Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Jul 2021
304 pages
Genre: Science, Health and the Environment
Publication Information
In this fresh and engaging guide to chemistry, Dr. Kate Biberdorf, aka "Kate the Chemist," reveals the fascinating science we experience every day.
Have you ever wondered what makes dough rise? Or how your morning coffee gives you that energy boost? Or why your shampoo is making your hair look greasy? The answer is chemistry. From the moment we wake up until the time we go to sleep (and even while we sleep), chemistry is at work—and it doesn't take a PhD in science to understand it.
Dr. Biberdorf has appeared on TV programs from the Today show to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, lighting the world on fire and changing the face of chemistry as we know it. In It's Elemental, she demystifies the fundamental principles of the science that may have eluded you in high school and shows how chemistry comes alive in everything we do. With wry wit and infectious enthusiasm, this entertaining guide will ignite your passion for science and change the way you experience the world.
"[Biberdorf's] day-in-the-life provides entertaining examples without getting too far into the weeds on any given concept, while personal anecdotes keep things fun...Readers will come away with an appreciation of how crucial—and how cool—chemistry actually is." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"With a wittiness that most science-explainers lack, It's Elemental should be a welcome respite for those seeking knowledge." - Booklist
"Whether you're baking a pie, washing your hands, or watching a sunset, Dr. Biberdorf shows that science is everywhere and it's fun! She's a proud nerd, and in the pages of this essential book you'll discover the great wonder of chemistry…After all, it's elemental." - Bill Nye
"Kudos to Kate Biberdorf for reminding us how fun it is to explore life's mysteries, even here on planet earth." - Peggy A. Whitson, Ph.D., Astronaut, Former Commander of the International Space Station and Chief of NASA's Astronaut Office
This information about It's Elemental was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Dr. Kate Biberdorf is a scientist and a chemistry professor at The University of Texas. She has a PhD in inorganic chemistry and has published her work in Catalysis, Science, and Technology. Her 6-book series for kids with Penguin breaks down the image of the stereotypical scientist, while reaching those who may be intimidated by science. She has appeared on The Today Show, Wendy Williams Show, and Late Night with Stephen Colbert. She lives in Austin TX with her family.
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