Publisher Description
Napoleon’s Buttons is the fascinating account of seventeen groups of molecules that have greatly influenced the course of history. These molecules provided the impetus for early exploration, and made possible the voyages of discovery that ensued. The molecules resulted in grand feats of engineering and spurred advances in medicine and law; they determined what we now eat, drink, and wear. A change as small as the position of an atom can lead to enormous alterations in the properties of a substance—which, in turn, can result in great historical shifts. With lively prose and an eye for colorful and unusual details, Penny Le Couteur and Jay Burreson offer a novel way to understand the shaping of civilization and the workings of our contemporary world.
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“Pretty damn decent account of the role of chemistry in various historical events and eras. Written by two chemists; doesn’t butcher any of the science, only simplifies. Sweeping claims about the role of any given substance in a particular event are avoided unless really warranted. Slight political tilt in writing (mainstream left-wing) but nothing too overbearing or questionable.”
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Muhammad (4 out of 5 stars)
