Ignition!

What Hacker News says

1. thedanbobFeb 2024
   For anyone interested in the history of rocket propellants, I highly recommend "Ignition!" by John D. Clark[0]. It has plenty of chemistry if you're into that, but even if you're not (like me) it's an enjoyable read.

   [0] https://library.sciencemadness.org/library/books/ignition.pd...

   thread
2. scrlkOct 2023
   > This reminds me of rocket scientists trying out ever nastier and deadlier chemicals in the early days of space exploration.

   An engineer at Toyota must be a big fan of John Clark's "Ignition!", or Derek Lowe's "Things I Won't Work With" series.

   thread
3. jeremiahbuckleyAug 2023
   Oh man, you are in for a treat! This was a terrific read even though I probably only understood 1/3rd of it.

   Ignition! By John D. Clark

   https://www.amazon.com/Ignition-audiobook/dp/B07CTW1M9D/ref=...

   Or, maybe you’ve already read it, in which case: great job. Maybe someone else will see this comment and enjoy it.

   I don’t want to spoil if for you, but I loved the last paragraph. I believe a new heroic age for the field is dawning.

   Show morethread
4. ArainachJul 2023
   >Take a good look at your hands. I want you to admire them for a moment. The dexterity of the fingers, the sensitivity of the tips and the palms. Trace the muscles in each with your other hand, noticing how the ones in your fapping hand seem a little bit bigger and meatier. Think of all the wonderful things you use them for - pulling a trigger, petting a kitty, warming your girlfriend up for sexytimes, pimp-slapping a distinguished urban gentleman, holding your slippery dragon dildo.

   >Do you want to keep those hands? Then read this section very fucking carefully

   Parts of this are poetry approaching that of Ignition!: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ignition-john-d-clark/11031...

   Show morethread
5. avmichNov 2022
   Read "Ignition!" by John Clark. https://archive.org/details/ignition_201612 . Mostly about search for liquid rocket fuels, but talks about the industry as a whole to some extent.
   thread
6. throwanemNov 2022
   John Clark's "Ignition!" is back in print, as it happens. It's a personal history of liquid rocket fuel research in which there's a lot of chemistry of which I understood none, but the stories made it worth reading anyway.
   thread