Sam Kean

Hardcover (1 to 2 lbs)

Michigan

And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

From New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean comes incredible stories of science, history, finance, mythology, the arts, medicine, and more, as told by the Periodic Table.

Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why is gallium (Ga, 31) the go-to element for laboratory pranksters?

The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. The Disappearing Spoon masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery -- from the Big Bang through the end of time.

Though solid at room temperature, gallium is a moldable metal that melts at 84 degrees Fahrenheit. A classic science prank is to mold gallium spoons, serve them with tea, and watch guests recoil as their utensils disappear.

The Disappearing Spoon

55b21eee-9522-42f7-ad3c-570e66b79a47-1

Light Paperback (1 lb or less)

Delaware

From New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean comes incredible stories of science, history, finance, mythology, the arts, medicine, and more, as told by the Periodic Table. Why did Gandhi hate iodine (I, 53)? How did radium (Ra, 88) nearly ruin Marie Curie's reputation? And why is gallium (Ga, 31) the go-to element for laboratory pranksters?* The Periodic Table is a crowning scientific achievement, but it's also a treasure trove of adventure, betrayal, and obsession. These fascinating tales follow every element on the table as they play out their parts in human history, and in the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. THE DISAPPEARING SPOON masterfully fuses science with the classic lore of invention, investigation, and discovery--from the Big Bang through the end of time. *Though solid at room temperature, gallium is a moldable metal that melts at 84 degrees Fahrenheit. A classic science prank is to mold gallium spoons, serve them with tea, and watch guests recoil as their utensils disappear.

Murder, Fraud, Sabotage, Piracy, and Other Dastardly Deeds Perpetrated in the Name of Science

In our society, scientists are the good guys - usually. Every so often one of them goes rogue and ends up on the wrong side of the law. 'The Icepick Surgeon' exposes the crimes that researchers have committed throughout history and examines what pushes these otherwise rational men and women to cross the line in the name of science - like real-life versions of 'Breaking Bad'. From the author of 'The Disappearing Spoon' and 'The Violinist's Thumb'.

The Icepick Surgeon

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Paperback (1 to 2 lbs)

Connecticut

And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, As Written by Our Genetic Code

From New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean comes more incredible stories of science, history, language, and music, as told by our own DNA. In The Disappearing Spoon, bestselling author Sam Kean unlocked the mysteries of the periodic table. In THE VIOLINIST'S THUMB, he explores the wonders of the magical building block of life: DNA. There are genes to explain crazy cat ladies, why other people have no fingerprints, and why some people survive nuclear bombs. Genes illuminate everything from JFK's bronze skin (it wasn't a tan) to Einstein's genius. They prove that Neanderthals and humans bred thousands of years more recently than any of us would feel comfortable thinking. They can even allow some people, because of the exceptional flexibility of their thumbs and fingers, to become truly singular violinists. Kean's vibrant storytelling once again makes science entertaining, explaining human history and whimsy while showing how DNA will influence our species' future.

The Violinist's Thumb

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Texas

New York

And Other True Tales of History, Science, and the Sextillions of Molecules in the Air Around Us

The Guardian's Best Science Book of 2017: the fascinating science and history of the air we breathe.

It's invisible. It's ever-present. Without it, you would die in minutes. And it has an epic story to tell.

In Caesar's Last Breath, New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean takes us on a journey through the periodic table, around the globe, and across time to tell the story of the air we breathe, which, it turns out, is also the story of earth and our existence on it. With every breath, you literally inhale the history of the world.

On the ides of March, 44 BC, Julius Caesar died of stab wounds on the Senate floor, but the story of his last breath is still unfolding; in fact, you're probably inhaling some of it now. Of the sextillions of molecules entering or leaving your lungs at this moment, some might well bear traces of Cleopatra's perfumes, German mustard gas, particles exhaled by dinosaurs or emitted by atomic bombs, even remnants of stardust from the universe's creation.

Tracing the origins and ingredients of our atmosphere, Kean reveals how the alchemy of air reshaped our continents, steered human progress, powered revolutions, and continues to influence everything we do. Along the way, we'll swim with radioactive pigs, witness the most important chemical reactions humans have discovered, and join the crowd at the Moulin Rouge for some of the crudest performance art of all time. Lively, witty, and filled with the astounding science of ordinary life, Caesar's Last Breath illuminates the science stories swirling around us every second.

Caesar's Last Breath

58935c59-f296-491b-a5ef-bac8de89e432-1

California

Book is in excellent condition except for the front cover and a few pages having fold. Please see picture

Illinois

Rated a very respectable 3.9 out of 5 on Goodreads.

Maryland

Heavy Paperback (2 to 4 lbs)

Ohio

Virginia

The History of the Human Brain As Revealed by True Stories of Trauma, Madness, and Recovery

From the author of the bestsellers The Disappearing Spoon and The Violinist's Thumb, fascinating tales of the brain and the history of neuroscience. Early studies of the functions of the human brain used a simple method: wait for misfortune to strike-strokes, seizures, infectious diseases, lobotomies, horrendous accidents-and see how the victim coped. In many cases survival was miraculous, and observers could only marvel at the transformations that took place afterward, altering victims' personalities. An injury to one section can leave a person unable to recognize loved ones; some brain trauma can even make you a pathological gambler, pedophile, or liar. But a few scientists realized that these injuries were an opportunity for studying brain function at its extremes. With lucid explanations and incisive wit, Sam Kean explains the brain's secret passageways while recounting forgotten stories of common people whose struggles, resiliency, and deep humanity made modern neuroscience possible.

The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons

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Rated a most impressive 4.3 out of 5 on Goodreads, this book puts forth an intriguing, yet witty, perspective of what we all are made of.

The Epic Story of the Air Around Us

Colorado

"A user-friendly explanation of scientific principles, The Violinist's Thumb is a thoughtful work of literature that allows all of us -- the non-scientists, the reading public -- to grapple with the big questions about the history and future of our genetic code." --Amy Stewart, Washington Post 

There is enough DNA in our bodies to stretch roughly to Pluto and back. With the same masterful combination of science, history, and cultural context he brought to The Disappearing Spoon, Sam Kean reveals the secrets of our genetic code, explaining how genetics has colored our past and how DNA will determine humankind's future.

Size: 5 1/2" x 8 1/4". 358 pages. Includes chapter notes, index, and reading group guide. 

This is the only hardback on Pango.  It is a first edition. Book in excellent shape except for where there was a sticker on dustjacket.  

The author of the bestseller The Disappearing Spoon reveals the secret inner workings of the brain through strange but true stories.

Early studies of the human brain used a simple method: wait for misfortune to strike -- strokes, seizures, infectious diseases, horrendous accidents -- and see how victims coped. In many cases their survival was miraculous, if puzzling. Observers were amazed by the transformations that took place when different parts of the brain were destroyed, altering victims' personalities. Parents suddenly couldn't recognize their own children. Pillars of the community became pathological liars. Some people couldn't speak but could still sing.

In The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons, Sam Kean travels through time with stories of neurological curiosities: phantom limbs, Siamese twin brains, viruses that eat patients' memories, blind people who see through their tongues. He weaves these narratives together with prose that makes the pages fly by, to create a story of discovery that reaches back to the 1500s and the high-profile jousting accident that inspired this book's title.

With the lucid, masterful explanations and razor-sharp wit his fans have come to expect, Kean explores the brain's secret passageways and recounts the forgotten tales of the ordinary people whose struggles, resilience, and deep humanity made neuroscience possible.

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Sam Kean

The Disappearing Spoon

Sam Kean

The Disappearing Spoon

Sam Kean

The Icepick Surgeon

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The Violinist's Thumb

Sam Kean

The Disappearing Spoon

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Caesar's Last Breath

Sam Kean

The Disappearing Spoon

Sam Kean

The Disappearing Spoon

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The Violinist's Thumb

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The Disappearing Spoon

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Caesar's Last Breath

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The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons

Sam Kean

Caesar's Last Breath

Sam Kean

Caesar's Last Breath

Sam Kean

The Violinist's Thumb

Sam Kean

The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons

Sam Kean

The Disappearing Spoon

Sam Kean

The Disappearing Spoon

Sam Kean

The Violinist's Thumb

Sam Kean

The Disappearing Spoon

Sam Kean

The Disappearing Spoon

Sam Kean

The Disappearing Spoon

Sam Kean

The Icepick Surgeon

Sam Kean

The Disappearing Spoon