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I'm looking for an accessible book on chemistry. There's a lot of accessible books on physics like The Elegant Universe, A Brief History of Time, etc so what I'm looking for is something that explains chemistry the way those books explain physics. Nothing dull like a textbook. Thanks.
I can't think of one book that covers the whole of chemistry in a popular manner. I think it's difficult to fit, say, biochemistry and the Haber process into one coherent book. The Encyclopedia Britannica might be your best bet. Or:
Asimov's New Guide to Science - contains quite a bit about chemistry, if I recall. It's a long time since I read it. Asimov was a chemistry professor, so dig into his ouvre and you might find something juicy - there's no better science populariser!
Biochemistry? Try:
The Chemistry of Life - Steven Rose
Double Helix - James Watson
More biographical/literary:
Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood by Oliver Sacks
The Periodic Table by Primo Levi
Asimov - Biography!
Think of a famous chemist, then find a biography is a good approach. I've read some great biographies of Mendeleev, Marie Curie, Humphrey Davy, and Lavoisier. They led very interesting lives, so if the chemistry gets a bit boring an execution, lover or laughing gas will soon liven things up! For Humphrey Davy I recommend:
The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science by Richard Holmes
I read this recently and it's truly exciting, certainly no textbook!
Why not take a peek at The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry? It is not half bad when it comes to explaining chemistry in an entertaining way.
/Claes
Thanks for the recommendations!
Peter Atkins is a highly regarded academic & writer. I've read bits of his textbooks and they are very lucid. I keep on meaning to read:
The Periodic Kingdom by Peter W. Atkins
His popular book on inorganic chemistry.