From the Bookshelf of Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge…

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from ...

Sam Kean

Start date: March 24, 2016

Discussion: 2016 Read Harder Challenge

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2016 Read Harder Challenge

* Read Harder Challenge Plans: 2016
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What Members Thought

Nov 25, 2013 Alissa rated it did not like it

Shelves: shelved-forever

Stop anthropomorphizing electrons, you asshole.

I just couldn't handle the scattered approach to the first few chapters. Keen just jumps from topic to topic too quickly and uses so many cute descriptive metaphors for my scientist brain. The drama of science is sometimes beautiful and hilarious, this just felt like a scattered gossip magazine. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Nov 16, 2012 Sara rated it really liked it

I am EAGER to recommend this to my science-hungry students. Perfect balance of playful detail and fact that actually intrigues.

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 02, 2019 Nadine in NY Jones rated it liked it

Shelves: microhistory, audio, history-of-science, science, non-fiction

This starts off strong, and I was laughing out loud at his description of the periodic table hanging in classrooms. But it did get a bit dull after that. My attention did not always stay focused. But this is almost like a collection of essays, so it’s not always necessary to know what was just explained in order to fully appreciate the next.

Overall, I’d say this was a good book on the history of scientific discoveries, aimed at the layperson, with some humor, but it wasn’t as awesome as I expect ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 10, 2011 Lianne rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction, audiobooks, 2011, science

Goodreads recommended this to me based on Mary Roach's Packing for Mars, which I really enjoyed. I wanted to like this, and there were some really interesting anecdotes about chemistry and the different elements -- especially some of the political stuff in the field and how the periodic table was actually developed. Overall I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I found the writing kind of dry and clunky in a lot of places and the organization of the book didn't always make sense to me. ...more

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Oct 23, 2011 Lori rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

It's such a good title, I had such high hopes! Unfortunately it was not written for the masses, and outside of a few good stories it was terribly dry. You have to have a pretty good grasp of physics and chemistry to really follow along, and let's face it, it's easy to drift off when you think you are reading a textbook. Perhaps if they pulled some of the better stories into an article or something it would be better. ...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Katie rated it liked it

Shelves: unfinishable

I really enjoy this book and the writing style, but it's been sitting unfinished for absolute ages now. I'll try again later.

*edit*
Tried again. It's still a good book, mostly entertaining and approachable. ...more

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