• 'A delight of a book.... Elegantly written...it's far-reaching, entertaining and salted with anecdote.... It could become a classic. Hold on to your first edition.' Roy Herbert, New Scientist.
• An engaging chronology of the elements, from the Greek philosophers who thought the world was made only from earth, air, fire, and water, to the work of twentieth-century radiochemistry in extending the Periodic Table.
• An exciting and non-traditional approach to understanding the terminology, properties, and classification of chemical elements.
• Includes chapters on particular elements (gold, iron, oxygen, etc), showing how they shaped culture and technology.
• Philip Ball is a high-profile science writer, who writes science extremely well for non-scientists.

   
This Very Short Introduction traces the history and cultural impact of the elements on humankind, and examines why people have long sought to identify the substances around them. Looking beyond the Periodic Table, the author examines our relationship with matter, from the uncomplicated vision of the Greek philosophers, who believed there were four elements - earth, air, fire, and water - to the work of modern-day scientists in creating elements such as hassium and meitnerium. Packed with anecdotes, The Elementsis a highly engaging and entertaining exploration of the fundamental question: what is the world made from?