Atoms Under the Floorboards

Starred review from May 1, 2015

From cars to skyscrapers, glues to water, and computers to radio waves, Woodford (explainthatstuff.com; Cool Stuff and How It Works) explores the science behind our everyday lives. The author's engaging narrative simplifies even the most complex of scientific phenomena to the point that anyone, from the person who hasn't been in a science class since high school to the PhD scientist, will be able to gain knowledge and enjoyment out of this book. There doesn't seem to be a common thread or logical progression among topics, so each chapter is like a vignette highlighting an everyday object or issue. Also, the title of the book may mislead readers: while there is certainly a fair amount of chemistry addressed here, the focus is much more on the physics of everyday objects. But neither of these points will detract from the readers' experience. VERDICT Recommended for professional scientists and completely unscientific readers alike.--John Kromer, Miami Univ. of Ohio Lib., Oxford, OH

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2015
Science-writer Woodford wants you to know that seemingly ordinary things can hold quite interesting secrets. We've all dropped a drinking glass and watched it bounce off the floor without breaking, but do we know how that's even possible? Most readers probably use a mobile phone of some sort, but how many know that the mobile phone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell? We all use Post-it Notes, too, but how many of us have even the first clue about how they keep sticking after repeated use? And, be honest, do any of us know how much our house weighs? (And do we know why we should care?) The author's writing is clear and precise; he explains complex matters simply, using scientific terminology without getting bogged down by it, although the book's habit of expressing weights and measures in both imperial and metric 160,000 kg/353,000 lb can get a little distracting, especially when it happens several times in a single paragraph. Visual distractions aside, though, this is a lively and educational book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)