revolutionised chemistry in the same way that Darwin and Newton’s theories had advanced the fields of biology and physics. The discovery of a relationship between the known elements revealed a link between the scientific disciplines and offered scientists an inkling into the blueprint of the universe. This fascinating book traces the story of the table of elements.

Genres: Science

160 pages, Hardcover

First published June 4, 2015

About the author

Paul Strathern (born 1940) is a English writer and academic. He was born in London, and studied at Trinity College, Dublin, after which he served in the Merchant Navy over a period of two years. He then lived on a Greek island. In 1966 he travelled overland to India and the Himalayas. His novel A Season in Abyssinia won a Somerset Maugham Award in 1972.

Besides five novels, he has also written numerous books on science, philosophy, history, literature, medicine and economics.

Reviews

[Sportyrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helps to explain the history of the periodic table in a way that the amateur can understand. Some topics covered include the discovery of the elements, how they got their names, what scientific breakthroughs happened because of the periodic table, atomic structures, brief outlines on most elements’ key points and grouping the elements. There are also some quick fact points throughout the book.

This may suit someone who wants to take their knowledge on the periodic table from basic to intermediate.

[rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I do continue studying Chemistry next year, it will be this book that inspired me. Probably not the book itself, as I found the structure to be a bit disorientating and frustrating - with the history not being chronological and with the fun facts pages appearing in the middle of paragraphs - but the actual content of the book. I love the periodic table so much, and I also love atoms and learning about how strangely structured they all are.

[Mia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave it one star because it was almost a chore to read it but there was still some interesting facts amongst the boring parts

[Adhoc · Rating 2 out of 5]

An oddly structured and repetitive book written by a mediocre writer.
It ends rather abruptly too.

[Hristo Dimitrov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read on the history of the periodic table, how it influence chemistry through the ages at a leisure pace. If you simply want to have a brief introduction, this is a good book. It is not in-depth.