Adult Non-fiction, Pop. Science. How Matter functions & affects/ applies to everyday objects & technology. When matter is wet, burning or sticky. Molecules. Cover: yellow, silly cartoon person (mad scientist?). Read 2012-2013. Published 1980s-early 2010s.

[Luna]

I read this book somewhere between March-July of either 2012 or 2013 (I know it was spring into summer). It was lent to me by a friend and was already quite worn, so I don't know when it was actually written. Given the content and the technology it referenced, it could've been written anywhere from the 1980s to the early 2010s.

The title was something cheeky like "science you didn't know" or "everything you know about everything is wrong." It wasn't either of those things but that's the sort of sentiment it had. I believe it was published in the U.S., but I'm not 100% certain. It was written in American English. So color instead of colour, defense instead of defence, etc.

It was written by two scientists (married, I think?) or at least the writer mentioned their spouse a lot. It focused on what was actually happening to matter when it was "wet" or "burning" or "sticky." It focused heavily on molecules, and I remember several sections about how oils, fats and soaps interacted to encourage or discourage friction between surfaces (making something either "slippery" or "sticky" or neutral).

The tone of the book was conversational, entertaining, and maybe a tiny bit condescending in places (but not offensively so).

It had a yellow paperback cover, and the typeface of the title was a bit cartoon-ish, but not a font I recognize. There was a cartoon illustration of a person with white hair (maybe a mad scientist? I don't remember the clothing) doing something silly, some experiment I think, on either the front cover or the inside title page.

It was maybe 200 pages, perhaps a little less. Not long, definitely meant to be read in one sitting. It was probably targeting 20-30 year-olds who enjoyed science trivia or who were interested in having a deeper appreciation of all the chemistry going on constantly in the world around them.

I'd intended to purchase it, but forgot to do so, and it's been so long I just don't remember enough details about the title or cover to find it again.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

[Kris]

Luna, I added some details to the header/topic title. You can update it by clicking the small "edit" link after the header. This only works on the full Desktop website - not the Mobile website or app. (On the Mobile website, click the "Desktop version" link at the bottom of the page.)

[Luna]

Kris wrote: "Luna, I added some details to the header/topic title. You can update it by clicking the small "edit" link after the header. This only works on the full Desktop website - not the Mobile website or a..."

Thank you Kris!

[Kris]

You're welcome.