The Radioactive Boy Scout and The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments
A few years ago, I read a bizarre and wonderful article from Harper's called "The Radioactive Boy Scout." It was the true story about David Hahn, a boy who attempted to make a breeder reactor in his backyard garden shed, and ended up collecting enough radioactive material that a geiger counter could detect the material from five houses away.
In January 2005, the article's author, Ken Silvestein, published a book based on the article, called The Radioactive Boy Scout: The Frightening True Story of a Whiz Kid and His Homemade Nuclear Reactor.
The article and book mention that young David had been inspired to practice chemistry after receiving a 1960 book The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments. The book is long out of print, and used copies are very expensive (Amazon.com has a copy for $250). Of course, in today's litigious environment, no major publisher would dare republish a book that had actual chemistry experiments in it, for fear getting sued. The experiments in The Golden Book include making chlorine, ammonia, hydrogen, and ethanol.
I have long wanted to own a copy of The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments. I sort of forgot about it, but recently a friend emailed me a page he had scanned from a copy he owns. It prompted me to search for a sub-$100 copy. I got lucky and found a $0 copy, thanks to BitTorrent. Here's a link to the torrent file for a nice scan of the 112 page book.
The book is an example of everything great about vintage children's science books. Once you lay your eyes on it, you will come to the sad realization that our society has slipped backwards in at least three important ways: 1. The writing quality in old kids' science books was better; 2. The design and illustration was more thoughtful and skillful; 3. Children in the old days were allowed and encouraged to experiment with mildly risky but extremely rewarding activities. Today's children, on the other hand, are mollycoddled to the point of turning them into unhappy ignoramuses.
I can't wait to conduct these experiments with my daughters at my side.
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Have you read Oliver Sacks' Uncle Tungsten?
Sacks not only had a chemistry lab, he had a pile of uncles and aunts who were scientists, doctors, and engineers to inspire and instruct him.
Dang! Too bad you didn't know, I dunno, a book publisher who might make a series of challenging science and how-to books for kids. #B^)
Thank you for posting this. I remember reading a book back in grade school called '700 science experiments' that kept me going for quite a while. I also had a science book from 1898 that had some experiments in it that made milling gun powder look tame! Oh, for the days of that by gone era... I doubt that there will ever be a time where kids can freely explore the world of science again.
After reading this, I kept a close eye on the children's books at today's garage sales.
The Scientific American 'Amateur Scientist' book has some mind boggling projects like build a home x-ray machine.
As a kid, I had a Gilbert microscope and chemistry kit from the trash that lead to hours and days of hopeful rocket engine experimentation.
And I agree. The line art illustration of the older books is clearly superior for explaining a great number of things. But, that said, the internet has provided an amateur biologist, chemist or naturalist with resources far beyond my school library encyclopedias.
Metafilter discussion dangerous chemistry fun!
http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/51403
I read this book as a kid and I'm sure it helped develop my scientific curiousity by bringing science down to the kitchen.
According to the mininova site, this book was BANNED? My God! I really feel sorry for today's kids.
Thanks for posting the torrent link.
I owned this book in my youth and belatedly realize that it was crucial in preparing me for a chemistry degree.
I see someone (or more than one) is selling this e-book on Ebay! I'd love a PDF of The Giant Golden Book of Mathematics!
Enrollment in science/math is in decline in the US, while marketing and law are way up. Our kids know exactly how much we *value* scientists and engineers - and are changing their career plans accordingly. I encourage experimentation and science knowledge just for the love of it, not sure I would recommend a career in engineering or science to any bright kids. It would be doing them a dis-service in today's world.