Cool chemistry books

I once again didn't post much this month, and didn't really comment on the "faster than light neutrino incident-though for the record I share the sentiment at xkcd.com. Anyone want to bet me $200?
but I am starting an awesome new book, having gotten done with the book I promised that I would before it-ironically Getting Things Done.
First up-The Alchemy of Air, by Thomas Hager. Specifically about the Haber-Bosch process, I'm looking forward to it. There will be a report later.

Book report

I have recently been reading an awesome, and chemistry related book- "The Poisoner's Handbook" by Deborah Bloom. A college friend of mine read it to me. Without giving too much away, it was a fascinating perspective on the start of forensic science and toxicology as a discipline in the 1920s, with lots and lots of jazz age detail thrown in. Reminds me of students I taught in graduate school that wanted to do chemistry because they saw CSI. The richness and the detail were lots of fun, though if you go into the book looking for detailed explanations of chemistry, that's not the point. The book is meant to be historical rather than technical.

Wow it's been a long time

So, I've been away for a long time. I swore I wasn't going to be one of those bloggers who just posts 3 to 4 posts then vanishes. Life has gotten busy-getting heavily into skating, and I got a job!! at least, I got a job, in Feb., that was supposed to last a month. The more clever of you readers might be here asking, wait, a month? shouldn't that be done? and yes, a month has come and gone. Two months have come and gone. I will be done in two weeks. I have really enjoyed having a job-it gives me a sense of purpose, it gives me a sense of having structure, which I really need. It's nice to get to use my brain and ICP training. The best thing has been mostly figuring out, hey, I can do this. The most stressful event was this past Friday, telling them "no, I can't do what you want with this technique" I felt like a failure, though I know that low concentration Cl- lines are a pain to physically impossible to measure with ICP. But I suppose that was also a good learning experience. I can't do everything, though I'd try.
Well, it's time to look for the next job now. I'm trying to get something more environmentally motivated-applying at the city and state for inspection type jobs, as well as more private environmental companies. We'll see how that turns out. I'm more excited about most of these jobs than a lot of "formulation chemist" positions that I had previously applied for, so that's hopeful. I remember a lot of advice boards saying "if you're really passionate, that'll show". Hopefully it will.
Skating. I've decided to try out for roller derby, for Minnesota Roller Girls and Northstar Roller Girls. This means skating over an hour about 5 times a week. Sometimes a bit less, because the closest rink doesn't start sessions til 8:30 for adults. and a whole side part of the having a job is getting up before 6 am. and I need a full 8 hours, apparently. At least, I do when I'm doing heavy athletic stuff. So I'm training myself to get home early, and get to bed.
I have read some of my chemistry books-got a good one on ICP by Steve HIill, which I knew a lot of the ICP-OES material, though am curious about ICP-MS. I also have a new environmental one Environmental Chemistry, by Manahan. I do hope to do a couple of full out book reviews eventually.

Books

Books Books Books. As I'm sure most of those who have taken a chemistry class in college know, they can be expensive. Really expensive. but really useful. I've got a shelf and a half or so of simply chemistry textbooks. Many of them are useful-I don't have to remember the periodic table if I can look it up, and that helps. But I'm not sure that all of them are helpful. I mean, am I going to need to do the proofs that I did in physical chemistry class ever again? I really hope not. I trust the laws of thermodynamics. really.
But which ones do I get rid of? How many $150 books can one get rid of? and it's not like I can resell them, of course there are new editions now. I wasn't taking organic chem that recently. And yet, I like the idea of having a bunch of knowledge at my fingertips. If I had a job I'd buy a lot more detailed and specialized textbooks. It's not like I don't have space to store them. and I do need something to make me feel like a chemist. So perhaps the books stay for now.
what do you do with old books? am I the only one that keeps them? Is it different for books and class work?(I don't keep that at all.)