Leben, lieben, liften

Who does not want to look better, live better, and love better? John Emsley knows the secret: Chemistry. Whether it is hair dye, condoms or functional food, it is as entertaining as it is incredible to read what this bestselling author knows. In fictive reports he describes future scenarios, while illustrative excursions take us back in time. In this way the reader becomes sensitive to the many useful, even beneficial products resulting from chemicals research. After all, who would want false teeth taken from the dead, as was the case for many people after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815? Equally unattractive is his description of the first contact lenses made of centimeter–thick glass. Chemically produced materials are now an integral part of our everyday lives, are being continually improved, and, according to the author, are much better than their reputation. After Emsley′s accounts of rotting natural cosmetics and highly allergenic henna dyes, even the most critical consumer will see chemical products in food and cosmetics in a new light.