Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold by Tom Shachtman (PDF)

Description

“A lovely, fascinating book, which brings science to life.” —Alan Lightman Combining science, history, and adventure, Tom Shachtman “holds the reader’s attention with the skill of a novelist” as he chronicles the story of humans’ four-centuries-long quest to master the secrets of cold (Scientific American). “A disarming portrait of an exquisite, ferocious, world-ending extreme,” Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold demonstrates how temperature science produced astonishing scientific insights and applications that have revolutionized civilization (Kirkus Reviews). It also illustrates how scientific advancement, fueled by fortuitous discoveries and the efforts of determined individuals, has allowed people to adapt to—and change—the environments in which they live and work, shaping man’s very understanding of, and relationship, with the world. This “truly wonderful book” was adapted into an acclaimed documentary underwritten by the National Science Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, directed by British Emmy Award winner David Dugan, and aired on the BBC and PBS’s Nova in 2008 (Library Journal). “An absorbing account to chill out with.” —Booklist

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐I’m really interesting in the pursuit of absolute zero. And this seemed like the book. I confess, I’ve struggled with it, even trying to skip sections, but I just can’t make it through it. It’s not just that it’s historical rather than scientific writing — I expected that. It’s that Shachtman seems to follow the Kitchen Sink theory of writing, and has to insert every factoid he possesses about every story, whether it’s relevant or not.For instance, his opening story — a grabber about one of the first public presentations of cooling a room — starts off well enough with Cornelis Drebbel. And it would be a good story. However, soon, we’re into the family histories of everyone even tangentially connected. Did we really need to know (we’re just on page 5 mind you, the experiment hasn’t even begun) that “Assisting Drebbel were, in all likelihood, Abraham and Jacob Kuffler, Dutch brothers who had come to England that year, begun apprenticeships with him, and concocted a scheme in which one or the other would marry Drebbel’s daughter…”Here we have a digression which is not only irrelevant, but also pertaining to two men who may not even have been present. This sort of writing is not just irritating, it’s downright discouraging. And symptomatic of the whole book. So disappointing… I was really looking forward to reading this one. Purchase at your own peril.

⭐wan’t excatly what i thought when i was attracted by the title. it was a good book, but it is more about science not the history i thought. but still a good history of the science of cold.

⭐If you are interested in science, scientists and its history; If all you remember from your science classes are the names of scientists like Boyle, Van der waals and Joule; if you are ready to be taken on a fantastic ride into the realms of the cold and the story of its conquest…. This is the book for you.I really enjoyed it very much. Not only did I get a better perspective of physics and chemistry but I was surprised at the amount of work that had gone into the construction of the common refrigerator or the air conditioner, to which we never pay any attention. And the personal touch the author added really helped me feel like I was with the scientists when each discovery was being made. Now, I feel like I know Dewar and Joule well enough to call them by their first names!

⭐Nice read

⭐I liked this book.

⭐I’m amazed how juicy this book is. While most books peter off towards the end, Shachtman is still spitting out story after story about heat and absolute cold in the last forty-pages. Excellent book.

⭐I use this book when I teach my science classes. Lots of history and it has a video that goes along with it.

⭐Amazing, riveting book about a fascinating topic.

⭐I’m reviewing this 3/4 of the way through the book. It’s a really very interesting history and has made me want to delve deeper into the lives of each of the scientists that have been involved in conquering cold. I think it’s easy to read because it’s non technical, I sort of wish that it had been slightly more technical as I get the impression that the author could easily explain complex concept with relative ease. An enjoyable read thus far.

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