Customer Reviews

The Consumer's Good Chemical Guide: A Jargon-Free Guide to the Chemicals of Everyday Life (Scientific American Library Series)

5 star:		(3)
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It is definetely too bad that this book is not still in print for the public to buy! I'm 18 years old and love science, but you don't really have to be a science whiz to understand it.
What I believe is so great about this book is that it exposes the fallacies in the beliefs people have about certain chemicals, from sugar (and artifical sweeteners), cholesterol, fats, and fiber, painkillers (and other medications), PVC, dioxins, and carbon dioxide (global warming). People are misinformed by the media and even medical sources as to the dangers of these things, when many of these things are actually good for us!
This book was written from a logical viewpoint. John Emsley, who is a great author, discusses both sides of a topic, and really just makes the book interesting.
I believe it should be required reading in high school because then so many kids would be exposed to the fallacies that the media puts out about everything from sugar (It's not bad!) to body health. We as Americans believe so many things blindly without realizing the actual scientific proof. This books is great!

This was a very clearly written and insightful book. It was well researched and presented in an appealing format in layman's terms. He described the essence of flavors,perfumes, and other good chemicals. The best book on the importance of chemistry in everyday life that I've read.

John Emsley has written a series of interesting books on how chemistry interacts with our everyday lives such as Nature's Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements, Molecules of Murder: Criminal Molecules and Classic Cases. "The Consumer's Good Chemical Guide" is well written and provides straight talk on how consumer chemistry. Not interested? Consider


- How do pain killers work? Why are some better than others?

- What is the history of artificial sweeteners? Is Aspartame actually dangerous?

- What causes perfumes to smell?

- How can chemistry help you devise a fool-proof diet?

- What is the difference between the different types of fats? How are they different once they enter your body?

A small sampling of the topics, but it really does not do the book justice. Remember each topic is being describing by a top-notch researcher, and real references are provided. My final verdict - highly recommended for anyone who has an interest in chemistry.

5 Stars