Items related to Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History
Synopsis
Rare Book
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review
"Most of us never give a thought to ... the chemicals that have changed the world. This is brought out beautifully in Napoleon's Buttons, with its brilliant blending of chemistry and culture. I found it engrossing, and a delight to read."
"Well-conceived, well-done popular science." --Booklist
"Well-conceived, well-done popular science."
--Booklist
"The authors unearth a wealth of anecdotes from all parts of the world and use them effectively to illustrate the technological underpinnings of modern society. Thoughtful, often surprising, smoothly written."
--Kirkus Reviews
"Entertaining accounts of how various objects' chemical properties might have changed history."
--Library Journal
"What does the fiery compound C17H19O3N have to do with the discovery of North America? Plenty, according to this remarkable collection of scientific sleuthings. The book's cases -- especially the chapter blaming Napoleon's disastrous Russian campaign on the eponymous tin fasteners that failed to hold French uniforms together -- unfold like CSI meets the History Channel. A splendid example of better reading through chemistry. B+"
--Entertainment Weekly
"This book is both original and fascinating; I was quickly absorbed by this refreshing mix of science and history; I learned a lot of both and read this book quite quickly for a science book."
--The Literary Flaneur
Synopsis
Though many factors have been proposed to explain the failure of Napoleon's 1812 Russian campaign, it has also been linked to something as small as a button, a tin button, the kind that fastened everything from the greatcoats of Napoleon's officers to the trousers of his foot soldiers. When temperature drop below 56[degrees]F, tin crumbles into powder. Were the soldiers of the Grande Armee fatally weakened by cold because the buttons of their uniforms fell apart? How different our world might be if tin did not disintegrate at low temperature and the French had continued their eastward expansion! This fascinating book tells the stories of seventeen molecules that, like the tin of those buttons, greatly influenced the course of history. These molecules provided the impetus for early exploration and made possible the ensuing voyages of discovery. They resulted in grand feats of engineering and spurred advance in medicine; lie behind changes in gender roles, in law and in the environment and have determined what we today eat, drink, and wear.
Showing how a change as small as the position of an atom can lead to enormous differences in the properties of a substance, the authors reveal the astonishing chemical connections among seemingly unrelated events. Napoleon's Buttons offers a novel way to understand how our contemporary world works and how our civilization has been shaped over time."About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherPenguin Publishing Group
- Publication date2004
- ISBN 10 1585423319
- ISBN 13 9781585423316
- BindingPaperback
- LanguageEnglish
- Number of pages384
Search results for Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History
Stock Image
Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Mol
Seller: SecondSale, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. Item in very good condition! Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00085582230
Quantity: 2 available
Stock Image
Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Mol
Seller: SecondSale, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00085307809
Quantity: 5 available
Stock Image
Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Mol
Seller: SecondSale, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Acceptable. Item in acceptable condition! Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00084946199
Quantity: 1 available
Seller Image
Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History
Seller: Zoom Books Company, Lynden, WA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: very_good. Book is in very good condition and may include minimal underlining highlighting. The book can also include "From the library of" labels. May not contain miscellaneous items toys, dvds, etc. . We offer 100% money back guarantee and 24 7 customer service. Seller Inventory # ZBV.1585423319.VG
Quantity: 1 available
Seller Image
Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History
Seller: Zoom Books East, Glendale Heights, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: very_good. Book is in very good condition and may include minimal underlining highlighting. The book can also include "From the library of" labels. May not contain miscellaneous items toys, dvds, etc. . We offer 100% money back guarantee and 24 7 customer service. Seller Inventory # ZEV.1585423319.VG
Quantity: 2 available
Stock Image
Napoleons Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History
Seller: Goodwill of Colorado, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. This item is in overall good condition. Covers and dust jackets are intact but may have minor wear including slight curls or bends to corners as well as cosmetic blemishes including stickers. Pages are intact but may have minor highlighting/ writing. Binding is intact; however, spine may have slight wear overall. Digital codes may not be included and have not been tested to be redeemable and/or active. Minor shelf wear overall. Please note that all items are donated goods and are in used condition. Orders shipped Monday through Friday! Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Orders shipped Monday through Friday. Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Thank you! Seller Inventory # 466U1D002BR7
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Napoleons Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History
Seller: Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region, Tacoma, WA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Acceptable. An acceptable and readable copy. All pages are intact, and the spine and cover are also intact. This item may have light highlighting, writing or underlining through out the book, curled corners, missing dust jacket and or stickers. This is a ex library book, stickers and markings accordingly. Seller Inventory # 467IJT006NSV
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History
Seller: Goodwill of Colorado, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
paperback. Condition: Acceptable. This item is in overall acceptable condition. Covers and dust jackets are intact but may have heavy wear including creases, bends, edge wear, curled corners or minor tears as well as stickers or sticker-residue. Pages are intact but may have minor curls, bends or moderate to considerable highlighting/ writing. Binding is intact; however, spine may have heavy wear. Digital codes may not be included and have not been tested to be redeemable and/or active. A well-read copy overall. Please note that all items are donated goods and are in used condition. Orders shipped Monday through Friday! Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Orders shipped Monday through Friday. Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Thank you! Seller Inventory # 466SGT002YF0
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Napoleons Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History
Seller: Red's Corner LLC, Tucker, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. All orders ship by next business day! This is a used paperback book. Has moderate wear on cover and/or pages. Has no markings on pages. Spine has been opened/creased. Front cover has crease(s). Back cover has crease(s). For USED books, we cannot guarantee supplemental materials such as CDs, DVDs, access codes and other materials. We are a small company and very thankful for your business! Seller Inventory # 4CNO3J004XRQ
Quantity: 2 available
Seller Image
Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History
Seller: Zoom Books East, Glendale Heights, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Book is in good condition and may include underlining highlighting and minimal wear. The book can also include "From the library of" labels. May not contain miscellaneous items toys, dvds, etc. . We offer 100% money back guarantee and 24 7 customer service. Seller Inventory # ZEV.1585423319.G
Quantity: 2 available