More than halfway read. Find this bio well worded, intensely intriguing, revealing the personality, social background, intertwining of discoverers of the elements behaviors, the egotism and some humility, eccentric personalities too. Highly recommended. Centuries of exploration, the roots. ( )

-science is more than science
-this is a real classic ( )

I was given my first copy of this book by one of my uncles, a professor of chemistry, while I was in high school (1960-64), and I read it several times avidly. I recently (2009) reread it. The style is antiquated (and was probably stilted even for its time), but the author is knowledgeable and adept at communicating scientific issues in layman's terms. The book was published in 1934 and so predates the atomic and hydrogen bombs, but I was pleased at the skill with which the author discusses the questions that led to the discovery of the structure of the atom and the formulation of quantum physics. Still very enjoyable.