The books name is Napoleon’s buttons: 17 molecules that changed history by Penny le Couteur and Jay Burreson and is a nonfiction book. It is published by Penguin books in 2004 and has 354 pages. The book is based on facts and logic, but has a certain twist of humor inside of it. I thought the book was an enjoyable experience overall, but however, some people may not like it.
The book talks about certain molecules in the world, making the setting the whole world. But since it changes molecules every chapter, there is no protagonist nor antagonist. It is told in a 3rd person POV.
In chapter 10, it talks about wonder drugs, or commonly known today as prescription/illegal drugs. William Perkin started it all with his first man-made synthesis of …show more content…
Chapter 12, which describes molecules of witchcraft, go over herbs and other plants that witches back then used to heal and go on a trip. Of course, witches were heavily persecuted and such throughout the Middle Ages. However, many witches found herbs that made you go on trips rather than healing. Chapter 16 describes Chlorocarbon compounds, which is the world’s first successful attempt at a refrigerator. However, the first one was toxic and also slowly depleted the ozone layer of earth so they eventually settles for a less effective but safer material. Another chapter would be molecules versus malaria, or Chapter 17. Chapter 17 takes place in Europe during dark ages and further times. The first extracted material that could stop malaria was quinine, a type of tree. This led to many small islands being invaded for quinine and many countries fighting to keep their monopoly. Eventually, quinine was synthesized and the monopoly fell apart. Another chapter describes the start of many multi-billionaire companies’ roots. In chapter 13: Morphine, Nicotine, and Caffeine talks about the molecular structure of these molecules and also leads it back to the ancient times. Morphine was found by Serturner, a German apothecary, who named it