Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe, Book 1 of 3

I am a chemist and have always been fascinated by the Periodic Table of Elements. So, imagine my excitement when I saw this book sitting in the bookstore. Not only does it provide information on all 118 elements in the Periodic Table, it does it in a way that is interesting, accessible, and beautiful. This is a book that makes you want to touch it and turn the pages, you just can't resist. The picture of the elements are colorful and intriguing; they are all featured on a stylish black background...this is just a beautiful book. Each element features a picture of the element in its purest form. The side of the page has a small strip that gives lots of technical data. The elements position on the periodic table is showm, atomic weight, density, atomic radius, crystal structure, electron order filing, atomic emissions spectrum, and state of matter are all given in this strip. The rest of the page is given over to a few paragraphs about the element. Then there are excellent pictures showing instances where the element is used and these pictures also have small descriptions. Most elements are given a two page spread, but some of the lucky elements get 4 pages! In addition to the individual elements the beginning of the book discusses the different sections of the periodic table and how the periodic table of elements got its shape. This is more of a coffee table book than an ultimate reference to the Periodic Table of Elements. Although it does provide a lot of information on the Elements. Much of the discussion on each Element is anecdotal and somewhat humorous. This makes the book an excellent reference for the layman interested in Elements, it also makes the book an entertaining read. You would have to go elsewhere to get into the gritty details of some of these elements though....for example if you were trying to synthesize something with them or something else deeply technical. Overall I really loved this book. It is such an awesome book with such neat pictures. Everyone in the house from my computer loving husband to my three year old son has spent time looking through this book. It is just such an interesting book and it is presented in such a beautiful way. Not to mention it is even fun to read! I think everyone should have this book in their house; if nothing else it makes for interesting discussions as you see the bizarre forms of some of the elements.

The Elements is a photographic tour de force of items from Theo Gray's personal collection of element samples. If he were to put on a museum show or do a PBS series, this would be the companion book. It is a beautiful book, with excellent photography and very high resolution printing on a semi-matte black paper which gives the pictures a floating-in-space quality. About my only gripe is that this is the sort of paper that tends to absorb oil from your fingers and acquire permanent fingerprints, so one has to take a bit of care to keep it looking nice. The bulk of the book consists of a two-page spread for each of elements 1 through 100. The left hand side of each spread will be a full-page image, typically of the element in its native mineral or a refined form, or some object constructed of the material etc. The right hand page contains a few paragraphs of interesting information/trivia about the element, as well as several images of items from the author's collection of objects made of, containing, or otherwise related to it. For each there are also some pertinent facts such as its position in the periodic table, and diagrams of the atomic emission spectrum, the melting and boiling points, electron order filling, crystal structure, and some basic numerical facts of atomic weight, density, and radius. There's also some introductory material and additional discussion of elements 101-118. This is not a formal reference work in any sense. It's a picture book along with interesting trivia and information. But it is also a fabulously entertaining tour of the elements that make up our world, and it's an absolute joy to curl up with and browse through. A very satisfying thing to possess. It also vividly demonstrates that there will still be a place for physical books for a long time, no matter how successful devices like the Kindle are. This is one you need to hold in your hands rather than read on some kind of screen (no matter how good). This book gets firmly placed on my list of must-haves for anyone interested in science and the nature of our world and the universe. Very appropriate for science fans of any age.

Great book - very visual and not at all stuffy old school. I bought it for a 9 year old interested in science, who has only been introduced to the periodic table through mine craft. He has started to ask questions about elements and what they are. Wanted to show him that the REAL elements are different and not like the mine craft ones. He is particularly interested in radioactive substances, this book was ideal in explaining what uranium was to satisfy his curiosity. It's a great book to dip in and out of, I wouldn't expect him to read it cover to cover, (although it is under his pillow). There is a double page colourful spread for each element, and the text is very readable. It is ordered in a way sympathetic to the periodic table. I love that practical everyday objects are used to illustrate what the elements are and how we use them in everyday life. Takes you up to secondary level science concepts, but in a way younger children may find interesting. He likes to categorise, order and group things, so this is right up his street. Found it when searching for a periodic table poster on line. Would quite like to get the cards that go with the book, and the poster. Also the book about molecules from the same series. I do think that when kids ask questions about a topic it's fine to give them text that takes them beyond what they may be doing at school. Hopefully it will make chemistry look interesting rather than scary, by the time he reaches secondary school.

Perfect book to get kids curious about learning!

Wow

This book is an amazing introduction into the Elements. It is a good read for all age groups above 6 years old. It has a lot of great colorful images that go along with concise text.

This is a very useful and informative coffee-table book and can be dipped into, not read cover to cover. Excellent for all ages from 9 to 90.