Introduction; 1. Vanity - no more wrinkles?; 2. Vitality - food for thought; 3. Virility, sterility, and Viagra; 4. Germs warfare; 5. It's all in the mind; 6. Polymers in unlikely guises; Postscript - a risk worth taking?; Glossary; Bibliography; Index
John Emsley is Science Writer in Residence in the
Chemistry Department at the University of Cambridge. He wrote a
Molecule of the Month column for the Independent for many years,
received a Glaxo award for science writing and the Chemical
Industries Association's President's Award for science
communication. His books include Molecules in an Exhibition and
Nature's Building Blocks.
Emsley knows his everyday chemicals like a farmer knows his
sheep.... From depression to cleaning your bathroom, Alzheimer's
disease to chewing gum, he discusses the common compounds used in
everyday products and remedies and assesses how, why and whether
they work.--Financial Times
Emsley clearly loves his subject, and writes in a lively style that
enhances the fascinating tales he tells, like how castor oil--the
object of great disdain in another form--became an essential
ingredient in lipstick, or how Viagra's future may include being
sold in the form of chewing
gum.--Gregory Mott, Washington Post
His subjects jump from lipstick and sunscreen to trans-fats and
vitamin C, bleach, Prozac, baby diapers and Viagra (hence the third
V of the title).... The book can be read cover to cover or used as
a reference, but either way, even chemists will find out some
surprising facts.--Publishers
Weekly
Emsley is a champion of the many ways chemicals ease our lives, and
in the book's final pages he says he hopes to dispel the
'chemiphobia' of those who think that anything chemical must be
bad.--Science News
In this engaging work, Emsley succeeds on two major points: he
provides the chemistry background that most consumers lack to
analyze the advertising and media claims behind everyday products,
foods, and medical treatments; and he makes a sound case against
the rampant 'chemiphobia' that equates the
word chemical with artificial, or worse, toxic.--Library
Journal
Emsley explores the science that goes into meeting our needs and
satisfying our desires. From lipstick to love potions, vitamins to
Viagra, he explains facts and explodes myths. Clever chemistry is
everywhere: fighting germs in kitchens and bathrooms, sucking up
what babies deposit in their
diapers, perking people up when they feel down and even giving
teenagers something to chew on. Like it or not, we all use the
fruits of the chemical industry and, with Emsley's help, we can be
better informed about them and know how to respond to the more
outlandish scare stories about
'chemicals'.--Peter Budd, New Scientist
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
