What do Post-It Notes, LSD, microwave ovens, nitroglycerin and lobotomies have in common? They all involved chance, luck or accident in their discovery and development. It’s very interesting how so many scientific advances were a result of what the author often calls ‘serendipity’. Many of the inventions described in this book had unethical origins, or started out with benevolent intent but were used for dark purposes, so I’m not sure how appropriate it is to say they were lucky. The chapters are bitesize and although the writing style could be better and also has a curiously irreverent tone, it’s an enjoyable read. I knew about most of the inventions and discoveries, but a few were new to me, such as Starlite, a substance which could withstand incredible heat and which was invented by a hairdresser who never revealed the formula. Occasionally the author assumed the reader already knew about something but this was at odds with the introductory style of the book. It’s an ideal book if you’re into popular science without the dull explanations.
Published by Michael O’Mara Books, 2013.