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Robert M. Hazen

Symphony in C: Carbon and the Evolution of (Almost) Everything Hardcover – Illustrated, June 11, 2019

by Robert M. Hazen (Author)

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A Science News Favorite Book of 2019

An enchanting biography of the most resonant―and most necessary―chemical element on Earth.

Carbon is everywhere: in the paper of this book and the blood of our bodies. It’s with us from beginning to end, present in our baby clothes and coffin alike. We live on a carbon planet, and we are carbon life. No other element is so central to our well-being; yet, when missing or misaligned, carbon atoms can also bring about disease and even death. At once ubiquitous and mysterious, carbon holds the answers to some of humanity’s biggest questions. Where did Earth come from? What will ultimately become of it―and of us? With poetic storytelling, earth scientist Robert M. Hazen explores the universe to discover the past, present, and future of life’s most essential element.

We’re not only “made of star stuff,” as Carl Sagan famously observed, but “Big Bang stuff,” too. Hazen reveals that carbon’s grand symphony began with a frenzied prelude shortly after the dawn of creation, bringing new attention to the tiny number of Big Bang–created carbon atoms that often get overlooked. In minutes, violently colliding protons and neutrons improbably formed the first carbon atoms, which can still be found within our bodies. His book then unfolds in four movements, building momentum as he explores carbon as the element of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.

He visits the famed volcanic crater Solfatara di Pozzuoli near Naples, where venting carbon dioxide and other noxious fumes condense into beautiful crystals. He climbs the cliffs of the Scottish Highlands and delves deep into the precious-metal mines of Namibia, journeying toward Earth’s mysterious core in search of undocumented carbon structures.

Hazen often asks us to pause and consider carbon’s role in climate change and what we can do about it, for our lives and this element are inextricably intertwined. With prose that sparkles like a diamond, Symphony in C tells the story of carbon, in which we all have a part.

8 pages of color illustrations

Print length

288 pages
Language

English
Publisher

W. W. Norton & Company
Publication date

June 11, 2019
Dimensions

6.5 x 1.1 x 9.6 inches
ISBN-10

039360943X
ISBN-13

978-0393609431
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Covering topics from carbon’s ancient origins to the threats that carbon compounds pose to our future climate, Hazen’s book is a fascinating read. Symphony in C chronicles cutting-edge science that’s helping researchers make better sense of the carbon-rich world around us."
― Science News

"From the Big Bang to coal, carbohydrates, and ultra-strong high-tech nanofibers, Robert M. Hazen provides an illuminating and enjoyable guide to the remarkable odyssey of carbon, the element of life. Enjoy the trip!"
― Andrew Knoll, Fisher Professor of Natural History, Harvard University

"A valuable and welcome explanation of why we would do well to pay more attention to the sixth element―and of how much more remains to be discovered about its planetary role through time."
― Nature

"C is the element carbon. C is a musical note. Scientist-musician Hazen uses the element and the note to compose a symphonic masterpiece that reveals how the primitive life that began on our planet four billion years ago has evolved into Darwin’s ‘endless forms most beautiful.’"
― David W. Deamer, author of Assembling Life

"Hazen’s virtuoso performance captures the wonder of the sixth element―from volcanic gases to al dente pasta to life’s very beginnings―while telling the wonderful stories about the people behind the discoveries."
― Terry Plank, Arthur D. Storke Memorial Professor of Geochemistry, Columbia University

"This book is an incredibly rich story of carbon and its role in of life. Hazen has outdone himself in delivering an engaging, edifying, great read. If you don’t know why carbon is important in your life, or even if you think you do, you should put down whatever you’re reading and get this book."
― Paul G. Falkowski, author of Life’s Engines

About the Author

Robert M. Hazen is executive director of the Deep Carbon Observatory based at the Carnegie Institution’s Geophysical Laboratory and Clarence Robinson Professor of Earth Sciences at George Mason University. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; Illustrated edition (June 11, 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 039360943X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393609431
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.1 x 9.6 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #359,666 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #34 in Mineralogy (Books)
- #575 in Ecology (Books)
- #1,378 in History & Philosophy of Science (Books)

Customer Reviews:
252 ratings

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prelon138

importance of the carbon in the earth rather than oxigen

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 27, 2022

Verified Purchase

humane life in earth should be closely connected with carbon from the beginning

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Jean A. Klein

A genius at making science understandable

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 13, 2019

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed two of Robert Hazen’s “Great Courses” series so much that I jumped at the chance to read his new book about carbon. On the Courses’ DVD’s, he came across as a nice guy with a brilliant mind and amazing curiosity--one who could make the arcane ways of science understandable. I finished the book, still in awe of how he can explain things and made them relevant to a non-scientist. The book recounts his work as director of the Deep Carbon Observatory and the interesting new things they have learned. He gives credit to a number of his collaborators, giving a brief description of each to turn him/her into a person, rather than a faceless scientist. Hazen organized the book about carbon around the four divisions of ancient philosophy: earth (minerals), air (part of the atmosphere), fire (fuel), and water (fascinating theories about the beginnings of life). He goes into how carbon was created in the universe as the fourth most abundant element; how the mineral in the earth becomes part of plants; plants become food for animals; and dead animals and plants decay, returning carbon to the soil.
To explain the place of carbon in our lives, he goes into astronomy, geology, biology, archaeology physics, and chemistry. He gave the clearest explanation I ever saw about how scientists identify the composition of stars!
Interesting items: Coal was made in a short time about 300 million years ago, AFTER the time trees and plant life were abundant on land, but BEFORE fungi evolved to decompose the wood. Frozen carbon dioxide (dry ice) can be used in bug control—mosquitoes and bed bugs are attracted to the CO2 and freeze to death. “You can even commission a wearable ‘memorial diamond,’ forged at pressure from carbon atoms collected during a loved one’s cremation.” Hazen explains things I’ve wondered about (like how carbon dating works) and things I never even knew about.
The book makes clear the many ways that man interferes with the carbon cycle, and the important steps the Deep Carbon Observatory is investigating to keep our planet safe. I would recommend the book to anyone who is curious about how things work.

67 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Excellent read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 10, 2022

Verified Purchase

Well written, kept me fascinated the whole book. Great for integrating geology minerals and life in one, well, symphony of ideas

One person found this helpful

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Bayard B.Top Contributor: Gardening

Great book! Discusses the latest scientific theories and evidence about a variety of subjects.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 14, 2020

Verified Purchase

Interesting book! It discusses all the latest scientific theories about (and evidence supporting) a variety of subjects: the "Big Bang" theory of the beginning of the universe, origin and evolution of stars and planets, climate change, formation of the earth and minerals, volcanoes, the atmosphere, and the origin of life on earth.

I think, though, that in order to really understand and appreciate this book you already need to know the basics of earth history and possess maybe a bit of high school or college freshman chemistry, biology, and geology. You don't need a college degree in any of these subjects but you probably need to be knowledgeable about them.

5 people found this helpful

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Ionaflute

All you ever wanted to know about carbon.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 20, 2021

Verified Purchase

It's a well written book and you don't have to be a chemist to follow along. I knew carbon was important but I had never realized the vital role it plays in just about everything we do. And the Earth is not just a big rock, but a complex factory continually reprocessing carbon and other elements. Robert Hazen brings together all sorts of facts into one coherent whole.

One person found this helpful

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Percy Dovetonsils

A very expansive look at a single element!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 10, 2020

Verified Purchase

This book was a great read by Dr Robert Hazen. He is a leading mineralogist and writer. Think of carbon: in one form the hardest mineral known and the first mineral to form after the Big Bang - diamond; in the other form a super slippery, soft mineral that we use as a solid lubricant. Think of our bodys and how our biochemistry is carbon dominated.
Dr Hazen writes of all this and much more in a comprehensive look at the element carbon. I recommend this book not only for any student of chemistry but for any adult with a scientific interest at all. It is written for the layman so do not be afraid you will be lost in some extremely deep chemistry, in other words you do not need a degree in chemistry to understand Symphony in C, just a inherent curiosity.

6 people found this helpful

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Sridhar R.

Grand tour

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 5, 2022

Verified Purchase

Hazen has a clear style that brings out complex ideas very simply. His passion and knowledge are evident as he explains the many facets of the Carbon cycle. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

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Neil C. Gest

Fascinating, insightful book featuring a universe very few people are familiar with

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 26, 2021

Verified Purchase

Superb science writer who makes complicated science understandable to the reader. We live in a carbon world/universe and Professor Hazen the importance of understanding the deep carbon cycle and how we humans and all organisms are governed by it. A book to keep on your shelf - you will want to read it again. Readers should definitely look at the Deep carbon Observatory website for more information.

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arun p.

good book - slightly mundane at some page

Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on August 13, 2021

Verified Purchase

this is a good book filed with interesting knowledge and information. Its describes about stellar formation, elemental creation in stars, use of various elements by various microorganisms including using uranium. but some parts of the book is filed with minerology which is just boring as its just filled with information of numerous organic gems and crystals

Grahesh G

Chemistry for all !!

Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on November 11, 2022

Verified Purchase

The book can be read even by people with no prior exposure to science. Not a heavy read.

Jens-17

Leben und Klima / Life and Climate

Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on August 21, 2019

Verified Purchase

Dass Carbon (Kohlenstoff) nicht nur unser Leben auf unserem Planeten Erde sondern auch das Klima bestimmt, war mir nicht in diesem Maße bewusst. Ein echter Augenöffner!
The importance of Carbon for our life and climate was not really present in my consciousness. A real eye opener!

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