Chemistry for Beginners: A Novel By Anthony Strong, Narrated by Simon Vance & Kate Reading. (Read via Audible.com)

This the defiantly a nerdy love story novel. I picked it up on browsing the Simon Vance’s collection. Its a fun read for the fact that there is so much as John Cleese puts it “Techno Gobbledy Goo.”

This story in a scientific paper type layout, with footnotes and references. The thing is this book presents the opposite of a dry scientific paper. Strong brought tons of color to the paper, by telling the story as a scientific discovery, when it is really about romance. As the late Randy Pausch puts it in his book The Last Lecture, a Head Fake!

The most enjoyment of this book came in the primary character Dr. Steven J. Fisher. The book revolves around his work of developing a new drug formulation called KXC79. The drug’s intention is to treat female sexual disfunction. Fisher is an Uber Nerd. Brilliant as a scientist and really has a bottomless passion for his work.

What I liked so much about him is that he is not the typical portrayed stereotype. Instead he illustrates what a real person can be and would act like. His social interactions are really on spot on how some people live. They really have no barometer for social games. Most signs of attraction or flirting just go way over his head. I too can relate. I was talking to a friend about this type of thing and was just blown away by the complexity of interaction he was talking about. Chase but don’t chase too hard. Cater to different thought processes. You have to give them attention then cut them off, but don’t, then do, only for a little bit. aahhhh-eer-argh-Ahhh! Strong does do a good job mixing it up, specifically how we got to read Ms. G’s diaries. It really is great stuff, especially seeing a situation from both sides.


Anyway, at the end of the day Conan says it best (in many ways) and this books reflects that: “If you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.”

9/10