This is a super-interesting book about the beginnings of chemistry, from ancient times until the French Revolution. It’s written in a very engaging way, linking the subject to modern science. It follows the development of alchemy around the world, looking at well-known figures and the mysterious scraps of evidence they left behind. Female alchemists were more common than you might expect. Recipes would be written in code or oddly poetic language, to keep them secret. There are so many fascinating things to learn from this book. Everyone knows that alchemists believed they could turn base metals into gold. What apparently happened is that the formula to give materials a gold-coloured coating became the legend of turning them into actual gold. I liked that the author examined the so-called dark ages, which other science writers tend to skip. The section on white phosphorus was particularly interesting (this was used in WW2 ordnance and can wash up on the coast – don’t pick it up, it ignites on contact with air), as was the discussion on whether one can build up a resistance to poisons (bonus point for a reference to The Princess Bride) and the intersection of alchemy with medicine. The chapters have appealing titles, such as ‘Full Metal Alchemists,’ ‘The Man With the Golden Urine’, ‘The Emperor’s Immortal Groove’ and ‘Of Popes and Poisons’. I enjoyed this book and appreciated how when it comes to electrons etc, the author explains it very clearly for readers such as myself who weren’t much good at school chemistry! However, it really needed some images to complement the text.

Published by Profile Books, 2026.

Other science books I have reviewed: Handmade by Anna Ploszajski, The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson, Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik.