Customer Reviews

Building Blocks of the Universe

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book brings the elements of the periodic table into focus as a part of everyday life. It explains their uses, properties, interesting facts, and origins. Inorganic chemistry is explained plainly and in extremely understandable terms. I found the book to be especially useful for young people in middle and high school starting chemistry studies or who are having difficulties with the subject.

I read this book when I was about 7 years old. I read many many books, but this is the only one I remember specifically from that early time. That was before I knew who Asimov was, or that he was to become my favorite writer as a teenager.

Over 30 years later, I still remember this book as being an introduction to elements and the periodic table. I can still picture the chapter-head illustrations and the explaination of how everything in one column is basically the same.

I suppose it had an effect on my learning about the world from the get-go. After all, I remember details about =this= book, out of the hundreds that formed my knowledge of science and the universe.

Asimov speaks to his readers. If you get anything out of his short essays, imagine a book-length treatment.

Asimov presents not just the interesting technical aspects of each element, but also its history and context. Highly recommended.

I was around 12 when I read this book and can recall it vividly. Nothing teaches the fundamental concepts of chemistry better than this book. I came out of this reading experience with a basic understanding of the periodic table and a hunger to learn more about chemistry. It is very pleasing to see this book can still be found. I think for middle-school or high-school aged science students, this book is invaluable for turning them on to a basic appreciation for chemistry.

The only reason that I didn't give it 5 stars is because the information is a bit old and some of it is so out of date it is now wrong.

The package arrived on time and although is a relatively old book, it was in a pretty good shape. The price was fair enough.