Explosives: History with a Bang by Brown, G.I. (2010) Paperback

by G.I. Brown

The tale of explosives from gunpowder to the H-bomb. Laying the emphasis on the lives of those involved, on the diverse uses of explosives and their social and historical impact, the author relates a story of international human endeavor. Many of those involved - Roger Bacon, Guy Fawkes, Alfred Nobel, Robert Oppenheimer - are famed worldwide; others, such as C.F. Schonbein, William Bickford, Sir Frederick Abel and Charles E. Munroe, though less well-known, also played crucial roles. Alongside these individuals' achievements, the book highlights the uses and impact of explosives in both war and terrorism, and in civil engineering, quarrying, mining, demolition, fireworks manufacture and shooting for sport. In many cases, explosives are seen to have had a significant historical impact as, for example, in the early use of gunpowder in the American Civil War, the defeat of the Spanish Armada and the worldwide opening up of canals and railways.

Genres: History, Technology, Science, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published September 1, 1998

Reviews

[Toby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light and enjoyable read but not the text book I thought it might be. Lots of background history about the companies that made the explosives to the detriment of discussion about the explosives themselves. Did not mention some fundamental physics of explosives (e.g. Deflagration/Detonation) and no mention of liquid or fuel/air explosives. Overall a good introduction to those who nothing about explosives.

[Hugo Van Zoest]

Heel leesbaar

[Steven Minniear · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good solid history which ends in 2010. I wonder what has developed in the field since then.

[K De · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thousand year history of the invention and implementation of exothermic chemical reactions from gunpowder to use in nuclear weapons. It is chock full of little details on how and what types of gunpowder and subsequent types of explosives were developed from dynamite to nitroglycerin. There is tables in the back of the book that shows the chemical composition and reaction formula for those types of explosives. Highly recommended for those who have a interest in chemistry and exothermic fast reactions!

[Smellsofbikes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging history of explosives, from the Greeks to nuclear weapons. It has a lot of historical information about explosives manufacturing firms and the people who ran them. It's not the sort of organic chemistry orgy that Tenney Davis wrote, but it's interesting and a lot of fun to read, despite its British/Scottish focus.

[Eric Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

admittedly not one of the great works of history, but fairly well executed. I happen to find energetic materials interesting, so that certainly helped fuel my enjoyment, but a pretty good read.