Joe Schwarcz's The Genie in the Bottle is a fascinating book that talks about the chemistry of everyday life. It has mixed stories about how chemistry impacts everyday lives and ways people never really expect. It talks a lot about interesting topics such as food and sunscreen which people would never really think is important. But this book shows that it does matter and how famous chemists made lives better. An interesting quote "You're more likely to get a cold from a handshake than a kiss or someone coughing in your face because the numerous crevices on the surface of our hands are an ideal breeding ground for microbes." shows interesting facts in the book.
Schwarcz interesting fact, "did you know that crazy glue works better in Miami than in Phoenix because its effectiveness depends on the moisture in the air." illustrates the importance in chemistry in modern life. He explains how cyanoacrylates (crazy glue) needs moisture to activate their bonds to hold objects better. The use of cyanoacrylate was also considered in medicine whether the glues could be used to hold human tissue together after surgery.
In today's society, majority of people view licorice as candy. However, they do not know that it is a flavorful herb that has been used in food and medicinal remedies for thousands of years. Schwarcs concludes and interesting fact that licorice root has been used in both Eastern and Western medicine to treat a variety of illnesses ranging from the common cold to liver disease. This herb has long been valued as a demulcent and expectorant and continues to be used by health care professionals today to relieve allergies, bronchitis, colds, sore throats, and tuberculosis, stomach problems and more.
Chocolate is probably America's favorite candy. Schwarcz explains that chocolate can even be used for medicinal value.For example, chocolate can be used to aid emaciated patients in gaining weight, to stimulate the nervous systems of apathetic individuals and to improve digestion. In the late twentieth century, attention focused on a class of compounds, phytonutrients, that tend to have antioxidant properties and are said to lower the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Among these phytonutrients are the polyphenols, in particular the catechins, which have demonstrated physiological antioxident properties.
Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest trees on Earth, once part of the flora of the Mesozoic period. The ginkgo biloba is not an ordinary tree because it's leaves has interesting medical purposes like glue, licorice and chocolate. Schwarcz illustrates that the Ginkgo seeds were traditionally served to guests along with alcohol drinks in Japan. An enzyme present in the ginkgo seed has been shown in clinical research to speed up alcohol metabolism in the body, underscoring the wisdom of this folk custom. The leaf extract has been used in Asia for thousands of years to treat allergies, asthma, and bronchitis. It is also valued in Chinese medicine as a heart tonic, helpful in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia.
Almost millions of people go tanning to have their perfect skin tone. However, Schawrcz explains the effects of tanning which can lead to fatal effects such as skin cancer. Skin cancer is an uncontrolled proliferation of skin cells which can be caused by excessive, unprotected exposure to the sun. All outdoor athletes are at risk, especially if they compete for long periods in the summer during the middle part of the day. The term tanning is also used metaphorically for a hiding in the sense of physical punishment which leaves clear marks on the beaten skin. Therefore, people should realize, too much tanning is planning for cancer.
This book "The Genie in the Bottle," demonstrates interesting facts about chemistry that has been unknown to many people. Schwarcz's explanations of glue, intriguing facts on licorice, chocolate research, ginkgo biloba, and the effects of tanning demonstrates interesting facts that Schwarcz used to interest the people in chemistry. Joe Schwarcz uses "64 new commentaries on the fascinating chemistry of everyday life" that opens a path of the interesting world of chemistry around us.
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