Autobiography: science, technology and medicine Books

Book SynopsisExplore Nora Franglen's insights derived from decades of practice as a five element acupuncturist in this new collection. Covering tips on patient care and the patient-practitioner relationship to advice on a deeper understanding of the elements, of the healing practice, and of humanity's links to nature, the book also touches on the spiritual aspects of the work and the need for self-awareness in the practitioner. For acupuncturists and Chinese medicine practitioners, or anyone interested in the healing arts, this book is full of useful guidance.Trade ReviewWeaving together intellect, heart and soul, this is not only the story of mastery but offers a path to achieving it. There is much here to inspire, whatever the endeavour. -- Dr. Mark J. Langweiler, DC, DAAPM, University of South WalesNora Franglen writes with wisdom and heart and touches on the most profound aspects of life. This book is an inspiring and insightful account by an acupuncturist, teacher, and most of all, an ever-searching human being. -- Stefanie Sachsenmaier, Senior Lecturer in Theatre Arts, Middlesex University, and Tai Chi PractitionerThe spirit of five element acupuncture chose well when it met Nora Franglen. Nora writes about her life in acupuncture through the window of the elements with genuineness, joy, passion, humility, and a wry sense of humour. This, her seventh book, is not just a masterclass for acupuncturists but also for psychotherapists and indeed any student of human nature. -- Jean Ransome, Person-Centred PsychotherapistThe art of Chinese medicine, and much of classical Chinese thinking, lies in the subtle observation of things. Nora's many years of acupuncture practice, plus a variety of other life skills, have contributed to making her an expert in the art of observation. This delightful book provides both great pleasure and wise instruction; written more specifically with five element acupuncturists in mind, it can nevertheless be enjoyed equally by practitioners of any kind, and by anyone interested in the observation of life. -- Sandra Hill, Acupuncturist, Co-Founder of Monkey Press, and Author of Chinese Medicine from the ClassicsTable of ContentsIntroduction. SECTION I. A Lifetime of Five Element Acupuncture. 1 Becoming a five element acupuncturist; 2. The different phases of my acupuncture life; 3. Starting to teach; 4. Difficulties in running a college; 5. Teaching five element acupuncture; 6. An acupuncturist's inheritance; 7. Mastery; SECTION II. Immersion in the Elements. 8. The five fingers of a giant hand; 9. The elusive guardian element; 10 The cycle of the elements; 11. Shaking elements out of their comfort zone; SECTION III. Being a Reflective Practitioner. 12 We are instruments of nature; 13 "Practitioner, know thyself"; 14. The mysterious realm of the soul; 15. The three levels of the human being; 16. Getting to know our patients; 17. Allowing our feelings to guide us; 18. Taking our time; 19. Tailoring treatment to a patient's needs; 20. The outcome of treatment; 21. We can fall into bad habits; 22. Not demanding too much of ourselves; 23. Nobody likes getting things wrong; 24. More on the patient-practitioner relationship; SECTION IV. Teaching Other Practitioners. 25 The courage to become a five element practitioner; 26. The lack of teachers; 27. Adapting to a Chinese context; 28. Why I enjoy teaching so much in China; 29. Significance of my teaching in China

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe world’s leading wolf expert describes the first years of a major study that transformed our understanding of one of nature’s most iconic creatures In the late 1940s, a small pack of wolves crossed the ice of Lake Superior to the island wilderness of Isle Royale, creating a perfect “laboratory” for a long-term study of predators and prey. As the wolves hunted and killed the island’s moose, a young graduate student named Dave Mech began research that would unlock the mystery of one of nature’s most revered (and reviled) animals—and eventually became an internationally renowned and respected wolf expert. This is the story of those early years.Wolf Island recounts three extraordinary summers and winters Mech spent on the isolated outpost of Isle Royale National Park, tracking and observing wolves and moose on foot and by airplane—and upending the common misperception of wolves as destructive killers of insatiable appetite. Mech sets the scene with one of his most thrilling encounters: witnessing an aerial view of a spectacular hunt, then venturing by snowshoe (against the pilot’s warning) to photograph the pack of hungry wolves at their kill. Wolf Island owes as much to the spirit of adventure as to the impetus of scientific curiosity. Written with science and outdoor writer Greg Breining, who recorded hours of interviews with Mech and had access to his journals and field notes from those years, the book captures the immediacy of scientific fieldwork in all its triumphs and frustrations. It takes us back to the beginning of a classic environmental study that continues today, spanning nearly sixty years—research and experiences that would transform one of the most despised creatures on Earth into an icon of wilderness and ecological health. Trade Review "No scientist has done more to shape our understanding of wolves than L. David Mech, and no ecosystem has been more influential than Isle Royale. Wolf Island is a lively, well-told story that sheds new light on the early days of ecology’s most important long-term study, the formative years of a master biologist, and the complex lives of an iconic and misunderstood predator."—Ben Goldfarb, author of Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter "L. David Mech’s writing on wolves is foundational: every new study owes a debt to his scholarship, and any respectable stack of wolf books is anchored by The Wolf, his indispensable classic. With Wolf Island, we now have a volume to top the stack as well. Mech’s excellent and eminently readable account of the origins of his fieldwork in Isle Royale National Park is as inspirational as it is educational. Here’s hoping it sends another generation of students—and readers of all ages—into the wild."—Nate Blakeslee, author of American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West "For many of us fascinated with wolves, Adolph Murie and L. David Mech are the two scientist/field naturalists whose books first gave these animals life and breath. Now, in this unflinching and highly readable memoir, Mech lets readers experience the inside story of how, as a young graduate student, he illuminated the murky world of America’s iconic predator. And ended up writing a classic."—Dan Flores, New York Times best-selling author of Coyote America: A Natural and Supernatural History "Fans of wolves, field biology, and good natural history writing will welcome Mech’s long-overdue reminiscences."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Nature lovers will enjoy Mech’s mix of reminiscence and zoological insight."—Publishers Weekly "An important read for budding wildlife biologists and anyone interested in the survival of species."—Wilderness News "The book is enjoyable, informative, fascinating and will convince readers Isle Royale is unique."—Michigan In Books "Filled with details of fascinating discoveries and engaging first-person stories... The book should be in all libraries."—CHOICE "An interesting read for anyone who enjoys science and nature."—Northern Wilds "A highly engaging account that wolf aficionados, lovers of wilderness and national parks, and people that enjoy wildlife biology and natural history stories will appreciate."—Canadian Field Naturalist "Essential Reading for those who are interested in wold biology and their management."—Biological Conservation "Drawing on journals, field notes, and extensive interviews, the book recounts three sumers and winters 60 years ago that Mech spent on the island observing wolves and moose."—Minnesota Alumni "Wolf Island will please anyone with an interest in wilderness adventure, Lake Superior, or wildlife."—Ely Winter Times Table of ContentsContentsForewordRolf O. PetersonMap of Isle RoyaleWe Didn’t KnowThe Chance of a LifetimeDiscovery: Summer 1958Eye in the Sky: Winter 1959Island Life: Summer 1959Finding Patterns: Winter 1960Island of Change: Summer 1960Putting Together the Pieces: Winter 1961The Wolves of Isle RoyaleThe View from AfarAcknowledgmentsIndex

Read more less

Book Synopsis''A profound meditation on a problem many of us will face; worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Atul Gawande''s Being Mortal'' KirkusAs the American born daughter of immigrants, Dr. Sunita Puri knew from a young age that the gulf between her parents'' experiences and her own was impossible to bridge, save for two elements: medicine and spirituality. Between days spent waiting for her mother, an anesthesiologist, to exit the OR, and evenings spent in conversation with her parents about their faith, Puri witnessed the tension between medicine''s impulse to preserve life at all costs and a spiritual embrace of life''s temporality. And it was that tension that eventually drew Puri, a passionate but unsatisfied medical student, to palliative medicine - a new specialty attempting to translate the border between medical intervention and quality-of-life care.Interweaving evocative stories of Puri''s family and the patients she cares for, ThTrade ReviewThis is a powerful memoir, which Puri narrates with honesty, poise, and empathy * Publishers Weekly *Moving memoir . . . an impressive debut . . . A profound meditation on a problem many of us will face; worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Atul Gawande's Being Mortal * Kirkus *Spiritually grounded, poetic, and brilliant . . . Puri has claimed her place in the ranks of illustrious physician-writers * Katy Butler, author of Knocking on Heaven's Door *That Good Night is a timely and important work: an insider's view of caring for the sickest patients and a moving exploration of life's impermanence. Sunita Puri's deft attention to language, both in her writing and in her work as a doctor, is a testament to the power of story, narrative, and context to help us make sense of life and its end * Lucy Kalanithi, MD, widow of Paul Kalanithi, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling book When Breath Becomes Air *Rich with piercing insights about life and death in modern medicine, Dr. Sunita Puri's memoir braids together beautifully written narratives of her patients with her quest to understand her place in her family and her path as a doctor * Ira Byock, MD, author of Dying Well and The Best Care Possible *With exquisite prose, keen insight, and endless intellectual curiosity, Puri shows us the ways that dying is woven into living and, as such, deserves not just acceptance but close attention, deep respect, even celebration. This is a lively and fascinating book that will be a crucial part of the expanding cultural conversation about how we think about death. Everyone alive should read it * Meghan Daum, author of The Unspeakable *The face of the new generation of physicians, Dr. Sunita Puri's book reflects the art and craft of practicing medicine. There's no harder diagnosis to process than a fatal illness, and when it happens you need a doctor with the space, time, and desire to extend empathy. Without that, it doesn't matter what we mandate, legislate, propose or discuss. With that, Dr. Puri implicitly suggests, we can find out what our patients need to make their dying-and so also their living-easier, better, richer * Victoria Sweet, author of Slow Medicine and God’s Hotel *This thoughtful treatise on life, death, and medicine should make readers feel more grateful for every day they have because, as Puri and her colleagues come to realize, no one knows what's coming or when to their loved ones or themselves * Booklist *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA fascinating memoir by a passionate bibliophile and pioneering venture capitalist.Trade ReviewA pleasure to read. * Fine Books Magazine *Table of Contents Prologue: Random Reflections on Collecting and Collectors An Auction at Sotheby’s First Acquisition: “A Song for Simeon” Books of Childhood Palgrave’s Golden Treasury Growing Up Early Collecting California and Collecting Detours Finding a Focus Ulysses The Importance of Cyril Connolly’s Modern Movement List Beginning the Connolly Collection Venture Capital Investing Books, Book Dealers, and Literary Associations The French Modern Movement: Du côté de chez Swann Friends of Cyril Connolly: Sir Harold Acton Literary High Spots, The Great Gatsby, and the Modern Book as Currency Buying at Auction: The Anthony Hobson Sale Terre des hommes: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry The Turn of the Century and the First Dot-Com Bubble French Bibliomania and the Rise and Fall of the Société Aristophil Acceleration: Completion of the Connolly List Hubris The Sale The End of the World? New Horizons Epilogue: The Point of It All Appendix Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisA fascinating and touching memoir from real-life Rain Man, Daniel Tammet, who has the extremely rare condition Savant SyndromeTrade Review'A memoir of outstanding lucidity and charm' * The Sunday Times *'You close BORN ON A BLUE DAY with a sense of profound admiration' * The Daily Mail *'A charmingly precise, tenderly honest account' * The Daily Express *'Remarkable' * Independent on Sunday *'Admirably modest but affecting autobiography by a man blessed with incredible mental gifts but struggling with Asperger's' * The Sunday Times - top choice of books 'you really must read' *'So elegantly written... he tells his story dead straight' * Daily Telegraph *'In BORN ON A BLUE DAY, both his difficulties and his awakening consciousness of himself and others are charted. The miracle is that he wrote it himself. It has a strange, quiet beauty' * Scotland on Sunday *'Tammet's writing is eloquent and moving but always uncomplicated. And he succeeds in stripping away much of the misunderstanding and confusion that surrounds the unusual way autistic savants view the world' * Radio Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe inspiring memoir of the superstar astronaut and TikTok sensation - now on her biggest space mission yet''Today I woke up on Earth. And I will fall asleep in space''In space the sun rises and sets 16 times a day. You fly over every sea, every mountain and desert, every city and every port. The most ordinary things -- eating, sleeping, brushing your teeth or cutting your hair -- have to be relearned, until they become familiar again. This is the story of Samantha Cristoforetti''s incredible journey to becoming an astronaut, and her journey beyond Earth.Her voyage as an apprentice astronaut began when she was in her early thirties: five years of intense training around the world, from Houston to Japan to the legendary Star City in Russia. Countless hours spent in centrifuges, spaceship simulators and under water for spacewalk practice. Then, one day, a rocket was waiting for her on the launch pad. And after eight minutes of wild ascent, she wasTrade ReviewAn incredible odyssey * The Financial Times *From the mundane to the sublime in a second. . . full of illuminating observations from what Cristoforetti calls the 'cosmic perspective ' * Guardian *Samantha Cristoforetti is remarkable. . . a brilliant book -- Jeremy Vine * BBC Radio 2 *Cristoforetti rocks. . . being awesome is part of the job. . . She belongs to a new category of astronauts who are just as adept at posting a witty Facebook post as they are at performing a science experiment in minimal gravity * Wired *An enthralling book. . . Many of us are dreaming of an escape from Earth at present - and Samantha Cristoforetti's absorbing tale of becoming an astronaut and venturing into space offers just that. . . She's a gifted writer -- Gwendolyn Smith * Mail on Sunday *Incredible detail and great writing. I do take exception with the title because when I arrived on ISS, Samantha was far from an apprentice astronaut -- Scott Kelly, author of EnduranceLately, I have become as fascinated by the way that humans relate to science and the natural world, as I am to the scientific breakthroughs themselves. . . So, this diary of what it is like to do through astronaut training for a 200-day mission to the International Space Station crossed my desk at exactly the right time. ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti writes with honesty. Her prose is simple and down to Earth, which increased my empathy for her story -- Stuart Clark * BBC Science Focus Books of the Year *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''A hymn to the art and science of nursing itself'' Guardian The hand of a stranger offered in solace. A flower placed on a dead body as a mark of respect. It is these moments of empathy that define us as people. Nobody knows this better than a nurse. In How to Treat People, Molly Case documents these extraordinary moments of human connection and compassion. In rich, lyrical prose, she introduces us to patients going through the most extreme experiences. And when her father is admitted to the high dependency unit on which she works, Molly confronts care in a whole new way, when two worlds - the professional and the personal - suddenly collide.''It will buoy your faith in humanity'' Stylist''Outstanding. Case''s power of observation can slay you'' The Times''Fascinating, poignant and searing'' Jo Brand ''Beautifully written'' Stephen Westaby, author of Fragile Lives''Her empathy and compassion are everywhere'' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewCase's empathy and compassion are everywhere evident in this beautifully written narrative * Sunday Times *Written with a poet's ear for language and a nurse's compassionate heart. It will make you cry, and it will buoy your faith in humanity * Stylist *This fascinating and erudite book takes us through one woman's lovely relationship with her father interspersed with poignant and searing tales from the world of the nurse, as these two worlds move towards an emotional collision. Molly has treated us to a book that gets to the heart (literally) of a nurse's life. As well as being informative, moving and so interesting, it is a bloody good read. Anyone who needs any more convincing that the NHS is our most invaluable asset will find that many times over within the pages of this book -- Jo BrandBeautifully written and passionate tales from the nurse you would choose for yourselfPoetic and compassionate, offering a joyous celebration of life * Sunday Times best memoirs of 2019 *Molly Case reminds us that humanity and moments of true care are as healing as the medicine modern science can deliverThe tandem stories of Case as nurse and daughter exert the pull of a novel through pages threaded with philosophy and history, ethics and etymology * Sunday Telegraph *Case's book will restore your faith . . . She illuminates the fascinating and never-ending loop of care in a hospital * New York Times *What differentiates How to Treat People from other cracking doctor and nurse memoirs already out there is Case's youth and her outstanding use of language. Her charm is her generation's charm: open, loving, bold, inquisitive, caring. May she inspire her contemporaries to join her in a vital job * The Times *The moments of empathy and kindness in extreme, tragic situations form the focal point of Case's book, which weaves together science and storytelling * Red Magazine *A profound reflection on the way we live and die * Bookseller *Intense, powerful, moving and very enlightening on what it means to be a nurse. I loved its endless curiosity about the language of medicine and the practice of care. It seemed infused with a love and respect for the profession itselfHow to Treat People gets to the heart of who we are - how we live and also how we die. I was moved twice over - by the work Molly does as a nurse every day, and by the book she has written

Read more less

Book SynopsisONE OF BARACK OBAMA''S RECOMMENDED BOOKS ON AI * FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOKS OF 2023From Dr. Fei-Fei Li, one of TIME''s 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL in AI, comes a powerful plea for keeping humanity at the centre of our latest technological transformation (Financial Times).Wired called Dr. Fei-Fei Li one of a tiny group of scientistsa group perhaps small enough to fit around a kitchen tablewho are responsible for AI's recent remarkable advances.Known to the world as the creator of ImageNet, a key catalyst of modern artificial intelligence, Dr. Li has spent more than two decades at the forefront of the field. But her career in science was improbable from the start. As immigrants, her family faced a difficult transition from China's middle class to American poverty. And their lives were made all the harder as they struggled to care for her ailing mother, who was working tirelessly to help them all gain a foothold in their new la

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a history of archaeological endeavour in Norfolk set within a national context. It covers the writer's early experiences as a volunteer, the rise of field archaeology as a profession and efforts to conserve the archaeological heritage against the tide of destruction prevalent in the countryside up to the 1980s when there was not even a right of access to record sites before they were lost. Now developers often have to pay for an excavation before they can obtain planning consent. The book features progress with archaeology conservation as well as the growth of rescue archaeology as a profession both in towns and in the countryside. Many of the most important discoveries made by aerial photography, rescue excavations and metal detecting from the 1970s onwards are illustrated. The last section covers the recent growth of the Norfolk Archaeological Trust as an owner of some of the most iconic rural sites in Norfolk. The book concludes with a discussion of some issues facing British field archaeology today.Trade Review'What a life in Norfolk's archaeology! The book is destined to become an essential archaeological reference and to join other classics of archaeological autobiography, among them Sir Mortimer Wheeler's Still Digging and Philip Rahtz's Living Archaeology. An absolute must-read.' - Edward Biddulph (2018): Current Archaeology Nominated for the Current Archaeology Book of the Year Award 2019Table of ContentsNorfolk Firsts ; Time line of key events most of which feature in the Book ; Chapter 1: Introduction ; Chapter 2: The Early Years ; Chapter 3: Excavating Deserted Medieval Villages ; Chapter 4: The Launditch Hundred Project, 1967-71 ; Chapter 5: North Elmham Park: The Excavation of a High-Status Anglo-Saxon and Early Medieval Settlement, 1967-72 ; Chapter 6: Chance Finds ; Chapter 7: Societies ; Chapter 8: Amateurs in Action ; Chapter 9: Metal Detecting: ‘The Norfolk System’ ; Chapter 10: Urban Surveys ; Chapter 11: The ‘RESCUE’ Movement, The Scole Committee and Professional County Units ; Chapter 12: A New County Service for Field Archaeology, 1973-1999 ; Chapter 13: Key Norfolk Archaeological Unit Projects ; Chapter 14: The Story of ‘East Anglian Archaeology’ ; Chapter 15: County-based Conservation Projects ; Chapter 16: National Conservation Initiatives ; Chapter 17: Some Rescue Excavations, 1972-92 ; Chapter 18: Clearing the Publication Backlog from the Past, 1977-97 ; Chapter 19: Re-structuring Field Archaeology in Norfolk, 1991 ; Chapter 20: Time to Move On ; Chapter 21: The Norfolk Archaeological Trust: a property-owning conservation trust ; Chapter 22: Caistor St Edmund Roman Town ; Chapter 23: Burgh Castle ‘Saxon Shore’ Roman Fort ; Chapter 24: Two Monasteries ; Chapter 25: Other Recent Acquisitions ; Chapter 26: The Future Role of the Norfolk Archaeological Trust ; Chapter 27: A Time to Reflect ; Appendix 1: Alan Davison’s publications ; Appendix 2: Summary of progress set out in the 1996 Five-year Development Plan for Archaeology in the Norfolk Museums Service ; Appendix 3: List of those archaeologists who attended the February 1970 Barford meeting which represented the start of the RESCUE movement ; Bibliography ; Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the 2021 Nobel Prize winner in Physics, a remarkable journey into the practice of groundbreaking science ''Giorgio Parisi is renowned for his scientific creativity, originality, and power. In this exhilarating little book, he shows his human side, too. By its end, readers will feel they''ve made a charming, witty new friend'' Frank WilczekThe world is shaped by complexity. In this enlightening book, Nobel Prize winner Giorgio Parisi guides us through his unorthodox yet exhilarating work to show us how. It all starts with investigating the principles of physics by observing the sophisticated flight patterns of starlings. Studying the movements of these birds, he has realized, proves an illuminating way into understanding complex systems of all kinds - collections of everything from atoms to planets to other animals like ourselves. Along the way, Parisi reflects on the lessons he''s taken from a life in pursuit of scientific truth: the importance oTrade ReviewThe man who looked at birds and grasped the secrets of the universe ... Read this, and you will get at least a frisson of what a top-flight career in physics might feel like * Daily Telegraph *The Italian physicist puts the fiendishly tricky theory of complex systems in terms of birds and bus rides ... aims to make his branch of science accessible to all * Observer *Giorgio Parisi is remarkably flexible and ingenious... In a Flight of Starlings is a compelling introduction to how modern researchers think about complex systems, enlivened by autobiographical anecdote and reflection on the processes of science -- Sean Carroll * The Times Literary Supplement *Parisi tells of his adventures in thinking in this alarmingly brilliant, witty and brief book -- Robert Fox * Evening Standard *In a Flight of Starlings offers a glimpse into scientific discovery ... a forceful argument for the value of scientific literacy at a time when it's increasingly being challenged by misinformation ... Parisi's book is a step toward making physics feel more accessible -- Andrew DeMillo * Independent *An interesting collection of essays reflecting on Parisi's long career in science . . . The scientific explanations are admirably lucid * The Wall Street Journal *An erudite contemplation on both science and the process of doing science. And a joy to read -- Marcus Chown * Prospect Magazine *In this delightful and deeply thoughtful book, Giorgio Parisi weaves a tapestry of experiences and ideas that connects disciplines and prepares us to appreciate the beauty, importance, and cultural value of science -- Frances Arnold, winner of the Nobel PrizeAn extraordinary scientist -- Carlo Rovelli, author of Seven Brief Lessons on PhysicsGiorgio Parisi is renowned for his scientific creativity, originality, and power. In this exhilarating little book, he shows his human side, too. By its end, readers will feel they've made a charming, witty new friend. -- Frank Wilczek, winner of the Nobel Prize and author of Fundamentals

Read more less

Book SynopsisA renowned scientist and environmental advocate looks back on a life that has straddled the worlds of science and politicsTrade Review“[A] frank, polyphonic autobiography.”—Nature“More gripping than a thrilling novel, Paul Ehrlich’s autobiography beats novels by being true. Colorful and no-holds-barred, it’s what you’d hope from the greatest living population biologist, who has thrived in science and policy controversies for 70 years.”—Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel “Paul Ehrlich is one of the supreme citizen-scientists of our time. His eventful and exemplary life is an inspiration not only for a new generation of scientists, but for citizens everywhere.”—Partha Dasgupta, author of Time and the Generations: Population Ethics for a Diminishing Planet, and Frank Ramsey Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Cambridge “Paul Ehrlich has stirred up plenty of controversy over the decades and remains one of the world’s most provocative thinkers and truth-tellers. In this compellingly readable, rich book, a great human being takes us on the road that led to his view of life.”—Carl Safina, author of Becoming Wild “An irresistible read. Paul Ehrlich captivates us with his adventures and his love for butterflies, biology, family, and humanity, all interwoven with his irrepressible passion to defend nature—and us.”—Diana Wall, Colorado State University“Two books sat side by side on our family bookshelf while I was growing up in the early 1970s, alerting me to the growing threat to our environment. One of them was Paul Ehrlich’s The Population Bomb—a prescient, early warning of our collision course with environmental sustainability. It is a delight, a half century later, to read Paul’s wide-ranging, wondrous, and pleasantly amusing account of his amazing life—as a scientist, thinker, communicator, influencer, and champion for a sustainable world. Read Life and be emboldened to join the defining battle of our time—the battle to preserve a livable planet.”—Michael Mann, author of The New Climate War“In this adventure-filled book, one of the leading biologists of the last hundred years shares the stories of his fully lived life, a life in which he discovered many new details of the obscure biology of butterflies, reshaped the fields of evolutionary biology and conservation, and unapologetically sought to remake the world. It is a fascinating, funny, provocative book about a fascinating, funny, provocative man.”—Rob Dunn, author of A Natural History of the Future

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Inspirational'' - Professor Alice Roberts''Engrossing'' - Professor Ben GarrodRhys Jones was brought up on a council estate in South Wales where expectations for what life held in store for you were slim. As he recalls, he was born fighting and never stopped. His perspective on what life could offer him changed forever in the early 1980s when his grandfather took him to the local cinema to see Stephen Spielberg''s blockbuster Raiders of the Lost Ark. The dream of emulating his hero Indiana Jones and travelling to the farthest reaches of the planet to explore exotic locations and its wildlife now burned deep inside him.As he progressed at school this passion to escape and explore was further kindled through the pages of an old natural history encyclopaedia given to him by his grandmother. Devouring the pages, the encyclopaedia would help craft his chosen path in life. Like his hero and namesake Indiana Jones, Rhys''s journeTrade ReviewAn inspiring journey that reflects Rhys' strength, resilience, and perseverance in the face of life's challenges. Through his words, Rhys has beautifully captured his life's experiences, and has shared them with the world. He has opened up about his struggles and triumphs, and his unwavering spirit shines through every page. This book is a reminder of the power of human determination and the importance of never giving up on one's dreams. Rhys' story is a shining example of how one can overcome obstacles and emerge stronger on the other side -- Sir Gareth Edwards CBERhys Jones is one of the most upstanding, kind, intelligent, and engaging people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. His ability to connect with people on a deep level is remarkable. Whether it is through his warm and welcoming demeanour, his thoughtful conversation, or his insightful observations, Rhys has a unique talent for making others feel seen, heard, and appreciated -- Jamie BaulchFrom a childhood immersed in books, films and wildlife to a career in environmental science - Dr Rhys Jones' inspirational story is a call to arms - to follow our dreams! -- Professor Alice RobertsThis engrossing, humorous and inspiring journey, from little boy to globe-trotting adventuring scientist, is a heart-warming tale for us all -- Professor Ben GarrodDr Jones is a wonderful raconteur. I implore you to join him on this epic journey filled with passion, his thirst for knowledge and an insatiable desire to connect human beings to their remarkable cohabitants -- Mark A SheppardWhat an inspiration to anyone and everyone who has ever been told 'you will come to nothing . . . Give up!' He is a kind reminder that working hard and sticking to your dreams whilst being kind and generous to those you meet along the way is the message we should all be pushing for -- Eve MylesAn honest, funny and action-packed memoir from one of Wales' real life heroes -- Gareth David LloydAn inspiration for those who have dealt with adversity . . . Dr Jones truly has led a WILD LIFE worth hearing -- Jesse McClure

Read more less

Book SynopsisAstonishing insight into the life of a humanitarian psychiatrist working in war and disaster zones around the world - from Bosnia and 'mission-accomplished' Iraq, to tsunami-affected Aceh, post-earthquake Haiti and 'the Jungle' in Calais.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

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.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn exhilarating journey into the unfathomable depths of the human mind, from the acclaimed author of Let Me Not Be Mad.What does it take to care for a stranger? Really care.The Case for Love is a reflection on a career treating patients with brain trauma - people whose thoughts and feelings are largely unknowable - and how and why those treatments failed.It is a reconstruction of three haunting cases in which the patients were tragically misunderstood - and an attempt through the power of the imagination to understand and make amends.It then describes the author's abandonment of his career and his tumultuous quest for healing and redemption.It is also a story of intimate relationships, pets, fatherhood and heartbreak, culminating in a moment of psychedelic transcendence and rebirth.It is about the overpowering need for connection - and how, increasingly, we are trapped in ourselves.It is a meditation on empathy and an act of atonement.It is a unique, hybrid work of clinical case study and pure invention that destroys the boundary between fact and fiction in order to bring us face-to-face with the shocking, liberating truth.__________Praise for Let Me Not Be Mad'Imagine a gonzo Oliver Sacks communing with Edward St Aubyn's Patrick Melrose, R.D. Laing and the spirit of Kafka's 'The Country Doctor', and you still won't quite have the flavour of this wild and strikingly original book' William Fiennes'Stunning: clever, troubling, restless, honest, dishonest; one of the best portraits of madness and clinical practice I've read' Olivia Laing'A perfectly extraordinary - not to mention extraordinarily perfect - tense Hitchcockian psychodrama. I have rarely read a more haunting and enthralling account of a descent into madness. An important, profound and fascinating book' Stephen Fry'Blackly comic, warmly compassionate, a unique take on the human mind offering uncomfortable universal truths' Stewart Lee'A slow-burn belter of a book ... terrific ... so finely described, the result has the terse force of a classic short story' Roddy Doyle'Exhilarating ... dazzling ... a miraculous feat' GuardianTrade ReviewPart memoir, part case study, part work of fiction ... exhilarating ... this is really what he means by love: one mind truly knowing another ... rich ... claustrophobic ... Benjamin is at times a virtuosic writer ... an artful book, and there are moments of sublimity ... beautiful and moving -- M M Owen * Times Literary Supplement *Benjamin writes beautifully and with exceptional insight, a tormented soul who knows the truth of the worst torments -- Andrew Anthony * Observer *A blindsiding dissection of the poetry of pain, dazzlingly scripted, with craft and integrity. Compulsive and shocking -- Iain SinclairWith clinical precision, coupled with the sensibility of a poet, A K Benjamin lets the reader imagine the inter-twined world of a neuropsychologist and his patients -- Caroline Elton, author of Also Human: The Inner Lives of DoctorsAt first I thought this an exceptionally well written book in the genre of medical story telling. The more I read the more I realised it's an exceptional book in a genre all of its own. Insightful, wonderfully well observed and beautifully written -- Suzanne O'Sullivan (on Let Me Not Be Mad)A treasure of a book. Intricately woven and deeply intimate, it reveals things that astonish, surprise and improve us -- James Rhodes (on Let Me Not Be Mad)A truly astonishing journey into and out of the mind. Not content to pin you down with the intense intimacy of his storytelling Benjamin dramatises some of the most profound and intractable issues in neuroscience and psychiatry. I've never read anything like it -- Professor Mark Lythgoe, UCL (on Let Me Not Be Mad)A mental-health memoir like no other ... a genre-defying wake-up call of a book ... compelling ... clever humane ... holding back a sly twist for the end * Observer (on Let Me Not Be Mad) *Like a meeting of Oliver Sacks and Hunter S Thompson ... this is not a simple narrative of striking cases written by a far-seeing practitioner. It's a turbo-charged race -- Lisa Appignanesi * New Statesman (on Let Me Not Be Mad) *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAt the dawn of the permissive age Diana is a medical student in swinging London. Revel in the fascinating characters that she meets, the medical students, doctors and patients and see what made the little girl into the woman she is now. Funny and moving and based on a true story.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn his second book, Sterling Haynes begins by telling us that at the age of seventy a left hemisphere stroke rearranged his brain. "My right creative side took over and I started to write poetry and humour. I was left with a partially paralysed right foot, but a writer''s creative right brain. I think I got the better of the deal, a new brain in trade for a foot. The funny episodes in my medical practice became hilarious. The sad, melancholy parts of my life''s memories looked less bleak." Haynes goes on to share the humorous and sometimes bizarre tales of his life as a doctor; a man shoots off his big toe in a drunken binge and then begs the doc to get him to Sunday Mass on time, an inmate swallows a spoon to avoid solitary confinement, an accident with a Murphy bed leaves a man hanging for more than ten hours. "I worked long hours, made house calls, went out with the ambulance and flew to remote accident areas, sometimes receiving payment in kind: hinds of beef, lamb and moose, bags of potatoes and turnips and on one occasion, a big game guide brought me a four point buck in payment for delivering his first son, leaving the dressed carcass in the centre of my waiting room." Haynes tells it like it was in these tales of a frontier doctor, from Williams Lake to Alabama.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a remarkable and deeply wise reflection on land, farming, a sense of place, connecting with nature and what it means to live on this earth. As a third-generation farmer, the author''s roots go deep into the land but her work also captures her thoughts on such current issues as the environment, environmental identity, and animal ethics. Her writing is poetic, lyrical, and engaging. Part farmer, part poet, part activist, Armstrong engages her readers through her fascination and close involvement with both the natural and the human worlds.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTo the abdominal surgeon a first successful Whipple procedure is what a first combat mission is to the fighter pilot: a symbol of competence -- the fruits of prolonged training. Not many surgeons managed to incorporate their names into a commonly used eponym; Allen Whipple did and so became immortalised as a household name to surgeons world-wide. Yet, little has been known and written about Whipple, the great American surgeon -- the person and his other interests. This is what this book is about: an edited version of Whipple's previously unpublished memories, which until now -- for more than forty years -- has collected dust. In these pages the retired Whipple describes the journey of his life from the very beginning in Persia, where he was born, to the very end in New Jersey where he died. He provides snap shots of himself, his family and friends, his colleagues, and the changing times in which he lived. The editors have abbreviated the original manuscript by a third and have added footnotes and illustrations. An introduction and 'end page' adds perspective to the memoirs. It has been said "God put the pancreas in the back because he did not want surgeons messing with it". Allen Whipple had the courage to mess with the pancreas and to show us how to mess with it successfully. But what kind of man was he and how did he arrive at his achievements? Find out in this book.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book provides a captivating glimpse into the journey of a cardiac surgeon, illuminating the story of a small-town girl who, as an outsider, struggled to get a foothold in an intensely competitive field. Her eventual triumph serves as a poignant representation of an earlier generation of Indians post-Independence, showcasing their resilience through both triumphs and tribulations.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A wondrous hymn to the scientific method, and some of its most profound discoveries, and what it can teach us all about how to live better and richer lives' Prof. Lewis Dartnell, author of BEING HUMAN: How our Biology shaped World HistoryA scientist's journey from observation to discovery is anything but straightforward. It is littered with failure, unexpected diversions and joyous realizations. Science helps us to understand ourselves but what we know about the world around us, what has already been explored and discovered, is only half of science's story. Dr Camilla Pang will look at some of the biggest mysteries facing science today and how some of the best, most cutting-edge scientists can illuminate our own approaches to observation, hypothesis, exploration, troubleshooting and discovery in our own lives. Breakthrough explores the frontier between what we do and don't know about the world: where knowledge meets mystery, complexity overwhelms certainty, and the vastness of our

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt looked for a while as if Michael Collins would spend his life breaking concrete and throwing rocks for the Vittorio Scalese Construction Company. He liked the work and he liked the pay. But a chance remark by one of his coworkers made him realize that he wanted to involve himself in something bigger, something more meaningful than crushing rocks and drinking beer. In his acclaimed first memoir, Hot Lights, Cold Steel, Collins wrote passionately about his four-year surgical residency at the prestigious Mayo Clinic. Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs turns back the clock, taking readers from his days as a construction worker to his entry into medical school, expertly infusing his journey to become a doctor with humanity, compassion, and humor. From the first time he delivers a baby to being surrounded by death and pain on a daily basis, Collins compellingly writes about how medicine makes him confront, in a very deep and personal way, the nature of God and sufferingand how delicate life can be.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERFINALIST FOR THE 2022 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR NONFICTIONNamed one of the BEST BOOKS OF 2022 by NPR, The New Yorker, Time, and Vogue“Remarkable.” –Andrew Solomon, The New York Times Book ReviewAt once a rigorous work of scholarship and a radical act of empathy.”—EsquireA ray of light into those isolated cocoons of darkness that, at one time or another, may afflict us all.” —The Wall Street JournalEssential.—The Boston GlobeA landmark exploration of one of the most consequential and mysterious issues of our time: the rise of chronic illness and autoimmune diseasesA silent epidemic of chronic illnesses afflicts tens of millions of Americans: these are diseases that are poorly understood, frequently marginalized, and can go undiagnosed and unr

Read more less

Book SynopsisA raw and masterful memoir about becoming a woman and going mad—and doing both at once.   When Suzanne Scanlon was a student at Barnard in the 90s, grieving the loss of her mother—feeling untethered and swimming through inarticulable pain—she made a suicide attempt that landed her in the New York State Psychiatric Institute.   After nearly three years and countless experimental treatments, Suzanne left the ward on shaky legs. In the decades it took her to recover from the experience, Suzanne came to understand her suffering as part of something larger: a long tradition of women whose complicated and compromised stories of self-actualization are reduced to “crazy chick” and “madwoman” narratives. It was a thrilling discovery, and she searched for more books, more woman writers, as the journey of her life converged with her journey through the literature that shaped her.   Transporting, honest, and graceful, Committed is a story of discovery and recovery, reclaiming the idea of the madwoman as a template for insight and transcendence through the works of Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath, Janet Frame, Audre Lorde, Shulamith Firestone, and others.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less