Booklist
"A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
"In readily accessible prose, Kupferschmidt, an experienced science reporter, walks readers through intricate material in chapters that describe blue in stones, vision, plants, language, and animals. . . . The complexities are laid out with wonderful diagrams and illustrations in an engaging and approachable manner. . . . Blue is charming and readable."
Sonntag Kultur
"With such dedication and clarity that one is astonished to see what aesthetic pleasure natural science can bring. How does beauty come into the world? As a book."
Seattle Book Review
"This fascinating book delves into art, chemistry, biology, physics, geology, history, and literature in order to elucidate the beautiful mysterious color blue. Richly illustrated with gorgeous colors and helpful diagrams, as well as quotes from poetry and prose, the book also contains a surprising personal revelation at the end."
Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung
"Praise from Germany
"Using anecdotes, reportage fragments and research stories, Kupferschmidt succeeds in explaining the science of blue in an entertaining and vivid manner."
The Mixed Double NDR Kultur
"The book is beautifully equipped, with the blue book cut and a beautiful blue in the cover."
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
"Kupferschmidt succeeds in presenting facts concisely and with humor."
Deutschlandfunk Kultur
"Even if you are not a scientist, you get an uncanny desire to understand such connections."
Die Zeit
"Poets, painters, psychologists—what fascinates them about the color blue? This book shows it in word and design."
Foreword Reviews
"Human beings have been obsessed with the color blue for thousands of years, and in Blue, science journalist Kai Kupferschmidt travels the globe to discover why it has always been so special. . . .[His] global quest follows his lifelong obsession with blue, taking him to the core of what it means to be human."
BR Fernsehen
"Everything you need to know about blue."
Shelf Awareness
"Fascinating and well-researched. . . . Kupferschmidt travels the world to understand the history and many origins of the color blue. . . . The book also features striking illustrations of pigments, flowers, and stones that underscore its message that the experience of blue is both universal and deeply personal."
Science
"A comprehensive history of the color blue [that] deftly bridges mineralogy, botany, and art history to explore humanity’s quest for the perfect blue pigment. With equal ease, [Kupferschmidt] describes Picasso’s Blue Period palette and the microstructures that blue jays use to ‘cheat’ their way to a dazzling cerulean."
ZEIT Wissen
"Praise for perhaps the most beautiful color in the world in one of the most beautiful books in recent years."
From the Publisher
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
“In readily accessible prose, Kupferschmidt, an experienced science reporter, walks readers through intricate material in chapters that describe blue in stones, vision, plants, language, and animals. . . . The complexities are laid out with wonderful diagrams and illustrations in an engaging and approachable manner. . . . Blue is charming and readable.”—Booklist
“A comprehensive history of the color blue [that] deftly bridges mineralogy, botany, and art history to explore humanity’s quest for the perfect blue pigment. With equal ease, [Kupferschmidt] describes Picasso’s Blue Period palette and the microstructures that blue jays use to ‘cheat’ their way to a dazzling cerulean.”—Science
“Fascinating and well-researched. . . . Kupferschmidt travels the world to understand the history and many origins of the color blue. . . . The book also features striking illustrations of pigments, flowers, and stones that underscore its message that the experience of blue is both universal and deeply personal.”—Shelf Awareness
“Human beings have been obsessed with the color blue for thousands of years, and in Blue, science journalist Kai Kupferschmidt travels the globe to discover why it has always been so special. . . .[His] global quest follows his lifelong obsession with blue, taking him to the core of what it means to be human.”—Foreword Reviews
“This fascinating book delves into art, chemistry, biology, physics, geology, history, and literature in order to elucidate the beautiful mysterious color blue. Richly illustrated with gorgeous colors and helpful diagrams, as well as quotes from poetry and prose, the book also contains a surprising personal revelation at the end.”—Seattle Book Review
Praise from Germany
“Using anecdotes, reportage fragments and research stories, Kupferschmidt succeeds in explaining the science of blue in an entertaining and vivid manner.”—Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung
“With such dedication and clarity that one is astonished to see what aesthetic pleasure natural science can bring. How does beauty come into the world? As a book.”—Sonntag Kultur
“Poets, painters, psychologists—what fascinates them about the color blue? This book shows it in word and design.”—Die Zeit
“A hymn to the color blue that makes you want to immerse yourself in the world of research, culture, and wonder.”—Deutschlandfunk Kultur
“The book is beautifully equipped, with the blue book cut and a beautiful blue in the cover.”—NDR Kultur, The Mixed Double
“Praise for perhaps the most beautiful color in the world in one of the most beautiful books in recent years.”—ZEIT Wissen
“Kupferschmidt succeeds in presenting facts concisely and with humor.”—Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
“Even if you are not a scientist, you get an uncanny desire to understand such connections.”—Deutschlandfunk Kultur
“Everything you need to know about blue.”—BR Fernsehen
JUNE 2021 - AudioFile
Narrator Jonathan Yen has fun with this scientific and historical exploration of the color blue. Listeners who are looking for a unique title that approaches a deep topic from a variety of angles will be pleased with this experience. Yen creates the persona of a broadcaster, and his jovial tone and quick pace sustain interest. From India to Egypt and elsewhere, he explains, the color true blue is rare in nature. As narrator, Yen maintains enthusiasm throughout the detailed, well-researched material. He capably manages the pronunciation of various cities, countries, and, of course, shades of blue. Yen traces the color all the way back to cave drawings and takes listeners along for the ride. M.R. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
