Day 15 of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge dawns rather bright, clear and very warm in my part of the world and I am pleased to present my friend, Dr.Chandra Senan’s book titled “Oxygen”.
I “met” Dr Chandra through my blog in April 2012. His emails are encouraging, appreciative and kind. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you might remember that I reviewed his sister’s book of poetry “Dialogues from Within“, last year during the A to Z Challenge. We have built a pleasant friendship and I feel privileged to know him.
Dr.Chandra Senan has authored several books and Oxygen is his latest. When he offered me a preview, I expected a text-book-type book. But when I began reading it, I found it not only informative, but also beautifully written. Interspersed with inspiring quotes and presented in a layout that any layman would find interesting, I’d say Dr. Chandra has the gift of expression. Now let me introduce you to the book Oxygen.
Oxygen
The Story of a Primal Fluid of Vital Importance to All Life Forms on the Planet and Our Intimate Relationship with This Extraordinary Gas
by Dr Chandra Senan
Book blurb:
“The topic chosen for this book was influenced by the fact that three of my previous tomes were on water, blood and alcohol. As we would not be alive without the first two fluids and the exclusion of the third is something that for many would make life onerous to cope with, I decided to keep the fluid theme going and to resolutely remain in the realm of substances absolutely crucial to our survival. Oxygen seemed the obvious choice.
Fluids, incidentally, have relatively low viscosities, exhibit flow and display turbulence, possess mass and can be deformed and compressed. It is near-ubiquitous, life-sustaining oxygen which we take for granted that makes us (and the planet) tick, the four main categories of oxygen usage being medicine, metallurgy, chemical synthesis and rocketry. If you think life’s a gas, you would almost certainly be right and that gas is none other than oxygen although nitrous oxide (a.k.a. factitious air) first laid claim to that accolade, owing to the euphoric effects of inhaling it – an attribute that subsequently led to its recreational use as a dissociative anaesthetic, laughing gas parties being all the rage with the aristocracy (the hysterical participants falling about cachinnating) from as early as 1799.
But it’s oxygen in all its guises and the far reaching effects this element has had (and continues to have) on practically everything on our planet (and elsewhere) that takes centre stage in this offering of mine which, hopefully will seem like a breath of fresh air – an expression that sadly has become a contradiction in terms. In the sapient words of prolific science writer Dr. John Gribbin: “Oxygen exists in the atmosphere because there is life on Earth; and life exists on the land surface of the Earth because there is oxygen in the atmosphere.”
Given the parlous state our planet is in, we would be unwise not to heed this warning by the eminent astrophysicist Carl Sagan: “Anything else you’re interested in is not going to happen if you can’t breathe the air and drink the water. Don’t sit this one out. Do something.”
In “Oxygen” Dr Senan has included almost everything you ever wanted to know about the gas. Comprehensive, solidly researched, it has a wealth of information presented in easy to understand format with color illustrations throughout. Here is a preview of the book. Go on – take a look! You’ll enjoy it.
Some quotes from the book:
“Money isn’t the most important thing in life, but it is reasonably close to Oxygen on the “gotta have it” scale” Zig Ziglar
“Freedom is the oxygen without which science cannot breathe” David Sarnoff
“What Oxygen is to the lungs, such is hope to the meaning of life” Emil Brunner
Oxygen
Colour illustrated
A5 size publication
298 pages
Publisher: Literati Publishing
ISBN-10: 0956928161
ISBN-13: 978-0956928160
Books by Dr Chandra Senan: Oxygen, Alcohol, Time, Water, Blood
Please visit Literati Publishing for more details. (Best viewed on Chrome browser)
♥
23 comments
Hi Vidya
We always take oxygen for granted and forget without it our planet does not exist. Life does not exist. We can do without water for a few days, but what maybe a couple of minutes without oxygen. Such a shame that it is so contaminated in many countries.
Mary
Mary Stephenson recently posted…Eco Friendly and Save Some Money
Dear Mary,
I could not agree with you more which is precisely why I wrote the book. A favourite quotation of mine is this one by G. K. Chesterton:
“In the darkness of barbarism men knew the truth without the facts. In the twilight of half-civilization, they saw the truth illuminating the facts. In the full blaze and radiance of complete civilization they found all the facts and lost the truth forever.” Unquote.
Perhaps you might like to watch a You Tube video of mine about the perilous state of the planet – it’s at the link below:
If you had trouble viewing the preview to my book on Oxygen, put this in your browser:
Thanks again for your feedback.
Best wishes
Chandra Senan
I couldn’t enlarge/open the preview.
The blurb is beautifully written, rare for a book authored by a scientist. I’ll read one of his books, then the rest. Which of his books would you recommend as my first read?
Proactive Indian recently posted…Open-minded
Pro, so glad you liked this! 🙂 I think Dr.Chandra is quite lyrical in his writing. If you see his list of publications, you’ll notice he has written a couple of books on Cricket. I loved reading the excerpts – he told me he personally presented the book to Kumble! So if you enjoy cricket, I say go for it. Or – get the Alcohol. It is beautifully written!
Vidya Sury recently posted…Oxygen
Dear Proactive Indian,
Thank you for the positive vibes. I am responding as Vidya has informed me that I can do so. Regarding the Oxygen book preview, you can try this link in your browser:
Should this fail, go to the website book page where you will find the ‘look inside this book’ feature, at the following link:
http://www.literatipublishing.com/oxygen.html
I suggest the book on Water as the first read but the one on Alcohol, although science-based, has a lot of humour in it. There is also a You tube video about the Water book at this link:
and another video concerning the state of the planet at this link:
I’d be interested to know what you think of it all.
Thank you again and my appreciation to Vidya for her generous write-up about my publications.
Cheers
Chandra Senan
This looks like a book I might want to get my hands on. Thanks for sharing this, Vidya, and thanks also for all that you’re doing for the AZ!
Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2014, My Latest post
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
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Thank you for your kind comments, Damyanti.
If you had problems opening the Oxygen book preview, try this link:
Best wishes
Chandra Senan
You sure are collecting smiles, Vidya 🙂
This seems to be a fantastic read, because the blurb is beautiful, and even though the topic is scientific,your review says that the presentation is suitable for laymen 🙂 Thanks for introducing Dr Chandra to us, and special thanks for showcasing his other books too !!
Sreeja Praveen recently posted…A to Z Series Post – O – Oh ! he’s handsome 🙂
Dear Sreeja,
Your positive response is most encouraging. Many thanks and once again, thanks to Vidya. If you had trouble opening the Oxygen book preview, try this link:
With every good wish
Chandra Senan
Thanks for introducing this book and this wonderful author. I have some people in my family who would love to read such books. And I myself would probably start with the book on Water. Quite an informative post!
Beloo Mehra recently posted…O is for Opportunity, “Opportunity to Develop All that is Best in the Nature”
Hi Beloo,
Thank you for your most generous comments. They are much appreciated.
You might be interested in watching a You Tube video about my book on Water at the following link:
Cheers
Chandra Senan
I like the blurb of the book…Another added to my to buy list..This challenge is making the list really really long and I like it!
nabanita recently posted…O is for Ostracized
Hi Nabanita,
Glad you liked the blurb.
Vidya sure did me proud.
Cheers
Chandra Senan
It’s wonderful when an author takes the trouble to make scientific subjects easy for lay people to understand and appreciate! Thanks for introducing us to Dr Chandra Senan, Vidya. I do remember his kindness to me and other bloggers when you shared the Write Tribe Anthology.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted…Immortal Nelson Mandela Quotes
Your words are music to my ears, Corinne. Muchas gracias. I do remember reading some of your erudite blogs and all the praise heaped on you is well merited. We all need encouragement as it nourishes our inner psyche which in turn leads to self-improvement. Suffice it to say that I am eternally grateful to Vidya for her extensive coverage of my books. She is kindness personified. Should you have some time to spare, do watch this You Tube video of ours:
Felicitations,
Chandra Senan
Sounds good. Can I buy the book on Amazon?
Max Arthur recently posted…myTonic.net
Hi Max,
Good to know you liked what you read. I’m afraid the only way you can get the book at the moment is from Literati Publishing at the link below.
Should you have been unable to read the Oxygen book preview, you can do so at this link:
Thank you again for your positive endorsement. It is much appreciated.
Best wishes
Chandra Senan
Great blurb for the book. I love reading informative books that use lively writing so that I can enjoy while I learn. I am going to have to check this author out. I know I would also like learning about water and blood.
debi o’neille recently posted…O IS FOR OPTICIAN!
Debi,
Your upbeat, favourable comments are most heartening. Thank you. If you have not seen the Oxygen book preview, you can do so at this link:
Regarding the other books on Water, Alcohol and Blood, you can check them out at the Literati Publishing website and also read the reviews other people have written about them. There are a few You Tube videos associated with the books that you just might be interested in viewing. At the moment, the books are only available from the Literati website.
Many thanks again,
Chandra Senan
Making science easily palatable to the masses is not an easy task. And from what you say, Dr. Senan seems to have done just that. Thanks for the review, Vidya.
Shailaja V recently posted…Only That!
Dear Shailaja,
It appears as if Vidya has done a superlative job of promoting my books for which I am extremely grateful.
In view of the subject matter involved, I freely admit that writing all my books proved to be challenging, to say the least. Fortunately, I managed to see the projects through. I thank you for the favourable feedback and list below the link to the Oxygen book preview if you have not been able to view it.
Felicitations
Chandra Senan
“Money isn’t the most important thing in life, but it is reasonably close to Oxygen on the “gotta have it” scale”
So true.
It’s great that the normal man-in-the-street would be able to enjoy this book!
Michelle Wallace recently posted…Q is for Questionnaire
Thank you, Michelle, for your vote of confidence in my book. It is much appreciated.
Best wishes
Chandra Senan
Literati Publishing