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Napoleon's Buttons cover art

Napoleon's Buttons

Written by: Penny Le Couteur, Jay Burreson
Narrated by: Laural Merlington
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Publisher's Summary

Napoleon's Buttons is the fascinating account of 17 groups of molecules that have greatly influenced the course of history. These molecules provided the impetus for early exploration and made possible the voyages of discovery that ensued. The molecules resulted in grand feats of engineering and spurred advances in medicine and law; they determined what we now eat, drink, and wear. A change as small as the position of an atom can lead to enormous alterations in the properties of a substance - which, in turn, can result in great historical shifts.

With lively prose and an eye for colorful and unusual details, Penny Le Couteur and Jay Burreson offer a novel way to understand the shaping of civilization and the workings of our contemporary world.
©2003 Micron Geological Ltd and Jay Burreson (P)2011 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
World Science Physics Chemistry
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What the critics say

"Well-conceived, well-done popular science." ( Booklist)

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Should be read on paper

My personal opinion here, I just think that you would get much more out of the book with the diagrams provided in the physical copy of the book rather than struggling to imagine the diagrams while the book is narrated. It was a quality book though!

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