Designing the Molecular World (Paperback)

by Philip Ball (Author) "In 1989, chemists working at Harvard University in Massachusetts brewed up a horribly lethal concoction called palytoxin - one of the most poisonous natural chemicals..." (more)
Key Phrases: covalent curve, icosahedral glass model, molecular superconductors, New York, University of California, Periodic Table (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Ball, an editor for the journal Nature, showcases the excitement of contemporary chemistry by departing from the standard subdivisions of the science and emphasizing the integration of input from biology, electronics, chaos, climatology, and other disciplines. His book is not a comprehensive treatment but rather a compilation of a variety of topics such as the highly publicized buckyballs and the less well known quasicrystals. Ball discusses these topics in an orderly progression from the changes in traditional research areas through the impact of the increased knowledge of molecular functionalities and concludes with a look at the consequences of the process of chemistry itself. The bibliography is current as of 1993, and its entries have been classified according to the level of the reader. Although this book is intended for the nonspecialist, a basic knowledge of chemistry would enhance appreciation of much of the material. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.
Jan Williams, Monsanto Co., St. Louis
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Scientific American
A tour de force of popular science writing.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (November 11, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691029008
• ISBN-13: 978-0691029009
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,016,243 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating update on a neglected area, October 27, 1999

By	R. Simpson "Poker Player" (Romney, WV USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The author contends that physics and astronomy get all the public attention these days, to the neglect of chemistry, yet advances in this field have more real impact on our lives. The most interesting parts of this book show how we are adapting biochemistry, such as enzymes, to everyday production of useful chemical resources. The book is written at the level of the "old" Scientific American, with plenty of real science and less of the "gee-whiz" of other popularizations. Thankfully, there is little need for math here, but read the first section carefully, where he explains the basic physics of molecules, which is central to the rest of the book. I enjoyed it thoroughly and it really brought this reader, who had his last chemistry in 1961, up to speed on chemistry today.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic review of or introduction to molecular design, April 9, 2002

By	R. ERVIN "nanoguy" (Nationwide Technology Consultant) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When looking for detailed, specific information about nanotechnology, I stumbled across this book. At that time, I knew that there was a link between chemistry and nanotechnology, but was having trouble finding chemistry books that made sense from a molecular engineering (nanotechnology) point of view.

I rarely read technical books from cover to cover, but this one was so engaging and covered so many topics that I actually WANTED to learn more about that I found I could not put it down. Most chemistry books seem to be focused on bulk properties of broad classes of chemical compounds (i.e. "When compounds of class A are mixed with compounds of class B, the result is typically compounds of classes D and E). This was the only popular book I found that day that specifically discussed atomic and molecular processes from an ATOMIC level.

After reading the book, I found myself reading complex technical articles with surprising ease and understanding terminology that I otherwise would not have recognized, though I might have been exposed to it in college.

The end of the book contains several chapters describing the author's particular views about the origins of life and the universe, and about various environmental crises with a noticeable, but not overriding, disdain for certain other points of view. I appreciated that the author shared his opinions on these matters, but also kept them to the end and clearly separated from the rest of the book. This section is still engaging and presents interesting points of view.

This book combines historical stories and anecdotes with explanations of traditional chemistry to show how "chemistry" has changed and how it has spawned the new field of molecular engineering (popularly known as Nanotechnology), related to but distinct from chemical engineering.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, thorough, and thought provoking, February 14, 2006

By	Dennis R. Mitton "tolstoy" (pacific nw, usa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Odd to say that a book published in 1994 is still relevant but the frontiers of science are pushed out so quickly that is always a good to wonder about. Ball's book is well written and thorough but at times can drag on a bit. Some level of understanding of college level chemistry will be helpful but not necessary. I'm a biologist at heart but chemistry - especially this kind of chemistry - always fascinates me. This is the realm of tinker toys on the molecular level. Reading the book makes chemistry exciting - why should the physicists have all the fun? Ball shows how chemistry is being used to make new kinds of materials that have great impact on everyday living. He gives excellent explanations of technique and the historical context of the present work. There's a lot here but it's well worth it.