Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood,   ISBN:9780375704048

Customer Rating: 

This is the most delightful book I have read in ages. The reader is carried along by the sheer joy of discovery - the "pleasure of finding things out".

Although in small glimpses, Sacks' family form the important backdrop, but the main part of the book is about chemistry and, more importantly, the young Sacks' love of chemistry.

I wish I had read this book back when I was studying chemistry. At that time, it seemed dry to me sometimes, but in this book it really comes alive.

Customer Rating: 

book shipped a little slower than I liked BUT within the allotted amount of time. In excellent condition!!! Better than expected. Overall, very happy.

Customer Rating: 

I greatly enjoyed _The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat_, but this book, simply put, was too dull for me. I don't have an interest in chemistry so that alone should have stopped me from buying the book, but I thought that my interest in him, plus WWII London would be more than enough to interest me in this... unfortunately, WWII London serves as little more than a backdrop to a rather small portion of the book. And for all of the effort that he put into chemistry as a child, the end, it was a shock at the end the ease in which he abandoned it. I guess I really don't know how I feel about the book... some sections were just very slow moving for me and I didn't really have anything to relate to or a common interest in it. There were a few funny anecdotes, but not really enough. I even toyed with the idea of not finishing it for an hour or so. I am glad I finished it, but really, this is a book best suited for science buffs, not history buffs.

Customer Rating: 

Fascinating read about a young boy's exposure to science and science history.
Consider it as a gift for a science-minded youngster.

Customer Rating: 

If you love Sacks writing, read this one.
Okay, I'm interested in chemistry, but regardless, one reads this book for the anecdotes. Every family has it's "characters" - that is part of what makes the memories of our youth treasures beyond price.
It's as entertaining as Vonnegut without the psychosis :~o