Elemental: How the Periodic Table Can Now Explain (Nearly) Everything

Author: Tim James

If ever you wondered how the Periodic Table came to be, then this is the book for you. Tim gives a great overview of how the element chart came to be along with some very insightful observations of their impact on life. He adopts a non-technical style that makes for quick reading for anyone even remotely interested in Chemistry. You will learn about each of the elements in the Periodic Table and the fascinating people who discovered them. You will also learn about why the periodic table is shaped the way it is. This is a brilliant and enjoyable book that will bring Chemistry to life for you. 

The Cult of the Dead Cow: How the Original Hacking Supergroup Might Just Save the World

Author: Joseph Menn

As a relative newcomer into the cybersecurity arena, this was a welcome backstory of all the hactivism of the last two or three decades. It helped me relive some of the stories like “Back Orifice” which I was only peripherally aware of a long time ago. I learnt that the Cult of the Dead Cow (cDc) was the origin of many of these white hat organizations that helped us stay one step ahead of the bad guys. From the book I gathered that they were more of a “performance art group” than the traditional security technologist, although they did have several of those in their midst. Towards the end, they crossed paths with Julian Assange and other folks associated with WikiLeaks. 

I found it difficult to follow the story as it arced through the different organizations like cDc Ninja Strike Force, L0pht, Legion of Doom, Masters of Deception and @stake. I couldn’t tell what their relationship to cDc or the story was. I also felt that the author relied very heavily on the members of cDc for this narrative and consequently it comes across as a relatively one-sided book. To get another perspective, read the review from C. Thomas on Amazon.

In summary, I wouldn’t recommend this book unless you have a particular desire to learn about the history of cybersecurity. 

The Alchemy of Air: A Jewish Genius, a Doomed Tycoon, and the Scientific Discovery That Fed the World but Fueled the Rise of Hitler

Author: Thomas Hager

This book is centered around Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch, two brilliant German chemists whose collaboration led to the creation of a method for synthesizing ammonia on an industrial scale. The significance of this discovery cannot be overstated—it revolutionized agriculture by enabling the mass production of fertilizers, fundamentally changing the dynamics of food production and distribution. This meticulously researched narrative weaves together science, history, and biography, providing readers with a compelling account of a technological breakthrough that transformed the world.

The book describes the intense competition between German and British scientists to find a solution to the nitrogen fixation problem. It explores the scientific rivalry and nationalistic motivations that drove researchers on both sides to solve a critical issue in agriculture and explosives production.

The author sheds light on the engineering challenges faced by Carl Bosch in scaling up the Haber-Bosch process for industrial production. The complexity of turning laboratory discoveries into large-scale, practical applications is a recurring theme throughout the narrative.

Hager skillfully delves into the personal and professional lives of Haber and Bosch, offering readers a glimpse into the complexities of their characters and the moral dilemmas they faced. The dual nature of the Haber-Bosch process, which contributed both to increased food production and the production of explosives during World War I, adds a layer of ethical complexity that the author navigates with nuance.

In summary the author conveys some complex scientific information coupled with a compelling narrative that makes for an interesting read.