Following is a list of books and their authors that have been recommended by
chemistry teachers and professors. Some teachers have suggested maintaining
a "lending library" for their students as they read and collect these books.
RECOMMENDED READING IN CHEMISTRY
Following is a list of books and their authors that have been
recommended by
chemistry teachers and professors. Some teachers have suggested maintaining
a "lending library" for their
students as they read and collect these books.
If you have a personal recommendation for a
book focusing on chemistry not listed here
please email me at cts@csun.edu with the title and author for inclusion in this list.
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"A Civil Action" by Jonathan Harr "A Short History of Chemistry" by J. R. Parrington "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson (online review) "A Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson "Absolute Zero" by John Shachtman "Acid Tongues and Tranquil Dreamers: Eight Scientific Rivalries That Changed the World", by Michael White. The chapter on Lavoisier and Priestly is excellent. Another good chapter covers the rivalry between Isaac Newton and Leibnitz, over who first developed the calculus.
"Alice in Quantumland" by Robert Gilmore - an amusing romp through the "Beethoven's Hair" by Russell Martin "Chemical History Tour: Picturing Chemistry from Alchemy to Modern Molecular Science” (Lavishly illustrated) by Art Greenberg Chemistry Imagined: Reflections on Science by Roald Hoffmann & Vivian Torrence " "Crucibles:
the Story of Chemistry from Ancient Alchemy to Nuclear Fission"
"Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser "Flatland: A romance of many dimensions” Edwin A. Abbott’s tale of inter-dimensional experience. "Heisenberg's War:
The Secret History of the German Bomb" by Thomas "Ideas in Chemistry: A History of the Science" by David Knight "In Search of Schrodinger’s Cat” by John Gribbon The story of the cat in the box (quantum stuff) "Invitation to Chemistry” by Ira Dufresne Garard "Kepler's Witch : An Astronomer's Discovery of Cosmic Order Amid Religious War, Political Intrigue, and the Heresy Trial of His Mother” by James A. Connor "Mauve: How One Man
Invented a Color that Changed the World" by Simon "Mendeleev's Dream" by Paul Strathern ~ How he dreamt up the Periodic Table (no, really!) "Molecular Origami" by Bob Hanson "Molecules at an Exhibition: Portraits of Intriguing Materials in Everyday Life” by John Elmsley Contact Adrian Dingle at AdrianDingle@westminster.net regarding student quizzes on this book that will be available in January 2005.
"Old Wine New
Flasks: Reflections on Science & Jewish Tradition" "Oxygen: The Molecule that Made the World” by Nick Lane "Oxygen" by Carl Djerassi & Roald Hoffmann "Radar, Hula Hoops and Playful Pigs" by Joe Schwarcz "Salt" by Mark Kulansky This book depicts the importance of salt throughout history. it is great for teachers who want to do something cross-curricular with social studies. Also good if you want to wow your colleagues with your knowledge of "the only rock we eat." (online review) "Schrodinger’s Kittens" by John Gribbon … A sequel to the Cat (obviously) "That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles" by Dr. Joe Schwarcz "The Big Bang, a History of Explosives" (no How-to’s) by GI Brown “The Demon-Haunted World” by Carl Sagan (online review) "The Genie in the Bottle" by Joe Schwarcz "The Last Socerers" by Richard Morris The "real human side to some of the great discoveries" (online review) “The Little Book Of Science” by John Gribbin (online review) "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" by Richard Rhodes "The Monkey's Wrench" by Primo Levi
"The Periodic Table" by Primo Levi -
Autobiographical essays about a "The Radioactive Boyscout: The true story of a boy and his backyard nuclear reactor" by Ken Silberstein. The case of David Hahn who managed to secure materials and equipment from businesses and information from government officials to develop an atomic energy radiation project for his Boy Scout merit-badge "The Science of Harry Potter: How Magic Really Works" by Roger Highfield "The 13th Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire and Phosphorus" by John Elmsley (Journal of Chemical Education Review) "The Universe in a Nutshell" by Stephen Hawking (online review) "Thomas A. Edison, Chemist" by Byron Michael Vanderbilt "Timeline" by Michael Crichton (recommended for discussion on quantum mechanics) "Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood" by Oliver Sacks "Why Things Break" by Mark Eberhart.
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For other
Recommended Science Books see Dr. Elizabeth Christophy's website:
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Summer '04 