A Well-Ordered Thing: Dmitrii Mendeleev and the Shadow of the Periodic Table, Revised Edition

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By Michael D. Gordin, professor of history

Published June 26, 2019

In this biography of the inventor of the periodic table of elements, Michael. D. Gordin crafts a portrait of the life of the intrepid Dmitrii Mendeleev. A Well-Ordered Thing: Dmitrii Mendeleev and the Shadow of the Periodic Table, Revised Edition (Princeton University Press) sheds light on the life of this culturally, politically, and scientifically significant figure in the 19th century.

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PAW’s December 2025 cover, with a photo of Michael Park ’98.
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