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Sam Kean
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Caesar's Last Breath: Decoding the Secrets of the Air Around Us Kindle Edition

by Sam Kean (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 832 ratings
Editors' pick Best Nonfiction
The Guardian's Best Science Book of 2017: the fascinating science and history of the air we breathe.

It's invisible. It's ever-present. Without it, you would die in minutes. And it has an epic story to tell.

In Caesar's Last Breath, New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean takes us on a journey through the periodic table, around the globe, and across time to tell the story of the air we breathe, which, it turns out, is also the story of earth and our existence on it. With every breath, you literally inhale the history of the world.

On the ides of March, 44 BC, Julius Caesar died of stab wounds on the Senate floor, but the story of his last breath is still unfolding; in fact, you're probably inhaling some of it now. Of the sextillions of molecules entering or leaving your lungs at this moment, some might well bear traces of Cleopatra's perfumes, German mustard gas, particles exhaled by dinosaurs or emitted by atomic bombs, even remnants of stardust from the universe's creation.

Tracing the origins and ingredients of our atmosphere, Kean reveals how the alchemy of air reshaped our continents, steered human progress, powered revolutions, and continues to influence everything we do. Along the way, we'll swim with radioactive pigs, witness the most important chemical reactions humans have discovered, and join the crowd at the Moulin Rouge for some of the crudest performance art of all time. Lively, witty, and filled with the astounding science of ordinary life, Caesar's Last Breath illuminates the science stories swirling around us every second.
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  1. Print length
    362 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Little, Brown and Company
  4. Publication date
    July 18, 2017
  5. File size
    74.8 MB
  6. Page Flip
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Entertaining...with sly wit and boyish wonder.

-- "Discover magazine"

Kean crams the book full of wild yarns told with humorously dramatic flair.

-- "San Francisco Chronicle"

Kean illuminates the science in everything from Earth's vaporous origins to the function of hydrogen in early aeronautic balloons and the ammonia and butane that Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard harnessed in the 1930s for a novel refrigerator.

-- "Nature"

The most fun to be had from nonfiction is a good science book...An enormous pleasure to read.

-- "Mark Kurlansky, author of Paper and Salt"

Kean's ability to explain with clear, vivid analogies provides diverse readers access to previously remote scientific concepts.

-- "Science Magazine"

Compelling stuff, written with verve and in a style that veers between simple lightheartedness and open jocularity... Eminently accessible and enjoyable.

-- "Guardian (London)"

Narrator Ben Sullivan makes the stories of scientists like James Watt, Joseph Priestley, and Alfred Nobel entertaining, reading with humor, humanity, and drama. Whether it's the twisted story of laughing gas, with its permutations as a hallucinogen and an anesthetic, or the horrible use of chlorine gas in WWI, there's always a human angle linked to gases. Even listeners who get nothing from the mathematics of molecules will be fascinated by the history recounted and the people who lived it. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.

-- "AudioFile"

About the Author

Sam Kean is the New York Times bestselling author of The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons, The Disappearing Spoon, and The Violinist's Thumb, all of which were also named Amazon top science books of the year. The Disappearing Spoon was a runner-up for the Royal Society of London's book of the year for 2010, and The Violinist's Thumb and The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons were nominated for the PEN/E.O. Wilson Award for literary science writing in 2013 and 2015, as well as the AAAS/Subaru Prize. Kean's work has appeared in The Best American Nature and Science Writing, the Atlantic Monthly, the New York Times magazine, Psychology Today, Slate, Mental Floss, and other publications, and he has been featured on NPR's Radiolab, All Things Considered, and Fresh Air.



Ben Sullivan is an actor, voice artist, and Earphones Award-winning audiobook narrator.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01M7ZWWYP
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown and Company (July 18, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 18, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 74.8 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 362 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0316381640
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 832 ratings

About the author

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Sam Kean

Sam Kean

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Official bio: Sam Kean spent years collecting mercury from broken thermometers as a kid, and now he's a writer in Washington, D.C. His new book is The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons. His first two books, The Disappearing Spoon and The Violinist's Thumb were national bestsellers, and both were named an Amazon "Top 5" science books of the year. The Disappearing Spoon was nominated by the Royal Society for one of the top science books of 2010, while The Violinist's Thumb was a finalist for PEN's literary science writing award. His work has also been featured on "Radiolab" and NPR's "All Things Considered," among other shows. You can follow him via Twitter @sam_kean, and read excerpts at http://www.samkean.com.

(un)Official bio: Sam Kean gets called Sean at least once a month. He grew up in South Dakota, which means more to him than it probably should. He's a fast reader but a very slow eater. He went to college in Minnesota and studied physics and English. At night, he sometimes comes down with something called "sleep paralysis," which is the opposite of sleepwalking. Right now, he lives in Washington, D.C., where he earned a master's degree in library science that he will probably never use. He feels very strongly that open-faced sandwiches are superior to regular ones.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
832 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a very interesting read with lots of interesting information, particularly appreciating how the author weaves fascinating stories around scientific facts. Moreover, the writing quality receives positive feedback for being well written and easy to read, with one customer noting how complex science is made understandable to a layperson. Additionally, customers like the book's style, with one review highlighting its relaxed approach.

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60 customers mention "Book enjoyment"60 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, describing it as a very interesting and compelling read.

"...The story is informative and interesting...." Read more

"...It is a fascinating and detailed revelation of the gaseous nature of everything...." Read more

"Great book. I love this author, but his ultimate classic remains to be the Disappearing Spoon...." Read more

"...literature both nonfiction and fiction and this seemed to be an intriguing topic. I was hooked within 3 to 4 sentences...." Read more

48 customers mention "Information quality"48 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's well-researched content and ability to weave fascinating stories around scientific facts, making it a great account of science history.

"...The book will give you a clearer understanding of the air that is our home which we breath and live in and make you realize that we haven’t been..." Read more

"Caesar’s Last Breath, Sam Kean’s newest work, is much more than science, much more than history, and much more than delightful back stories...." Read more

"...The research is always first rate, and his style is so relaxed, and there's always a surprise out there somewhere. Fun stuff and a lot of knowledge." Read more

"...This books gives such incredible perspective, and leaves me with a new appreciation for a piece of daily reality that is so easily ignored." Read more

18 customers mention "Writing quality"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read, with one customer noting how the complex science is explained in plain language.

"...I was hooked within 3 to 4 sentences. The authors style was easy to read yet not fluffy...." Read more

"...Great sense of humor and engaging writing. You will look at the world differently after reading this unusual book...." Read more

"Sam Kean makes complex science understandable to a lay person and enjoyable to read...." Read more

"...lay person -brain/neurology, DNA, chemistry - and makes it easy to understand and enjoy...." Read more

5 customers mention "Style"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as relaxed and creative.

"...The research is always first rate, and his style is so relaxed, and there's always a surprise out there somewhere. Fun stuff and a lot of knowledge." Read more

"...Very creative the way Kean puts his books together, something a high school student would find captivating and even me, a soon to be chemistry..." Read more

"...The Disappearing Spoon is his best, but this keeps a similar style and accessibility." Read more

"...Entertaining, thoughtful and educational. Very highly recommended!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • William Edward Schenck
    5.0 out of 5 stars It’s amazing what we breathe.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Sam Kean has written several books covering nonfiction topics that are as diverse in their subject matter as you can imagine yet he does so brilliantly with a breath of knowledge for each one that is remarkable. In “Caesar’s Last Breath”, he tackles the daunting challenge of covering the complete contents of the air through out the existence of the planet. He takes us back to the beginning when the Earth was in its infancy recounting the the story of the changing atmospheres that evolved to our present day gaseous ingredients. The story is informative and interesting. Then the story takes a turn to the more grim realities that exist because human beings have fouled the atmosphere with most notably radiation and greenhouse gases. Kean doesn’t think much of our chances to remedy our blight and because of this the book becomes a little depressing but perhaps necessary because it is honest.
    What about the title? Do we in fact have any experience with Caesar’s last breath? According to Kean, there is a significant chance that we do. Since there are a bazillion molecules in each breath we take and those molecules become diffusely distributed over the globe with time, there is a good probability that a few of the molecules in Caesar’s final exhalation are lingering close by. Every breath you take has in it the history of the atmosphere which we share with all those past, present and future.
    The book will give you a clearer understanding of the air that is our home which we breath and live in and make you realize that we haven’t been especially good at keeping it clean.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Robert Lowe
    5.0 out of 5 stars A galaxy of stars for this great addition to human understanding.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Caesar’s Last Breath, Sam Kean’s newest work, is much more than science, much more than history, and much more than delightful back stories. It is a fascinating and detailed revelation of the gaseous nature of everything. The book is a portal to a new level of thinking about the very air we breathe, and the universe in which we live.
    I cannot say Mr. Kean has done it again, because all of his explorations have revealed ever expanding powers of expression, and the development of his unique voice; a more personal, and refined lens through which we can view this magnificent place called life.
    If Sam Kean is new to you, inhale Caesar’s Breath, and then rush back to the adventure of The Violinist Thumb, the mystery of The Disappearing Spoon, and the mind bending enjoyment of Dueling Neurosurgeons. If you have been there already, go back and start over. There is more every time you read this important author.
    A galaxy of stars for this great addition to human understanding.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • T
    4.0 out of 5 stars Worth Reading
    Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Great book. I love this author, but his ultimate classic remains to be the Disappearing Spoon. There is nothing out there like it whether you read it or listen to it. Sam Kean invested so much in that earlier work that made all his other books appear like magazine articles by comparison. The research is always first rate, and his style is so relaxed, and there's always a surprise out there somewhere. Fun stuff and a lot of knowledge.
    One person found this helpful
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  • robert r bronner jr
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional read!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    When i purchased this book i didn't know what to expect but the title was intriguing. Well I'm a lifelong reader of science literature both nonfiction and fiction and this seemed to be an intriguing topic. I was hooked within 3 to 4 sentences. The authors style was easy to read yet not fluffy. It may not be a book that everyone gets but I have thoroughly enjoyed and honestly hated to end. My thanks to the author for a really enjoyable read and gave me a new view of the world i live in.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Anita Howard
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating science of Sam Kean!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Sam Kean's books are always full of science like you've never really heard before.
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  • Greg Maggard
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gases are amazing, and we rarely realize it.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This book really blew my mind. It’s amazing to think about all the ways our lives have been impacted by gases, beyond simply being what we breathe to stay alive. There’s something profound in the realization that some of the very molecules rushing into your lungs with every breath have likely done the same for all the heroes and villains of humanity, the dinosaurs, and even the hearts of stars. This books gives such incredible perspective, and leaves me with a new appreciation for a piece of daily reality that is so easily ignored.
    Helpful
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  • Tom Wise
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I always hated science classes as a kid and couldn’t imagine a more boring subject. Writers like Sam Kean and Bill Bryson (who pretty much shared my childhood apathy for all things scientific) have completely changed my thinking. Caesar’s Last Breath has had an immediate and profound influence on my life. Just read it and you’ll understand what I mean.
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  • BillH
    3.0 out of 5 stars A good book for younger readers.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    There's a lot of information about the atmosphere in this book. The style of the book may be off-putting to some readers as it seems to be aimed at a high-school or advanced middle-school audience. It's entertaining, sort of, but I'd prefer a little more serious style.
    Even so, you should learn a lot about the atmosphere.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Michael Beeson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Poetic, funny and very human
    Reviewed in Spain on September 17, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    With Sam Kean, I come for the science, but stay for the human stories that surround it. The fact that the book is entertaining does not detract from the very real science it describes. It's just so fun to read you might feel like you're cheating.

    I've been annoying all my friends by repeating the facts I've learned, such as the weight of the atmosphere, or how Archimedes really checked the composition of a crown, or how sound bounces along a channel in our atmosphere, in a desperate bid to remember it all!

    I really can't recommend these books enough.
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  • Elachola
    4.0 out of 5 stars Rarest of the rare informations of the world we & the inner meaning, secrets of the we are in to .
    Reviewed in India on September 17, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Rarest of the rare informations of the world we & the inner meaning, secrets of the air what we experience each moment..
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  • Ángel Velez
    5.0 out of 5 stars Verdaderamente ameno
    Reviewed in Mexico on March 25, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Esta es una de esas lecturas que disfrutas por su amenidad. Muy recomendable como pasatiempo y como material para reflexionar en unas vacaciones.
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  • Jonathan Land
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 30, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Amazingly informative and very educational.
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  • SLK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Science without being overly scientific. Kean does it again.
    Reviewed in Canada on May 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is an amusing, entertaining, and engaging read. I also learned many new and interesting things.
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