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The Age of Alchemy: How Early Innovators Shaped Modern Chemistry
'Glittering' PHILIP BALL
'Superb' TIM MINSHALL
The first chemists were Sri Lankan forgers who crafted unimaginably strong steel millennia before it should have been possible. They were alchemists in Roman Egypt, who designed apparatus still in use today. They were Stone Age leatherworkers, Tang Dynasty herbalists and Mayan stoneworkers.
The Enlightenment is usually credited with the origins of chemistry, but in truth, the science blossomed gradually. As early innovators distilled, smelted, forged and fermented their way through the centuries, they blurred science and mysticism in search of answers to life's greatest mysteries.
Join Kit Chapman on a global quest to achieve immortality, cure all disease and transmute lead into gold as he reveals the illuminating stories of how the alchemists first broke new ground and shaped the scientific method.
'Superb' TIM MINSHALL
The first chemists were Sri Lankan forgers who crafted unimaginably strong steel millennia before it should have been possible. They were alchemists in Roman Egypt, who designed apparatus still in use today. They were Stone Age leatherworkers, Tang Dynasty herbalists and Mayan stoneworkers.
The Enlightenment is usually credited with the origins of chemistry, but in truth, the science blossomed gradually. As early innovators distilled, smelted, forged and fermented their way through the centuries, they blurred science and mysticism in search of answers to life's greatest mysteries.
Join Kit Chapman on a global quest to achieve immortality, cure all disease and transmute lead into gold as he reveals the illuminating stories of how the alchemists first broke new ground and shaped the scientific method.
- GenresNonfictionHistoryScience
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2026
11 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Kit Chapman
5 books18 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Dr Kit Chapman is an award-winning science journalist. Formerly an editor for Chemistry World, Kit’s byline can be seen in Nature, New Scientist, The Daily Telegraph, Chemist+Druggist and BBC Science Focus among others.
Kit appears regularly on radio, TV and podcasts, and has given talks to thousands of students around the world on science, writing and history.
Born in the UK, Kit holds a masters degree in pharmacy from the University of Bradford and a PhD in the history and philosophy of science from the University of Sunderland.
Dr Kit Chapman is an award-winning science journalist. Formerly an editor for Chemistry World, Kit’s byline can be seen in Nature, New Scientist, The Daily Telegraph, Chemist+Druggist and BBC Science Focus among others.
Kit appears regularly on radio, TV and podcasts, and has given talks to thousands of students around the world on science, writing and history.
Born in the UK, Kit holds a masters degree in pharmacy from the University of Bradford and a PhD in the history and philosophy of science from the University of Sunderland.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 6, 2026
modern chemistry came from early innovators, if you are curious about knowing, read this book
Displaying 1 of 1 review