A Periodic Tale cover art

A Periodic Tale

My Sciencey Memoir

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A Periodic Tale

By: Dr Karl Kruszelnicki
Narrated by: Dr Karl Kruszelnicki
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About this listen

The only child of Holocaust survivors who fled to Australia in 1950, Karl has always forged his own destiny in an idiosyncratic way. Before he became one of the world’s favourite scientific storytellers, he ambled through a convoluted cacophony of a career.

In the 1960s, he got his start as a physicist at the Port Kembla Steelworks and promptly joined the Steel Industries Auto Club, racing modified rally cars on Wollongong’s deserted back roads. In the 1970s, he entered his self-described ‘drug-crazed hippie years’, making a living as a taxi driver. After he applied to be a NASA astronaut in the 1980s and ‘failed’, he ended up live broadcasting the first space shuttle launch on Triple J. Unexpectedly, that blasted off his media career, and from there it was a stratospheric rise from radio to TV, books, newspapers, speaking, podcasts and the internet.

In this long-awaited memoir, you will learn that it’s okay to not take a linear path through life, and that by following our curiosities and our passions, we can bend the universe to our liking.

2025, Australian Book Design Awards, Long-listed

2025, Australian Book Industry Award (ABIA) Biography of the Year, Short-listed

©2024 Karl Kruszelnicki (P)2024 Bolinda Publishing Best of 2024 History & Philosophy Philosophy Physics Professionals & Academics Science Science & Technology Social Sciences Memoir
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This book could not be read by anyone other than Dr Karl, including me. What an interesting story with science facts to boot. Loved it.

Entertaining and interesting

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An incredibly engaging person and scientist and author, with a wonderful story, a unique storytelling ability & style, and with an unmatched & unrivalled love of humanity, knowledge, science, and enlightenment. Highly recommended.

Dr Karl is one of a kind

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Full of interesting stories, facts and life learnings, fun for all ages. And not all too long.

Quirky, entertaining and interesting

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Really enjoyed listening to this. What an amazing tale. Glad to have read this inspiring story.

Great audio

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great to learn about your life as well as how you became who you are. you're always enlightening and full of real wisdom I can't get enough of your work

Dr Karl is a true Aussie treasure.

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If you're a Dr Karl fan you won't be disappointed, great storytelling and factoids throughout.

an extraordinary book about an extraordinary man.

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The poster boy for squeezing every last drop from the multi-diciplinary mango. it's a super power.

100% Dr Karl

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This is probably the best memoir I’ve ever read/heard. I loved the journey of your life and was brought to tears at times and laughing at others. I have been listening to you on JJJ for 40 years and still stop what I’m doing to listen. If I have to miss it I make sure I get the podcast. I’m going to buy the paper edition for my daughter who is finishing her school exams and daunted by the idea of needing to decide on a career. Dr Karl you’ll be pleased to know she’s going into a science based degree! Thankyou for all you have done all your life for logic and reason and the fight against nonsense which feels like it’s everywhere now! And thankyou for being the one person who all of Australia trusts!

In Dr Karl’s words “wow”!

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I couldn't get enough of the great stories Karl tells! A must for any fan so tell your friends!

Thoroughly enjoyed

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Loved the first half but it lost a bit of steam for me in the latter chapters, especially with the highly scientifice explanations of certain illnesses or body processes. And a little too self-indulgent at times.

Entertaining...to a point

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