Sam Kean
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Sam Kean

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Official bio: Sam Kean spent years collecting mercury from broken thermometers as a kid, and now he's a writer in Washington, D.C. His new book is The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons. His first two books, The Disappearing Spoon and The Violinist's Thumb were national bestsellers, and both were named an Amazon "Top 5" science books of the year. The Disappearing Spoon was nominated by the Royal Society for one of the top science books of 2010, while The Violinist's Thumb was a finalist for PEN's literary science writing award. His work has also been featured on "Radiolab" and NPR's "All Things Considered," among other shows. You can follow him via Twitter @sam_kean, and read excerpts at http://www.samkean.com. (un)Official bio: Sam Kean gets called Sean at least once a month. He grew up in South Dakota, which means more to him than it probably should. He's a fast reader but a very slow eater. He went to college in Minnesota and studied physics and English. At night, he sometimes comes down with something called "sleep paralysis," which is the opposite of sleepwalking. Right now, he lives in Washington, D.C., where he earned a master's degree in library science that he will probably never use. He feels very strongly that open-faced sandwiches are superior to regular ones.
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The Disappearing Spoon

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Featured Article: 12 Thrilling History Listens to Get Ready for Oppenheimer


Dubbed the "father of the atomic bomb," J. Robert Oppenheimer was a theoretical physicist who gained notoriety for the role he played in the Manhattan Project and the creation of the very first nuclear weapon. After the atomic bomb was developed, it was deployed by the United States to destroy the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These listens provide historical context about the man at the center of Christopher Nolan's biopic.

Featured Article 12 Thrilling History Listens to Get Ready for Oppenheimer

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  • The Disappearing Spoon Audiobook By Sam Kean cover art

    • The Disappearing Spoon

    • And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements
    • By: Sam Kean
    • Narrated by: Sean Runnette
    • Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
    • Release date: 08-18-10
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 6,068 ratings

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  • Unlocking the Hidden History of DNA Audiobook By Sam Kean, The Great Courses cover art

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  • The Disappearing Spoon: Young Listeners Edition Audiobook By Sam Kean cover art

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  • Caesar's Last Breath Audiobook By Sam Kean cover art

    • Caesar's Last Breath

    • Decoding the Secrets of the Air Around Us
    • By: Sam Kean
    • Narrated by: Ben Sullivan
    • Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins
    • Release date: 07-18-17
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,608 ratings

    Regular price: $21.83 or 1 credit

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  • The Icepick Surgeon Audiobook By Sam Kean cover art

    • The Icepick Surgeon

    • Murder, Fraud, Sabotage, Piracy, and Other Dastardly Deeds Perpetrated in the Name of Science
    • By: Sam Kean
    • Narrated by: Ben Sullivan
    • Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
    • Release date: 07-13-21
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,114 ratings

    Regular price: $21.83 or 1 credit

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  • The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons Audiobook By Sam Kean cover art

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  • The Violinist's Thumb Audiobook By Sam Kean cover art

    • The Violinist's Thumb

    • And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code
    • By: Sam Kean
    • Narrated by: Henry Leyva
    • Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins
    • Release date: 07-17-12
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,082 ratings

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  • Dinner with King Tut Audiobook By Sam Kean cover art

    • Dinner with King Tut

    • How Rogue Archaeologists Are Recreating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations
    • By: Sam Kean
    • Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins
    • Release date: 07-08-25
    • Language: English
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    Regular price: $21.55 or 1 credit

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  • The Bastard Brigade Audiobook By Sam Kean cover art

    • The Bastard Brigade

    • The True Story of the Renegade Scientists and Spies Who Sabotaged the Nazi Atomic Bomb
    • By: Sam Kean
    • Narrated by: Ben Sullivan
    • Length: 14 hrs and 37 mins
    • Release date: 07-09-19
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 927 ratings

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