A wide range of readers will appreciate the snappy, appealing Liquid Rules: The Delightful and Dangerous Substances That Flow Through Our Lives. Author and materials scientist Mark Miodownik introduces numerous topics related to liquids, from fluid dynamics and rheology to chemistry and engineering—all presented in a clear, entertaining, and easy-to-read manner. Miodownik is well known for introducing materials science topics to the general public, and Liquid Rules reflects his talent for communicating science. I would happily recommend this book to my family and friends to give them a window into the delightful ways in which liquids behave.
Although liquids constantly touch our everyday lives, the wider public often doesn’t appreciate their large variety of peculiar behaviors. I am elated that Miodownik has created a witty book that collects some of the more intriguing and beguiling fluid phenomena in one place. Most importantly, the science presented throughout is accurately, clearly, and thoroughly elucidated. Popular science writers often err on the side of explaining too little in order to simplify their message, but that is not at all the case with Miodownik. He describes the science precisely, but in a straightforward way using everyday language. I think that anyone who picks up the book will both gain a new appreciation for the everyday marvels of fluid behavior and learn something about the science behind it all. Although Liquid Rules is intended for a general audience, everyone can learn from it—for example, I picked up a new understanding of the chemistry behind coffee roasting.
The story in Liquid Rules is constructed around a transatlantic airplane journey from London to San Francisco. The author discusses the various liquids that he or the plane uses along the way, from the kerosene in the aviation fuel to the soap in the lavatory. Although I appreciate the effort to tie the book together, the thread of the airplane journey feels a bit forced. Furthermore, I don’t think the overarching story is necessary. What I enjoyed most was that each chapter stood well on its own—the book feels almost like a short story collection. Each chapter highlights a way in which liquids touch our lives and teaches readers about the science behind it; the explanations often are complemented by beautiful, hand-drawn illustrations. It is quite possible to read a chapter out of order. Although the book as a whole can feel a bit scattershot—Miodownik jumps quickly from topic to topic, even within chapters—I believe the self-contained chapters are a plus for a popular science text.
One of the book’s real strengths is that many of the topics are discussed in a well-presented historical context. For example, the first chapter, “Explosive,” focuses on the kerosene in airplane engines. Miodownik discusses how fuel sources have evolved throughout the centuries, starting with oil lamps and ending with jet fuel. Along the way, he introduces surface tension by examining the wick inside an oil lamp. In the fourth chapter, “Sticky,” he covers topics from glue to rubber to plywood and treats readers to an overview of how those materials have shaped engineering and manufacturing throughout history. I quite enjoyed all the book’s detours into history, and I imagine most readers will as well. The historical material skillfully places the science in a larger context and answers the eternal question, “What is that knowledge good for?”
Miodownik’s background in materials science is apparent throughout the book. For example, not only does he discuss how jet engines are cooled, as a typical fluids scientist might, but he also explains the chemistry behind epoxy. His presentation of science, touching on chemistry, engineering, and physics, is a wonderful and accurate representation of how science is evolving. I hope that readers will be able to take away the message that science is highly cross-disciplinary. More and more of us work on problems that do not neatly fall into traditional categories but instead require understanding from many perspectives. A well-written and entertaining popular science book highlighting all the ways fluids touch our lives seems like an excellent champion for interdisciplinary science.
Michelle Driscoll is an assistant professor of physics at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She is a soft-matter experimentalist who studies emergent structures in various fluid and soft-matter systems.
