Review

Napoleon's Buttons: How 17 Molecules Changed History

	About the Reviewer: Katie M.  Read, Write & Win 1st place, 11th grade, 2007

Nominated by: Library Journal Best Sci-Tech Books of 2003

Many believe that history is shaped by people, villainous or heroic. Others argue it is events, such as wars or elections. However, in Napoleon's Buttons: How Seventeen Molecules Changed History, chemistry professor Penny Le Couteur and industrial chemist Jay Burreson say that history is made by molecules. This book is a fascinating account of seventeen groups of molecules that have greatly influenced the course of history. Each chapter is devoted to a particular molecule (i.e. glucose, silk, phenol, salt) and discusses its history, chemical structure, and significance to civilization. I truly enjoyed reading this novel. The information is both informative and intriguing, and the authors' lively prose keeps the reader involved. The content appeals to anyone and everyone, whether or not one is interested in chemistry or history. Simply put, it is very interesting to learn of such simple molecules as salt or pepper and how they have impacted society; at the same time, one also learns about their chemical structures and how that determines their properties.

One of the primary reasons I enjoyed Napoleon's Buttons so much is because of how much I learned. An informative book such as this one is never as interesting if one already knows everything in it. Each page contained a wealth of new knowledge for me, and that was exciting. In addition, I like this book because it is very easy to follow due to its organization. Each chapter begins with a history of the molecule at hand. Then, the authors go on to describe its chemical structure and properties. The chapter then ends with a thorough explanation of the molecule's impact on history. This organization is beneficial because the information is clearly laid out for the reader, but at the same time it gets to be repetitious and predictable.

Furthermore, Napoleon's Buttons is made more enjoyable by Le Couteur and Burreson's writing style: the two explain the topics very well and use simple language so that anyone can comprehend what is being discussed, even the chemistry sections. Also, they throw in a humorous comment every once in awhile that makes the story that much more enjoyable. Moreover, each chapter contains illustrations of the chemical structure of the molecule being discussed. These illustrations are clear, thoroughly explained, and help the reader to understand the molecule?s chemical properties.

Overall, I enjoyed this book because of its interesting topic and how much I learned from it. Napoleon's Buttons is fascinating because it describes how something as mundane (to many people) as chemical formulae can determine the outcome of civilizations. I would give this book a four out of five star rating, because it is so interesting but also becomes a bit repetitious. For these reasons, I believe Napoleon's Buttons should remain a Cornerstones nominee. In general, this book teaches the reader a great deal about chemistry and how significant certain molecules really are.

No User Comments: