The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean

The Disappearing Spoon takes readers on a strange and wonderful tour of the periodic table. Touching on history, politics, medicine, art, economics, and more, Kean tells fascinating anecdotes about every single element, often recounting the unusual ways that an element has been used or odd details about the scientist who discovered it.

If you like learning weird facts about everyday objects and historical figures, you will love this book—and you may pick up some knowledge of chemistry on the way.

Sam Kean always does a great job of making science accessible and fun. If you think The Disappearing Spoon sounds intriguing, you may want to check out his other books as well: The Violinist’s Thumb (about genetics), The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons (about the human brain), and Caesar’s Last Breath (about the chemistry of air).