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Vanity, Vitality, and Virility: The Science behind the Products You Love to Buy
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 660
EAN: 9780192806734
ISBN: 0192806734
Label: Oxford University Press, USA
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 272
Publication Date: July 13, 2006
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Studio: Oxford University Press, USA
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Editorial Review:
What is the secret of shower cleaners? How does the dangerous explosive nitroglycerin ward off heart attacks? And what medicines, usually prescribed for other purposes, are said to produce the ultimate orgasm?
In Vanity, Vitality, and Virility, award-winning science writer John Emsley offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of 30 chemicals that we use everyday to make ourselves more beautiful, to improve our diet and sexual pleasure, to kill germs, and to ward off depression and other mental illnesses. Emsley looks at common compounds such as alpha-hydroxy acids, vitamin C, chlorine bleach, and Prozac, telling us if they work, how they work, and how they were discovered. Indeed, the book is packed with useful information and easy-to-digest science, and Emsley relates it all with a light touch that delights in the odd fact or amusing anecdote. Thus we learn of the "vitamin C tights" sold in Japan to make your legs more beautiful (they don't work) and of Cleopatra clever idea to bath in milk, which is filled with alpha-hydroxy acids. And we read about the unforgettable British researcher who demonstrated a powerful new drug for male erections at a Las Vegas convention--injecting himself with the compound and then "displaying the results" to a stunned lecture hall.
As with the much-loved Nature's Building Blocks, in John Emsley's hands, chemistry comes alive. Anyone curious about the ingredients in the products we use, and everyone fascinated with science, will be enthralled by this book.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Small audience possible - Not scientific enough, and yet too much...
As an undergraduate chemist, I found that this book was far less technical than I'd hoped. It seems, however, that I am not above the level for which this text was intended. For example, any non-chemist will not care for the IUPAC names included, and may not have the scientific background that is assumed for some of the explanations. However, someone with a few years of chemistry studies under their belt will find this to be a gloss-over, and entirely unsatisfying. I have returned the item. I believe ... Read More
Rating:  - Great Reading
This is the third book that I've read by John Emsley. The author keeps the story moving by supporting statements within the text rather than distracting footnotes. Anyone interested in his daily exposure to the world of chemistry will enjoy this book. The book is not technical, but it is an excellent source of references should one want to dig deeper into any of the title topics.
Rating:  - Some neat facts about consumer products, could have been more scientific
This book is divided into several sections, focussing on related series of compounds. The first three sections give the book its title - vanity (cosmetics, skin products), vitality (food-related topics), and virility (the biochemical functioning of the male reproductive system, as well as some information on Viagra). The rest of the chapters focus on how to kill germs, brain chemistry, and polymers of various uses.
The book goes into more detail than many other "popular chemistry" books ... Read More
Rating: - Chemicals for Beauty, Health, and Procreation.
Written by a British chemist who also wrote A HISTORY OF POISON, THE SORDID TALE OF MURDER..., and NATURE'S BUILDING BLOCKS among others. This book was actually written by a lot of people; each chapter had varied and sundry consultants.
The cover shows a lovely new tube of lipstick, possibly Revlon or Max Factor. Lipsticks are used as allures; beware the ingredients. He tells everything you ever wanted to know about lipstick and maybe some you don't. He gets pretty technical.
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Rating:  - Wonderful Overview of Chemistry in Our Daily Lives
In Vanity, Vitality, Virility, Emsley describes the chemistry behind certain products that we depend on in our daily lives. These products range from lipstick to Viagra to Prozac. Each snapshot of a certain chemical offers a quick summary of how the product works, its benefits and its harms. Emsley is excellent at piecing together a coherent train of thought on certain chemicals and their history. The book reads well and is written for the popular audience as Emsley makes sure that the vocabulary and theory ... Read More
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