Caesar's Last Breath: Decoding the Secrets of the Air Around Us in Science and Inquiry

Jul 13, 2018 David Rubenstein rated it really liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, science, technology, medicine, environment, geology, chemistry

Like Sam Kean's previous books, this one is a fascinating look at chemistry. Its emphasis is on gaseous elements, but not exclusively. This is not a comprehensive treatise--it is what I would call "pop-chemistry" (as analogous to pop-psychology). Sam Kean writes in a popular, friendly style that borders on cutesy. Here are a few quotes as an example:

"boiled our frickin' oceans"

"To say that geologists didn't embrace Wegener's theory is a bit like saying that General Sherman didn't receive the wa

Like Sam Kean's previous books, this one is a fascinating look at chemistry. Its emphasis is on gaseous elements, but not exclusively. This is not a comprehensive treatise--it is what I would call "pop-chemistry" (as analogous to pop-psychology). Sam Kean writes in a popular, friendly style that borders on cutesy. Here are a few quotes as an example:

"boiled our frickin' oceans"

"To say that geologists didn't embrace Wegener's theory is a bit like saying that General Sherman didn't receive the warmest welcome in Atlanta.

"Heck, mucking around down there might even backfire and trigger another outburst."

This type of language simply sounds ingratiating to me, and really irritates me. However, I can look beyond this silliness, and find a lot to like in this book.

For example, there is an interesting story about how Carl Scheele and Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen, but it wasn't truly understood until Lavoisier investigated its significance, its role in chemistry, and gave the element its name. There is a retelling of a fascinating myth about Lavoisier's final science experiment as he was about to be beheaded at the guillotine. This is then followed by another fascinating story, this one about the "Priestley riot", the only riot named after a scientist! The riot took place in Birmingham, in the aftermath of his writing "History of the Corruptions of Christianity" and also because of his cheering of the French Revolution. His house and neighboring houses were burned down in the riot.

During the 19th century, it was believed that spontaneous combustion could occur. And this is recounted in stories by Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Herman Melville, and Washington Irving.

There is a fascinating story about William Morton, a con-man who was only interested in making a quick buck. He re-discovered that ether would be useful as an anesthetic during surgery. He arranged to use the "mystery gas" in a surgery by Dr. John Warren at Mass General Hospital. Everybody who got to know William Morton lived to regret it. However, his efforts to popularize the anesthetic did more "to benefit humankind that almost anyone who ever lived."

The gases that make up the atmosphere are emphasized in this book. And, as in many other science books these days, there is a considerable amount of discussion about climate change.

This is a very accessible book, full of interesting stories and anecdotes. You might think that Sam Kean chose topics carefully, in order to pack in the most interesting, and sometimes hilarious stories. You would be right. ...more

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Aug 27, 2017 Susanna - Censored by GoodReads marked it as mt-tbr

My copy courtesy Little, Brown - much thanks!

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Nov 14, 2018 Grace rated it liked it

Shelves: educational

This would be a great book to have as assigned reading in schools. I think I'll assign it to my students. ...more

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Sep 10, 2017 David Schwan rated it really liked it

Another great book from San Kean. Many fun facts are revealed. The best was late in the book where he writes about the "Roswell" issue, and gives us a wonderful explanation for what happened. I was not sure what could be told about air but the author found plenty to keep the reader involved. ...more

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Mar 01, 2022 Eric Bingham rated it really liked it

Sam Kean always does a great job with his books. This one is entirely about air and was very eye-opening regarding so many things about the world around you. It had it's moments that were a little dry or slow, but as a whole the book was a great read! ...more

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