Autobiography: science, technology and medicine Books

Book Synopsis''A profound memoir'' Daily Telegraph''As revealing as the writing of Oliver Sacks'' Mark CousinsOutside the Asylum is Lynne Jones''s personal and highly acclaimed exploration of humanitarian psychiatry and the changing world of international relief. Her memoir graphically describes her experiences in war zones and disasters around the world, from the Balkans and ''mission-accomplished'' Iraq, to tsunami-affected Indonesia, post-earthquake Haiti and ''the Jungle'' in Calais.Trade ReviewLynne Jones is a world expert on the psychiatric consequences of the trauma of war. She has not shied away from providing care to people in the heart of conflict zones, where such mental health resources are virtually non-existent. Her first hand observations will open readers' eyes to the awful connections between the neglected relationship of war and mental illness, and of what can be provided at relatively low cost, with the right planning and vision. This is essential reading for those training in mental health, to consider the broader picture of the causes of mental illness that one may not see in the routine hospital clinic. An outstanding piece of work -- Professor Simon Baron-CohenAs revealing as the writing of Oliver Sacks. Outside the Asylum joins the dots of mental health and conflict of the last four decades, resulting in a moving frontline account of geographical and mental borders. Jones's quest is lucid and questioning. She introduces us to a gallery of astonishing and brave people, and her work has surely made the world a better place. Inspiring -- Mark CousinsHer blazingly frank account is as enlightening on shifts in psychiatric treatment as it is on local implications of humanitarian-aid policy. Brilliantly insightful -- Barbara Kiser * NATURE *A profound memoir ... Her compassion is clear sighted, and she explains complex geopolitical and psychological issues in plain prose -- Helen Brown * DAILY TELEGRAPH *A passionate account ... Her portrayal of human suffering and the human response is vividly described -- Emma Williams * THE SPECTATOR *It will fill you with soaring admiration for those who dedicate their lives to help those who need it, fired by a strong belief in humanity -- Caroline Sanderson * THE BOOKSELLER *[Jones'] beautifully weft stories of a lone psychiatrist bearing children's unbearable burdens are beacons of hope to their bomb-shattered childhoods and to our broken world. -- Sabina Dosani * BJPsych Bulletin *

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Book SynopsisA rallying cry for a new form of global solidarity in the wake of the Covid-19 epidemic. Written from the Italian lockdown. 'Reinforced my sense of hope in humanity' Philippe Sands, bestselling author of EAST WEST STREETTrade ReviewSublimely elegant, provocatively simple, deeply troubling. In one short hour, in the midst of this difficult moment, Giordano reinforced my sense of hope in humanity, in the one and the many. * Philippe Sands, author of EAST WEST STREET *Part analysis, part journal, perhaps the first from the new world we all share. It is modest, lucid, calm, informed, directly helpful in trying to think about where we are now... The literature of the time after begins here. * Evening Standard *A slim guide to understanding this virus and preparing ourselves for what comes next... Taking a breather from bewildering statistics and terrible tales of contagion to read Giordano's book was a jolt of brevity and simplicity... Giordano's short book takes concepts that have been dancing away in our minds, just out of reach, and lines them up neatly. * The Times *The stark and poetic prose of Paolo Giordano's essay How Contagion Works conveys the existential angst of an Italian intellectual as he comes to terms with quarantine: the vulnerabilities, missed opportunities, loneliness, fear of annihilation and the realisation that humanity's supporting structures are 'a house of cards'. * Spectator *'Potent and original' * Sunday Times *The urgency behind Giordano's book is of a different kind, stemming more from the need to preserve the present than to explain it... Much like Sigmund Freud wrote down his dreams when he woke, before they faded, Giordano sought to document, in real time, his experience of the pandemic. * New York Times *Urgent, powerful writing... I could have folded the corner on every page. * John Sutherland, author of CROSSING THE LINE *A timely, vital and inspiring read. * Andrea Wulf, author of THE INVENTION OF NATURE *Paolo Giordano's HOW CONTAGION WORKS is a lodestar for all of us seeking to find our way through this pandemic. Giordano, a mathematician, seamlessly combines lyrical prose and epidemiologic concepts in a clear and compassionate way, recalling at times the work of Jorge Luis Borges. HOW CONTAGION WORKS illuminates a clear and calm path forward as we navigate this strange new world. * Dan Werb, author of CITY OF OMENS *Brilliant...[Giordano] urges us to be kind and see the pandemic not as an accident or a scourge, but as foreseeable, andproof of how our world has become inextricably interconnected. The outbreak's origins reside with us, the planet's most invasive species * NEW SCIENTIST *

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Book SynopsisAn example of highly efficient, warm, human communication, achieved in times of stress, emerges in the remarkable series of letters that constitutes the bulk of this book. Dr C.J. Mackenzie was acting president of the National Research Council from 1939 to 1943 while General A.G.L. McNaughton, the president, was on leave of absence as commander of Canada’s field forces. During this time Mackenzie wrote regular secret letters to the General reporting on the progress being made in the council’s laboratories. These letters cover exciting and stimulating years of scientific discovery and development. The council’s programs, most of which paid off, included uses of radar for land, sea and air, the first Canadian optical glass industry, a new process for producing metallic magnesium (ending dependence on imports), the pressure suit and other advances in aviation medicine, degaussing and other defences against ingenious varieties of destructive German mines, the

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Book SynopsisChristopher A. Roosa grew up the eldest son of Apollo 14 astronaut and command module pilot Stuart A. Roosa. As a child of the space program, Christopher had a ringside seat at the dinner table of one of twenty-four Americans who had either entered lunar orbit or landed on the moon. The first book written by an offspring of an Apollo astronaut to focus on growing up in that era, Son of Apollo tells the inside story of the life of his father, a man who had a remarkable career despite always believing his air force career was off-track, from his initial application to the service to his removal from the prime crew of Apollo 13 and his subsequent assignment to Apollo 14. During the Apollo 13 mission and recovery, Stuart played an integral role in developing the procedures to return the crew to Earth safely. The focus-and the pressure-of the entire Apollo program then shifted to the Apollo 14 mission. If the Apollo program was to continue, Stuart and the Apollo 14 crew would need to get safely to the moon, land, and return. In writing about his father's career, Christopher Roosa also shows us a familial side of the Apollo experience, from the daily struggles of growing up in the shadow of a father who was necessarily away in training most of the year to the expectations involved in being an astronaut's son. Roosa's story shows the Apollo era was the result not only of thousands of scientists and engineers working steadfastly toward achieving an assassinated president's national goal but also the families who supported them and lived the missions in their own way. For more information about the book visit roosa.comTrade Review"Readers will appreciate Christopher Roosa’s memories and walk away from the book with admiration both for him and his father."—Tyler Peterson, H-Sci-Med-Tech"Oklahoman Stuart Roosa would be proud that his son took time to let the world know what it was like in those exciting years to be the son of Apollo."—Bill Moore, Chronicles of Oklahoma“U.S. Marine Corps Reserve colonel Christopher Roosa provides a unique view of the Apollo program from the perspective of an astronaut’s child. This book belongs on the shelf of everyone who revered the space program, as well as the values we seek to emulate from it within our families.”—Stephen M. Ryan, general counsel to Sen. John Glenn, who flew on Friendship 7 and space shuttle Discovery (STS-95)“Australia has played a role in NASA’s programs since Apollo 14, with Phil Chapman on the support team. But space has always been about not only the astronauts but their families. Now a pilot’s son reflects on those heady days from the perspective of the children and the families. A great read.”—Paul Scully-Power, Australia’s first astronaut, who flew on space shuttle Challenger (STS-41-G)“Having had my own children witness what it was like in those days of the Apollo program, it’s great that Christopher Roosa has written a story from the viewpoint of those who had a seat at the table. He shares family stories that only someone growing up during the Apollo program would know. An interesting read for space enthusiasts and those with gun and outdoor interests.”—Maj. Gen. Bill Anders, U.S. Air Force Reserve, lunar module pilot on Apollo 8“Apollo 14 astronaut Stuart Roosa was an accomplished test pilot and smoke jumper whose career took him to the moon, where he spent a day and a half completely alone in lunar orbit. He observed and photographed the moon with a detail no human had ever before captured. His early death in the last century robbed us of many firsthand insights. Yet only a family member can tell us what it was truly like to be around a lunar explorer—not only during their NASA glory years but also when faced with the question every moon voyager faced when returning to Earth: what do they do next?”—Francis French, space historian and editor of Apollo Pilot: The Memoir of Astronaut Donn EiseleTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Foreword Preface Prologue 1. The Launch of Apollo 14 2. The Roosa Family 3. Growing Up in Claremore 4. Life after Claremore 5. Flight Training 6. The Barrett Family 7. Meeting My Mother 8. Early Family Life 9. Houston, Texas 10. Getting on a Flight 11. Apollo Casualties 12. Pastimes 13. Apollo 11 14. Apollo 13 15. Apollo 14 16. Moon Trees 17. The Country Western Tapes 18. Postflight 19. Tales from the Road 20. Apollo Launches 21. Astronaut Downtime 22. Growing Up after Apollo 14 23. The Apollo Groupie Scene 24. Apollo 17 25. Reflections of an Apollo Command Module Pilot 26. The Last Flight of Apollo 27. Leaving NASA 28. My Father’s Passing Epilogue

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Book Synopsis“Nuila’s storytelling gifts place him alongside colleagues like Atul Gawande.” —Los Angeles Times This “compelling mixture of health care policy and gripping stories from the frontlines of medicine” (The Guardian) explores the question: where does an uninsured person go when turned away by hospitals, clinics, and doctors?Here, we follow the lives of five uninsured Houstonians as their struggle for survival leads them to a hospital that prioritizes people over profit. First, we meet Stephen, the restaurant franchise manager who signed up for his company’s lowest priced plan, only to find himself facing insurmountable costs after a cancer diagnosis. Then Christian—a young college student and retail worker who can’t seem to get an accurate diagnosis, let alone treatment, for his debilitating knee pain. Geronimo, thirty-six years old, has liver failure, but his meager disability check disquali

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Book Synopsis“An exciting insider’s look at Projects Mercury, Gemini and Apollo . . . NASA’s internal politics, disasters, glitches and close calls” by a pioneering astronaut (Publishers Weekly). Gordon “Gordo” Cooper was one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts, pilot for Apollo X, head of flight crew operations for the United States’ first orbiting space station, and the last American to venture into space alone. Stretching from the dawning days of NASA to the far reaches of the unknown, Cooper’s distinguished career as a record-setting astronaut helped shape America’s space program and blazed a trail for generations to come. In this astonishing memoir—written with #1 New York Times bestseller Bruce Henderson—Cooper crosses paths with such aviation luminaries as Amelia Earhart, Wiley Post, and German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun; he shares his early days at Edwards Air Force Base and the endeavors that became the basis for The Right Stuff; he takes us inside NASA with candid accounts of his defeats and accomplishments; he reflects on the triumphs and tragedies of his heroic colleagues; and he finally reveals the reasons behind his belief in extraterrestrial intelligence, including the US military’s long-standing UFO cover-ups. Buckle yourself in for a breathtaking ride because in Leap of Faith, Gordon Cooper takes readers to places they’ve never been before. Trade Review“For ages, man had dreamed of traveling to the moon. In Leap of Faith, Gordon Cooper tells the remarkable and interesting story of how it was accomplished.” —Des Moines Register “[Cooper] draws on his background as an astronaut to bolster his persuasively argued position that, whatever UFO’s may actually be, a policy of cover-up and obfuscation isn’t going to help turn them into IFO’s—identified flying objects. Full of tasty nuggets for space and ufology buffs.” —Booklist Table of Contents Dedication Prologue 1 We Seven 2 Liftoff 3 Bringing Her Home 4 “Gordon Cooper’s UFOs” 5 Amelia, Pancho, and Dad 6 Back to Space 7 Cosmonauts and Deepest Africa 8 “Our Germans Are Better Than Their Germans” 9 “There’s a Fire in Here!” 10 Reaching the Moon and Losing Mars 11 Stumbling Across History 12 UFOs at the United Nations 13 Flying Saucers: Made in the USA 14 Help From the Cosmos? 15 The Space Shuttle Transmission 16 Tesla: Twentieth-Century Genius 17 Reservation for an Alien Saucer Ride 18 Windows in Time and Space Epilogue Farewell to a Buddy Image Gallery Index About the Authors

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Book SynopsisIn 1857 Henry David Thoreau moved to a small cabin in the woods near Walden Pond where he lived as a recluse from society for just over two years. In his time of self-prescribed isolation, Thoreau recorded his daily routine and reflections in an effort to get away from the noise brought about by a mainstream society. His work became one of the most influential American literary works of all time. Thoreau’s daily journal entries became the foundation for one of the most well-known works of Transcendental philosophy to this day. Published as one title, Walden is a quasi-memoir and naturalist manifesto that has withstood the test of time. The work continues to inspire generations to switch it up, unplug, and revert to the higher calling of nature.

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Book Synopsis'Charming and addictively accessible' STEVEN PINKER 'Original, authoritative and beautiful' BRIAN COX 'The most wonderful adventure' ROBIN INCE A brilliantly illustrated journey through the wonders and mysteries of the human brain – from a renowned husband-and-wife team of cognitive neuroscientists. Professors and husband-and-wife team Uta and Chris Frith have pioneered major studies of brain disorders throughout their nearly fifty-year career. In Two Heads, their distinguished careers serve as a prism through which they share the compelling story of the birth of neuroscience and their paradigm-shifting discoveries across areas as wide-ranging as autism and schizophrenia research, and new frontiers of social cognition including diversity, prejudice, confidence, collaboration and empathy. Working with their son Alex Frith and artist Daniel Locke, they examine the way that neuroscientific research is now focused on the fact we are a social species, whose brains have evolved to work cooperatively. What happens when people gather in groups? How do people behave when they’re in pairs – either pitted against each other or working together? Is it better to surround yourself with people who are similar to yourself, or different? And, are two heads really better than one? Highly original and ingeniously illustrated, Two Heads provides an expansive understanding of how our brains work, and how they work together.Trade ReviewJoyful and fabulously original . . . Have I ever read anything like it before? No, I’m certain that I haven’t. Each page is a visual delight . . . It’s extremely easy to read and often very funny. And yet you finish it with your mind blown. Simply by virtue of the fact that it makes some pretty cutting-edge brain science seem almost straightforward, it subtly expands the world of the reader * Observer *Neither simplifies nor trivialises the way the human brain works . . . An enlightening, inspirational scientific voyage that highlights the importance of collaboration * Kirkus *[A] comprehensive graphic guide to the workings of the brain . . . Chock-full of science facts . . . The work overall has the feel of being invited to dinner with a friend’s eccentric genius parents * Publisher's Weekly *A marriage of neuroscience and art which delivers deep insight into the workings of our brains and how we live together as human beings. Original, authoritative and beautiful -- Brian CoxA charming and addictively accessible introduction to neuroscience, featuring a pair of pioneers who have illuminated some of its deepest implications for thought, emotion and psychopathology -- Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and the author of HOW THE MIND WORKS and RATIONALITYYou could not ask for two more inspiring tour guides to take you on a tour of your brain. This is a brilliant introduction to the mysteries of why we are and how we are. It is fascinating and at times disturbing, but it is also the most wonderful adventure -- Robin InceA fantastically fun way to learn about the brain, the mind and the lives of two of the world's most brilliant scientists -- Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, Professor of Psychology at the University of Cambridge and author of INVENTING OURSELVESI have never seen anything like this. It is an engaging story of the careers – and the love affair – of two of the world’s leading cognitive neuroscientists. It is a witty and accessible introduction to the brain and how it works. It is a cutting-edge exploration of issues such as schizophrenia, autism, prejudice, and empathy. Oh, and it’s also an absolutely beautiful graphic novel. Two Heads is a triumph and a delight -- Paul Bloom, Professor of Psychology at University of Toronto and author of THE SWEET SPOTBeguiling, cheeky and endlessly thought-provoking . . . This book will change the ways you think about the ways you think -- Steve Silberman, author of NEUROTRIBESTwo Heads breaks the mold. It's a fabulous book about the lives and work of a cognitive neuroscience power couple who have illuminated what has come to be called the 'social brain' . . . Read it if you are interested in the topic, or if you simply want to have a very enjoyable experience -- Joseph LeDoux, Professor of Neural Science at New York University and author of THE DEEP HISTORY OF OURSELVESTell[s] the story of their love affair with neuroscience – and with each other * i *

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Book SynopsisCHOSEN AS A BOOK OF 2022 BY THE GUARDIAN AND THE NEW STATESMAN 'A STAND OUT' SUNDAY TIMES 'STARTLINGLY HONEST AND DEVASTATINGLY GOOD' RACHEL CLARKE, GUARDIAN 'BRILLIANT' OBSERVER 'POWERFUL AND EVOCATIVE' ADAM KAY 'YOU EMERGE KNOWING HOW LUCKY YOU ARE TO HAVE READ IT' ALI SMITH, NEW STATESMAN From the frontlines of the NHS, the story of a junior doctor's love, loss and grief through the Covid-19 crisis ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In early 2020, junior doctor Roopa Farooki lost her sister to cancer. But just weeks later, she found herself plunged into another kind of crisis, fighting on the frontline of the battle taking place in her hospital, and in hospitals across the country. Everything is True is the story of Roopa’s first forty days of the Covid-19 crisis from the frontlines of A&E and the acute medical wards, as struggling through her grief, she battles for her patients’ and colleagues’ survival. Working thirteen-hour shifts, she returns home each evening to write through her exhaustion, chronicling the devastating losses and slowly eroding dehumanisation happening in real time on the ward.Trade ReviewThe most powerful and evocative account of working through the pandemic that I have read -- ADAM KAYThis is such a tough good read about a time of grief, tragedy, loss and catastrophic UK government mismanagement – not over yet, she makes clear – that after you’ve read it, after you’ve withstood its clear-eyed anger, you emerge focussed on what must change and knowing how lucky you are to have read it -- ALI SMITH * NEW STATESMAN *Brilliant … vivid and immediate, fragmentary and unalloyed * OBSERVER *A laser guided insight into what’s been happening in hospitals during the pandemic laying bare what we were all clapping for ... A devastating fusion of private and public grief. Beautifully written, brutally honest -- JO BRANDThe pandemic up-close and thumpingly personal ... Startlingly honest and devastatingly good -- RACHEL CLARKE * GUARDIAN *Even after all we've heard and read about what staff in the NHS have faced during the pandemic, her accounts still have the power to shock * i news *A raw, real-time monologue ... Full of gallows humour, resentment and fear * NEW STATESMAN *Long may Dr Farooki write ... An insightful and entertaining guide, with an attractive blend of wit, self-awareness and moral seriousness ... A genuine insight on love, grief and what truly matters * IRISH TIMES *A stand out ... Raw and clear-eyed * SUNDAY TIMES *The novelist and doctor shares her story of love, loss and grief through the Covid-19 crisis * GUARDIAN, BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2022 *An extraordinary writer … Beautiful, heartbreaking, brilliant, furious and oh-so-honest - an amazing read -- KATE MOSSEAn eloquent testimonial of grief and fury through the first forty days of the Covid crisis – Farooki’s urgent, fragmentary diary of life on the wards conveys the fear, confusion and uncertainty of those first weeks with singular brilliance. I read it in one sitting, hoping it will find its way onto the shelves of those politicians who seem reluctant to learn from their mistakes, and who need to know the truth about the human consequences of health policy decisions -- GAVIN FRANCISA powerful, honest, angry, vivid book ... It will undoubtedly have a big impact ... and finds absolutely the right route through the personal, the political, the angry, the sad, the mundane -- ALICE JOLLYA brilliantly written, disturbing and brutally honest book * TABLET *

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Book SynopsisMoving, honest and inspiring – this is a nurse’s true story of life in a busy A&E department during the Covid-19 crisis.Working in A&E is a challenging job but nurse Louise Curtis loves it. She was newly qualified as an advanced clinical practitioner, responsible for life or death decisions about the patients she saw, when the unthinkable happened and the country was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. The stress on the NHS was huge and for the first time in her life, the job was going to take a toll on Louise herself.In A Nurse’s Story she describes what happened next, as the trickle of Covid patients became a flood. And just as tragically, staff in A&E were faced with the effects of lockdown on society. They worried about their regulars, now missing, and saw an increase in domestic abuse victims and suicide attempts as loneliness hit people hard. By turns heartbreaking and heartwarming, this book shines a light on the compassion and dedication of hospital staff during such dark times.'An important memoir that we all need to read right now.' – CloserTrade ReviewAn important memoir that we all need to read right now. * Closer *

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Book Synopsis'During open-chest resuscitations, I've held a non-beating, recently stilled human heart in my hands. And, should you ever get to hold one, you will find the human heart to be rubbery and shockingly light.'What Could Possibly Go Wrong? is a report from the front line of emergency medicine, the first ever account of what it is like to work as an air ambulance doctor. Whether describing cutting through a patient's breastbone to plug a stab wound or barrel rolling a light aircraft at 5,000 feet, Tony Bleetman captures the sheer adrenaline of racing through the sky to save lives. You will learn how to land a helicopter on the side of a mountain, what it means to encounter death every day, and how to perform a tracheotomy in real life (clue: it doesn’t involve a ball-point pen).Funny, shocking and moving, What Could Possibly Go Wrong? is a glimpse at a world where the wrong decision can mean the difference between life and death.Originally published as You Can't Park There: The Highs and Lows of an Air Ambulance Doctor.

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Book Synopsis'Honest, compassionate, brave and big hearted' - LORRAINE KELLY'Celebrates human beings in all their glorious, messy imperfection' - CAT DEELEY Sunday Times Bestseller updated with a new chapter on Amir's experiences during the coronavirus pandemic and being on the frontlines of the historic vaccination effort.60 hours a week240 patients 10 minutes to make a diagnosis Welcome to the surgery. Charting his 15 years working as a GP, from rookie to becoming a partner in one of the UK's busiest surgeries, Dr Amir Khan's stories are as much about community and care as they are about blood tests and bodily fluids. Along the way, he introduces us to the patients that have taught him about love, loss and family - from the regulars to the rarities - giving him the most unbelievable highs and crushing lows, and often in just 10 minutes. There is the unsuspecting pregnant woman about to give birth at the surgery; the man offering to drop his trousers and take a urine sample there and then; the family who needs support through bereavement, the vulnerable child who will need continuing care for a long-term health condition; and, of course, the onset of COVID-19 that tested the surgery at every twist and turn. But, it's all in a day's work for Amir. The Doctor Will See You Now is a powerful story of hope, love and compassion, but it's also a rare insider account of what really goes on behind those surgery doors.

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Book SynopsisSunday Times bestsellerLessons to live by, without getting up with the lark Hannah Jackson (aka The Red Shepherdess) grew up in the Wirral, and hadn't set foot on a farm until she was 20-years-old. But she'd always loved animals and on a visit to the Lake District, she saw a lamb being born and had a light bulb moment - a burning desire to succeed as a farmer - and never looked back.In Tales of a Shepherdess, Hannah gives us a unique insight into farm life and the values it has taught her that we can use in our everyday lives to change ourselves and our world for the better - from connection, communication and community, to leadership, patience and resilience. Hannah will show us how becoming a lambing and farming contractor in a male-dominated and traditional world taught her grit and determination; how training her loyal sheepdog Fraser taught her to trust; and how sometimes failure can teach us more about ourselves than success. Hannah's journey also teaches us how we should find what sets our hearts on fire and throw everything into it.Hannah's simple and universal wisdom, practical advice, and words of encouragement will inspire you to achieve your goals, follow your dreams and focus on what's really important in life.

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Book SynopsisNominated for the Chortle Comedy Book Award 2023'Blisteringly well written, deeply humane and very funny' Daily Telegraph'Enough to make you die laughing' Daily Mail'Funny and moving' Daily ExpressWhether he's initiating a coup d'état against new regulations with the residents, or forging a bond with the 98-year old who once called him a fat slut, Pope Lonergan's work is infinitely varied. This no-holds-barred account shows what life inside a care home is really like, for both residents and carers. Featuring night-time drama, incontinence pads and the uniquely dark humour of one double-amputee Alzheimer's patient, here you can learn everything you ever wanted to know (and a few things you probably really didn't) about Britain's care system.This important memoir challenges us all to think differently about the value of our elderly, and also the carers who look after them.Trade ReviewFunny and moving... deeply affecting * Daily Express *Blackly funny... enough to make you die laughing * Daily Mail *Five out of five stars. This book does for care home workers what This Is Going to Hurt did for junior doctors... this isn't just a conscience-rebooting book. It's also blisteringly well written, deeply humane and very funny * Daily Telegraph *Pope Lonergan is always very funny even when dealing with the most serious subject matter -- David BaddielPope is such a kind, funny and erudite guide through a world many of us ignore. I hope people read the book. It can't possibly be what they think. It is exceptional * Andrew Hankinson *

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Book SynopsisKatalin Karikó is a biochemist and winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine. Her pioneering research was the foundation of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 and paves the way for a host of treatments for cancer, HIV, malaria and other life-threatening diseases. Now an honorary professor at many universities, she has been awarded over a hundred prizes, had two children's books have been written about her and a minor planet named after her. She and her husband Béla are the parents of two-time Olympic rowing champion Susan Francia.

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Book SynopsisK.J. Lee is a world-renowned otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon. Born in Malaya in 1940 during World War II, through his indefatigable spirit, talent and hard work he was able to change his life. Traveling to America in 1958 to study at Harvard on a full-tuition scholarship, he went on to make an indelible contribution to his chosen medical specialty. Among his many achievements, his drive and determination to support the next generation of ENT surgeons and to improve the healthcare experience for patients stand out. These vocations led to his publications of over 30 books and the seminal textbook, K.J. Lee's Essential Otolaryngology. It is considered the most widely read text in the field in the world, translated into several languages. This memoir covers his work as a government adviser for healthcare reform, and his founding the nonprofit foundation to encourage caregivers to treat patients as if caregivers are the patients, 'TPIU' (The Patient Is U). In this memoir, he shares his inspiring tale. In his usual spirit of encouraging and supporting the development of junior colleagues, Dr. Lee has chosen to tell his story through three Columbia University writers -- Sally Jee, Clementine Li, and Coco Ruan. Their own education and background have enabled them to fully understand and appreciate his story and communicate it in the words and style of K.J. himself, capturing his very essence and his unmistakable voice. Leeway is a tale of hard work and perseverance, reaching beyond expectations, positivity and forward-thinking, love and family, and above all, success against the odds. A memoir of surgeon K. J. Lee. Reaching Beyond Expectations, from the hideouts of Penang to Harvard and beyond; determination, hard work, ingenuity, emphasizing check lists that you look at frequently, anticipating problems and avoiding them, making lemonade out of lemons, being empathetic, learning from adversities and mistakes and trusting God's guidance. God helps those who help themselves. With God, all things are possible.Table of ContentsPreface; Acknowledgments; Introduction; The Lemons of His Life; Dont Take No for an Answer; Father and Son; Departure for a New World; The Ferncliff; Space Race and the Race of Life; Broken Cars and Broken Dreams, Everyones Hero; Surprise After Surprise; The Trip Where Everything Went Wrong; Off Guard; Have I Met You Before?; K.J. Was Coined; Residency; The Army; K.J. Lees Essential Otolaryngology; The Man from Timbuktu; The Items He Left Behind; Dr Lee, Please Pray Before You Operate; K.J.s Cardinal Rules; It Does Not Have To End This Way; Appreciate Strengths and Manage Weaknesses; Untangling the Healthcare Web; The Patient Is U Foundation, Inc; Epilogue; Index.

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Book SynopsisSpaceflight historian Amy Shira Teitel tells the riveting story of the female pilots who each dreamed of being the first American woman in space. When the space age dawned in the late 1950s, Jackie Cochran held more propeller and jet flying records than any pilot of the twentieth century—man or woman. She had led the Women's Auxiliary Service Pilots during the Second World War, was the first woman to break the sound barrier, ran her own luxury cosmetics company, and counted multiple presidents among her personal friends. She was more qualified than any woman in the world to make the leap from atmosphere to orbit. Yet it was Jerrie Cobb, twenty-five years Jackie's junior and a record-holding pilot in her own right, who finagled her way into taking the same medical tests as the Mercury astronauts. The prospect of flying in space quickly became her obsession. While the American and international media spun the shocking story of a 'woman astronaut' program, Jackie and Jerrie struggled to gain control of the narrative, each hoping to turn the rumored program into their own ideal reality—an issue that ultimately went all the way to Congress. This dual biography of audacious trailblazers Jackie Cochran and Jerrie Cobb presents these fascinating and fearless women in all their glory and grit, using their stories as guides through the shifting social, political, and technical landscape of the time.

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Book SynopsisIn The First Cell, Azra Raza offers a searing account of how both medicine and our society (mis)treats cancer, how we can do better, and why we must. A lyrical journey from hope to despair and back again, The First Cell explores cancer from every angle: medical, scientific, cultural, and personal. Indeed, Raza describes how she bore the terrible burden of being her own husband's oncologist as he succumbed to leukemia. Like When Breath Becomes Air, The First Cell is no ordinary book of medicine, but a book of wisdom and grace by an author who has devoted her life to making the unbearable easier to bear.

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Book SynopsisThe Next Pandemic is a gripping book that confronts the most urgent question facing our species: when, where, and how will the next major outbreak arrive?Some of history's biggest killers have been infectious diseases: The Black Death killed around 20 million in the 14th century; Spanish Flu killed 50 million in 1918; the AIDS pandemic has killed almost 40 million since 1981. There is no guarantee that we can prevent another such disaster, but whenever a new scare emerges, Dr. Ali Khan is sent to try.This book is Dr. Khan's story of 25 years of containing these near misses, in his long career at the Center for Disease Control. During the 1995 Ebola outbreak in Zaire, Khan worked among Red Cross workers digging mass graves, rescuing struggling patients from near-abandoned hospitals and ultimately finding Patient Zero. In 2001, he traveled to Washington, DC, summoned by a midnight phone call, to prevent anthrax spores from spreading through the Senate Office building's ventilation system. In 2002, he was called to Hong Kong to quarantine victims of SARS, a contagious disease with no cure and no vaccine. In each of these stories, Khan reconstructs the chaos of those first moments on the ground, making life-and-death decisions on limited and conflicting information, with local, federal, and international authorities fighting to contain both the virus and the panic.Through these and other stories, Khan breaks down the sources of the next pandemic: mutation; spillover from other species; lab accidents; bioterrorism; and natural disasters. He shows that the danger of an outbreak is more real than ever in a world of climate change and global commerce, but that we need not only live in fear. His career is a testament to the power of good information, habits, and poise under pressure, as we work to fight whatever exotic contagion comes next.The Next Pandemic is a vivid and necessary book about rampant and violent diseases, and disasters narrowly averted; and the tools we have to keep them at bay.

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Book SynopsisThis book presents a close look into the thoughts and expressions of author, artist and neuropsychiatrist Louis A Gottschalk. This includes detailed memories, personal experiences, and childhood reflections written by Gottschalk.

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Book SynopsisA poignant story that covers life, education, and career of leading biomedical scientist, John A. Wiliams, whose research focused on the exocrine pancreas

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Book SynopsisWith a Foreword by Nathaniel Philbrick, author of the bestseller In the Heart of the Sea p style="" class="MsoNormal"If you need an appendectomy, he can do it with a stone scalpel he carved himself. If you have a condition nobody can diagnose- &ldquocreeping eruption” perhaps- he can identify what it is, and treat it. A baby with toe-tourniquet syndrome, a human leg that's washed ashore, a horse with Lyme disease, a narcoleptic falling face-first in the street, a hermit living underground- hardly anything is off-limits for Dr. Timothy J. Lepore. p style="text-indent: 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"This is the spirited, true story of a colourful, contrarian doctor on the world-famous island of Nantucket. Thirty miles out to sea, in a strikingly offbeat place known for wealthy summer people but also home to independent-minded, idiosyncratic year-rounders, Lepore holds the life of the island, often quite literally, in his hands. He's surgeon, medical examiner, football team doctor, tick expert, unofficial psychologist, accidental homicide detective, occasional veterinarian. When crisis strikes, he's deeply involved. p style="text-indent: 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"He's treated Jimmy Buffett, Chris Matthews, and various Kennedy relatives, but he makes house calls for anyone and lets people pay him nothing- or anything: oatmeal raisin cookies, a weather-beaten .44 Magnum, a picture of a Nepalese shaman. p style="text-indent: 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"Lepore can be controversial and contradictory, espousing conservative views while performing abortions and giving patients marijuana cookies. He has unusual hobbies: he's a gun fanatic, roadkill collector, and concocter of pastimes like knitting dog-hair sweaters. p style="text-indent: 0.5in" class="MsoNormal"Ultimately, Island Practice is about a doctor utterly essential to a community at a time when medicine is increasingly money-driven and impersonal. Can he remain a maverick even as a healthcare chain subsumes his hospital? Every community has- or, some would say, needs- a Doctor Lepore, and his island's drive to retain individuality in a cookie-cutter world is echoed across the country.Trade Review"A vibrant, throbbing, and sometimes painful book about life on an island and all the messiness that goes along with helping people through hard times if you're the local doctor... Island Practice is chock full of colorful anecdotes of island life, humor, empathy, color ful and sometimes X-rated medical emergencies, and the mundane that make up the life of a country, or island, doctor."--Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror "Funny, startling, and sobering by turns."--Columbus Dispatch "This is a riveting portrait of a dynamic, headstrong physician. Medical nonfiction fans will find much to enjoy. Lepore may remind readers of Dr. Paul Farmer from Tracy Kidder's Mountains Beyond Mountains."--Library Journal "Thank goodness for writers like Pam Belluck who, in Island Practice, presents Dr. Tim Lepore, a cross between Marcus Welby and Hawkeye Pierce of M*A*S*H fame... Island Practice is a work of evocative imagery and human description. It is readable, captivating, and almost cautionary in its description of what we have lost in today's world of medicine. Author Pam Belluck has integrated medical, personal, and family issues into a fascinating portrait of a remarkable man."--New York Journal of Books "Through the improbable story of an eccentric and intensely creative Nantucket doctor--the man has operated with flints!--Pam Belluck has crafted an elegant and wildly entertaining depiction of the struggle to maintain humanity and empathy in the face of health care 's ongoing industrialization. A natural storyteller with a reporter's eye for detail and a stand-up comic's dry wit, Belluck leaves the reader with an urge to feign illness just to have an excuse to visit her subject. A truly wonderful read."--Warren St. John, author of Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer and Outcasts United "If you want to understand the 'real' Nantucket, you must read Island Practice. Dr. Tim Lepore personifies the island's fierce, quirky, and independent spirit. This is a book about an extraordinary man--a doctor, yes, but also a community hero. His story is as engrossing as the best fiction ... but it's all true."--Elin Hilderbrand, author of Silver Girl and other novels "[An] absorbing debut... An intriguing biography of a unique--and on Nantucket, irreplaceable--doctor."--Kirkus "Page-turning prose... Inspiring and entertaining, Lepore 's story and his beloved island come to life in Belluck's hands."--Publisher's Weekly "[Belluck is] an energetic reporter who found in Lepore an irresistible subject."--New York Times Book Review "A fun profile of Nantucket's gun-toting, marijuana-prescribing, house-call-making local doc."--People magazine "Throughout, Belluck's prose is beautiful and lyrical ... the Lepore she gives us is a fascinating character."--Boston Globe "Island Practice is a thorough dissection of a man doing his best to stand up to impersonal twenty-first-century medical practices... What's more, the book sketches a complex portrait of Nantucket itself--the stuff you won't see in Frommer's--that makes you glad that at least one guy is ready for anything."--Minneapolis Star Tribune "[I]ntriguing cases handled by Lepore are described in the new book Island Practice, written by Pam Belluck, a New York Times health writer."--msnbc.com "New York Times writer Pam Belluck ... clearly knew great material when she found it."--Nantucket Chronicle "Island Practice gives readers an inside look at the peculiar challenges of health care on the island while reflecting on those that all communities face."--Boston Globe's "White Coat Notes" "If you were as entranced as I was with John Berendt's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and Susan Orlean's The Orchid Thief, you'll find similar pleasures in Island Practice."--Huntington News "Much in this book by Pam Belluck comes as a revelation. Some of it is fascinating; some of it is hilarious; and some of it is sad and very troubling. In Island Practice, Belluck has created a remarkable portrait of a physician and the island community to which he remains steadfastly devoted."--from the Foreword by Nathaniel Philbrick, author of In the Heart of the Sea and The Last Stand "Pam Belluck has dissected the antics and heroism of a Nantucket doctor who doubles as the resident wizard. This physician not only makes house calls (even to tree-houses), but also invites patients to drop in at his house for treatment. If you suffer from Nantucket Fever--or any other ill while on that island--Dr. Tim Lepore is your man."--Dava Sobel, author of Longitude and Galileo's Daughter

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Book SynopsisA vibrant graphic adaptation of the classic science memoir Regarded as one of the world's preeminent biologists, Edward O. Wilson spent his boyhood exploring the forests and swamps of south Alabama and the Florida panhandle, collecting snakes, butterflies, and ants--the latter to become his lifelong specialty. His memoir Naturalist, called "one of the finest scientific memoirs ever written" by the Los Angeles Times, is an inspiring account of Wilson's growth as a scientist and the evolution of the fields he helped define. This graphic edition, adapted by Jim Ottaviani and illustrated by C.M.Butzer, brings Wilson's childhood and celebrated career to life through dynamic full-color illustrations and Wilson's own lyric writing. In this adaptation of Naturalist, vivid illustrations draw readers in to Wilson's lifelong quest to explore and protect the natural world. His success began not with an elite education but an insatiable curiosity about Earth's wild creatures, and this new edition of Naturalist makes Wilson's work accessible for anyone who shares his passion. On every page, striking art adds immediacy and highlights the warmth and sense of humor that sets Wilson's writing apart. Naturalist was written as an invitation--a reminder that curiosity is vital and scientific exploration is open to all of us. Each dynamic frame of this graphic adaptation deepens Wilson's message, renewing his call to discover and celebrate the little things of the world.

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Book SynopsisDr. Glenn W. Geelhoed is a medical doctor, humanitarian, and the founder of Mission to Heal, an organization through which he has been conducting medical mission trips around the globe for over forty years. His organization provides surgery and surgical training to some of the world's most destitute people in the most desolate places on the planet. The title Furthest Peoples First refers to individuals and groups who are the farthest from care and whom the author considers his primary focus. This book showcases the author's latest mission to Africa. The overarching theme of humanity with humility underscores the essence of what it means to reach the furthest people first. With stories and photographs, Dr. Geelhoed shares the excitement, determination, successes, patience, and partnerships that make his work so rewarding and important. This is an inspiring look at how he and his team persevere in the face of countless obstacles to complete the missions they've taken on. Dr. Geelhoed has a BS and AB from Calvin College, an MD from the University of Michigan, and did his surgical internship and residency through Harvard University at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital Medical Center. He is a professor of surgery at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington DC, and is a widely published book and journal author. At 76 years old, he runs 10-20 marathons annually and hopes this book will help him raise money to support his work and attract volunteers to join him in that work.

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Book SynopsisIn this “artful, unfailingly human, and understandable” (Boston Globe) account inspired by his own experiences becoming a doctor, Terrence Holt puts readers on the front lines of the harrowing crucible of a medical residency. A medical classic in the making, hailed by critics as capturing “the feelings of a young doctor’s three-year hospital residency . . . better than anything else I have ever read” (Susan Okie, Washington Post), Holt brings a writer’s touch and a doctor’s eye to nine unforgettable stories where the intricacies of modern medicine confront the mysteries of the human spirit. Internal Medicine captures the “stark moments of success and failure, pride and shame, courage and cowardice, self-reflection and obtuse blindness that mark the years of clinical training” (Jerome Groopman, New York Review of Books), portraying not only a doctor’s struggle with sickness and suffering but also the fears and frailties each of us—doctor and patient—bring to the bedside.Trade Review"[T]his book illuminates human fragility in tales both lyrical and soul-wrenching…. Holt dissects the medical experience in exquisite and restrained prose." -- Danielle Ofri - New York Times Book Review"Whether or not you classify this collection of nine stories as nonfiction, they ring true in both details and spirit, starting with a doctor’s evolution from the first night on call as an intern and ending with ethical questions that a physician ponders 40 months later, his residency complete… Dr. Holt never settles for easy answers, and the questions he poses—reflecting the frequent uncertainties of doctors and patients alike—will leave readers thinking long after the final page is turned." -- Alice Cary - BookPage"Holt, who also holds a master’s in fiction writing and a PhD in literature, is an excellent story teller… [T]he portrait Holt offers is artful, unfailingly human, and understandable." -- Dennis Rosen - Boston Globe"Holt’s new collection of stories, captures the feelings of a young doctor’s three-year hospital residency—the powerlessness, the exhaustion, the chaotic and seemingly endless shifts, and above all, the intensity of being with people in moments of extremity—better than anything else I have ever read… Holt’s unadorned prose and pitch-perfect dialogue contribute to the realism of these stories. At times they have the atmosphere of a hospital version of film noir, the narrator sounding as tough as Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe in his effort to be efficient and unflappable… Anyone who’s considering becoming a doctor, or anyone who wants to know what’s at the core of a doctor’s initiation, should read this book." -- Susan Okie - The Washington Post

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Book SynopsisFor nearly eighty years, a huge portion of coastal South Africa was closed off to the public. With many of its pits now deemed “overmined” and abandoned, American journalist Matthew Gavin Frank sets out across the infamous Diamond Coast to investigate an illicit trade that supplies a global market. Immediately, he became intrigued by the ingenious methods used in facilitating smuggling particularly, the illegal act of sneaking carrier pigeons onto mine property, affixing diamonds to their feet, and sending them into the air. Entering Die Sperrgebiet (“The Forbidden Zone”) is like entering an eerie ghost town, but Frank is surprised by the number of people willing—even eager—to talk with him. Soon he meets Msizi, a young diamond digger, and his pigeon, Bartholomew, who helps him steal diamonds. It’s a deadly game: pigeons are shot on sight by mine security, and Msizi knows of smugglers who have disappeared because of their crimes. For this, Msizi blames “Mr. Lester,” an evil tall-tale figure of mythic proportions. From the mining towns of Alexander Bay and Port Nolloth, through the “halfway” desert, to Kleinzee’s shores littered with shipwrecks, Frank investigates a long overlooked story. Weaving interviews with local diamond miners who raise pigeons in secret with harrowing anecdotes from former heads of security, environmental managers, and vigilante pigeon hunters, Frank reveals how these feathered bandits became outlaws in every mining town. Interwoven throughout this obsessive quest are epic legends in which pigeons and diamonds intersect, such as that of Krishna’s famed diamond Koh-i-Noor, the Mountain of Light, and that of the Cherokee serpent Uktena. In these strange connections, where truth forever tangles with the lore of centuries past, Frank is able to contextualize the personal grief that sent him, with his wife Louisa in the passenger seat, on this enlightening journey across parched lands. Blending elements of reportage, memoir, and incantation, Flight of the Diamond Smugglers is a rare and remarkable portrait of exploitation and greed in one of the most dangerous areas of coastal South Africa. With his sovereign prose and insatiable curiosity, Matthew Gavin Frank “reminds us that the world is a place of wonder if only we look” (Toby Muse).Trade Review"Intriguing.... With great eloquence, Matthew Gavin Frank weaves his personal losses into a riveting cultural tapestry. If Flight of the Diamond Smugglers induces justified discomfort about the dirty business of diamonds, it also rewards with a panoramic view of an ancient and mysterious trade." -- Martha Anne Toll - NPR"[A] rumination on brutality and resistance in the mines of South Africa. . . . The material in general — ghost towns, corporate cruelty, the centuries-old relationship between humans and a species almost magical in its abilities — is fabulous." -- Nate Blakeslee - New York Times Book Review"Unexpected connections abound in Frank's lyrical work . . . . [he] blends investigative journalism, historical research and rhapsodically written memoir to examine mankind's relentless exploitation of the Earth and all its creatures, including the humans themselves. . . . In refusing to romanticize the landscape or the piracy that takes place upon it, Frank's book suggests that perhaps what diamonds are forever really means is that so is avarice. But maybe so, too, is ‘the magic of the pigeons." -- Kathleen Rooney - Minneapolis Star Tribune"The humble pigeon gains a sense of grandeur as the author evokes a plethora of classical, mythical, and scientific accounts to paint a fascinating portrait of this commonplace species.... An attempt to capture and remember the collective tragedies and horror of the diamond mining industry.... Frank captures the Orwellian atmosphere.... examin[ing] the helplessness of the people who are trapped in this quagmire where hierarchies of race and class push them into making perilous decisions." -- Shweta Kumari - The Mantle"A perfect combination of memoir and investigative reporting.... a page-turning tale of suspense." -- Corné van Zyl - The South African"A work of strange beauty born of personal tragedy.... An often unsettling, thoroughly researched, poetically expressed mélange of memoir, historical analysis and philosophical meditation.... The narrative’s path is not linear; instead, Frank follows the flow of his prodigious curiosity.... Frank observes... with a sharp yet sympathetic eye.... Suspense builds as the pages turn.... there’s much to marvel at, from the far-reaching aftermath of diamond mining to the ways old memories have a hold on us. Readers will empathize with Frank’s efforts to process his grief and with Diamond Coast residents’ search for glints of hope in a grim desert. Through it all, pigeons soar in the sky and alight on the ground, offering companionship, a particular set of skills and thought-provoking fodder for metaphor." -- Linda M. Castellitto, Bookpage, starred review"Equal parts memoir and investigative reporting.... A page-turning tale of suspense.... With novelistic writing, Frank masterfully weaves a fast-paced history of South Africa's Diamond Coast, and the impact of De Beers controlling both the land and the government. His thorough reporting on mineworkers, their pigeons, and towns that have struggled in the wake of mine closures makes for compelling reading. The author excels in allowing people to speak for themselves, adding personal touches to a history of greed and trauma.... Frank writes a fascinating story of grief and history that will draw readers in from the first page. Must-read narrative nonfiction." -- Stephanie Sendaula, Library Journal, starred review"[T]he author [Frank] creates an intriguing and unusual blend of genres. Here he mixes natural history with anthropology and a twist of true crime in a tale of small-scale theft." -- Kirkus Reviews"For too long, the lowly pigeon has been seen as an urban nuisance, undeserving of our attention, and too common to be seen in a magical or heroic light. Matthew Gavin Frank’s compelling investigation into the bird’s unexpected role in the diamond trade is here to change that: Flight of the Diamond Smugglers is a lyrical portrait of a resilient species caught in the grinding gears of a cruel industry of extraction and exploitation." -- Kirk Wallace Johnson, author of The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century"From the depths of diamond pits where miners toil for starvation wages, to the skies above the South African coast where pigeons glide, Matthew Gavin Frank’s riveting exposé casts light on a little-known world that ensnares humans and animals alike in the pitiless pursuit of treasure and profit." -- Lauren Redniss, author of Oak Flat: A Fight for Sacred Land in the American West"A beautifully written book on diamond smuggling, the universe, life and much of what lies in between. . . . Throughout it all, this book reminds us that the world is a place of wonder if only we look." -- Toby Muse, author of Kilo: Inside the Cocaine Cartels—from the Jungles to the Streets"Hard-bitten and starkly poetic. Matthew Gavin Frank digs deep into South Africa’s brutal mining territories and strikes unlikely signs of life. The most precious gems in this story are, unexpectedly, flesh and feathers. An incredibly raw, personal, and original tale." -- Noah Strycker, author of Birding Without Borders: An Obsession, a Quest, and the Biggest Year in the World"This book is a rare gem indeed, smartly researched by someone with a big heart and a beautiful mind." -- Aimee Nezhukumatathil, author of World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishment

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Book Synopsis“For the decade of my father’s illness, I felt as if I was floating in the deep end, tossed by waves, carried by currents but not drowning.” In a singular account of battling Alzheimer’s, Patti Davis eloquently weaves personal anecdotes with practical advice tailored specifically for the overlooked caregiver. After losing her father, Ronald Reagan, Davis founded a support group for family members and friends of Alzheimer’s patients; drawing on those years, Davis reveals the surprising struggles and gifts of this cruel disease. From the challenges of navigating disorientation to the moments when guilt and resentments creep in, readers are guided gently through slow-burning grief. Along the way, Davis shares how her own fractured family came together and how her father revealed his true self—always kind, even when he couldn’t recognise his own daughter. The result is an achingly beautiful work on the fragile human condition from a profoundly wise and empathetic writer.

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Book SynopsisWhen Catherine is diagnosed with acute leukemia, a deadly form of cancer that attacks the immune system, her life is turned upside down. Young and previously healthy, she now finds herself catapulted into the world of the seriously ill—constantly testing and waiting for results, undergoing endless medical treatments, learning to accept a changing body, communicating with a medical team, and relying on the support of her partner, family, and friends.A professional illustrator, Catherine decides to tell the story of her disease in this graphic novel, and she does so with great sincerity, humor, and rare lucidity. We accompany her through the waiting, the doubts, the fears, and the tears—but also the laughter, the love, and the strong will to live.Rich in emotion, lighthearted, and profound, Down to the Bone is a powerful book.Trade Review“A stunning example of what graphic medicine can do.”—starred review Publishers Weekly“The narrative, the information about leukemia, and the details about her treatment that the book shares all have a sense of hope that made the graphic novel’s abrupt ending, with a short text note about Pioli’s death in 2017, all the more devastating.”—Gene Ambaum Library Comic“There is humor but far more humanity in Pioli’s story about a ‘rare’ cancer . . . that takes away a beautiful life and leaves sorrow in its wake. Pioli’s book helps touch this sweet spot in us all while educating readers about cancer and how they can help.”—Denise Hill New Pages“Thoughtful, graceful, unforgettable. Pioli captures both the coldly clinical and the deeply personal with honesty, humor, and revelations that hit hard. It’s as good as graphic medicine gets.”—Brian Fies,author of Mom’s Cancer“A life-affirming graphic novel that ably illustrates not only the medical issues but also the very personal ones that affect a person diagnosed with leukemia. Elegantly translated from the original French by J. T. Mahany, it’s an excellent read for anyone interested in cancer, mortality and life in France.”—Doreen Sheridan The Frumious Consortium

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Book SynopsisThis is a book for the aspiring field biologist in your life'New ScientistThe story of one woman's remarkable work with a trio of charismatic, endangered bird speciesand her discoveries about the devastating threats that imperil them.InFeather Trails, wildlife biologist and birder Sophie A. H. Osborn reveals how the harmful environmental choices we've madeincluding pesticide use, the introduction of invasive species, lead poisoning, and habitat destructionhave decimated Peregrine Falcons, Hawaiian Crows, and California Condors.In the Rocky Mountains, the cloud forests of Hawai'i, and the Grand Canyon, Sophie and her colleagues work day-to-day to try to reintroduce these birds to the wild, even when it seems that the odds are steeply stacked against their survival.With humor and suspense,Feather Trailsintroduces us to the fascinating behaviors and unique personalities of Sophie's avian charges an

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Book SynopsisAs a young doctor working in the middle of the HIV epidemic in the early ’90s, Alicia Blando feels unsure of the effectiveness of the medical profession. To gain insight into her life’s path, she seeks advice in some unconventional places, and lands on astrology as her way forward. Astrology, based in astronomy, has specific rules; it can’t be easily manipulated. The scientist in her can’t help but respond to this idea.At a pivotal group demonstration, Alicia finds a mentor, Iris, who introduces her to the study of astrology. By learning to read the horoscope, Alicia gains insight into her potential and manifests her ambition to travel and explore healing techniques from indigenous cultures. Eventually, her search for new teachers and past knowledge takes her from Manhattan to the Peruvian Amazon, Belize, and Bolivia, where she discovers ancient ways of healing among people who consider the sky to be a continuation of nature on earth. She connects with the tenets of astrology as the language that describes man’s connection to the sky environment. The horoscopic map gives information that can assist in making better choices in life, Alicia learns; it has the potential to analyze a person’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and health concerns. Alicia’s journey off the beaten path ultimately leads her to true self-exploration and connection with the world around her, as well as a desire to share her knowledge. In Open for Interpretation, she shares her story of finally finding the map she’s been seeking—and explains how we can all use that map to access our true selves and untapped potential.Trade Review“Open for Interpretation is a moving memoir about a medical doctor’s search for a guide to a life of connection, meaning, and purpose.”—Foreword Reviews“Blando’s prose is clean and concise, and her storytelling moves effortlessly between the conscious and unconscious mind and body. . . . For those drawn more to the practical than the magical when it comes to the intuitive arts, her scientific perspective on astrology will be particularly appealing."—BlueInk Review“Dr. Alicia Blando’s Open for Interpretation is a beautifully written memoir that will pull at your heartstrings as she pursues a medical career that is juxtaposed with her passion for astrology. She writes with brutal honesty about her self-doubt and questions whether to give up on her dream to become a doctor. At the same time, Alicia uses the language of the stars to view herself objectively and build the confidence to become a physician. Join her in this illuminating journey as she combines her two passions: medicine and astrology.”—Ronnie Gale Dreyer, MA, author, astrologer, and teacher

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