Do You like book Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History (2003)?
"We decided to write this book to tell the stories of the fascinating connections between chemical structures and historical episodes, to uncover how seemingly unrelated events have depended on similar chemical structures, and to understand the extent to which the development of society had depended on the chemistry of certain compounds. The idea that momentous events may depend on something as small as a molecule- a group of two or more atoms held together in a definite arrangement- offers a novel approach to understanding the growth of human civilization."An interesting take on history, especially if you enjoy science. From the tin of Napoleon's army uniform buttons which may have disintegrated in cold weather to the spice wars, history is detailed as it relates to specific compounds. I thought the authors did a nice balancing job in keeping the book both entertaining and educational. Enjoyable to read.
—Peter Spencer
This isn't really a book that hooks you with the plot or characters or anything like that but it was interesting all the same. I like how the chapters can be read in any order. I only really read what I was interested in. I liked the chapter on Isoprene and Morphine, Nicotine and Caffeine best and I learned lots of interesting facts like how heroin was invented and marketed as "super aspirin" before it was realized to be one of the most addictive drugs known. This book is good for curious people who like history and chemistry.
—C.bear249
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 additional background or some helpful editing. While I am uncertain about the background of the authors, it did feel like the book could benefit from the help of a bona fide historian who could help place events more objectively into historical context. Also, I would have preferred footnotes on each page instead of only a bibliography at the end of the book. The chapters are as follows:1. Peppers, Nutmeg and Cloves (the spice trade, and world travel)2. Ascorbic Acid (preventing scurvy)3. Glucose (slavery and sugar cultivation, artificial sweeteners)4. Cellulose (cotton/industrial revolution, guncotton)5. Nitro Compounds (explosives, Roger Bacon/gunpowder, Alfred Nobel, Fritz Haber)6. Silk and Nylon (silkworm, Wallace Carothers)7. Phenol (antiseptic, THC, plastics, bakelite, lignin)8. Isoprene (rubber, Charles Goodyear, stretchiness, gum, synthetic rubber)9. Dyes (German dye companies)10. Wonder Drugs (aspirin, sulfa drugs, penicillins)11. The Pill (steroids, Russell Marker, Carl Djerassi)12. Molecules of Witchcraft (strychnine, hyoscine, LSD)13. Morphine, Nicotine, and Caffeine (Opium Wars)14. Oleic Acid (Olive oil, trans/cis, unsaturated/saturated, soap)15. Salt (purification, trade, structure, tax, physiology)16. Chlorocarbon Compounds (refrigeration, CFCs, pesticides, anesthesia)17. Molecules versus Malaria (synthesis of quinine)
—Rex
