"[A] virtuoso tour of the periodic table." -- Publishers Weekly

"[C]harming. . . . Aldersey-Williams writes with simplicity and elegance. The stories may not help you on your next chemistry test, but they'll help you appreciate the building blocks that are all around us yet all too easy to overlook." -- Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers

"A lucid, enjoyable collection . . . that, element by element, demystifies the iconic periodic table." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Aldersey-Williams's playful, hands-on approach to scientific exploration shines through the book." -- Boston Globe

For the UK edition: "[F]ascinating and beautiful. . . . If only chemistry had been like this at school. . . . [A] rich compilation of delicious tales." -- Matt Ridley, Prospect magazine