I wrote about the Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture by Robert Bruce Thompson as soon as I read about it. Earlier this week I ordered it, and a number of other books, and it should be here shortly.
Now this morning I see at GeekDad that John Baichtal has a comprehensive review of the new book, which comes as an antidote to “‘spa science’ and ‘candy chemistry’ and other pseudoscientific pap”. As John points out,
Today is the DIY era, and we don’t need a set to learn about chemistry. All we need is the internet and the Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments by Robert Bruce Thompson.
In the book’s introduction, Thompson makes two basic points: that commercial chemistry sets are dying, and that science education is getting worse. He tells the story of Jasmine, his young neighbor who told him that her middle school only teaches 15 minutes of science per day. He thought he’d let her use the pro-quality chemistry lab he has in his basement, but without a guidebook she’d be lost in all the possibilities. It was this situation that induced him to write the book.
Read the rest here.
Filed under: Books, Chemistry, Children's Books, Courting Danger, Education, Fun & Games, Science
Oh, I remember when you posted about this at first. I like the review you linked to. Definitely going on my wish list.
Mine is ordered but is in some long term wait hell at Amazon. Estimated ship date sometimes in July or August. WTF? Of well. We weren’t going to set up a chem lab this summer anyway.
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