Nature's Building Blocks cover art

Nature's Building Blocks

An A-Z Guide to the Elements

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Nature's Building Blocks

By: John Emsley
Narrated by: Kevin Scollin
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About this listen

Written by award-winning science writer John Emsley, this informative and highly enjoyable book explains the what, the why and the wherefore of the elements. Arranged alphabetically, from Actinium to Zirconium, it is a complete guide to all the elements that are currently known, with more extensive coverage of those we encounter in our everyday life. The entry on each element reveals where it came from, what role it may have in the human body, the foods that contain it, how it was discovered, its role in human health, the uses and misuses to which it is put, and its environmental role. The new edition includes the three chemical elements discovered since the first edition - Darmstadtium, Roetgenium, and Copernicium - and the section on "transfermium elements" has now been incorporated into the main part of the book. In addition, Emsley has added new information on the economic uses of elements such as Scandium and Gold. Praised by Nature as "amusing and finely crafted," Nature's Building Blocks offers a pleasurable tour of the very essence of our material world.

©2001 John Emsley (P)2013 Audible, Inc. Biological Sciences Science
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Generally good but the reader mispronounces many scientific terms including mistaking the Greek letters gamma and beta (referring to radiation) for “y” and “b”

“Y” radiation

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Very much enjoyed listening to this. Only thing missing is the various tables that bring the narrative together.

Good analysis of elements

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Awesomely entertaining, Awesomely educating, Awesomely Awesome! It really helps me pass time and learn, and it is really fun too. Really well performed too! 110/100.

Awesome

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Would you consider the audio edition of Nature's Building Blocks  to be better than the print version?

I only have the audio edition so can't answer this

What other book might you compare Nature's Building Blocks  to, and why?

it's like a shopping list where you go around find the product and then study the label including reading the ingredients in 5 languages

Which character – as performed by Kevin Scollin – was your favourite?

Boron ,,, just love Boron , better than the more flighty helium, but lighter than carbon

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

elements of the element will have you asking why, where and when?

Any additional comments?

this is a good book, it is a very long and detailed list, well what do you expect. the listening format sounds at times to be reading off a table. no story , just a huge pile of facts. (why did audible give me these questions in guided review ? )

very intresting, found out loads

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It doesn't work as an audio book at all. Might be good as normal book

Just not audiobook worthy

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