The last sorcerers Book

A well written, breezy account of the history of chemistry, it is definitely not an academic work (no notes) and leaves much out. A good introduction or concise review of the topic's highlights, it is not definitive. Morris also generally avoids noting where their are debates/questions among historians for the sake of the narrative, which can be deceptive. Several very important parts of the history (especially around the develpment of organic chemistry and thd German chemical industry before and during WWI) get very short shrift. There are more thorough accounts, certainly more technical ones. However, few are as engaging or relatable as Morris's. For a non-specialist or those of the general public looking for a concise history of chemistry, this is not the worst, and may be among the best. As a survey of the history of chemistry, on the other hand, it's too concise and non-scholarly to really count. It is the history/literary equivalent of a 45-min TV documentary.