The Invention of Air

Next time you take a breath, drink a soda, or erase something, you might want to thank Joseph Priestley, the eighteenth-century Zelig who discovered oxygen, invented carbonated drinks, and dreamed up the rubber eraser. But, as narrator Mark Deakins explains, Priestley was more than a scientist; he was a reverend who despised fundamentalism and an Englishman who supported the French and American Revolutions--unpopular stances that caused riots, the torching of his home and laboratory, and his ultimate migration to the U.S. (where he caused more unrest, including an historic dispute amongst our Founding Fathers). Deakins confidently steers listeners through this audiobook, building to a controlled crescendo during the Priestly-inspired Manchester riots. A refreshing dose of science and politics. R.W.S. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine