Napoleons Buttons, Penny Le Couteur
Napoleons Buttons, Penny Le Couteur
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Napoleon's Buttons
17 Molecules That Changed History

Author: Penny Le Couteur, Jay Burreson

Narrator: Laural Merlington

Unabridged: 11 hr 6 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 10/10/2011

Categories: Nonfiction, History, Science

Synopsis

Napoleon's Buttons is the fascinating account of seventeen groups of molecules that have greatly influenced the course of history. These molecules provided the impetus for early exploration, and made possible the voyages of discovery that ensued. The molecules resulted in grand feats of engineering and spurred advances in medicine and law; they determined what we now eat, drink, and wear. A change as small as the position of an atom can lead to enormous alterations in the properties of a substance—which, in turn, can result in great historical shifts.

With lively prose and an eye for colorful and unusual details, Penny Le Couteur and Jay Burreson offer a novel way to understand the shaping of civilization and the workings of our contemporary world.

About Penny Le Couteur

Penny Le Couteur, Ph.D., teaches chemistry at Capilano College in British Columbia, Canada, where she has been a professor for over thirty years. Winner of a Polysar Award for Outstanding Chemistry Teaching in Canadian Colleges, she was formerly the head of Capilano's chemistry department and was chair of pure and applied sciences. She has written chemistry distance-education courses, co-authored a chemistry textbook, and served as a project adviser in chemistry for universities in eastern Indonesia. Penny was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and now lives in North Vancouver.

Reviews

Goodreads review by t-rex

The seventeen molecules: 1. Peppers, Nutmeg, and Cloves 2. Ascorbic Acid 3. Glucose 4. Cellulose 5. Nitro Compounds 6. Silk and Nylon 7. Phenol 8. Isoprene 9. Dyes 10. Wonder Drugs 11. The Pill 12. Molecules of Witchcraft 13. Morphine, Nicotine, and Caffeine 14. Oleic Acid 15. Salt 16. Chlorocarbon Compounds 17. Mol......more

Goodreads review by Pete

If you like Organic chemistry like i do, have a short attention span like i do, and have a passing interest in the economic, political, and cultural histories of textiles, dyes, and pharmaceuticals - you too may enjoy this nicely written non fiction work......more

Goodreads review by Jimmy

This book would fit well in an introduction to chemistry class. I'd recommend it for teenagers who want to learn some chemistry before taking a class in high school. Here are a few interesting tidbits from the book: Is it possible that the buttons on Napolean's troops' jackets moving into Russia dis......more

Goodreads review by Kathy

Non-fiction exploration of scientific elements which had an effect on life throughout the history of man. Writers searching for conflict to use in their stories may well want to buy this volume for the multitude of possibilities. My Take This was excellent. Couteur/Burreson beautifully provided a look......more

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