A highly technical book. My enjoyment was dampened by my own inability to understand the concepts and science being discussed. At times the information would roll of my brain like water but I persisted to the end. Interspersed within detailed explanations of atomic structure and discussions of US military budget are harrowing personal experiences told in loving prose. Many things from this will stay with me for a long time.  I would like to return to this book after watching the Crash Courses on chemistry and physics.