The Disappearing Spoon

[Stephen Dean]

While digitally rifling through my past copywriting resources I was reminded to check out best selling books for ideas for headlines, hooks and leads.

I found a good one. It's a book on the periodic table. It's a paper back, and the CD and hardbound versions have already been released. So no too many things going for it, yet it's #394 in books on Amazon today.

Why? They made the Periodic Table sound interesting, fun and even curious. Take a look:

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

Science magazine reporter Kean views the periodic table as one of the great achievements of humankind, "an anthropological marvel," full of stories about our connection with the physical world. Funny, even chilling tales are associated with each element, and Kean relates many. The title refers to gallium (Ga, 31), which melts at 84ËšF, prompting a practical joke among "chemical cognoscenti": shape gallium into spoons, "serve them with tea, and watch as your guests recoil when their Earl Grey ˜eats™ their utensils." Along with Dmitri Mendeleyev, the father of the periodic table, Kean is in his element as he presents a parade of entertaining anecdotes about scientists (mad and otherwise) while covering such topics as thallium (Tl, 81) poisoning, the invention of the silicon (Si, 14) transistor, and how the ruthenium (Ru, 44) fountain pen point made million for the Parker company. With a constant flow of fun facts bubbling to the surface, Kean writes with wit, flair, and authority in a debut that will delight even general readers.

They found the lead buried in the book. A fun, interesting and curious tale of a practical joke involving a spoon. Suddenly the book appeals to more than just science majors.

And while the book may still not be everyone's cup of Earl Grey tea, the title definitely found a way to get in to more hands.

If you're up for a fun exercise, check out the top 100 nonfiction books at Amazon: Amazon.com Bestsellers: The most popular items in Nonfiction

Cheers,
Stephen Dean