Excuse Me Sir, Would You Like to Buy a Kilo of Isopropyl Bromide? (1977) [pdf]

These are the memoirs of Max Gergel, a chemical engineer who graduated in 1940. If you enjoy the "Things I Will Not Work With" series you will probably like this. All in all it was light and enlightening reading. Some of the topics covered:

How to acquire chemicals as a poor high school student.

How to get the most out of college.

Starting up a company, finding your first customers and expanding your markets.

Being a supplier to the Manhattan Project.

What chemical engineering was like before the EPA and OSHA.

What went on to create a future Superfund site.

The tricks and techniques of traveling salesmen in the '50s.

A note to linux users: Poppler has a lot of trouble with the PDF. Mupdf will drop the occasional half page. Xpdf was the only engine that could render the whole thing flawlessly.

somewhat related: ignition! http://library.sciencemadness.org/library/books/ignition.pdf - everything you wanted to know about liquid rocket fuels. foreword by asimov.

Highly recommended. Perfect for a flight or train trip