Chemistry Imagined: Reflections on Science [Hardcover]

Roald Hoffmann (Author), Vivian Torrence (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 17, 1993

A Nobel Prize-winning chemist uses collages, short essays, personal commentary, and poems to show the magic and mysteries of his field and stress the social, literary, and psychological aspects of chemistry.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A Nobel Laureate in chemistry, Hoffman assembles brief essays, word portraits of chemists and prose poems to celebrate the wonder he unceasingly finds in his field. Torrence's accompanying painted collages are less persuasive. As in his earlier collections, including Gaps and Verges , Hoffman's inspiration comes from the most fundamental of phenomena--"the science of molecules." But it is the teaching power of the written word, not the double carbon bond, that dominates here, as Hoffman's short pieces of prose leave the reader craving his fuller treatment of more complex topics. Difficult though it may be to get at the fine, hard truth of a crystal lattice from a poem, the impact of Hoffman's effort here suggests that the curiosity-squashing damage wrought by rote drills of the periodic table could be redeemed by the sense of awe and far-reaching appreciation embraced in these writings.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA-An unusual, imaginative blending of scientific concepts with artistic illustrations, interesting discussions, and creative poetry. Hoffmann, a Nobel laureate, and Torrence, a visual artist, combine efforts to show the importance of chemistry in daily life. The drawings are surrealistic, thought-provoking, and appropriately placed. The book will be a wonderful resource for advanced students and for teachers, particularly with the increased emphasis on writing across the curricula. The lack of an index will require readers to garner the topics from the broad listing in the table of contents. A well-written, entertaining, and enjoyable book that presents chemistry from an entirely different perspective.
Donna West, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 168 pages
• Publisher: Smithsonian; First Edition edition (May 17, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560982144
• ISBN-13: 978-1560982142
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,177,902 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chemistry Imagined, September 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Chemistry Imagined Reflections on Science (Paperback)

Roald Hoffmann's "Chemistry Imagined" is not only a fascinating book about chemistry: it is also about live, society, history, art, creative thinking. Through several small tales, Hoffmann show to the readers an insightful view of how chemistry is the central science, its contributions to actual society life style, its importance in economy and live and, maybe the most important concept, its strong relationship with art. In some way, the creative process for science is the same that for art. The excellents illustrations made by Vivian Torrence, are the best landscape where the readers can "imagine the chemistry" behind the words of Hoffmann. A must for all the people with an interest in chemistry or science (or, as I said, art).