Sutton: Stroud, UK, 1998. 256 pp. ISBN 0-7509-2361-X. $16.95.

I suspect that almost all chemists are fascinated by explosives. Not only do explosives produce the most spectacular chemical reactions, they have also had an enormous impact on human history, for both good and evil. Gunpowder and its modern descendants have been instruments of destruction in guns and bombs, and of construction in mining and road building. Much can be learned about the history of chemistry and its relationship to society by studying the history of explosives, and this lively book by G. I. Brown is a good place to begin.

The Big Bang is a more or less chronological history of the development and use of explosives beginning with Greek fire and the invention of gunpowder and ending with the hydrogen bomb. It is a history filled with interesting characters: well-known figures such as Count Rumford, E. I. duPont, and Alfred Nobel, and lesser known figures such as The Revd Alexander John Forsyth, a Scottish country cleric who invented the percussion cap. Since the history of explosives is mainly a history of technological and industrial developments, we meet inventors, industrialists, military leaders, and political figures as well as chemists along the way.

This richly illustrated book is written for a broad audience; there is a strong narrative thread and the technical content is clearly explained. I found it quite compelling, a book that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to a high school or college student interested in science. Chemistry teachers will find lots of material that can be used to enliven a course, interesting stories about the applications of chemistry to real-world problems as well as stories illustrating the impact of chemistry on society. Finally, Brown provides notes and an excellent bibliography for readers who want to know more.