Gunpowder: Alchemy, Bombards, and Pyrotechnics: The History of the Explosive That Changed the World

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Summary: The history of gun powder
Review: Kelly starts with the invention of gun powder in China and goes through 1900. I found the book very enlightening, as well as a fun read. Kelly describes how powder was originally invented by Chinese alchemists, use by the Chinese to fight off the Mongols, adaptation by European powers, the parallel development of guns and cannons, and societal effects like ending the age of castles and spurring the development of chemistry. The chapter on the Duponts was interesting. Highly recommended.

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Summary: KaBoom!
Review: The story of gunpowder is odd enough - initally made from dove droppings by the Chinese, it is the only explosive ever concocted by mixing entirely natural materials. And when it's described by such compelling writing, an irresistible book results. Kelly charts the migration of the stuff across the globe over centuries. His explanation of its chemistry is fascinating and clear, his description of its devastating effects in war horrifyingly real. The wealth of peculiar details the author weaves into his narrative will entice even those who may think initially that they have little interest in the subject. This book shows what a talented writer can do when he is deeply interested in his subject.A really great book!

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Summary: Unusual take on the "Fire Drug"
Review: This is one of those social histories, rather than a serious attempt to cover every aspect of something. Instead of writing everything that could be known about gunpowder, the author instead keeps you interested and involved by writing a shorter, more interesting book that covers most of the basics without bogging down. The result is an entertaining look at the world of explosives from their inception until the end of the 19th century, when the original version of gunpowder was superceded by newer, more efficient compounds.

There is much to be learned here: the Chinese using the material to entertain themselves, and propel rockets at their enemies; the inventors in Europe who knew the powder was volatile, but not why; bishops asked to provide their urine as a component for the powder; a gunner who was made to do penance because he managed to fire his enormous gun three times in one day (he must have made a deal with the devil); and so forth. Author Kelly brings all of these characters together, and makes the whole very interesting.

This is a very good book, with a lot of interesting information in it. The military parts of the book tend to be rather sketchy (the Civil War boils down to the battles of Petersburg, Gettysburg, and Mobile Bay, for instance) but the overall effect is to make a book that's readable and not to technical. The rest of the book, dealing with the refining of the technology and its uses, is interesting, if similarly brief. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject, or anyone who reads general non-fiction.