Uncle Tungsten : Memories of a Chemical Boyhood Pdf, Epub, Ebook

UNCLE TUNGSTEN : MEMORIES OF A CHEMICAL BOYHOOD PDF, EPUB, EBOOK

The heart of the book is his experience being evacuated Along with many other children from London during World War II. Book Description Condition: new. Much is done with chromatography in various forms: paper, thin layer, column, gas, vapor phase, high pressure liquid. Oliver Sacks, who is known as the author of numerous anecdotal stories involving case-studies of his patients' neurological disorders. Nor is it really a popular introduction to chemistry. Save on Nonfiction Trending price is based on prices over last 90 days. Podcast Cinnamaldehyde TZ How did a tree bark from Sri Lanka become one of the essential flavours of the festive season? Still, fun to read. And we hear of his return to London, an emotionally bereft ten-year-old who found solace in his passion for learning. Excerpted by permission. Two of them founded schools. Best Selling in Nonfiction See all. These patients and his treatment of them were the basis of Sacks' book Awakenings. Fire protection? It was always slightly rusty, and this bothered me, for the rust flaked off, leaving little cavities and scabs, and I was afraid the whole roller might corrode and fall apart one day, reduced to a mass of red dust and flakes. Sign up Log in. Some had alchemists on their staff. User icon An illustration of a person's head and chest. Ergodebooks Richmond, TX, U. The IMNF again bestowed a Music Has Power Award on Sacks in to commemorate "his 40 years at Beth Abraham and honor his outstanding contributions in support of music therapy and the effect of music on the human brain and mind". Sacks Auszug - She never lost her love of, her feeling for, the physical sciences, nor the desire to go beneath the surfaces of things, to explain. As somebody who is very interested in chemistry I have tried to teach myself as an adult and who intends to home-school, this approach has been quite an eye opener. Stock photo. Wells, and the periodic table. This is Sacks' inspiring memoir of his early teenage years, when his growing scientific mind recapitulated the history of chemistry through reading and his own hands-on experiments. It was strangely, startlingly cold; metals felt cool to the touch, but the diamond was icy. Why heavy? Oliver Sacks' memoirs 1. In many ways, Sacks's memoir gives the history of chemistry advances in the 19th and 20th century. I liked reading about his discoveries much more than I liked reading about them in chemistry textbooks. For instance, at one point he describes how as a teenager his brother Michael suffered from paranoid delusions was he schizophrenic? Work for Fools? In this book he is the subject of his narrative and he manages to depict himself with the same grace and wit that uses to characterize others. Load more audio. All these things—the rubbed amber, the magnets, the crystal radio, the clock dials with their tireless coruscations—gave me a sense of invisible rays and forces, a sense that beneath the familiar, visible world of colors and appearances there lay a dark, hidden world of mysterious laws and phenomena. It made me think of the best works by John Gribbin that I had read many I think this is the most personal of Sacks' books. Stinks and Bangs. Seller Image. Other editions. Sacks certainly gives the impression that the way chemistry was taught to my generation is backwards: It seems to me that most textbooks start with the structure of the atom or types of bonds or molecular formulas or the definition of atomic number the most recent discoveries , thus not allowing students to see how astounding it was to find that there was an underlying structural explanation for the physical properties of the different elements. Jewish Quarterly-Wingate Prize for Nonfiction What's perhaps even more compelling in Sacks's story is his depiction of life before and during the war. Oliver was fascinated with Tungsten and its proper Oliver Sacks grew up in North London surrounded by scientific aunts and uncles. Through Uncle Dave "Tungsten", Sacks's intellectual curiosity in chemistry was aroused. Memorials Hardcover Books. Uncle Tungsten : Memories of a Chemical Boyhood Writer

His parents were physicians and his uncles he came from quite a large family were scientists and entrepreneurs. Clearly there is nothing wrong with this book, but it is simply better appreciated by someone who is willing to read it slowly and investigate all the marvels it speaks of. Uncle Tungsten. Announcements What was Your Dumbest Investment? Published August 23rd by Picador first published We see the universal, and despicable, bullying given to boys who are different and talented—a theme shatteringly taken-up in his memoir covering adulthood On the Move: A Life. Colorful solutions of alkali metals in liquid ammonia were observed. Seamlessly interwoven with his personal recollections is a masterful survey of scientific history, with emphasis on the great chemists like Robert Boyle, Antoine Lavoisier, and Humphry Davy Sacks's personal hero. It gives the impression that the great discoveries in chemistry have been made, but much remains to be done with the many compounds made from those elements. The thermite reaction can produce many metals in addition to molten iron. Sacks manages to weave together at least three different strands through the book: his personal history, growing up in a large Jewish family in the UK in the s and 40s; the story of his discoveries and explorations in chemistry during that time; and finally the history of chemistry to explain the science behind his stinks and bangs. But it frightened me too, made me feel that my atoms were only on loan and might fly apart at any time, fly away like the fine talcum powder I saw in the bathroom. The book overlooks the contribution of the alchemists. Ergodebooks Richmond, TX, U. Extremely sensitive nitrogen triiodide is described as is dangerous nitrogen trichloride. An oxide of the metal is mixed with powered aluminum as reducing agent and ignited with a drop of sulfuric acid on a mixture of potassium perchlorate and sugar. I was mesmerized by the little cone of blue flame at the candle's center—why was it blue? Related articles. But soon after his sixth birthday, the Second World War broke out and he was evacuated from London, as were hundreds of thousands of children, to escape the bombing. Seller Rating:. Hydrogen selenide and hydrogen telluride made by adding acid to the corresponding iron compounds are described as the worst smelling, worse than hydrogen sulfide. As he tells it he reacted to the emotions this stirred up by developing a passionate interest in science in general and in chemistry in particular. When he saw the periodic table for the first time in a museum, along with samples of each element, it all came together in a blinding mind-storm. There follow his years at boarding school where, though unhappy, he developed the intellectual curiosity that would shape his later life. Nor is it really a popular introduction to chemistry. Exiled to a school that rivaled Dickens's grimmest, fed on a steady diet of turnips and beetroots, tormented by a sadistic headmaster, and allowed home only once in four years, he felt desolate and abandoned. It was strangely, startlingly cold; metals felt cool to the touch, but the diamond was icy. Oliver was fascinated with Tungsten and its proper Oliver Sacks grew up in North London surrounded by scientific aunts and uncles. Jul 25, Darcy rated it it was amazing. These days it's easy for us to take things like the modern-day conception of a quantum atom for granted, but this book brings you back to a time when this was an amazing discovery and, more than that, tells you exactly why it was such. Why did they never go out? He would outgrow his passion for metals and become a neurologist, but as readers of Awakenings and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat know, he would never leave behind his conviction that science is a profoundly human endeavor. Uncle Tungsten : Memories of a Chemical Boyhood Reviews

Information about your use of this site is shared with Google. Book your free demo and find out what else Mya 4 from Radleys can do. I knew zinc: the dull, slightly bluish birdbath in the garden was made of zinc; and tin, from the heavy tinfoil in which sandwiches were wrapped for a picnic. Sacks, Oliver. All of us, I could not help imagining, had a bit of the old man in us. More Podcasts. After thirty years of working with tungsten, I imagined, the heavy element was in his lungs and bones, in every vessel and viscus, every tissue of his body. Video Audio icon An illustration of an audio speaker. The IMNF again bestowed a Music Has Power Award on Sacks in to commemorate "his 40 years at Beth Abraham and honor his outstanding contributions in support of music therapy and the effect of music on the human brain and mind". Even lead floated on it, as my uncle showed me by floating a lead bullet in a bowl of quicksilver. Synopsis About this title Long before Oliver Sacks became a distinguished neurologist and bestselling writer, he was a small English boy fascinated by metals—also by chemical reactions the louder and smellier the better , photography, squids and cuttlefish, H. Start your review of Uncle Tungsten. Categories : non-fiction books American autobiographies Books by Oliver Sacks Chemistry books Biography book stubs Science book stubs. That was because it conducted heat so well, she said—better than any metal—so it drew the body heat away from one's lips when they touched it. This book is too smart for me. In Uncle Tungsten we meet Sacks' extraordinary family, from his surgeon mother who introduces the fourteen-year-old Oliver to the art of human dissection and his father, a family doctor who imbues in his son an early enthusiasm for housecalls, to his "Uncle Tungsten," whose factory produces tungsten-filament lightbulbs. Or try any of these new books that our editors recommend. On the lookout for your next book to read, but not sure where to start? Refresh and try again. Lists with This Book. Jamie Oliver Hardcover Books. Sep 08, Julie rated it really liked it Shelves: non-fiction , american , 21st-century , british. When he saw the periodic table for the first time in a museum, along with samples of each element, it all came together in a blinding mind- storm. Oliver Sacks grew up in a time where you could essentially run down to the store and buy som This book was great because you can really sense the boyhood excitement, and you pick up a lot of little chemistry trivia which I, as a chemist, especially appreciate. I'm also a really good cook. Related articles. This is an odd book--part autobiography, part history of chemistry. My mother was patient, for the most part, and tried to explain, but eventually, when I exhausted her patience, she would say, "That's all I can tell you—you'll have to quiz Uncle Dave to learn more. EMBED for wordpress. Subscribe Advertise Topics Issues Contributors. Other Editions My mother showed me other wonders. And this gave me, for the first time, a sense of the transcendent power of the human mind, and the fact that it might be equipped to discover or decipher the deepest secrets of nature, to read the mind of God. Uncle "Tungsten" owned and ran a factory I enjoy Oliver Sack's works. He had a passion, my aunts and uncles told me, for intricate arithmetical calculations, which he would do in his head while lying in the bath. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Notwithstanding, it's worth slogging through the esoteric parts of the book, if for nothing more than to gain an appreciation of this young man's remarkable intellectual focus and his passion for knowledge. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file. Oliver Sacks, who is known as the author of numerous anecdotal stories involving case-studies of his patients' neurological disorders. Will I be confused or bored by this book? Book your free demo and find out what else Mya 4 from Radleys can do. Concerns about poisonous fumes? Feb 10, Nancy rated it it was ok Shelves: memoir , western-europe , essays , science. Dalton's round bits of wood -- Lines of force -- Home life -- Mendeleev's garden -- A pocket spectroscope -- Cold fire -- Ma -- Penetrating rays -- Madame Curie's element -- Cannery row -- The world set free -- Brilliant light -- The end of the affair. Uncle loved the density of the tungsten he made, and its refractoriness, its great chemical stability. In school, I needed extra help with math and science. His sociable father loved house calls and "was drawn to medicine because its practice was central in human society," while his shy mother "had an intense feeling for structure Unmasked by Andy Ngo , Hardcover No ratings or reviews yet.

Uncle Tungsten : Memories of a Chemical Boyhood Read Online

I knew that mercury, that strange liquid metal, was incredibly heavy and dense. Mar 26, Tonya rated it really liked it. That was because it conducted heat so well, she said—better than any metal—so it drew the body heat away from one's lips when they touched it. But soon after his sixth birthday, the Second World War broke out and he was evacuated from London, as were hundreds of thousands of children, to escape the bombing. Most relevant reviews. Language: ENG. What gave gold its goldness, and why did it never tarnish? He describes the early days of scientific discovery especially the days when metals and chemicals were very easily obtained. She had a necklace of polished yellow pieces of amber, and she showed me how, when she rubbed them, tiny pieces of paper would fly up and stick to them. Continued use of this website assumes you're okay with that. Feb 04, Justin rated it it was amazing. Not only did their thought processes and magnificent intuition fascinate him, but also their lifelong dedication to discover, not master, the principles of the universe, with the intent to further the knowledge of mankind. His family was closely connected to the Jewish community in London and his stories about this culture are interesting and evocative; he says that this tight knit society ceased to be after the war. One amazing aspect of the story is how easy it was for Sacks to acquire chemicals that are quite dangerous and how tolerant his parents were of the goings-on in his lab in an attached shed. Born in into a family of formidably intelligent London Jews, he discovered the wonders of the physical sciences early from his parents and their flock of brilliant siblings, most notably "Uncle Tungsten" real name, Dave , who "manufactured lightbulbs with filaments of fine tungsten wire. I really enjoyed this autobiography. It's me. Message Font: Serif Sans-Serif. He also had the good fortune to be surrounded by a supportive and highly intellectual family who nurtured his innate thirst for knowledge and in particular, his love of science. Plus, I learned a few more obnoxious chemistry trivia facts, the better to torment family and friends. Seller Rating:. Brand new Book. At age 14 he decided he wanted to be a physician. Much is done with chromatography in various forms: paper, thin layer, column, gas, vapor phase, high pressure liquid. Jul 18, Roshani Chokshi added it. And how pale all my relatives look in comparison to Sacks'. Ah, for a time machine and a genetic makeover. I thought the author was lucky to get through his younger days mentally intact, and I appreciate how Science helped him manage that, but I would have enjoyed the book much more if there had been more of those "I" bits. Dalton's round bits of wood -- Lines of force -- Home life -- Mendeleev's garden -- A pocket spectroscope -- Cold fire -- Ma -- Penetrating rays -- Madame Curie's element -- Cannery row -- The world set free -- Brilliant light -- The end of the affair. A typically slow paced, simply written but involving book from Mr Sachs. Subscribe Advertise Topics Issues Contributors. Sacks certainly gives the impression that the way chemistry was taught to my generation is backwards: It seems to me that most textbooks start with the structure of the atom or types of bonds or molecular formulas or the definition of atomic number the most recent discoveries , thus not allowing students to see how astounding it was to find that there was an underlying structural explanation for the physical properties of the different elements. This is an odd book--part autobiography, part history of chemistry. Condition: new. We continue to look for cures for cancer or plastics that will biodegrade in the ocean. More information about this seller Contact this seller. Through Uncle Dave "Tungsten", Sacks's intellectual curiosity in chemistry was aroused. A discussion of chemical instrumentation might have begun with the invention of the analytical balance by Joseph Black in about probably at the University of Glascow. I thought the author was Mother ordered this book some time ago and wanted me to read it. This site uses cookies from Google and other third parties to deliver its services, to personalise adverts and to analyse traffic. Never mind! Lorem ipsum. This is why I am continuing no further. He recalls with great detail the experiments he carried out as a boy and the enchantment which filled him as the universe revealed its underlying principles and almost holy logic to him. 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