The Elements: An Illustrated History of the Periodic Table (100 Ponderables)
This new series, Ponderables, aims to introduce 100 breakthroughs that changed history. In an attractive, graphics-heavy format, each title describes events in either chemistry, mathematics, or astronomy—from “Making Glass” in The Elements, to “Boolean Algebra” in Mathematics, to “The Hubble Space Telescope” in The Universe. Entries are organized chronologically from ancient discoveries to modern-day ones.   Entries range from one paragraph to two pages in length and include color illustrations, charts, and photos. Sidebars cover smaller topics of interest, like the mercury thermometer or the decimal point. Each book concludes with “101,” an appendix covering the basics of the topic at hand, which is a good overview of the subject for beginners. There is also an appendix of biographies of important scientists and people and a section called “Imponderables,” which are unresolved questions in the field, such as “Does the periodic table run out?,” “Is there a pattern in the primes?,” and “How will the universe end?”   In spite of the technical topics, the writing is appropriate for middle-school students and above. Each book includes a two-sided pullout chart with a time line and chemical, mathematical, or astronomical information. The attractive layout makes the content very browsable. Each of the three titles in this series would work as a coffee-table book or a reference book or could pique the interest of a reader in learning more about science. These fun science titles encourage understanding and exploration. --Jack OGorman