Thread: Funny reviews

So there's this book, see. It's called Chemical Shifts and Coupling Constants for Silicon-29 (Landolt-Bornstein: Numerical Data and Functional Relationships in Science and Technology - New Series).

http://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Coupl...9959649&sr=8-1

Earlier, this book cost $8,500. Now it's only $7,700. Let's see what everybody thinks of it!

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I picked up a copy at my local used book store at a discount. It was only [...]so I feel like it was a HUGE bargain. What value! First let me say that the book does start off a little slow but once you get into the third chapter, "Silicon Molecules: We Hardly Knew Ye'", you just can't put this book down. It isn't without it's moments though. The contrast between antagonist and protagonist is just simply fantastic. I highly suggest reading this book by flashlight under the covers or in a homemade fort/tent in your bedroom. A+ and Highly recommended!

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I'm a big fan of the NMR genre, but this book was really just phoned in. I mean, "Chemical Shifts of P-31 Compounds" had me on the edge of my seat, and "Hyperfine Coupling Constants of the Pnictogens" had a little something for everybody. I can say this with the conviction that only comes with love when I say that "Chemical Shifts and Coupling Constants for Silicon-29" is total crap.

It appeals to the lowest common denominator for cheap thrills when it should be striving to elevate the level of discourse. I mean, did we really need to slog through an entire chapter where Dr. Gupta describes, in agonizing detail, the time he took the spectra of two samples at the same time? He's probably the kind of guy who'll put his sample into a dirty NMR tube his friend just used, too. I actually went to the bathroom and washed my hands after putting this book down; I probably have hepatitis now.

I've come to expect much more from Landolt-Bornstein, and sincerely hope Si-29 was a fluke and not a portent of future editions. Is it too much to ask for another volume of the same quality as "Hydrogen - Old, But Still Knows How to Rock".

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It was great while it was working. I had gotten up to chapter 3, the aforementioned 'hardly knew ye' chapter, when suddenly the pages went blank. I tried closing it and re-opening it and nothing. I let it sit for about an hour and when I re-opened it it briefly worked - I could see the letters, but they made no sense - and then went blank again. I called tech support and they said they'd never seen this and maybe I had the book upside down or something. I assured them I'd read plenty of books and knew which way was up. They had me close thebook, open it, flip through the pages... but nothing helped. Finally they agreed to let me return it for a replacement. I had asked for a refund, but they said "you know too much already" and said a replacement would require wiping a portion of my brain. I was not about to agree to that. We'll see how the replacement works...

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This book is not what it says it is!!! While the customer guide leads you to believe that this is a thorough, informative tome on the molecular properties of silicon, upon opening it proves to be little more than an extended disquisition on the importance of the hamburger in modern American society. To illustrate, here is a sample passage, taken from chapter 12, "Are the Hamburger Gods Angry At Us?"

"...March 23, 1946 marked the day that the world's 17,286,112th all-beef patty was lovingly constructed, by Mr. Heinrich Willinger of 1745 Frostbury Lane. To mark the occasion, a lavish banquet was held, with the hamburger itself as the surprise Guest of Honor, dressed in a beguiling sesame seed and lettuce ensemble (de la Renta, $1450). Journal accounts of the proceedings repeatedly note a sense of levity, mixed however with 'the bittersweet feeling that with the passing of this milestone, a certain innocent passion, an all-conquering zeal, had been lost.' The patty for whose honor so much blood had been shed was invited to give a speech, but remained 'silent, wise as an old oracle, generously bidding the party continue....'"

In short, the prose is scintillating. There are also several recipes for different varieties of hamburger mixed in throughout. I recommend the unexpected but retrospectively obvious "Grass-fed beef patty stuffed with citrus zest, Big League Chew and marinated crimini mushrooms (p. 265)."

The last 343 pages consist of pictures of someone named "Emma" taken from different angles. While I do not know who Emma is, she seems very nice.

All in all, despite the author's obvious passion for the subject, I feel the scattershot thematic approach undermines the "fly-on-the-wall" realism and edge-of-your-seat suspense developed in the first chapters. However, I don't think I'm being presumptuous when I say that I eagerly look forward to the future work of this soon-to-be titan of the literary world.

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Read the rest of them. They're awesome.

Originally Posted by WaterDumple

So there's this book, see. It's called Chemical Shifts and Coupling Constants for Silicon-29 (Landolt-Bornstein: Numerical Data and Functional Relationships in Science and Technology - New Series).

http://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Coupl...9959649&sr=8-1

Earlier, this book cost $8,500. Now it's only $7,700. Let's see what everybody thinks of it!

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Now I'm really curious what is actually inside of the book.

LOLOLOL! THIS THREAD IS FUCKIN HILARIOUS!