- Hardcover: 272 pages
- Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (Oct 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 031232913X
- ISBN-13: 978-0312329136
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 14 x 2.8 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,079,442 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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6 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Interesting Information.... Oddly Put Together
31 Oct 2005
Format:Hardcover
There is much interesting information presented in this book. The topic of explosives is discussed from earliest times to essentially the end of World War I. The contributions of Alfred Nobel are particularly prominent, as are those of Fritz Haber towards the end of the book. The author's focus is mainly on the historical, political and sociological aspects rather than the technical and scientific details of the various inventions - in other words, no detailed recipes or chemical formulas of explosives are provided. The only aspect of this book with which I had some difficulty is its timeline which is rather erratic. The author zigzags from medieval times to the nineteenth century, then back to olden times then back again to more modern times, etc. Other than possibly being somewhat annoying for some readers, this format has resulted in a certain amount of repetition of some of the facts. Nevertheless, this odd quirk does not detract from the fact that the book does contain much very interesting information. It should be of great interest to history buffs, particularly those interested in the history of science and technology.
More bang for the buck!!
14 April 2009
Format:Hardcover
This book is an excellent combination of many things: History,Biography,Business,Politics,Warfare,Sociology,Science,Advancementof Civilization,Human Nature,Greed,Oppression,Philanthrophy.Loneliness,Failure,Success,and even much more.
The author covers the development of explosives from its earliest days to modern times,or at least up to pre nuclear times.
A large part of the book centers around the life and work of Alfred Nobel,why he experimented with explosives ,and how he invented Dynamite. Of course, inventions that promise an advantage in military power,great riches ,and particularly useful in making huge construction or destruction possible;will naturally have far reaching implications. These implications are well detailed and explained throughout the book.However;whenever mankind finds a new, valuable and limited resourse ;conflicts occur in its control;eventually the supply becomes scarce and an alternative is searched for. When the naturally occuring sources of nitrates can't keep up with the demand;then along comes a person who is nohere as well known in history as Nobel,Fritz Haber,who develops methods to manufacture synthetic nitrogen and whole new worlds of advancement open up.While explosives,more often than not,thought of as warfare weapons ;the discovery of synthetic nitrogen,changed the world's food production with its ability to provide cheap,and highly efficient fertilizer for growing crops.While, with every advancement,there are also unforseen problems.In this case, great advancement in food supplying ,came great advances in population.Now the earth has a population of over 6 billion where prior to the discovery of synthetic Nitrogen it was about 2 billion.Along with that,since the crops absorbe only a small amount of these "artificial" fertilizers,the rest end up in oceans and rivers,creating huge,uncontrolled growth in algae and its accompanying problems.
Another part of the book covers what Nobel did with the huge fortunes his discovery brought to him.He had no family,and left almost everything to fund the Nobel Foundation that awards prizes we have all come to hear about.
In a way this book really looks at the great discoveries and advncement in civilization and wonders is it all really for the best. Mankind has always wondered this, and will continue to discover and ,advance and wonder.I guess the answer lies in the fact that ,despite the problems that come with advancement;they are never enough to turn back.
Mankind has learned to live with the advancements made with Gunpowder and Dynamite; will we also learn to manage Nuclear Energy as well?
Overall a very interesting and thought provoking book.
The author covers the development of explosives from its earliest days to modern times,or at least up to pre nuclear times.
A large part of the book centers around the life and work of Alfred Nobel,why he experimented with explosives ,and how he invented Dynamite. Of course, inventions that promise an advantage in military power,great riches ,and particularly useful in making huge construction or destruction possible;will naturally have far reaching implications. These implications are well detailed and explained throughout the book.However;whenever mankind finds a new, valuable and limited resourse ;conflicts occur in its control;eventually the supply becomes scarce and an alternative is searched for. When the naturally occuring sources of nitrates can't keep up with the demand;then along comes a person who is nohere as well known in history as Nobel,Fritz Haber,who develops methods to manufacture synthetic nitrogen and whole new worlds of advancement open up.While explosives,more often than not,thought of as warfare weapons ;the discovery of synthetic nitrogen,changed the world's food production with its ability to provide cheap,and highly efficient fertilizer for growing crops.While, with every advancement,there are also unforseen problems.In this case, great advancement in food supplying ,came great advances in population.Now the earth has a population of over 6 billion where prior to the discovery of synthetic Nitrogen it was about 2 billion.Along with that,since the crops absorbe only a small amount of these "artificial" fertilizers,the rest end up in oceans and rivers,creating huge,uncontrolled growth in algae and its accompanying problems.
Another part of the book covers what Nobel did with the huge fortunes his discovery brought to him.He had no family,and left almost everything to fund the Nobel Foundation that awards prizes we have all come to hear about.
In a way this book really looks at the great discoveries and advncement in civilization and wonders is it all really for the best. Mankind has always wondered this, and will continue to discover and ,advance and wonder.I guess the answer lies in the fact that ,despite the problems that come with advancement;they are never enough to turn back.
Mankind has learned to live with the advancements made with Gunpowder and Dynamite; will we also learn to manage Nuclear Energy as well?
Overall a very interesting and thought provoking book.
Most Damnable Invention
18 Nov 2006
Format:Hardcover
I enjoyed this book. Very well written and explanatory. I was never bored by a continuos or lengthy explanation.
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