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The Atom: A Visual Tour (Mit Press) Hardcover – Illustrated, December 11, 2018

by Jack Challoner (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 393 ratings
Editors' pick Best Nonfiction
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An accessible and engaging guide to the atom, the smallest, most fundamental constituent of matter.

Until now, popular science has relegated the atom to a supporting role in defining the different chemical elements of the periodic table. In this book, Jack Challoner places the atom at center stage. The Atom investigates the quest to identify the smallest, most fundamental constituents of matter—and how that quest helps us to understand what everything is made of and how it all works. Challoner covers a wide range of topics—including the development of scientific thinking about atoms and the basic structure of atoms; how atomic interactions account for the familiar properties of everyday materials; the power of the atomic nucleus; and what the mysterious quantum realm of subatomic particles can tell us about the very nature of reality.

Illustrated in color throughout, The Atom offers clear answers to questions we have all pondered, as well as some we have never even dreamed of. It describes the amazing discoveries scientists have made about the fundamental building blocks of matter—from quarks to nuclear fission to the “God particle”—and explains them accessibly and concisely. The Atom is the engaging and straightforward introduction to the topic that we didn't get in school.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    192 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    The MIT Press
  4. Publication date
    December 11, 2018
  5. Dimensions
    8.5 x 0.72 x 9.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    026203736X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0262037365
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A delightful read for those seeking to learn how chemistry and physics have so rapidly evolved over the last 200 years.—New York Journal of Books—

An engaging and visually appealing overview of physics and chemistry

—Forbes—

About the Author

Jack Challoner is the author of more than forty books on science and technology, including The Cell: A Visual Tour of the Building Block of Life, which was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Biology Book Prize 2016, Maker Lab, and The Elements: The New Guide to the Building Blocks of the Universe.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The MIT Press; Illustrated edition (December 11, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 026203736X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0262037365
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.91 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 0.72 x 9.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 393 ratings

About the authors

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Previous page
  1. Jack Challoner

    Jack Challoner

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Always frustrated by lack of clarity in books he read as a child, Jack long felt the need to make the amazing things that science and technology have achieved accessible to a wide audience. After studying physics in London, he trained as a science and maths teacher, then worked at London's Science Museum, in the education department and in their flagship interactive gallery, Launch Pad.

    Jack left the museum in 1991 to write science and technology books, and to write and perform science shows in museums, libraries and schools. He's been doing all that ever since, with nearly forty books to his name. He also works as a consultant on other people's science books, and sometimes in television, helping to develop new ideas or work up existing ones.

    He is also a musician and singer, writing, producing and performing music. He lives in Bristol, England.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Jack Challoner

    Jack Challoner

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Always frustrated by lack of clarity in books he read as a child, Jack long felt the need to make the amazing things that science and technology have achieved accessible to a wide audience. After studying physics in London, he trained as a science and maths teacher, then worked at London's Science Museum, in the education department and in their flagship interactive gallery, Launch Pad.

    Jack left the museum in 1991 to write science and technology books, and to write and perform science shows in museums, libraries and schools. He's been doing all that ever since, with nearly forty books to his name. He also works as a consultant on other people's science books, and sometimes in television, helping to develop new ideas or work up existing ones.

    He is also a musician and singer, writing, producing and performing music. He lives in Bristol, England.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
393 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Igo Hummaan
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Balance of Details & Illustration
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2022
Verified Purchase
This is one of the very few books of its kind that I've found and I'm glad I did. Since purchasing a couple years ago I've gone back to it at least three times and enjoyed it just as much if not more. This work provides a complete picture of the nature of atoms, with enough detail and well-thought-out visuals to truly help the reader understand the nature of things at the smallest levels of reality.

And exclusions of who-exactly-thought-of-what-first not withstanding, it also provides a useful summary of the basic historical findings which lead up to our current level of understanding. I don't know if any of today's high schools or junior high schools take advantage of books like this as part of their science curricula, but they absolutely should. So much better than a typical textbook in some ways. If I had had a book like this when I was that age I would've been totally capitvated by it and likely have made the choice to go into chemistry, physics, or molecular biology. Such is life and better late than never! Highly recommended.

(If after reading this book you'd like a current, text-only expansion of the ideas presented, but without going into math equations, consider Frank Wilczek's [i]10 Keys to Reality[/i]. To borrow wine-geek terminology, it "pairs" well with this book and will help you get a deeper understanding without requiring an advanced degree. Also the guy is an accomplished writer of science prose and won a Nobel Prize in this exact field, so a person could do worse when selecting a guide through the maze of forces, fields, and particles that make our universe.)
29 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A challenge with a reward
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2021
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There's not much to dislike about The Atom. It's intelligent, well written, and communicates a difficult topic rather well. I think of this book as a DK physics book on atoms, protons, neutrons, & electrons for technically oriented adults. Only a few formulas. Lots of great pictures and diagrams. Typically 2 pages per topic spanning opposite pages, just like DK. Quantum theory often referenced to explain sub-atomic phenomena, but not enough to lose you or go astray. Challoner explains things you wouldn't expect. Ex: An MRI uses supercooled magnets to align the hydrogen atoms in your body, stimulate them to precession, and then record your emitted radio waves as the atoms resume random orientation. He actually makes sense of that in a few pages. He explains the periodic table in terms of its electron shells, and ties it to ion characteristics and covalent bonding. He ties a lot of difficult technical concepts together at a high level, and I think that is the main value of the book. If you can handle that all of reality is the interaction of 10 or 20 quantum fields, then this is the book for you.
23 people found this helpful
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Christian M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely easy to understand
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2021
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This book in my humble opinion is the perfect starting place to learn about atoms. The author essentially trims down the information and gives you the clear and concise fundamentals of the history, structure, uses, decay, and and major theories associated with the atom. The pictures and models in the book are easy to understand and follow making grasping the subject much easier. If you are a high school or college student who is taking a physics or earth science class, reading this short book will give you a huge advantage. I struggled to understand the various decay formulas covered in my earth science class, but after reading this book I understand it much better. For a book you can casually read in about three hours its worth every penny.
9 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book and the atom around, up to date.
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2023
Verified Purchase
I am an advanced scientist, and I understood the atom well. This book is very clearly written, really a masterpiece. The illustrations are fantastic. It will go toward the top of my all-time favorites in science.
10 people found this helpful
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Steven Post
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best science books ever read.
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2023
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I so enjoy the descriptions and graphics from The Atom. I'm a degreed and discipline scientists and have consumed this book. Best read in a long time.
4 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars very well done
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2019
Verified Purchase
good review of atomic theory
One person found this helpful
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Analyst7023
5.0 out of 5 stars Satisfied Customer
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2023
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Really enjoyed this book! Fast Shipping! Excellent transaction!
One person found this helpful
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Jean S.
5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC SO CLEAR & WELL-WRITTEN & WELL ILLUSTRATED BOOK ABOUT ATOMS
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
I didn't know anything yet on atoms and wanted a book that can help me learn a lot of the basic the subject, and I wasn't disappointed at all. I couldn't believe how so well written and entertaining and so well illustrated is this book, without being too big or complicated. Thank you so much to the author of this book, Jack Challoner, to have teach me so much and so well about the wonder of atoms.

Now, I cannot wait to also read his other book, "The Cell: A Visual Tour of the Building Block of Life" (2015), with the hope he is going to write more similar books. :-)
16 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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joeb
5.0 out of 5 stars good clear
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 13, 2022
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good clear explanation with pictures and diagrams
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TEandTE
5.0 out of 5 stars Quality print. Quality information.
Reviewed in India on August 15, 2021
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TEandTE
5.0 out of 5 stars Quality print. Quality information.
Reviewed in India on August 15, 2021
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guy peloquin
5.0 out of 5 stars Il y a encore des choses à découvrir, heureusement.
Reviewed in Canada on December 3, 2019
Verified Purchase
Magnifique bouquin. Tout le monde devrait lire ce livre. Il est une ouverture sur la science et une la démonstration de sa beauté et sa complexité, mais si bien vulgarisé. Magnifiquement illustré. Félicitations à l’auteur.
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petey
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice book, well written good illustrations
Reviewed in Germany on August 1, 2019
Verified Purchase
Nice book, bit too coffee table like for my tastes but still good.
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RayM
5.0 out of 5 stars A really engrossing book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2020
Verified Purchase
Ideal for the enthusiast without the Math. A totally engrossing book for those that want a bed-side read where just a couple of pages of reading makes you feel you've expanded your knowledge. Extremally well illustrated to help you visualize the text. This is a marvelous introduction and I doubt there are many books out there that can deliver the subject in such a simple clear manner
2 people found this helpful
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