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Chain Reaction: How Chemistry Shapes Us and Our World
By one of the world’s leading chemists, an entertaining and revealing tour of the chemical bonds that shape our everyday lives and provide the infrastructure for our chaotic world.
We all have a relationship with chemistry. Bonds between molecules, forged and broken in the blink of an eye, animate everything from the food we eat and the clothes we wear to the ways we treat illness and construct our homes. It’s a relationship we nurture every day, whether we know it or not, and for leading chemist Ijeoma Uchegbu, it was serious from the beginning.
In Chain Reaction, Uchegbu shows us the world through a chemist’s eyes, revealing the intricate science we take for granted every how our bodies’ most fundamental chemical structure, our DNA, is estimated to be two meters long, resting tightly within each of our cells; how egg yolks are held together by weak chemical bonds that make them primed for immersion into salad dressings; and how the chemical makeup of PFAs, or “forever chemicals,” makes them so good at sticking around.
Along the way, we travel from Uchegbu’s home in London to Nigeria, where cooking experiments go awry in her family kitchen, and to Italy, where the chemically inert compounds that make up stained glass keep medieval windows shining. The careful interplay of bonds and molecules brings a sense of order and wonder to the chaos of our lives, she shows, and we don’t have to wear a lab coat or study solutions in beakers to appreciate it.
For readers of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry and anyone who wanted to be like Elizabeth Zott in Lessons in Chemistry, Chain Reaction is a lively and intimate portrait of the wondrous and under-explored field that shapes our everyday lives.
We all have a relationship with chemistry. Bonds between molecules, forged and broken in the blink of an eye, animate everything from the food we eat and the clothes we wear to the ways we treat illness and construct our homes. It’s a relationship we nurture every day, whether we know it or not, and for leading chemist Ijeoma Uchegbu, it was serious from the beginning.
In Chain Reaction, Uchegbu shows us the world through a chemist’s eyes, revealing the intricate science we take for granted every how our bodies’ most fundamental chemical structure, our DNA, is estimated to be two meters long, resting tightly within each of our cells; how egg yolks are held together by weak chemical bonds that make them primed for immersion into salad dressings; and how the chemical makeup of PFAs, or “forever chemicals,” makes them so good at sticking around.
Along the way, we travel from Uchegbu’s home in London to Nigeria, where cooking experiments go awry in her family kitchen, and to Italy, where the chemically inert compounds that make up stained glass keep medieval windows shining. The careful interplay of bonds and molecules brings a sense of order and wonder to the chaos of our lives, she shows, and we don’t have to wear a lab coat or study solutions in beakers to appreciate it.
For readers of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry and anyone who wanted to be like Elizabeth Zott in Lessons in Chemistry, Chain Reaction is a lively and intimate portrait of the wondrous and under-explored field that shapes our everyday lives.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 16, 2026
I am a retired organic chemist, Ph.D., with 40 years of industrial experience.
The author’s credentials in the book jacket did not mention her being a chemist but she stated some things about chemicals that were confusing or incorrect:
Page 13: “Ionic bonds are the strongest bonds imaginable and they keep things like the atoms in cooking salt together.” (author forgot to add: “…until the salt is added to water.”). NO: first of all, a salt molecule (chemical formula is NaCl, which was never given in the book), is NOT comprised of atoms. It is comprised of two ions: a sodium cation and a chloride anion. The author never uses the words "cation"or "anion". The sodium chloride crystals will dissolve in water and all of the sodium cations and chloride anions will be surrounded by water molecules, which will cause the sodium and chloride ions to dissociate (spread out or disperse) completely in water. The text implied that the cations will become separated from the anions. You cannot collect a beaker of sodium cations. You cannot collect a beaker of chloride anions.
I tried to put myself in the the general reader's head while struggling through the book. The author violated one of the very basic rules of writing: “A picture is worth a thousand words.” This book did not have even one chemical formula, nor chemical structure, nor chemical illustration to help the lay reader with the narrative. I gave up on the book.
The author’s credentials in the book jacket did not mention her being a chemist but she stated some things about chemicals that were confusing or incorrect:
Page 13: “Ionic bonds are the strongest bonds imaginable and they keep things like the atoms in cooking salt together.” (author forgot to add: “…until the salt is added to water.”). NO: first of all, a salt molecule (chemical formula is NaCl, which was never given in the book), is NOT comprised of atoms. It is comprised of two ions: a sodium cation and a chloride anion. The author never uses the words "cation"or "anion". The sodium chloride crystals will dissolve in water and all of the sodium cations and chloride anions will be surrounded by water molecules, which will cause the sodium and chloride ions to dissociate (spread out or disperse) completely in water. The text implied that the cations will become separated from the anions. You cannot collect a beaker of sodium cations. You cannot collect a beaker of chloride anions.
I tried to put myself in the the general reader's head while struggling through the book. The author violated one of the very basic rules of writing: “A picture is worth a thousand words.” This book did not have even one chemical formula, nor chemical structure, nor chemical illustration to help the lay reader with the narrative. I gave up on the book.
Want to Read
August 25, 2026Here's the review to read (not paywalled):
https://www-science-org.wikipedialibr...
Excerpt:
"The book starts with Uchegbu’s observation that “chemistry is everywhere and everywhere is chemistry.” She then invites the reader on a journey to appreciate the beauty and power of the molecular world as seen through her eyes, using an autobiographical narrative to bring chemistry to life—never downplaying the complexity of either. ...
Uchegbu’s writing style is also distinctive, not least because of how she renders chemicals lively and approachable throughout the book. For instance, when talking about health and “largely pointless low-calorie diets,” she writes, “it’s high time we…give some credit to the important fat molecules that encircle our cells. So please applaud them. They deserve our respect.” ...
As the story progresses, the enormity of the chemical industry becomes apparent. By Uchegbu’s estimation, in 2017, we had the capacity to manufacture 2.3 billion tonnes of chemicals every year, and in 2023, the chemical industry was worth approximately $5 trillion. She is not an apologist for the pollution and destructive consumerism that harms the natural world, much of which has been enabled or exacerbated by the chemical industry. Her stance and tone are almost always optimistic and progressive—she believes these are problems that can and should be solved urgently. ...
... all readers will find Uchegbu’s love of chemistry infectious."
https://www-science-org.wikipedialibr...
Excerpt:
"The book starts with Uchegbu’s observation that “chemistry is everywhere and everywhere is chemistry.” She then invites the reader on a journey to appreciate the beauty and power of the molecular world as seen through her eyes, using an autobiographical narrative to bring chemistry to life—never downplaying the complexity of either. ...
Uchegbu’s writing style is also distinctive, not least because of how she renders chemicals lively and approachable throughout the book. For instance, when talking about health and “largely pointless low-calorie diets,” she writes, “it’s high time we…give some credit to the important fat molecules that encircle our cells. So please applaud them. They deserve our respect.” ...
As the story progresses, the enormity of the chemical industry becomes apparent. By Uchegbu’s estimation, in 2017, we had the capacity to manufacture 2.3 billion tonnes of chemicals every year, and in 2023, the chemical industry was worth approximately $5 trillion. She is not an apologist for the pollution and destructive consumerism that harms the natural world, much of which has been enabled or exacerbated by the chemical industry. Her stance and tone are almost always optimistic and progressive—she believes these are problems that can and should be solved urgently. ...
... all readers will find Uchegbu’s love of chemistry infectious."
July 17, 2026
My most anticipated nonfiction science release of 2026 because-- chemistry! CHAIN REACTION is a very ambitious book that covers the chemistry in our food, cosmetics, clothing, plastics, pollutants, architecture, medicine, and more.
What worked for me: I loved when Uchegbu wove in her personal experiences with hair relaxers , living in a polluted neighborhood, the sticky mess when she tried to assemble some IKEA furniture and more. This book surprised me with its humor! Uchegbu had me laughing at least four or five times in this book. The inventor of Bakelite, Leo Baekeland was catching some strays haha. I honestly just wish we got more of the personal narrative!
I loved the chapter on plastics-- if you read a book like PLASTICS INC, I think the chapter on plastics in this book is a good follow-up to give more nuance around the chemistry. I also loved learning about the self-healing concrete used by the Romans. SO COOL. Uchegbu is a medicinal chemist, so I thought the medicine chapter was really great, but it had me wondering-- maybe cut some of these chapters (like glue?) and spend more time on medicine?
I have read several books about everyday chemistry, and I think the ones that are most successful for me, personally are the ones that have a tighter focus. I wish Uchegbu had cut at least 3-4 of the topics and really focused on her favorites.
My other main issue with this book is that there were zero illustrations. (unless I missed something. I read the ebook on libby and Net Galley). I think it is really really hard to talk about an abstract topic like chemistry without any drawings. I don't need fancy! Just something.
Uchegbu has a really fascinating life living and studying in both Nigeria and in the UK. I really appreciate authors that have perspectives from both the "global north" and the "global south." I really appreciated her talking about the benefits of living in a place like Nigeria wrt pollution, specifically PFAS.
Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
What worked for me: I loved when Uchegbu wove in her personal experiences with hair relaxers , living in a polluted neighborhood, the sticky mess when she tried to assemble some IKEA furniture and more. This book surprised me with its humor! Uchegbu had me laughing at least four or five times in this book. The inventor of Bakelite, Leo Baekeland was catching some strays haha. I honestly just wish we got more of the personal narrative!
I loved the chapter on plastics-- if you read a book like PLASTICS INC, I think the chapter on plastics in this book is a good follow-up to give more nuance around the chemistry. I also loved learning about the self-healing concrete used by the Romans. SO COOL. Uchegbu is a medicinal chemist, so I thought the medicine chapter was really great, but it had me wondering-- maybe cut some of these chapters (like glue?) and spend more time on medicine?
I have read several books about everyday chemistry, and I think the ones that are most successful for me, personally are the ones that have a tighter focus. I wish Uchegbu had cut at least 3-4 of the topics and really focused on her favorites.
My other main issue with this book is that there were zero illustrations. (unless I missed something. I read the ebook on libby and Net Galley). I think it is really really hard to talk about an abstract topic like chemistry without any drawings. I don't need fancy! Just something.
Uchegbu has a really fascinating life living and studying in both Nigeria and in the UK. I really appreciate authors that have perspectives from both the "global north" and the "global south." I really appreciated her talking about the benefits of living in a place like Nigeria wrt pollution, specifically PFAS.
Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A delightful overview of some of the ways chemistry is integral to our daily lives.
This book, written by a leading chemist, shows up how chemistry impacts every aspect of our daily lives. In chapters focused on everything from clothing to buildings to medicine to death, we get a chance to understand how chemistry works in these contexts, interwoven with autobiographical stories to ground the science in things we can all understand.
First off, I really enjoy the bits of the author's life mixed into the science descriptions. It really helps to illustrate the concepts that she's teaching us throughout the book. Her definitions and explanations mean that we don't have to remember anything from our high school chemistry classes to follow the information she is imparting. I also like that the book is divided into chapters based on areas in our lives, so that we can immediately contextualize new learning.
To me, the one thing that keeps this book from being five stars is also an inherent requirement when covering such a large topic: we don't get a chance to dig into any of the chemistry concepts in enough detail. We really only have a chance to get a surface-level understanding of the science. I wish that we can more explicit ways to dig deeper (maybe suggested reading to go with each chapter?).
Overall, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is curious about chemistry or our world. It's easy to jump in and out of as we explore topics in each chapter and it's very accessible.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for providing an advanced copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.
This book, written by a leading chemist, shows up how chemistry impacts every aspect of our daily lives. In chapters focused on everything from clothing to buildings to medicine to death, we get a chance to understand how chemistry works in these contexts, interwoven with autobiographical stories to ground the science in things we can all understand.
First off, I really enjoy the bits of the author's life mixed into the science descriptions. It really helps to illustrate the concepts that she's teaching us throughout the book. Her definitions and explanations mean that we don't have to remember anything from our high school chemistry classes to follow the information she is imparting. I also like that the book is divided into chapters based on areas in our lives, so that we can immediately contextualize new learning.
To me, the one thing that keeps this book from being five stars is also an inherent requirement when covering such a large topic: we don't get a chance to dig into any of the chemistry concepts in enough detail. We really only have a chance to get a surface-level understanding of the science. I wish that we can more explicit ways to dig deeper (maybe suggested reading to go with each chapter?).
Overall, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is curious about chemistry or our world. It's easy to jump in and out of as we explore topics in each chapter and it's very accessible.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for providing an advanced copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.
July 27, 2026
(3.00*)
Chain Reaction is an informative read that tackles the systems, experiences, and chemicals that shape our world. It is clear, from the very beginning, how much research and care went into creating this book and you can feel the author’s passion for chemistry and science as a whole.
For me personally, this simply wasn’t the right book for the mood I was currently in. It was much more informational and discussion-driven than I had anticipated. While I do understand that was the purpose of the book, I ended up struggling to stay engaged because it requires a level of focus that I wasn’t necessarily looking for in my current reading journey.
My reading preferences do tend to shift between genres, so I thought I would still enjoy it a bit more than I did, but lately I have been gravitating more toward fiction, thriller, and fast-paced books. Sadly, that made my narrow mind have to re-read areas of this to fully absorb the information. This was no fault of the author or the quality of the writing, it was more of a mismatch (on my part) between what I was in the mood for and what the book had to offer.
That said, I can see this resonating with readers who enjoy non-fiction, who are willing to read about challenging perspectives, and who are into chemistry/science. It definitely takes a reader who takes their time, rather than rushing through it, and that’s just not me right now.
Overall, I think it’s a good book if this is what you’re interested in, it just wasn’t the best fit for me in this moment. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!!
Chain Reaction is an informative read that tackles the systems, experiences, and chemicals that shape our world. It is clear, from the very beginning, how much research and care went into creating this book and you can feel the author’s passion for chemistry and science as a whole.
For me personally, this simply wasn’t the right book for the mood I was currently in. It was much more informational and discussion-driven than I had anticipated. While I do understand that was the purpose of the book, I ended up struggling to stay engaged because it requires a level of focus that I wasn’t necessarily looking for in my current reading journey.
My reading preferences do tend to shift between genres, so I thought I would still enjoy it a bit more than I did, but lately I have been gravitating more toward fiction, thriller, and fast-paced books. Sadly, that made my narrow mind have to re-read areas of this to fully absorb the information. This was no fault of the author or the quality of the writing, it was more of a mismatch (on my part) between what I was in the mood for and what the book had to offer.
That said, I can see this resonating with readers who enjoy non-fiction, who are willing to read about challenging perspectives, and who are into chemistry/science. It definitely takes a reader who takes their time, rather than rushing through it, and that’s just not me right now.
Overall, I think it’s a good book if this is what you’re interested in, it just wasn’t the best fit for me in this moment. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!!
September 1, 2026
I majored in Biology and Chemistry in college many years ago, so I have a lot of familiarity with the subject matter in this book, although admittedly, I’m not quite as sharp about these subjects as I once was. I found much of it very interesting, but some parts did not interest me. Sometimes because I already knew the material well, other times because I just wasn’t interested, such as the chapter on building materials.
For me, one of the most interesting things about the book had nothing to do with Chemistry. Ijeoma Uchegbu has a fascinating personal life story. She has traveled from London to Nigeria and at times in her life was living homeless shelter. She endured a great deal of personal hardship. Eventually she became the President of Wolfson College, Cambridge and a Nigerian-British professor of pharmacy at University College London, where she previously held the position of Pro-Vice Provost for Africa and the Middle East.
Each chapter of “Chain Reaction” deals with specific types of chemical reactions in different areas of our life such as our bodies, our food, cosmetics, clothing, jewelry, plastics, glue, buildings and of course medicine. It’s obvious the author is a natural teacher based on the way she explains difficult chemical concepts in a way that is relatable to someone who is not a chemistry nerd. I really could have used some of her analogies when I was teaching chemistry in public school many years ago!
For me, one of the most interesting things about the book had nothing to do with Chemistry. Ijeoma Uchegbu has a fascinating personal life story. She has traveled from London to Nigeria and at times in her life was living homeless shelter. She endured a great deal of personal hardship. Eventually she became the President of Wolfson College, Cambridge and a Nigerian-British professor of pharmacy at University College London, where she previously held the position of Pro-Vice Provost for Africa and the Middle East.
Each chapter of “Chain Reaction” deals with specific types of chemical reactions in different areas of our life such as our bodies, our food, cosmetics, clothing, jewelry, plastics, glue, buildings and of course medicine. It’s obvious the author is a natural teacher based on the way she explains difficult chemical concepts in a way that is relatable to someone who is not a chemistry nerd. I really could have used some of her analogies when I was teaching chemistry in public school many years ago!
July 23, 2026
I was excited to read Chain Reaction: How Chemistry Shapes Us and Our World by Ijeoma Uchegbu who is the Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience at the University College London, UCL School of Pharmacy. The author shares about life and chemistry in a very readable book. I felt like I was sitting next to her as she explained about the chemistry of food, cosmetics, plastics, pollutants, medicines, and and our bodies. My favorite part of the book was when the author would have content in a box. (for lack of a better term) It was like she had an aside for me that she wanted to make sure I understood. I recommend Chain Reaction for anyone who wants to have a better understanding ofchemistry!
I was gifted a copy and not required to write a positive review.
I was gifted a copy and not required to write a positive review.
August 27, 2026
I felt like I was sitting next to her as she explained about the chemistry of food, cosmetics, plastics, pollutants, medicines, and and our bodies. My favorite part of the book was when the author would have content in a box. (for lack of a better term) It was like she had an aside for me that she wanted to make sure I understood. I recommend Chain Reaction for anyone who wants to have a better understanding ofchemistry!
September 9, 2026
This is for interested laypeople who may have taken a college level chemistry course as a freshman and came away feeling pretty stupid. Prof. Uchegbu makes the topic interestesing, kind of in the way that say, Stephen J. Gould does in evolution and natural science essays.
I enjoyed her anectodotal and often autobiographical storytelling woven into the narrative, divided into short bite-sized chapters. Perfect for pulling out on a park bench or when riding the bus.
I enjoyed her anectodotal and often autobiographical storytelling woven into the narrative, divided into short bite-sized chapters. Perfect for pulling out on a park bench or when riding the bus.
August 16, 2026
This book surprised me - it was interesting and comprehensive, even though I've never taken a chemistry class and have (HAD) no working knowledge of chemistry. Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu is an incredible teacher. Her use of analogy and deeply personal stories makes even the most difficult concepts accessible.
August 28, 2026
I didn't get past the introduction. I couldn't get past the childish analogies. Gluing children together. A cake-stealing waiter. Writing about science for a lay audience doesn't have to mean dumbing it down to that level. So this was a disappointment.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A unique mixture of biography and popular science in which the author explores the much under appreciated role of chemistry in every day life. Accessible and enjoyable
June 24, 2026
This is so beautiful, I love your book!
July 21, 2026
Pretty good. In a strange way, it made me want to go back to school to get a chemical engineering degree.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews