Hydrogen: Hot Stuff Cool Science--Journey to a World of Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells at the Wasserstoff Farm [Paperback]

Rex A. Ewing (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2004 | ISBN-10: 0965809862 | ISBN-13: 978-0965809863 | Edition: First edition.

Ever wonder what hydrogen energy is all about? Where the hydrogen will come from and how we will use it? Open this book and embark on a learning safari to the Wasserstoff Farm where you’ll discover the solid science and cutting-edge technologies behind the H2 media hype, and have more fun than you’re supposed to.

Three books in one:
1. Review basic chemical principles of how fuel can be transformed into useful energy.
2. Explore the many sources of hydrogen and ingenious methods devised to extract it.
3. Discover how we will use hydrogen—in our homes and buildings, vehicles and public transportation, for electricity in remote areas, and much more.

Science is explained, ideas illuminated and myths dispelled in this highly readable book about what many experts are calling the most important new energy for planet Earth.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A great tool for teachers; the informative illustrations and numerous website references are excellent. I give an A+ for originality! -- Raymond Atwood, award winning high school science teacher

Ewing has concocted a formula that made it not only educational and informative, but downright entertaining. It’s a winner! -- Dennis Weaver - Actor, Ecolonomist

I’ve read nearly every book on hydrogen technologies, and this is the most readable book available. Highly recommended. -- Dr. Doug Larson, FuelCellStore.com

What a great book! If there’s a way to make science interesting, this is it. -- Steve Iwanicki, Jr., high school senior

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Pixyjack Press; First edition. edition (September 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965809862
• ISBN-13: 978-0965809863
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,228,213 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rex Ewing was born and raised in the heart of northern Colorado's ranching country and true to form he grew up in the company of mixed-blood horses, Charolais cattle, and the large herd of Corriedale sheep his father John imported from Australia. In addition to his time on the ranch, he spent four years at Colorado State University, two seasons mining placer gold in California and Alaska, and a couple of stints on his brother's cattle ranch in Costa Rica. He also lived for seven years in a crude mountain cabin, casting gold jewelry, hand hewing log cabins, and roofing houses whenever money was tight.

When his father suffered a heart attack in 1984, Rex returned to the ranch which, in the intervening years, had been transformed into a Thoroughbred breeding and training facility. For six years he managed the ranch and hay farming operations, and when John Ewing died in 1990 he took over the family's horse nutrition business. It was a serendipitous career move for Rex, for it was while in the role of businessman that he met the love of his life, LaVonne, a freelance graphic designer hoping to do design work for his company. She got the job, for life. Four years later they married and moved onto a small acreage where they raised hay, pastured a few horses and dreamed up a future together.

Rex penned his first published book in 1997, a small treatise on horse nutrition. Beyond the Hay Days: Refreshingly Simple Horse Nutrition quickly became a bestseller. His premiere novel, Eyes of the Lioness, soon followed. A year later, after considerable planning and preparation, Rex and LaVonne divested themselves of their flatland holdings, packed up their cat and two dogs, and moved into a rustic off-grid cabin Rex had built on his mountain property several years before. Small and charming but lacking most modern conveniences, the cabin became their home for the next two years while, working entirely alone, they transformed a truckload of dead trees into a simple yet stylish log home.

Rex and LaVonne chronicled their log-building and off-grid experiences in Logs, Wind and Sun, a down-to-earth book which became very popular within the log-home and renewable-energy communities. Rex followed up with Power with Nature, a book for off grid neophytes, and Got Sun? Go Solar, a primer of grid-tied solar- and wind-electric systems which he wrote with friend and fellow writer, Doug Pratt.

Hydrogen: Hot Stuff Cool Science was Rex's first full-length foray into experimental writing. Employing an irascible wizard and a fanciful setting known as the Wasserstoff Farm, Rex embraced the difficult science of hydrogen energy in an imaginative tour de force that found quick acceptance with science teachers and Wall Street advisors alike.

The updated 2nd edition of Logs, Wind and Sun was released as Crafting Log Homes Solar Style; 2nd editions of the other renewable energy titles have also been released, thanks to the popularity of green energy.

Rex and LaVonne continue to work and create from their secluded mountain home. Though always in the midst of a book project, Rex still finds time to write regularly for Log Home Living and Countryside magazines.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hydrogen: Hot Stuff Cool Science, is a hot book about cool stuff to learn, December 16, 2005

By 

Nick (Boxborough, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hydrogen: Hot Stuff Cool Science--Journey to a World of Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells at the Wasserstoff Farm (Paperback)

I highly recommend this book to those who wants to know more about the potential of hydrogen as a replacement for fossil fuels. You will discover hydrogen is an inexpensive solution which is environmentally clean and the technology exists today. The author weaves the technical information into a fictional tale which makes reading and learning a pleasure. The book is perfect for young readers as the author Rex Ewing keeps the readers attention with his interesting characters, Zedediah Pickett, author Rex and his horse Mike. An interesting tale interlaced with scientific facts. A bit light for the reader who has a good knowledge of hydrogen, fuel cells, etc. it's still a good refresher covering the basics and fun read. You'll get a glimpse of what the future holds if we have the courage to make it happen and the result if we take no action. It does a great job of making the reader pause to think about the issues. It makes the point that we are running out of fossil fuels, they contribute to greenhouse gases, and other pollutants. It touches on the main points: how hydrogen can be generated, stored/transported safely and converted into useful energy for electricity, fuel for cars, heating homes and many other applications. If there was one complaint the book only mentions fusion technology in passing. Perhaps this will be discussed in a sequel? Regardless it is an excellent and quick read; I've purchased this as a gift for several family members and friends. I wish everyone could get a copy as this is an issue we all need to be aware of and pressing our politicians and legislators for the emergence of the hydrogen age. I tip my hat to Rex A. Ewing on a job well done, buy this book!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you still have your spirit of adventure, December 12, 2004

By 

Richard S. Treptow (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hydrogen: Hot Stuff Cool Science--Journey to a World of Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells at the Wasserstoff Farm (Paperback)

Do you know someone who thinks that science and engineering are boring subjects? Or someone who believes we can afford to ignore global warming and the upcoming end of the age of oil? Invite them to read this charming book by Rex Ewing. The author takes his readers to the imaginary Wasserstoff Farm to meet a wizard named Zed who is a master of subjects that too many people choose to ignore. We learn how fuels are transformed into energy, the various ways of producing hydrogen gas, and how this element may someday replace fossil fuels in providing the energy we depend upon.

High school teachers will find this playful book a useful supplement to the conventional chemistry textbook. It will appeal to readers of any age who have not lost their imagination or spirit of adventure. I also recommend it to the journalists, economists and political leaders of our age in hopes that they will get the science correct when they speak of the most serious technical problem of our time.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Enjoyable Read and Super Resource, December 7, 2004

By 

Dr. Charles Bottinelli - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hydrogen: Hot Stuff Cool Science--Journey to a World of Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells at the Wasserstoff Farm (Paperback)

HYDROGEN - Hot Stuff, Cool Science is a clever, innovative meld of "Harry Potter makes Contact with the Hydrogen Wizard and together they travel Back to the Future." At least, those are the images I saw while reading. Science teachers will love "technistoff," the technical notes and references following each chapter. Armed with these, teachers can enrich their own knowledge and understanding of some incredible new technologies of hydrogen generation, storage, and delivery, as well as visiting some very instructive web sites with their students.

A Colorado science educator for the past 39 years, I have been continuously dismayed about how little society understands about our current and worsening global energy predicament. Now, more than ever, humanity needs to "invest" immediately in Wasserstoff Farm's renewable energy programs. HYDROGEN - Hot Stuff, Cool Science is at once a very enjoyable read and super resource for teachers, as well as for the lay public, who are looking for ways to sort out the basics of hydrogen science.