The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean

Sam Kean is the New York Times bestselling author of The Dueling Neurosurgeons, The Disappearing Spoon, and The Violinist’s Thumb. Each of his books were named Amazon top science books of the year, and his work has been featured on NPR's “Radiolab,” “All Things Considered,” and “Fresh Air.” He has degrees in physics and English literature. The Disappearing Spoon is a romp through the Periodic Table - one of humankind's crowning scientific achievements, but also a treasure trove of passion, adventure, betrayal, and obsession. The Disappearing Spoon delves into every single element on the table and explains each one's role in science, money, mythology, war, the arts, medicine, alchemy, and other areas of human history, from the Big Bang through the end of time.