Since Eric Scerri's The Periodic Table was the definitive book on the topic when it first appeared, it is wonderful to see that status claimed anew by this second edition during the International Year of the Periodic Table. The story is still unfolding, thanks in large part to the ingenuity of today's element-makers, and the additions bring this volume right up to date. It remains as clear, balanced and thoughtful as ever, and is the best guide to this iconic
formulation of nature's atomic building blocks.
Dr. Eric Scerri is a leading philosopher of science specializing in the history and philosophy of the periodic table. Throughout his career, he has specialized in historical and philosophical aspects of the periodic table. He has published over 140 articles and a number of books including The Periodic Table: A Very Short Introduction, A Tale of Seven Elements, A Tale of Seven Scientists and a New Philosophy of Science, and Essays in the
Philosophy of Chemistry. For the past twenty years, Scerri has been a full-time lecturer at UCLA.