
Caesar's Last Breath
Decoding the Secrets of the Air Around Us
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Narrated by:
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Ben Sullivan
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By:
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Sam Kean
The fascinating science and history of the air we breathe.
It's invisible. It's ever present. Without it, you would die in minutes. And it has an epic story to tell.
In Caesar's Last Breath, New York Times best-selling author Sam Kean takes us on a journey through the periodic table, around the globe, and across time to tell the story of the air we breathe, which, it turns out, is also the story of earth and our existence on it.
With every breath, you literally inhale the history of the world. On the Ides of March, 44 BC, Julius Caesar died of stab wounds on the Senate floor, but the story of his last breath is still unfolding; in fact you're probably inhaling some of it now. Of the sextillions of molecules entering or leaving your lungs at this moment, some might well bear traces of Cleopatra's perfumes, German mustard gas, particles exhaled by dinosaurs or emitted by atomic bombs, even remnants of stardust from the universe's creation.
Tracing the origins and ingredients of our atmosphere, Kean reveals how the alchemy of air reshaped our continents, steered human progress, powered revolutions, and continues to influence everything we do. Along the way we'll swim with radioactive pigs, witness the most important chemical reactions humans have discovered, and join the crowd at the Moulin Rouge for some of the crudest performance art of all time. Lively, witty, and filled with the astounding science of ordinary life, Caesar's Last Breath illuminates the science stories swirling around us every second.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2017 Sam Kean (P)2017 Hachette AudioListeners also enjoyed...




















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vastly entertaining
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Science + Entertainment = Education the fun way
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It reminded me a little bit of James Burkes "Connections" TV series. The author does a great job of making the science understandable to everyone. Most notably by using examples and analogies that most people can identify with. And like "Connections" it explains how each discovery made another discovery or invention possible. Usually in ways that could not have been predicted.
What little math is present is mostly of the form "you inhaled three trillion atoms of nitrogen". So if you have even a vague idea what terms like "trillion" and "million" mean you'll be fine. It tells absolutely fascinating stories about how we've come to know so much about the air around us. Not to mention how that knowledge has improved our lives.
Listen even if you hate science and math
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I loved this book!
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The narrator is does a great job, too.
Excellent All Around
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stories in science
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Another amazing book from Sam Kean
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Will listen again
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Excellent
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Ben Sullivan's narration elevates Kean's writing to another level--perfect tone and speed.
All in all, I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to reading other books by Kean.
Superb book all round!!!
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