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The Periodic Table

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( 18,956 ratings, 1,508 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Periodic Table by Primo Levi is an evocative narrative blending elements of autobiography with fiction. This collection of short stories weaves the author's personal experiences as a chemist with the broader themes of human resilience and destiny. Each chapter is creatively linked to an element from the periodic table, revealing insights into Levi's life and explorations in both the chemical and human realms.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the interplay of chemistry and human experience. Filled with rich autobiographical stories, it combines Levi's passion for science with his remarkable insights into life's complexities, capturing both history and the human condition with depth and clarity.

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In these haunting reflections, Primo Levi, a chemist by training, takes the elements of the periodic table as his inspiration. He ranges from young love to political savagery; 'Iron' honours the resistance hero who put iron in Levi's student soul, while 'Cerium' recalls the improvised cigarette lighters which saved his life in Auschwitz.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In these haunting reflections, Primo Levi, a chemist by training, takes the elements of the periodic table as his inspiration. He ranges from young love to political savagery.

Iron honours the mountain-climbing resistance hero who put iron in Levi's student soul, while Cerium recalls the improvised cigarette lighters which saved his life in Auschwitz.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Periodic Table by Primo Levi is often lauded for its unique structure and profound insights. Reviewers commend Levi's blending of autobiographical narrative with science, creating a compelling exploration of human resilience and the chemistry of life. The book is praised for its elegant prose and philosophical depth, leaving a lasting impression on readers.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141399447

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 June 2010

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 112.0mm

Height: 180.0mm

Weight: 128g

Pages: 194

About the Author

Primo Levi was born in Turin in 1919. The son of an educated middle-class Jewish family, he graduated with a degree in chemistry and found a job as a research chemist in Milan. In December 1943, he was arrested as part of the anti-fascist resistance and deported to Auschwitz. After the war, Levi resumed his career as a chemist, retiring only in 1975. His graphic account of his time in Auschwitz, If This Is a Man, was published in 1947 and he went on to write many other books, including If Not Now, When? and The Periodic Table, emerging not only as one of the most profound and haunting commentators on the Holocaust, but as a great writer on many twentieth-century themes. In 1987, Primo Levi died in a fall that is widely believed to have been suicide.

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