Brain Fuel: 199 Mind-Expanding Inquiries into the Science of Everyday Life

by Joe Schwarcz

National Bestseller

From the #1 bestselling author – a cornucopia of mind-expanding insights into the science of the real world.

Dr. Joe – as he is affectionately known to millions of readers, listeners, viewers, and students – brings his magic formula to Doubleday Canada with Brain Fuel .

As with Dr. Joe’s previous best-selling books, Brain Fuel informs and entertains on a wild assortment of science-based topics. But this is not "science trivia." If you are looking for serious scientific discussions, you’ll find them here. If you are looking for practical consumer information, that’s here too. If you are searching for ways to stimulate interest in science, look no further, Mom. And if you are simply wondering why the birth of Prince Leopold was so different from Queen Victoria's previous seven; or why an iron rod that went through a man's head is now on display in a museum in Boston; or why white chocolate has such a short shelf life; or why eggs terrified Alfred Hitchcock – and what all of this means for the rest of us, and why – then bingo.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Essays, Chemistry

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Dr. Joe Schwarcz holds a PhD in chemistry and is host of the radio program The Dr. Joe Show, directo of McGill University's Office for Science & Society and the author of fourteen bestselling books. Well known for his informative and entertaining lectures, Dr. Schwarcz has received numerous awards for teaching and deciphering science for the public.

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is what it is, a collection of nifty facts about science - mostly chemistry. There's some neat stuff in here, the author is an OK writer and topics cover a wide area. On the other hand, he is only an OK writer; his titles are often lame, he barely hides his anti-environmentalism biases, stories often run into tangents which are only occasionally interesting, and the editor must have been asleep to allow so many mistakes. Neat stuff.

[Masoud · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since this is Dr. Joe's first book, I didn't get a grasp on the trivial details given for each answer. If the explanations were written more concisely, one-third of the current volume, it might be more useful and easier to follow. As the author points out, it will give you something to talk about at the next party you feel confident attending.

The book is presented in a Q&A format with sections about foods, drugs, potions, toxics, etc. Each section is divided into several topics on different aspects of science, although the author focuses mainly on chemistry. Some of the most intriguing questions are as follows:

What substance became known as “anaesthesia à la reine” after it was introduced in the nineteenth century?

In 1903 a French chemist dropped a glass flask. It shattered, but the fragments did not fly apart. What had he discovered?

What substance was responsible for the Chinese ceding Hong Kong to the British in 1842?

Spanish researchers discovered that treating the residues in a pot found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun yielded syringic acid. What did this prove about King Tut?

What flavour of ice cream is linked to paper-industry byproducts?

What commercial substance can be made by exposing pigskin to light?

What medical condition requires a reduction of phosphorus in the diet?

What chemical created a great deal of controversy when it was found to leach out of clear plastic water bottles?

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a book that is filled with interesting science trivia. As the author points out, it’ll give you something to talk about at the next party you feel safe to attend.

The fun part is how the author presents each tidbit as a trivia question. How are two items related or why does a product have a certain warning, for example. There isn’t a story here, just 199 interesting vignettes of science.

Another audience for the book would be science curious kids. There is a lot here for them to see the wonder of science in both history and everyday life.

[Barrette Plett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, and I liked the way the author presented the items in an indirect way and with interesting questions. It was a good book to digest a few pages at a time at bedtime over the course of several weeks.

[MrT · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of information about a whole diversity of scientific subjects. I learnt interesting facts about daily substances we use as well as deep details in chemical and biological fields. All in all; it was a useful, enlightening reading even if boring for my level at some points.

[Jarrett Kinsland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book to pick up and put down. Short but informative sections of information. The lack of sources is kinda annoying but for the kind of book it is I get it. And from what I have looked up about the author he is a educated man that knows his stuff.

[Eric Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The style is breathless and overenthusiastic, which becomes grating at times, but there are enough interesting little tidbits of trivia to make this worthwhile.

[Kazimieras · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book, very chemistry focused though. While full of fun little live chemistry it does fail in one regard. Anyone that doesn't understand chemistry may not appreciate this book, and those with the background have likely heard about 50% of the examples in this book. It appears to be an unfortunate consequence of being exposed to the material. I'd classify this as a trivia book with a science spin.

[Ken · Rating 1 out of 5]

alfred hitchcock doesnt like eggs. winston churchchill is a dyslexia.
so, what is the big deal?

may be because i'm not well informed with chemistry, i failed to appreciate this book.

the title is not appropriate either, it's not the science of everyday life, it is the chemistry of everyday life.

[Vipul · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more of a trivia book.I think anyone with a sound knowledge of chemistry knows half of the facts already.Certainly not appropriate to include "Mind Expanding Inquiries" in the title.
I took some good morning dumps while reading this book so the 3 star :)

[Cate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book full of scientific ancedotes.

[Brendan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting and fun, but needs much better layout and editing ( surprising to find a book published in 2010 that refers to ' black people ' and not ' African Americans )

[Andre · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very ecclectic collection of trivia with a chemical bent. A light read

[Steve Rueffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great quick reads to bring you up to speed with myth, folklore and fact from a biochemists point of view. Accessible to all levels of readers, but poignant with scientific detail.