Royal Society Science Book Prize Winner

The Consumer's Good Chemical Guide

by John Emsley

Summary

A practical chemistry book for general readers that examines the substances found in food, medicines, cosmetics, and household products. Emsley weighs the actual evidence of harm and benefit for compounds ranging from caffeine to chlorine, showing how dose, exposure, and context determine whether a chemical is dangerous. The book aims to replace fear and folklore with a more measured chemical literacy.

Historical Context & Significance

Emsley fought against "chemophobia," explaining that "natural" is not inherently safe and "synthetic" is not inherently dangerous.