"This fascinating book presents intriguing facts about a huge range of compounds. ... The information is provided in bite-sized chunks as the answers to questions. This makes it easy to read, as you don't have to start at the beginning. You can dip in wherever you like and you are sure to find something intriguing or (as the title says) amazing. ... I will leave you to browse and discover all the nuggets of fascinating chemistry - you will be amazed."-Anne Hodgson, from Chemistry Review, February 2016 "... a wonderful and easy-to-read book that would be of interest to a wide audience, ranging from chemistry faculty to high school teachers to anyone who is simply interested in learning about a variety of molecules that have impacted the
human condition. ... The examples presented in this book provide a wealth of educational material that relate both molecules, and many of the principles of chemistry, to a wide variety of contextual situations of interest to the general public. ... Each chapter's information is presented through a storyline of multiple sections that are introduced with a question that is followed by an answer. ... Not only do the authors use this Q&A style to chunk the material in an easily understood manner, but they are also able to use it to present the underlying concepts of complicated multifaceted topics in a neutral manner. In its entirety, Molecules That Amaze Us is a trove of facts and exemplars for a wide variety of chemicals that could be useful to many members of the JCE readership. ... The Q&A format with extensive use of images allows the novice to follow the material without getting bogged down in the details. ... I think educators would also find the Q&A format of this book to have some advantages over the more traditional encyclopedia-style format of presenting information, in that they can navigate the material based on the questions, and not statements of facts. That is, getting students to think is more than stating some basic facts, and with this book, you can quickly choose a chemical, browse through a bunch of questions, and potentially find concepts that would interest your students."-Robert E. Belford, Department of Chemistry, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, USA, from Journal of Chemical Education, January 25, 2016 "Molecules are everywhere, both inside us and out, but they are more than just common. The ones you will find in Molecules that Amaze Us are incredible. The stories behind many molecules in this book can provide teachers with dozens of fantastic examples on a multitude of topics-or just catch students' attention-in chemistry and biology lessons. Molecules that Amaze Us is an engaging book that provides a balanced mix of entertainment and education."-Jose Viosca, in Science and School "In 67 chapters, the authors describe more than that many chemicals, arranged in alphabetical order from ATP to water (the most amazing chemical of all). Even experienced chemists will find much new information here. Recommended for all readers, high school age and up."-R. E. Buntrock, formerly University of Maine, in CHOICE "The authors strike a good mix in their use of historical content and pop culture references, using famous names to illustrate the compounds' origin and history. For chemistry-savvy readers...the book is an enjoyable, easy-to-digest collection of fascinating molecules to dip in and out of."-Katrina Krämer, in Education in Chemistry "This is truly a wonderful book... Molecules that amaze us is a treasure trove of chemistry that can be read by anyone.May and Cotton write in an easy style and with humour, and while I knew a lot about the molecules within its pages, for almost every one I came across pieces of information, which had me saying 'I didn't know that'. Save up and buy yourself a copy."-John Emsley, inPopular Science, April 2016.
