Biography: science, technology and medicine Books
Amberley Publishing IT Girls
Book SynopsisA celebration of the women who furthered computer technology, from the nineteenth century to the present day.Trade Review'This volume will provide a valuable reference tool and starting point for those who wish to further expand their knowledge of these women who played such a vital role in the development of computers that have changed the way we live.' -- All About History Magazine, December 2023'In his latest book he covers the vital role that women have played in the history of computing and, as author of 30 books, one of his other titles is Women of Science.' -- Family Tree Magazine, March 2024
£19.54
Amberley Publishing Women of Science
Book SynopsisNew paperback edition - An investigation into the lives of some of the more remarkable women in the history of scientific discovery.
£11.69
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Amazing Story of Lise Meitner
Book SynopsisFirst-hand information provided by Lise's nephew Philip Meitner and Philip's wife Anne.
£21.25
Orion Publishing Co The Life Scientific Explorers
Book SynopsisInside the lives of the scientists who are exploring the world, our universe, the past and ourselves.Based on the interviews broadcast on BBC Radio 4''s hugely popular series, The Life Scientific: Explorers takes science out of its box and introduces us to the men and women who make it happen.The explorers featured in this volume include: Michele Dougherty, the mathematician who persuaded the Cassini mission to Saturn to make a diversion; Richard Fortey on his love of trilobites; Monica Grady, Meteorite Lady; neurosurgeon Henry Marsh on slicing through our thoughts; the Director of the British Antarctic Survey, Jane Francis; Brian Cox on quantum mechanics; and Nobel Prize winner John Sulston on why he thought it would be a good idea to sequence the human genome.Trade Review'Both inspirational and richly human, the book offers a compelling picture of science at the cutting edge' * TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT *'Anna Buckley, the producer of The Life Scientific, distils the scientists' passions skilfully into print' * Sunday Times, Science Books of the Year 2018 *
£9.49
Xlibris Thalassemia
Book Synopsis
£11.87
Andrews McMeel Publishing Identity Theft Second Edition
Book SynopsisIdentity Theft, Second Edition is an award-winning book that follows Stanford professor Debra Meyerson’s journey to recover from a severe stroke that initially left her physically incapacitated and unable to speak. In addition to providing realistic expectations for the hard work needed to regain everyday capabilities, Meyerson and Zuckerman focus on the less frequently documented emotional journey as she and her family rebuild identity in recovery. Virtually every stroke survivor is haunted by questions like “Who am I now?” and “How do I rebuild a meaningful and rewarding life?” after losing so much of what they had before—capabilities, careers and jobs, relationships, and more. This is a book full of hope for survivors—from stroke or other life-changing injuries or illnesses—as well as their care partners, families, and communities. The first edition of Identity Theft centers on Debra’s experience: her stroke, her extraordinary efforts to recover, and her journey to redefine herself. But she also draws on her skills as a social scientist, sharing stories from several dozen fellow survivors, family members, friends, colleagues, therapists, and doctors she has met and interviewed. By sharing this diversity of experiences, Debra highlights how every stroke is different and every recovery is different. She provides a valuable look at the broad possibilities for successfully navigating the challenging physical recovery—and the equally difficult and frequently unspoken emotional journey toward rebuilding one’s identity and a rewarding life after a trauma like stroke. This second edition is written by Debra and her husband, Steve Zuckerman. As they have shared in countless talks, “Just as the original book was headed to the printers, we decided that ‘the finish line had become a new starting line.’” They co-founded the nonprofit Stroke Onward, where they have been working side by side to build an organization that can catalyze change in the healthcare system to better integrate the emotional journey of rebuilding identity into a lifelong recovery process. This edition draws on five more years of experience as a post-stroke couple and what they’ve learned from thousands more survivors, family members, and healthcare professionals. They’ve added new insights about the long-term recovery process and how we can change the stroke system of care to better support all survivors and their families. Their 4,500-mile bike ride called Stroke Across America in 2021 helped raise awareness for Stroke Onward and stroke suvivorship care.
£14.39
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Sir Alan Cobham: The Flying Legend Who Brought
Book SynopsisFlying in the years between the two world wars was the preserve of the powerful and the wealthy, or so it was until Sir Alan Cobham's 'Flying Circus' began to tour Britain. A former pilot with the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War, Alan Cobham continued to fly, establishing air routes to the Empire countries. He also involved himself in aerial photography and survey work, undertook charter flights and pioneered the 'Air to Air' refuelling technique still in use today. Yet it was his National Aviation Day displays for which Sir Alan Cobham's name is best remembered. Affectionally known as 'Cobham's Flying Circus', his team of up to fourteen aircraft toured the United Kingdom, visiting hundreds of municipal locations, allowing 'ordinary' people to have their first taste of flying. So extensively did Cobham travel with his displays, and so popular did they become, that after war broke out in 1939, some 75 per cent of Britain's young men volunteering for aircrew duties claimed that their first experience of flying had been with 'the Circus'. Sir Alan's name still lives on in the aviation world. The creation of Flight Refuelling Limited in 1934 eventually led to the formation of what is today a major international aerospace and defence organisation-Cobham PLC.
£21.25
Cornerstone Test Gods: Tragedy and Triumph in the New Space
Book Synopsis'Masterly' New York Times'Riveting' Scott Kelly'Remarkable' The TimesWhen Richard Branson founded Virgin Galactic in 2004, his goal was simple: to offer paying customers a trip to space by the end of the decade. Seventeen years, countless delays, and one catastrophic crash later, his space tourism dream may finally be on the verge of reality.Now, a New Yorker journalist offers the definitive portrait of the adventurers leading the way to the stars. Drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews with Virgin's lead test pilot, Mark Stucky, Test Gods describes the making of a modern astronaut: from starry-eyed youth to NASA, the Air Force, and Virgin Galactic; and through dozens of gruelling test flights to his first successful trip beyond the earth's atmosphere. The result is the most vivid exploration of an astronaut's inner life since Tom Wolfe's The Right Stuff. It offers an intimate and unique insight into the new space race.Trade ReviewAdventure in its purest form - rich with risk, courage and friendships. -- BEAR GRYLLSA Right Stuff for our moment of space travel . . . Riveting . . . A deeply reported and deeply personal book. It is a masterly work. * New York Times Book Review *Riveting . . . This is the book about the new space race you've been waiting to read. An instant classic. -- SCOTT KELLY, astronaut and author of EnduranceAn absolute thrill . . . A hugely ambitious feat of reporting and storytelling, and a fitting twenty-first century sequel to The Right Stuff. -- PATRICK RADDEN KEEFE, author of Say Nothing and Empire of PainUnique, fascinating, compulsively readable, brilliantly reported with unprecedented access, a kick-ass adventure story . . . Just strap yourself in and get ready for one helluva ride. -- BUZZ BISSINGER, author of Friday Night Lights
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton The Everything Blueprint: The Microchip Design
Book Synopsis**A Financial Times Best Summer Book 2023**Out now: a gripping look at the rise of the microchip and the British tech company behind the blueprint to it all.'A gripping and inspiring read.' Sir James Dyson'A revealing and insightful biography of the company whose blueprints define the digital world.' Chris Miller, author of CHIP WAR: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology'[A] sparkly corporate biography.' Financial Times__________One tiny device lies at the heart of the world's relentless technological advance: the microchip. Today, these slivers of silicon are essential to running just about any machine, from household devices and factory production lines to smartphones and cutting-edge weaponry.At the centre of billions of these chips is a blueprint created and nurtured by a single company: Arm.Founded in Cambridge in 1990, Arm's designs have been used an astonishing 250 billion times and counting. The UK's high-tech crown jewel is an indispensable part of a global supply chain driven by American brains and Asian manufacturing brawn that has become the source of rising geopolitical tension.With exclusive interviews and exhaustive research, The Everything Blueprint tells the story of Arm, from humble beginnings to its pivotal role in the mobile phone revolution and now supplying data centres, cars and the supercomputers that harness artificial intelligence.It explores the company's enduring relationship with Apple and numerous other tech titans, plus its multi-billion-pound sale to the one-time richest man in the world, Japan's Masayoshi Son.The Everything Blueprint details the titanic power struggle for control of the microchip, through the eyes of a unique British enterprise that has found itself in the middle of that battle.__________Trade Review'This is a gripping and inspiring read. The Everything Blueprint reveals how a British technology company fought to become a global one - and achieved this thanks to a powerful combination of homegrown talent, international collaboration between brilliant people, and dogged ambition. Arm's success is proof that in today's connected world it is vital to go abroad to achieve scale. The key to this story is a fierce determination to be No. 1 - and never giving into complacency.' Sir James Dyson, British inventor, industrial designer and entrepreneur'The Everything Blueprint provides the hidden history of the most important company most people have never heard of. We all rely on Arm's chip technology but James Ashton provides a dramatic account of where Arm came from-and how this company will shape the future of computing and artificial intelligence. A revealing and insightful biography of the company whose blueprints define the digital world.' Chris Miller, author of CHIP WAR: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology'This is an engrossing history of the most important company to emerge in the UK in the last 40 years and how it fits in to the world's most vital industry. It's also a sobering reminder that if we are careless about Arm's future we can give up on our aspirations to be a leading tech nation.' Rory Cellan-Jones, former BBC technology correspondent and author of Always On: Hope and Fear in the Social Smartphone Era'James Ashton weaves his way through the intricate geopolitics of the semiconductor industry with an insider's view of Arm's remarkable rise. From Silicon Valley to Taiwan via Cambridge, this book provides an essential account of a vital industry, and, in an era infused with artificial intelligence, reminds us that technology remains inherently human.' Reid Hoffman, partner at Greylock and co-founder of LinkedIn'Swaffham, Bulbeck in England is not writ as large in the lore of the chip industry as California's Mountain View (birthplace of Intel) and Sunnyvale (birthplace of nVidia), or Taiwan's Hsinchu, the cradle of TSMC. But this village should be in the register because that's where the computer world first encountered ARM, a company whose tale James Ashton deftly weaves into a tapestry stretching from the first transistor to chatGPT.' Sir Michael Moritz, author of Return of the Little Kingdom: Steve Jobs, the Creation of Apple, and How it Changed the World'A detailed guide on the rise of one of the biggest players on the field . . . Ashton's book is a timely release showing how Arm got from a former-turkey plucking barn in Cambridgeshire (its first office) to the Big Apple.' - City AM
£21.25
Little, Brown & Company The Asteroid Hunter
Book SynopsisFEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, NPR’S SCIENCE FRIDAY, THE WASHINGTON POST, AND SCIENCE MAGAZINE A “brilliant account of a 21st century real-life fantasy” (Sir Brian May) of space exploration and a lesson in fragility in the quest to return an asteroid sample and unlock the mystery of formation of life on earth, braided with the remarkable life story of the OSIRIS-REx mission leader, Dr. Dante Lauretta. On September 11, 1999, humanity made a monumental discovery in the vastness of space. Scientists uncovered an asteroid of immense scientific importance—a colossal celestial entity. As massive as an aircraft carrier and towering as high as the iconic Empire State Building, this cosmic titan was later named Bennu. Remarkable for much more than its size, Bennu belonged to a rare breed of asteroids capable of revealing the essence of life itself. But just as Bennu became a beacon of promise, r
£22.50
Basic Books Coming to Our Senses: A Boy Who Learned to See, a
Book SynopsisDoctors have been able to cure some forms of congenital blindness and deafness for decades. But this has created another problem: most people end up hating their new senses. To ask someone to adapt to a new sense is to ask them to reshape their entire world. Many simply cannot. Every waking minute, they are bombarded by meaningless sights or sounds. Some sink into a depression so great that they lose their will to live and die.So then what to do with the cases of Liam McCoy and Zora Damji? Liam was born blind and Zora was born deaf. Both received surgeries to restore their senses as teenagers. Today, both lead healthy, independent lives. The question at the heart of Coming to Our Senses is: why? The answer reveals a common misunderstanding of how perception works. We tend to think of perception as a purely mechanical process, as a camera or microphone in the brain, recording the world objectively. But neurobiologist Susan Barry argues that your senses are completely your own. What you hear or see is influenced by your environment, history, age, relationships, preferences, fears, and needs. Your senses are so intimately connected to your experiences that they actually shape your personality. And as you grow, your senses grow with you, much further into adulthood than doctors once thought. The way you sense the world is part of what makes you, you.People like Liam and Zohra provide a clear view of how our sensory abilities intertwine with our personality, and Barry spent a decade with them, watching their process. Barry finds the environmental sources of Liam's exquisite sense of direction, as well his inability to learn to recognize even his own mother's face. And she considers how Zohra's world expands upon learning that sound allows you to observe things you can't see, as well as how the voice of Zohra's Aunt Najma influenced the kinds of voices Zohra can understand best. Ultimately, Liam and Zohra adapted to their new senses because their individual circumstances allowed them to do so, and in ways that reflect those circumstances. But there is no single answer to why some people adapt to their new senses while others do not, or for that matter, why two normally sighted people can see the same thing two different ways -- the answer depends upon the whole history and tenor of a person's life.Coming to Our Senses tells its stories with grace, empathy, and genuine curiosity. It is a testament to the power of resilience, and a moving account of how, regardless of how we're born, we must each find our own way.
£20.90
PublicAffairs,U.S. Quirky: The Remarkable Story of the Traits,
Book SynopsisFrom historical figures such as Marie Curie to contemporaries such as Steve Jobs, a handful of innovators have changed the world. What made them so spectacularly inventive? Melissa A. Schilling, one of the world's leading experts on innovation, looks at the lives of seven creative geniuses--Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Elon Musk, Dean Kamen, Nicola Tesla, Curie, and Jobs--to identify the traits and quirks that led them to become breakthrough innovators.Though all innovators possess incredible intellect, intellect alone does not create a serial innovator. There are other very strong commonalities: for instance, nearly all exhibit very high levels of social detachment. They all have extreme, almost maniacal, faith in their ability to overcome obstacles. And they have a passionate idealism that pushes them to work with intensity even in the face of criticism or failure. These individual traits would be unlikely to work in isolation--being unconventional without having high levels of confidence and direction, for example, might result in rebellious behavior that does not lead to meaningful innovation.Schilling reveals the science behind the convergence of traits that increases the likelihood of success, and shows us how to nurture and facilitate breakthrough innovation in our own lives.
£8.54
Morgan James Publishing llc Me Myself My Multiple Myeloma
Book SynopsisMe, Myself & My Multiple Myeloma is a cancer-patient memoir written by Ray Hartjen, a multiple myeloma patient diagnosed in March 2019.In this intimate and inspiring account, Ray reflects on every step of his relentless battle with cancer, from working toward a final diagnosis, through an initial induction treatment and an autologous stem cell transplant, and on to maintenance and continuing active treatment. Through it all, Ray shares personal insights into his fight, tending to his systemic physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs.Fighting cancer or any serious health issue, particularly a chronic condition, can be a daunting quest. Me, Myself & My Multiple Myeloma shows the importance of being mission-forward. Mission, of course, is unique to each individual, and based on values, roles, and the accountabilities associated with each that matter most.Written for cancer patients, their caregivers, and their friends and family, Me, Myself & My Multiple Myeloma is a personal story of proactive accountability, stubborn perseverance, evolving perceptions, growing maturity, and, ultimately, hope.
£15.15
Haymarket Books Stardust to Stardust: Reflections on Living and
Book SynopsisErik Olin Wright, one of the most important sociologists of his time, takes readers along on his intimate and brave journey toward death, and asks the big questions about human mortality.From the renowned Marxist sociologist and educator Erik Olin Wright, Stardust to Stardust is a curated collection of writings from the months of his treatment and hospitalization for acute myeloid leukemia. This combination of personal narrative with Wright’s analytical perspective results in a deeply complex, philosophical meditation on death and the meaning of existence.Trade Review"While the upfront knowledge of Wright 's fate creates a melancholic reading experience, the overall effect of his fortitude and humor is one of delight. These touching, wise remembrances demonstrate how joys can arise from even the darkest moments." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review"This final work by one of the very great social critics of our time is not only deeply moving, insightful and important, but an act of immense and urgent generosity." --China Miéville"Breathtaking in its range, riveting in its storyline and gripping in its honesty, Stardust to Stardust exemplifies how to live a deeply meaningful and connected life. Erik Olin Wright, in the last year of his life prematurely cut short by acute myeloid leukemia, wrote this public journal in which he shares his insights about life and love and many matters in between. This is a book that will enrich everyone 's life! Erik 's infectious curiosity, optimistic warmth, and deep-rooted kindness will touch the heart and mind of all who dip into its contents." —Richard J. Davidson, NY Times best-selling author of The Emotional Life of Your Brain, Founder and Director, Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison"Stardust to Stardust is a text about the love of life, the mind, and above all of the love of humanity. It is also one of the most courageous texts I have ever read about dying. Moving with stunning ease between keen sociological insights about hospitals, to the connection between love and emancipatory social science, to discovering how to be comfortable with vulnerability, this blog, written in a few months between the discovery of Erik Olin Wright 's illness and his death, reflects a life of brilliance, generosity and love, and gifts us with lessons in both dying and living." —Raka Ray, Professor of Sociology and Dean of the Social Sciences at UC-Berkeley (and former student of Erik 's)"Erik Olin Wright was an extraordinarily kind mentor to his students, including me. But what stood out as he faced the end of his life was his courage and insight as he turned his analytical mind to himself and his own relationship to dying.The result is a deeply life-affirming take on death." —Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Minnesota"You have probably figured out that your Caringbridge blog has a global audience. What maybe less obvious is that it is a powerful model for your readers -- especially those of us who are your contemporaries and for whom the roll of the medical dice has to always be considered uncertain. You probably take it for granted that your response to your body's ugly surprise has been completely consistent with your pre-AML thinking and work: purposive, organized with care and precision, aimed at maximizing the likelihood of a positive outcome; optimism tempered by clear-eyed acceptance of downside possibilities; indeed, even cheerful with a dose of humor. For the rest of us, your response is not just impressive but heartening...this note...is also to say thank you for-- paradoxically-- making it clear that the space for agency is wider than we might have believed before we started reading your Caringbridge blog." —Peter Evans, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of California Berkeley.
£16.14
Academic Studies Press Strange Journey: John R. Friedeberg Seeley and
Book SynopsisThis biographical history follows the iconoclastic career of John R. Friedeberg Seeley, pre-eminent “Pop Sociologist” and Mental Health Activist of the 1950s. Seeley’s "strange journey" began as a British Home Child, estranged from his cosmopolitan German-Jewish family. Seeley progressed through the ranks of the Canadian Army Medical Corps, and the University of Chicago, to achieve prominence as the author of Crestwood Heights, a defining work of postwar social science. He led an ambitious mental health project in Canadian schools, and was a founding father of York University. However, Seeley’s struggle with mental illness and Jewish identity brought him into conflict with the Canadian establishment. His career ended in academic exile, but his dream of a mental health revolution still resonates.Table of Contents Prologue 1. Wolff Child 2. A Splendid Chap 3. An Opening Gun 4. Pop Sociology 5.Empire 6. How to Murder a Community 7. Film Noir 8. The Isle of Nuts 9. Waspish Tone 10. Jewish Tempers 11. The Flash 12. Wild Surmises Epilogue
£20.39
American University in Cairo Press A Surgeon and a Maverick: The Life and Pioneering
Book Synopsis“[A] remarkable journey.” —The TelegraphThe incredible life story of legendary cardiac surgeon and scientist Magdi Yacoub, an outsider who succeeded against the odds Veteran journalists Simon Pearson and Fiona Gorman follow the remarkable life of heart surgeon Magdi Yacoub from his formative years in Egypt, through spectacular success at Cairo University, to his long and distinguished career in Britain. Although at times he clashed with the medical establishment in London, Yacoub pioneered great advances in heart surgery. He was knighted in 1992, and in 2014, he was awarded the highest honor in the gift of the Queen, the Order of Merit.Written with unprecedented access and drawing on extensive interviews and research, the biography recounts how Yacoub transformed the treatment of children with congenital heart disease. He performed some of the first heart transplants in Britain and the first heart-lung transplants in Europe. At London’s Harefield Hospital, he created the greatest heart transplant center in the world. Among his patients are men and women who are still thriving more than thirty-five years after he gave them new hope. This story is also about science, the development of new medical techniques, and a deeper understanding of how the human body works. Today, at an age when most people have long since retired, Yacoub is still pushing the boundaries of scientific understanding and surgical know-how. He is also taking heart surgery to places that until now have had little access to cardiac treatment, developing centers of excellence across Africa, including in Egypt, where his hospital in Aswan has an international reputation, and a new center is rising in Cairo.Yacoub’s life is one of triumph and tragedy, success and failure, fierce criticism and high praise—it is also an enthralling journey through the worlds of scientific research and medical politics and ethics at the highest levels.Trade Review“Chronicling his remarkable journey from Belbeis, an ancient fortress city on the Nile delta, to becoming one of the world’s most famous Egyptians . . . the book not only lays bare his surgical successes but also the challenges he faced along the way.”—The Telegraph"The reason that he has finally consented to an authorised biography now after all these years is not, he stresses, out of self-aggrandisement, but in the hope that it will inspire others to follow in his footsteps."—The National"His legacy is one of innovation and saved lives. . . . an outsider who went on to have a career of firsts."—Channel 4 News"Whether or not you are interested in the medical field, Yacoub’s tale will impassion anyone striving to create a more just and honourable society."—The New Arab"This is a story of a life well lived. Sir Magdi Yacoub has transformed medical practice and improved the lives of millions of people. He did this with intellectual creativity, determination, and a deep commitment to serving humanity."—Minouche Shafik, President, Columbia University“From humble beginnings as he followed his surgeon father across Egypt, to achieving the highest honors in the UK, Magdi Yacoub’s story exemplifies the values of hard work, innovation, and humanity. His passion for science and his unrivaled surgical wizardry are only surpassed by his core belief that every human life holds equal value. This book will undoubtedly inspire generations of young people all around the world to fulfill their most ambitious dreams.”—Valentin Fuster, Physician in Chief, Mount Sinai Hospital"This book recounts how a brilliant and determined young Egyptian became a great pioneer and global champion of cardiac surgery. Through his skills in the operating theater and his indefatigable energy he’s directly saved thousands of lives. And through his intensive commitment and compelling advocacy of hospitals and research his Chain of Hope charity has saved many more—especially in Africa. Magdi Yacoub’s immense achievements richly deserve honor and celebration, and this fine book tells us all why."—Martin Rees, author of If Science is to Save Us"Amazing stories"—Alhurra"An unconventional biography"—Groks Science ShowPRAISE FOR MAGDI YACOUB:"Magdi has changed our definition of what is possible."—Gordon Brown, former UK Prime Minister"The world’s leading cardiac surgeon"—The Sunday Times"Renowned heart specialist Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub"—The Guardian “Recognized as one of the great pioneers of heart transplant surgery”—BBC Radio"The Leonardo da Vinci of cardiac surgery"—Peter Alivizatos, MDTable of ContentsForeword Dame Mary ArcherAcknowledgments Introduction1. Plymouth, Southwest England, 19832. Early Years3. Growing Ambitions4. The Road Ahead5. Lord Brock6. Trial by Sherry7. The Man Who Dared8. New Horizons9. So Long, Marianne 10. The American Way11. The France12. On the Shoulders of Giants13. A Promise Fulfilled14. Pushing Boundaries15. Magic Hands16. The Boy and the Baboon17. Legal Aid18. Give Them Sunshine 19. An Unexpected Gift20. Enemies at the Gate21. The Tide Turns22. Through the Lens23. Lives Transformed24. Meanwhile, at Home . . . 25. Heart-Lung Transplants26. A Question of Ethics27. Deliverance28. The Triumph of Science 29. Held to Account30. The Domino 31. Greek Odyssey 32. Spreading the Word33. The Ross Procedure34. Signs of Success35. Chain of Hope36. Dr. Zhivago37. The Queen of Hearts38. The Generous American39. Peer Review40. The Reluctant Pensioner 41. A Kindred Spirit42. Into Africa43. Good Morning Egypt44. The Girl with Two Hearts45. Taking the Podium46. Pain and Loss47. Haile’s Story48. Universally Acknowledged 49. Capital Investment EpilogueSources and NotesBibliographyIndex
£23.74
OR Books Chomsky and Me: My 24 Years Running Noam
Book SynopsisBev Stohl ran the MIT office of the renowned linguist and social critic Noam Chomsky for nearly two and a half decades. This is her account of those years, working next to a man described by the New York Times as “arguably the most important intellectual alive today.” Through these pages we observe the comings and goings of a constant and varied stream of visitors: the historian Howard Zinn; activists Alex Carey, Peggy Duff, and Dorie Ladner; the inventor of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners Lee; actors Catherine Keener and Wallace Shawn; the writer Norman Mailer; gaggles of fourteen-year-old school students, and the world’s leading linguists. All make appearances in these stories. Many who visit are as careless of their allotted time as Chomsky is generous with his. Shepherding them out in mid-conversation is one of Bev’s more challenging responsibilities. Other duties include arranging lectures to overflow crowds around the world, keeping unscrupulous journalists at bay, preventing teetering ziggurats of paper and books from engulfing her boss, and switching on his printer when it is deemed “broken” by a mind that is engaged less by mundane technology than the realms of academia and activism. Over the years, what has commenced as a formal working arrangement blossoms into something more: a warm and enduring friendship that involves work trips to Europe, visits with her partner and dog to Noam’s summer home on Cape Cod, and a mentorship that challenges Bev with all manner of intriguing mental and practical puzzles. Published with the approval of its subject and written with affection, insight and a gentle sense of humor, Chomsky and Me describes a relationship between two quite different people who, through the happenstance of work, form a bond that is both surprising and reciprocally rich.Trade Review“This is a beautiful, tender and profound book about one of the most important thinkers of our time, by one of the people who knows him best. A masterpiece of observation and memoir.”—Johann Hari, author of New York Times Bestseller Chasing the Scream “A ringside seat on the life and times of a man regarded by millions as a remote intellectual deity, but who comes into sharp focus through the delightfully warm and humorous lens of Bev Stohl as a relatable mortal … If you want to know the real Noam Chomsky, this is the book for you.”—Amir Amirani
£15.19
Heritage Group Distribution Understory
£22.12
Greystone Books,Canada Tracking Giants: Big Trees, Tiny Triumphs, and
Book Synopsis"I learned, I laughed, I sighed, I swooned. What an absolutely delightful romp through the forest."—Kate Harris, author of Lands of Lost Borders"Intimate, open-hearted. . . A personal introduction to one of the most profoundly alive places on earth."—John Vaillant, author of The Golden SpruceA funny, deeply relatable book about one woman's quest to track some of the world's biggest trees.Amanda Lewis was an overachieving, burned-out book editor most familiar with trees as dead blocks of paper. A dedicated "indoorswoman," she could barely tell a birch from a beech. But that didn't stop her from pledging to visit all of the biggest trees in British Columbia, a Canadian province known for its rugged terrain and gigantic trees.The "Champion" trees on Lewis's ambitious list ranged from mighty Western red cedars to towering arbutus. They lived on remote islands and at the center of dense forests. The only problem? Well, there were many. . .Climate change and a pandemic aside, Lewis's lack of wilderness experience, the upsetting reality of old-growth logging, the ever-changing nature of trees, and the pressures of her one-year timeframe complicated her quest. Burned out again—and realizing that her "checklist" approach to life might be the problem—she reframed her search for trees to something humbler and more meaningful: getting to know forests in an interconnected way.Weaving in insights from writers and artists, Lewis uncovers what we’re really after when we pursue the big things—revealing that sometimes it's the smaller joys, the mindsets we have, and the companions we're with that make us feel more connected to the natural world.Trade Review"Spiked with wit, self-deprecating humour, and a bright, light-beam approach to philosophy, Tracking Giants is dotted with beautiful descriptive passages and local tree history. . . Anyone who reads this book will find themselves looking at trees in a new way, searching the sky for their crowns, and will marvel at not just their beauty, but their necessity."—Quill & Quire"A towering forest-bath of a book, lush with insight, humor, and wisdom on living a happy, interconnected life. I loved this book!"—Carol Shaben, award-winning author of Into the Abyss"Fresh, funny, and bursting with vivid detail, Tracking Giants chases trees that can seem as elusive and enigmatic as the snow leopard. This is a quest that questions quests, a journey through forests of the land and mind—and one hell of a good time in the woods that we all depend on."—J.B. MacKinnon, author of The Day the World Stops Shopping"Tracking Giants is a book of arboreal delights, wisdoms, and many voices that reminds us of the value of slowing down and learning how to see the forest for the trees. You won't want to miss out on this road trip with Amanda Lewis at the wheel, bombing down forestry backroads with the Beastie Boys blasting, bushwhacking in the pursuit of rooted bigness, and ultimately getting lost and found in the beauty of small. Tracking Giants is the road trip without the map, the fascinating new friends you pick up along the way. Get in. Celebrating our arboreal Champions—both huge and small—has never been so much fun."—Trina Moyles, author of Lookout: Love, Solitude, and Searching for Wildfire in the Boreal Forest"I'd follow Amanda Lewis into the woods any day for more hilarious misadventures of a big-tree hunter. In her quest to track British Columbia's Champion trees, she reminds us all to slow the fuck down, let go of expectation, and connect with this planet's wonders, big and small. Oh, and to always pack snacks. Tracking Giants left me enchanted, informed, and chuckling."—Adria Vasil, bestselling author of the Ecoholic series"In this intimate, open-hearted book of journeys and quests, Amanda Lewis gathers the wisdom of the woods in all its beauty and peril. Tracking Giants is, at its heart, a guide to seeing and being in the world. For those from away, it will also be a personal introduction to one of the most profoundly alive places on earth. For those who live in the Pacific Northwest, it offers the humbling and illuminating experience of being reintroduced to a place you thought you knew well."—John Vaillant, award-winning author of The Golden Spruce"Absolutely engrossing. In Tracking Giants, Amanda Lewis takes us down forest paths that we'll never want to leave, and gives us new friends in Champion trees. Along the way we're introduced to the tree species that tower above the Pacific Northwest, which we encounter through history and art and expert botanical voices. On top of that, Tracking Giants is laced with humor. Clearly, Lewis is the perfect hiking companion!"—Lyndsie Bourgon, author of Tree Thieves"Is Tracking Giants an adventure story or a cautionary tale? A critique of pure ambition or a celebration of growth? Maybe it's a portal to the forests of British Columbia, or an invitation to develop a relationship with that crabapple tree down the street. It may be a gentle reminder that music makes everything better, or that love is another word for attention. Who knows? All we can say for sure is what Amanda Lewis gets—that good stories are like wild forests: impossible to classify, and awfully fun to get lost in."—Arno Kopecky, award-winning author of The Environmentalist’s Dilemma"Tracking Giants is a rich and leafy exploration of all things arboreal. Through her quest to visit all of British Columbia's Champion trees, Amanda Lewis has written her way deep into the heartwood of humans' intimate connection with our irreplaceable forests."—Michael Christie, author of Greenwood"A delightful and enlightening journey into the woods… Amanda Lewis treads so softly here, with wit and color, with care and passion, in an intimate exploration of how nature's magnificent expressions, regardless of size or title, hold enormous capacity to inspire."—Harley Rustad, author of Big Lonely Doug and Lost in the Valley of DeathGenerous, self-deprecating, and wise, this entertaining, informative, and inspiring book shows us that if a tree grows or falls in the forest, we need to listen—there are so many reasons why it might fall. It teaches us to see the forest and the trees, to navigate through the thicket of the modern world and ultimately to find ways to care for ourselves and our planet."—Gary Barwin, bestselling author of Yiddish for Pirates and Nothing the Same, Everything Haunted"This is a wonderful truant of a book about our relationship with trees, with the precarious earth, with our own unchecked ambition. It begins as a simple solo quest to track some of the world’s biggest trees and emerges as a gorgeous manifesto for plotting a different course entirely. The timing of this book—with its wide roots and radical shoots—is just right."—Kyo Maclear, author of Birds Art Life"What an absolutely delightful romp through the forest, delivered with verve, joy, humility, determination, and grace… I love this hilarious, heartfelt book and its quirky quest."—Kate Harris, author of Lands of Lost Borders
£13.29
Atlantic Books A Dominant Character: The Radical Science and
Book SynopsisBook of the Year in The Economist, Guardian, New Statesman, Wall Street Journal and New York Times.Shortlisted for the Duff Cooper Prize & the Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography.'A wonderful book about one of the most important, brilliant and flawed scientists of the 20th century.' Peter Frankopan'Superb' Matt Ridley, The Times'Fascinating... The best Haldane biography yet.' New York TimesJ.B.S. Haldane's life was rich and strange, never short on genius, never lacking for drama. He is best remembered as a geneticist who revolutionized our understanding of evolution, but his peers thought him a polymath; one student called him 'the last man who knew all there was to be known'.Beginning in the 1930s, Haldane was also a staunch Communist - a stance that enhanced his public profile, led him into trouble, and even drew suspicions that he was spying for the Soviets. He wrote copiously on science and politics for the layman, in newspapers and magazines, and he gave speeches in town halls and on the radio, all of which made him, in his day, as famous in Britain as Einstein. Arthur C. Clarke called Haldane 'the most brilliant science popularizer of his generation'. He frequently narrated aspects of his life: of his childhood, as the son of a famous scientist; of his time in the trenches in the First World War and in Spain during the Civil War; of his experiments upon himself; of his secret research for the British Admiralty; of his final move to India, in 1957. A Dominant Character unpacks Haldane's boisterous life in detail, and it examines the questions he raised about the intersections of genetics and politics - questions that resonate all the more strongly today.Trade ReviewDeliciously full of danger, adventure and scandal. * 'Science Books of the Year', Guardian *Superb... Subramanian does a masterly job of summarising a rich and rough life. He uses sharp analogies and arresting images... Haldane deserves a biographer who is eloquent, intelligent, fair, but unsparing and as good at explaining science as politics. Not an easy combination, but he has got one. -- Matt Ridley * The Times *It's hard to recommend a single science book from 2020, but the one I've kept returning to, mentally, is Samanth Subramanian's A Dominant Character... Beautifully written, it's a reminder that no scientist can be extracted from his or her time. * Laura Spinney, 'Books of the Year', New Statesman *Fascinating... Subramanian is a strong writer, and he recounts Haldane's communist adventures with brio... A Dominant Character is the best Haldane biography yet. With science so politicized in this country and abroad, the book could be an allegory for every scientist who wants to take a stand. * New York Times *Samanth Subramanian is a crisp, elegant writer who has produced a compelling biography of this dazzling man. A Dominant Character is perfectly paced... It can be read with the utmost pleasure by everyone who likes to admire a fine intellect in action and to see respect paid to outstanding intelligence. -- Richard Davenport-Hines * Wall Street Journal *A wonderful book about one of the most important, brilliant and flawed scientists of the 20th century - that explains much not only about J.B.S. Haldane but about the complex times he lived in. -- Peter Frankopan, bestselling author of THE SILK ROADSEven if there had been no scientific legacy, the rich and at times outrageous life of J.B.S. Haldane would justify a biography... Intelligent and energetic. * Sunday Times *Sympathetic and astute * The Economist *The 20th century British geneticist J.B.S. Haldane remains one of the most influential scientists of modern times. And this remarkable biography by Samanth Subramanian, which brings to life Haldane at his brilliant, unpredictable, outspoken, visionary best, will make you see exactly why his light still shines so brightly today. -- Deborah Blum, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of THE POISON SQUADA wholly delightful, even brilliant, exploration of the scientific mind. Subramanian brings alive J.B.S. Haldane's rollicking, unbelievable life journey from privileged English childhood to Indian asylum. He writes with grace and confidence about both the science and the man, a "Darwinian preacher" whose life explains why scientists in our age of artificial intelligence and revolutionary genetics need to think politically. A Dominant Character is a captivating story of prickly genius, sexual scandal, and radical politics. -- Kai Bird, Pulitzer Prize-winning co-author of AMERICAN PROMETHEUSA marvellous, comprehensive, and entertaining biography of J.B.S. Haldane, who made major contributions to many fields. His biggest impact was on evolutionary biology, as a major founder of the theory of population genetics. Subramanian has done impressive research on Haldane's background, scientific contributions, and political controversies - this will be the definitive work on his life from now on. -- Joe Felsenstein, Professor Emeritus of Genome Sciences and of Biology, University of WashingtonExcellent.... Full of insight and felicitous writing. -- David Brown * American Scholar *If you were looking for a model protagonist for a ripping yarn, you could do a lot worse than John Burdon Sanderson Haldane... A Dominant Character turns on the Lysenko affair, examining how scientists wedded to both their work and their political ideals can be forced to choose between them. * Literary Review *Insightful...This portrait of a brilliant, egotistical contrarian illustrates how science and politics can collide, a subject with ample relevance for the modern world. * Publishers Weekly *A rich biography of a central figure in the 20th-century genetics revolution... Succeeds superbly. * Kirkus Reviews *Captures Haldane's outsize character, productive scientific career, and communist convictions.... Explaining clearly Haldane's science and discerning astutely Haldane's personality, Subramanian delivers a well-judged biography. * Booklist *Attempting to encompass the entirety of the polymath that was J.B.S. Haldane (1892-1964) is no easy task.... Social historians will appreciate the emphasis on the man and his politics, over an emphasis solely on the science, in this excellent biography. * Library Journal *Balanced and modern ... [A Dominant Character] should prove engaging to readers interested in the birth of genetics and in the intersection of science and political belief. * Science *A fascinating portrait of Haldane's life. Subramanian succeeds in capturing his public life, fame, and influence, while giving readers a sense of Haldane as a person and as a groundbreaking scientist. * American Scientist *Table of Contents1: The Scientific Method 2: The Deep End 3: Synthesis 4: Red Haldane 5: The War at Home 6: India 7: Ten Thousand Years
£17.00
Watkins Media Limited Conversations with Isaac Newton: A Fictional
Book SynopsisIsaac Newton's influence on our world is immense. He formulated the theory of gravity, devised a radical new theory of light and created a calculus that would revolutionize mathematics. His theory of matter in motion sparked the Industrial Revolution. But there was far more to Newton even than these great discoveries. Opening with an informative foreword by the bestselling author of The Body Bill Bryson, the book is then divided into two parts: a biographical essay that provides a concise overview of Newton's life, upbringing, education and achievements; and a Q&A dialogue based on rigorous research and incorporating Newton's actual spoken or written words whenever possible. Biographer Michael White brings Newton to life through detailed research and giving Newton a free voice to tell you about his unorthodox upbringing, his eminent political career, his bitter feuds with rivals and his secret explorations of the occult.
£9.49
Reaktion Books Sigmund Freud
Book SynopsisHowever much his work has been reviled or contested, Sigmund Freud remains one of the most significant thinkers of the last 150 years. He founded psychoanalysis, and his vision of human behaviour and the unconscious mind has provided a compelling paradigm for understanding society for much of the twentieth century. In this gripping new account, Matt ffytche draws on the latest research into Freud’s impact and historical context, making the case for his continuing relevance in analysing the vagaries, resistances and desires of the human mind. Engaging and accessible, Sigmund Freud appeals to both students and the general reader, as well as anyone engaged with mental health, dreams and the hidden depths of human experience.Trade Review'I am an admirer of Matt fyttche’s work – he is an excellent historian who has contributed a great deal to the understanding of the origins and development of psychoanalysis. This book is characteristically accurate and reliable and so will be useful for readers wanting to get a broad understanding of Freud’s ideas and some sense of what they might continue to offer to contemporary thought.' – Stephen Frosh, Professor of Psychology, Birkbeck, University of London
£12.34
Reaktion Books Richard Owen
Book SynopsisBrilliant, hard-working, immensely productive and influential, the naturalist Richard Owen was a great promoter of science, and played a large role in shaping London’s Natural History Museum. An often difficult and arrogant individual, he was accused of plagiarism and bullying, and is the only man whom Charles Darwin claimed to hate. Although strongly opposed to Darwin and Thomas Huxley’s theories of evolution through natural selection, there is evidence that a few of Owen’s ideas were not so very distant from theirs. This biography gives an account of Owen’s life and work, providing possible psychological and social reasons for some of his more controversial characteristics, and his sometimes rather strained relations with his scientific contemporaries.Trade Review'Armstrong’s biography accomplishes its admirable purpose – describing in considerable detail Owen’s many accomplishments and contrasting them with his disagreeable nature.' – Geoffrey Martin, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography, Southern Connecticut State University; 'This book is a fascinating account of the life of Sir Richard Owen. Patrick Armstrong’s balanced commentary of an intelligent but controversial individual makes for compulsive reading.' – Vivian Louis Forbes, Adjunct Associate Professor of Geography, The University of Western Australia; 'In this lively and sure-footed biography, distinguished historian of science Patrick Armstrong brilliantly brings a lifetime of scholarship to the task of explicating why Victorian-era palaeontologist and Charles Darwin collaborator and detractor Richard Owen remains worthy of our attention. A fascinating study!' – Tom Chaffin, author of Odyssey: Charles Darwin, the Beagle, and the Voyage that Changed the World.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Northern Origins: Childhood and Early Life 2 Early Days in London: St Bartholomew’s Hospital, the Zoological Society and the Royal College of Surgeons 3 Monsters and Curiosities: Extant, Extinct and Non-Existent 4 Dr Owen, Dr Mantell and the Dinosaurs 5 Darwin and Owen 6 Huxley, the Hippocampus and Histrionics 7 The Evolution of Owen’s Evolutionary Ideas 8 Museums and Committees 9 A Cottage in Richmond Park, by Grace and Favour of Her Majesty 10 Owen’s Character and Personality Chronology References Further Reading Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements
£12.34
Arcturus Publishing Ltd Elon Musk: Innovator, Entrepreneur and Visionary
Book SynopsisElon Musk is one of the world''s most successful entrepreneurs -- the CEO of Tesla, the founder of SpaceX and one of the richest people on the planet. Raised in South Africa, he attended a number of universities, before founding the software company Zip2 in 1995. Just four years later it was bought for $307 million. X.com, the online bank he founded in 1999, merged to form PayPal the following year. His business interests have expanded to include aerospace, artificial intelligence and neurotechnology. This book is a deep dive into his career and how he built his business empire. A fascinating read for aspiring entrepreneurs or anyone looking to build a successful business.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Visionaries series brings together entertaining biographies of leading figures within business world and beyond, tracing their lives, careers and the innovative thinking that made them world-famous.
£8.54
Y Lolfa Dr Henry Hicks (1837-99) - The Life and Times of
Book SynopsisGeology was St David''s doctor Henry Hicks'' huge passion. Author of many articles, he made a major contribution to 19th century geological study and, despite having no formal training in the subject, was eventually elected president of both the Geologists'' Association and the Geological Society.
£7.60
Headline Publishing Group The Vaccine
Book SynopsisWhen the world stopped, all hopes rested on finding a vaccine. An unlikely team answered the call.Before Covid-19 was even given its name, a select group of scientists in Germany, assembled by married couple and decades-long research partners Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci, began building 20 potential vaccines.As the deadly disease spread from country to country, what followed was a desperate race against time to conduct rigorous tests and clinical trials, whilst navigating political interference and seeking the support of the pharmaceutical industry.Shedding a light on the science behind the breakthrough, The Vaccine tells the story of the trailblazers who led the fightback against Covid-19, whose discoveries could now help the world tackle cancer, along with many other pervasive diseases. It draws back the curtain on one of the most important medical achievements of our age, containing contributions from the fascinating couple themselves, as well as more than
£11.69
The History Press Ltd Ten Engineers Who Made Britain Great: The Men
Book SynopsisSamuel Smiles published Lives of the Engineers in 1862. The noted biographer presented his engineers as heroic progress makers who conquered nature and overcame impossible obstacles to drive the Industrial Revolution forward, but included twisted and often fabricated accounts in his work.In Ten Engineers Who Made Britain Great, Anthony Burton seeks to correct this narrative by offering nuanced portraits of some of the best-known engineers of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Burton investigates the common themes that run between the stories of John Metcalf, James Brindley, John Smeaton, William Jessop, Thomas Telford, James Watt, Richard Trevithick, George and Robert Stephenson, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and also explores how each of these men learned from one another.
£14.39
The History Press Ltd The Great Stink of London: Sir Joseph Bazalgette
Book Synopsis‘An extraordinary history’ PETER ACKROYD, The Times‘A lively account of (Bazalgette’s) magnificent achievements. . . graphically illustrated’ HERMIONE HOBHOUSE‘Halliday is good on sanitary engineering and even better on cloaca, crud and putrefaction . . . (he) writes with the relish of one who savours his subject and has deeply researched it. . . splendidly illustrated’ RUTH RENDELLIn the sweltering summer of 1858, sewage generated by over two million Londoners was pouring into the Thames, producing a stink so offensive that it drove Members of Parliament from the chamber of the House of Commons.The Times called the crisis ‘The Great Stink’. Parliament had to act – drastic measures were required to clean the Thames and to improve London’s primitive system of sanitation. The great engineer entrusted with this enormous task was Sir Joseph Bazalgette, who rose to the challenge and built the system of intercepting sewers, pumping stations and treatment works that serves London to this day. In the process, he cleansed the Thames and helped banish cholera.The Great Stink of London offers a vivid insight into Bazalgette’s achievements and the era in which he worked and lived, including his heroic battles with politicians and bureaucrats that would transform the face and health of the world’s then largest city.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary history -- Peter AckroydA lively account of (Bazalgette’s) magnificent achievements. . . graphically illustrated -- Hermione HobhouseHalliday is good on sanitary engineering and even better on cloaca, crud and putrefaction . . . (he) writes with the relish of one who savours his subject and has deeply researched it. . . splendidly illustrated -- Ruth RendellAn extraordinary history -- Peter AckroydA lively account of (Bazalgette’s) magnificent achievements. . . graphically illustrated -- Hermione HobhouseHalliday is good on sanitary engineering and even better on cloaca, crud and putrefaction . . . (he) writes with the relish of one who savours his subject and has deeply researched it. . . splendidly illustrated -- Ruth Rendell
£17.00
Atlantic Books The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness
Book SynopsisNOW A NETFLIX FILM STARRING EDDIE REDMAYNE AND JESSICA CHASTAIN'A stunning book... should and does bring to mind In Cold Blood' New York TimesAfter his arrest in 2003, registered nurse Charlie Cullen was quickly dubbed 'The Angel of Death' by the media. But Cullen was no mercy killer, nor was he a simple monster. He was a favourite son, husband, beloved father, best friend and celebrated caregiver. Implicated in the deaths of as many as 300 patients, he was also perhaps the most prolific serial killer in American history. Cullen's murderous career in the world's most trusted profession spanned sixteen years and nine hospitals.Chronicling Cullen's deadly career and the breathless efforts to stop him, The Good Nurse paints an incredibly vivid portrait of madness and offers an urgent, terrifying tale of murder, friendship and betrayal.Trade ReviewCharles Cullen is thought to be responsible for the deaths of as many as 400 patients during his career as a nurse... His crimes are outlined in The Good Nurse, an absorbing tale that's simultaneously terrifying and barely credible.... A standout true-crime book, one that doubles as both a thrilling horror story and a cautionary tale * Boston Globe *The most terrifying book published this year. It is also one of the most thoughtful... The Good Nurse is gripping, sad, suspenseful, rhythmic and beautifully documented (the endnotes to this book are impressive). * Kirkus Reviews *Graeber doesn't pull punches... A deeply unsettling addition to the true crime genre. * Publishers Weekly *
£9.49
Batsford Ltd Isaac Newton: Remarkable Lives
Book SynopsisSir Isaac Newton (1642-1727), mathematician and physicist, is one of the foremost scientific intellects of all time. This fully illustrated, accessible guide to the life and work of Isaac Newton is the perfect introduction to his groundbreaking work on gravity, motion, optics, light, colour and calculus. It also considers his lesser known research into chemistry, theology and alchemy while assessing his continuing legacy. Organised chronologically, this book covers his childhood in rural Lincolnshire, school days in Grantham and undergraduate life at Trinity College, Cambridge. All of his major discoveries, breakthroughs and publications are lucidly described. Entries include: the story of the falling apple, Gravity and the Principia, Newton’s laws of motion, Optics, Alchemy and Divinity, as well as his time as Warden of the Royal Mint in London. This is the essential guide to the life, work and legacy of one of the greatest geniuses of all time.Organised chronologically, this book covers his childhood in rural Lincolnshire, school days in Grantham and undergraduate life at Trinity College, Cambridge. All of his major discoveries, breakthroughs and publications are lucidly described. Entries include: the story of the falling apple, Gravity and the Principia, Newtons laws of motion, Optics, Alchemy and Divinity, as well as his time as Warden of the Royal Mint in London. This is the essential guide to the life, work and legacy of one of the greatest geniuses of all time.
£6.00
Bodleian Library Einstein in Oxford
Book Synopsis
£15.29
NMSE - Publishing Ltd Matthew Forster Heddle
Book SynopsisProfessor Matthew Heddle (1828-97) was a larger-than-life character, a renowned academic and one of Scotland's most famous mineralogists. His rich legacy includes: Encyclopaedia Britannica 9th edition (section on Mineralogy) A fossil fish Heddleichthys A mineral named after him (Mattheddleite) A summary of the Mineralogy of Scotland (published posthumously) 55 scientific papers 5,700 specimens from his collection now housed in the National Museum of Scotland and the National Museums Collection Centre. 10 children This book, by Heddle's great-great-grandson, is not an account of his scientific work but is about Heddle the man; it provides a much fuller picture of him than anything that has appeared before.Trade Review' ... the book is a tribute to a mineralogist who will not soon be forgotten, written almost lovingly with great attention to detail by one with a family interest so deep that the resulting book can well serve as a model for others. It is highly recommended.' (Rocks and Minerals) ' ... The book gives a fascinating and detailed insight to Heddle the man, presenting his character and his contemporaries in a way which nicely augments his many technical publications and his fabulous collection of minerals, now in the National Museum [of Scotland]' (Journal of the Russell Society) ' ... it's pleasing to see this volume which reviews the lifetime contribution to science of this remarkable man. ... This superbly written volume will delight and enthrall you.' (Down to Earth) 'I can strongly recommend this book. It tells the story of a most interesting character who in the course of his epic collecting got to know the Scottish hills better than anyone else of his day.' (Scottish Mountaineering Club journal); 'I enjoyed reading it and found it a mass of information about Heddle, and the mineralogists, geologists, geological society, journals and museums of the day.' (Geological Curator);Table of ContentsChapter: 1 - Heddle's parentage 2 - Childhood and schooling 3 - The Edinburgh doctor 4 - Early mineralogical activities 5 - University of St Andrews 6 - Heddle's collecting and scientific papers 7 - Heddle the mountaineer 8 - The retired professor: a new beginning 9 - Heddle's last years and legacy
£14.24
Chiselbury Publishing The Man Under the Radar
Book SynopsisThis biography of Jack Maurice Nissenthall, written by his daughter, Linda Nissen Samuels, draws heavily on Jackâs own unpublished autobiography. It outlines his part in the development of radar before and during WW2 and its impact on the eventual outcome, and original letters and photos.
£9.49
NMSE - Publishing Ltd Hugh Miller: Stonemason, Geologist, Writer
Book SynopsisHugh Miller was born in 1802 in Cromarty, North East Scotland. He started his working life as a stonemason's apprentice. A keen interest in fossil collecting followed and he was successful in arousing public interest in geological history. He later became a social commentator and crusader (he was one of the first writers to condemn the Highland Clearances) while his role as a serious religious journalist is highlighted in his discussions on the Disruption of the Church of Scotland and its consequences. As Hugh Miller, a tall man with a shepherd's plaid over his rough tweed suit, walked about Edinburgh he was pointed out with pride. His was a household name in his lifetime, not only in Scotland but also across the English-speaking world. After his death, by his own hand in 1856, his work was mined by historians and anthologists for its acute observations, and geologists continued to love the spirit which imbued his writings, as did the Free Church - but in the 20th century his thoughts on evolutionary biology were sorely obsolete. However, a recent revival in Scots history and culture, and a reassessment of the 19th century debates in science, geology and religion, have all led to a fuller appreciation of the rich and complex stories in which Hugh Miller played a part, and of the man himself. This biography follows the 2003 facsimile edition of Hugh Miller's "The Cruise of the Betsey and Rambles of a Geologist", which Michael Taylor edited. With the benefit of recent research for the 2002 centenary conferences, the book does full justice to a neglected figure whose work and writings continue to give enjoyment and inspiration.Trade Review'This is an excellent, interesting and scholarly biography of Hugh Miller. ... This book is well researched and a pleasure to read. ... effectively brings to life the complex character of Hugh Miller.' Palaeontological Newsletter 'Taylor deftly organizes his immense quantity of research and Miller's complex life into clear and manageable sections. ... The pictures, excerpts and thematic chapters create a comprehensive and enjoyable volume.' IRSS University of Guelph 'Michael Taylor casts much-needed light upon the character of this singular man ... well illustrated and written in short, tube-length chapters that are all perfectly judged. Buy it now.' Geoscientist 'It is well worth reading to understand the context of Miller's life, his impact on Scottish geology, and as an introduction to his writing.' John Muir Trust Journal ' … Taylor's prose streams effortlessly from the page and carries the reader along, rather like a gold thread embroidered through the history of Miller's life. … Anyone with an interest in Miller, or indeed in Victorian era Scotland and its complex social, religious and political history, would doubtless enjoy Taylor's biography.' Hugh's News (review of the reprinted edition 2022)Table of ContentsMap of Scotland; Map of Edinburgh and Leith in the 1850s; Foreword by Marian Allardyce McKenzie Johnston MA MSC; Preface by Dr David Alston; Introduction: One of the living forces of Scotland; A wild insubordinate boy; A Life of manual labour; The literary lion of Gromarty; A sort of Robinson Crusoe in geology; A long, and, in its earlier stages, anxious courtship; A plain working man, in rather humble circumstances; Among the remains of a different creation; Strife, toil and comparative obscurity; His business was to fight; The truth I speak, impugn it whoso list; The landscape was one without figures; The quiet enthusiasm of the true fossil-hunter; He clothed the dry bones of science; Exceedingly plausible and consummately dangerous; A gray maud, buckled shepherd-fashion; These are but small achievements; A tenderly affectionate parent; 19 Dearest Lydia. dear children. farewell; Life itself is a school; Glossary; Index.
£12.34
Haus Publishing Mary Seacole
Book SynopsisMary Seacole’s remarkable life began in Jamaica, where she was born a ‘free person,’ the daughter of a black mother and white Scottish army officer. Ron Ramdin – who, like Seacole, was born in the Caribbean and emigrated to the UK – tells the remarkable story of a woman celebrated today as a pioneering nurse. But Seacole’s time in the Crimea, for which she is best-known, was only the pinnacle of a life of adventure and travel. Refused permission to serve as an army nurse, Seacole took the remarkable step of funding her own journey to the Crimean battlefront and there, in the face of sometimes harsh opposition, she established a hotel for wounded soldiers. Unlike Florence Nightingale – whose exploits saw her venerated as the ‘lady with the lamp’ for generations afterwards – Seacole cared for soldiers perilously close to the fighting. Her short-lived fame back in Britain was the work of soldiers and the press who campaigned to have her exploits acknowledged. Her book, The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands, became a bestseller. Then she was forgotten, dying 25-years later in obscurity, and unjustly written out of history for over a century.Trade Review'Contains important lessons for those of us who care, and demonstrates why she was voted the greatest black Briton'-Church Times
£9.49
Filament Publishing Beyond Leonardo his curiosity kickstarted the future
£24.65
Icon Books Elon Musk: Risking It All
Book SynopsisA NEW EDITION OF MICHAEL VLISMAS' EYE-OPENING BIOGRAPHY OF ELON MUSK, NOW WITH NEW MATERIAL COVERING THE LATEST IN MUSK'S FAMILY AND BUSINESS LIFEIn 2022 Elon Musk - one of the richest and best-known people on earth - made headlines worldwide with his bid to buy Twitter, and he is often in the news for his entrepreneurial exploits and his controversial tweets. Who is this boundary-pushing billionaire with grand plans of inhabiting Mars, and what lies at the heart of his vision? Why is he so utterly unafraid of risk?As an awkward Pretoria schoolboy who loved comics and science fiction, Musk's early years and singular family background were crucial in forming his stellar ambitions. Journalist and author Michael Vlismas, who attended the same high school as Musk, knows well the environment that shaped him and offers new insights into Musk's development, including his troubled relationship with his father.Tracing his remarkable life, from his South African childhood to his move to Canada at 17 and then to the US - where Musk made millions out of PayPal and built Tesla and SpaceX into two of the world's most famous companies - this is the revealing new story of a man driven to preserve the optimism he sees in humanity and find a future for humans 'out there among the stars'.
£10.44
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Inventive Geniuses Who Changed the World:
Book SynopsisThis book describes the life and times of fifty-three great British scientists and engineers – male and female inventive geniuses who changed the world, improving the lives of mankind, and propelling humanity forward. Their stories abound with personal ingenuity, brilliance and scientific or engineering wizardry, and with the ambition to satisfy fundamental human needs. The author aspires to set these individual achievements in the socio-political context of their place in history, sometimes embracing the activities of others to round off the story and scientific contribution. Avoiding overly technical language, he nonetheless succeeds in making complex theories and technologies more comprehensible and accessible to a lay audience. This book is a must for all those interested in the prehistory and history of the steam engine, transport, communication technology, public health services, and many topics from the natural sciences. Many of the inventions described in its pages have helped shape the modern world.Table of ContentsIntroduction.- “Revolutions” - Scientific, Agricultural and Industrial.- The Steam Age – Evolution of Steam Engines and the 1st Steam Locomotive.- Advances in Forms of Transport – Steam Locomotives, Cycle Tyres, Oceanic Liners, and Jet Aircraft. Transport Infrastructure - Canals, Roads, and Commercial Railways.- Drawbacks with Industrialization. Sanitary Revolution Offering Technologies to Improve Public Health.- Natural Sciences.- History of the Atom, 1803 to 1932.
£29.99
Springer International Publishing AG The Stumbling Progress of 20th Century Science:
Book SynopsisThe 70 years from 1880 to 1950 witnessed the final ascent of humankind into the modern age. Historically, this period is characterized by deep political, social and economic crises. However, parallel to this and much less known in the public, rational scientific thinking also experienced the darkest and deepest crisis of its own history. All the great modern scientific discoveries like quantum theory, genetics and neurology are products of this. Ground-breaking discoveries, profound crises, revolutionary thoughts, refutation of previously unshakable beliefs - these years are marked by scientific achievements of numerous great minds, who overturned our understanding of the world, of space, time and infinity, of life, logic and calculability almost overnight. The "intuitive genius" of these pioneers still forms the foundation of today’s scientific thinking and technological progress. In fact, tackling and overcoming those deep scientific crises shaped our modern life like nothing else. The resulting reorientation of our understanding of nature and ourselves allowed ancient philosophical questions to appear in a new light: "What is reality?", "What can we know about the world?" or "What is man's place in nature?". The most exciting period in the history of science is retold here in an entertaining way.Table of ContentsNewton's World Formula that was not a World Formula - How the Speed of Light Shook up Classical Physics.- The Battle about the Atom: From Boltzmann to Einstein – How Pure Chance Broke into the Well-Ordered World of Physics.- Mathematics Becomes Paradoxical - Georg Cantor and the Insurmountable Contradictions in Infinity.- Darwin's Hesitation and Mendel's Diligence - Life as a Plaything of Molecular Elements.- No more Ground Beneath our Feet - The Collapse of Classical Sciences.
£19.99
Taylor & Francis Ltd A Living Medicine: Don Thomas, Marrow
Book SynopsisA sweeping biography of the visionary behind bone marrow transplantation and the story of the diseases cured by Don Thomas's discovery. In the last half of the twentieth century, Thomas himself discovered a cure for every marrow-based disease—like leukemia, lymphoma, and sickle-cell anemia—forever changing treatment for some of the deadliest illnesses. His feats were extraordinary, earning him a Nobel Prize, and the cascade of treatments he inspired have reshaped and will continue to reshape the practice of clinical medicine. Yet no one has ever written Thomas’s courageous story. Dr. Frederick R. Appelbaum, a member of Thomas’s research team, does so for the first time in Living Medicine: Don Thomas, Marrow Transplantation, and the Cell Therapy Revolution. Bone marrow transplantation has now saved over a million lives, but when Thomas first had the idea, he was met with disbelief by the scientific community. Appelbaum, informed by decades in the field and personal connection with Thomas, tells us the secrets to Thomas’s success: his unique characteristics, how he created an effective team of researchers, and how he overcame the technical obstacles of marrow transplantation. Appelbaum tells a bigger story, too, of the scientific and societal implications of this achievement, which are critical for scientific and lay readers alike so that we all might be better informed of how far our medical progress has come and will go. Trade Review"Fred Appelbaum provides a vital and touching history. As a witness to (and a participant in) the birth of one of medicine's most inventive procedures -- bone marrow transplantation -- Appelbaum gives us a story rich with details, excitement and wonder. His writing sparkles as he describes the early years in Seattle and the subsequent successes, and this book is essential reading for doctors, patients and medical historians alike."—Siddhartha Mukherjee “This is the story of pioneers, foremost among them Don Thomas. While most explorations into the unknown venture to new lands, here we journey with Thomas and his colleagues deep into our bodies where they overcame daunting obstacles to make life saving discoveries. Fred Appelbaum skillfully weaves biography, science and patient stories into an inspiring tapestry of hopes fulfilled.”--Jerome Groopman, M.D., Recanati Professor, Harvard University, and author How Doctors Think and, with Dr. Pamela Hartzband, of Your Medical Mind “Anyone interested in medical science will want to read Living Medicine. It describes the ideas, experiments, surprises, failures, and successes of decades of research with a clarity that makes it one of the best science books that I have ever read. Chapters read like roller coaster rides with the painstaking attempts of treating a few patients, the slow progress of adapting to results, and the final success leading to rapid global adoption of therapeutic advances. It will be my graduation gift to each of my aspiring medical school students.”—Leland Hartwell, Nobel Prize winner “Living Medicine is a captivating and inspirational narrative that charts the challenges, breakthroughs and ultimate ascent of bone marrow transplantation, as well as the critical contributions of E. Donnall Thomas. At a time when we are on the brink of realizing long-held hopes for application of stem cells to treat and cure diabetes, neurodegenerative disease, and myriad other conditions, Appelbaum deftly illuminates critical milestones in medical history and tracks that progress to the most cutting-edge therapies of the modern day.”--Daylon James, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Weill Cornell Medicine, and host of the Stem Cell Podcast “The biotech revolution is one of the big stories of the 21st century. Cell and gene therapies with potential to cure many terrible diseases are coming in the near future, whether we’re ready or not. Fred Appelbaum tells the fascinating, untold story of how this transformation of medicine got started. Living Medicine is a tour de force of medical science history. Appelbaum has the intimate knowledge of an insider but takes great care to tell an accessible story. This book is easy to read and hard to put down. Anyone who wants to know about where breakthroughs come from and how medicine will change over the next 20 years should read it.”--Luke Timmerman, founder of the leading biotech newsletter, Timmerman Report
£29.66
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Waiting for the Monsoon
Book Synopsis
£20.90
Icon Books Nikola Tesla and the Electrical Future
Book Synopsis'[This] crisply succinct, beautifully synthesized study brings to life Tesla, his achievements and failures...and the hopeful thrum of an era before world wars.' - NatureNikola Tesla is one of the most enigmatic, curious and controversial figures in the history of science. An electrical pioneer as influential in his own way as Thomas Edison, he embodied the aspirations and paradoxes of an age of innovation that seemed to have the future firmly in its grasp. In an era that saw the spread of power networks and wireless telegraphy, the discovery of X-rays, and the birth of powered flight, Tesla made himself synonymous with the electrical future under construction but opinion was often divided as to whether he was a visionary, a charlatan, or a fool. Iwan Rhys Morus examines Tesla's life in the context of the extraordinary times in which he lived and worked, colourfully evoking an age in which anything seemed possible, from capturing the full energy of Niagara to communicating with Mars.Shattering the myth of the 'man out of time', Morus demonstrates that Tesla was in all ways a product of his era, and shows how the popular image of the inventor-as-maverick-outsider was deliberately crafted by Tesla - establishing an archetype that still resonates today.Trade ReviewSuperb * Nick Smith, Engineering and Technology magazine *[This] crisply succinct, beautifully synthesized study brings to life Tesla, his achievements and failures...and the hopeful thrum of an era before world wars. -- NatureThere have been other Tesla biographies, but this is the one I have been waiting for ... Tesla, he shows us, was - like his one-time boss and rival Thomas Edison - inventing nothing less than the electrified future. -- Philip Ball, author of Invisible: The Dangerous Allure of the UnseenClear and engaging ... a pleasure to read * Physics Today *
£8.99
Massey University Press Against the Odds
£38.69
MIT Press Ltd Her Space Her Time
Book SynopsisAn exciting new title in the vein of Hidden Figures, which tells the inspiring stories of long-overlooked women physicists and astronomers who discovered the fundamental rules of the universe and reshaped the rules of society.Women physicists and astronomers from around the world have transformed science and society, but the critical roles they played in their fields are not always well-sung. Her Space, Her Time, authored by award-winning quantum physicist Shohini Ghose, brings together the stories of these remarkable women to celebrate their indelible scientific contributions.In each chapter of the book, Ghose explores a scientific topic and explains how the women featured in that chapter revolutionized that area of physics and astronomy. In doing so, she also addresses particular aspects of women?s experiences in physics and astronomy: in the chapter on time, for instance, we learn of Henrietta Leavitt andMargaret Burbidge, who helped discover the big bang and the cosmic calendar; in the chapter on space exploration, we learn of Anigaduwagi (Cherokee) aerospace scientist Mary Golda Ross,who helped make the Moon landings possible; and in the chapter on subatomic particles, we learn of Marietta Blau, Hertha Wambacher, and Bibha Chowdhuri, who contributed to the discovery of the building blocks of the universe, and, in doing so, played a crucial role in determining who gets to do physics today.Engaging, accessible, and timely, Her Space, Her Time is a collective story of scientific innovation, inspirational leadership, and overcoming invisibility that will leave a lasting impression on any reader curious about the rule-breakers and trendsetters who illuminated our understanding of the universe.Some of the featured women scientists in the book Williamina Fleming Annie Jump Cannon Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin Antonia Maury Henrietta Leavitt Margaret Burbidge Mary Golda Ross Dilhan Eryurt Claudia Alexander Joyce Neighbors Navajo women of Shiprock Harriet Brooks Marie Curie Lise Meitner Marietta Blau Hertha Wambacher Bibha Chowdhuri Wu Chien-Shiung Women of the Manhattan Project Vera Rubin
£21.60
MIT Press Ltd Her Space Her Time
Book SynopsisAn exciting new title in the vein of Hidden Figures, which tells the inspiring stories of long-overlooked women physicists and astronomers who discovered the fundamental rules of the universe and reshaped the rules of society.Women physicists and astronomers from around the world have transformed science and society, but the critical roles they played in their fields are not always well-sung. Her Space, Her Time, authored by award-winning quantum physicist Shohini Ghose, brings together the stories of these remarkable women to celebrate their indelible scientific contributions. In each chapter of the book, Ghose explores a scientific topic and explains how the women featured in that chapter revolutionized that area of physics and astronomy. In doing so, she also addresses particular aspects of women?s experiences in physics and astronomy: in the chapter on time, for instance, we learn of Henrietta Leavitt and Margaret Burbidge, who helped discover the big bang and the cosmic calendar; in the chapter on space exploration, we learn of Anigaduwagi (Cherokee) aerospace scientist Mary Golda Ross, who helped make the Moon landings possible; and in the chapter on subatomic particles, we learn of Marietta Blau, Hertha Wambacher, and Bibha Chowdhuri, who contributed to the discovery of the building blocks of the universe, and, in doing so, played a crucial role in determining who gets to do physics today.Engaging, accessible, and timely, Her Space, Her Time is a collective story of scientific innovation, inspirational leadership, and overcoming invisibility that will leave a lasting impression on any reader curious about the rule-breakers and trendsetters who illuminated our understanding of the universe.Some of the featured women scientists in the book?Williamina Fleming?Annie Jump Cannon?Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin?Antonia Maury?Henrietta Leavitt?Margaret Burbidge?Mary Golda Ross?Dilhan Eryurt?Claudia Alexander?Joyce Neighbors?Navajo women of Shiprock ?Harriet Brooks?Marie Curie?Lise Meitner?Marietta Blau?Hertha Wambacher?Bibha Chowdhuri?Wu Chien-Shiung?Women of the Manhattan Project?Vera Rubin
£17.85
The Natural History Museum The Walter Rothschild
Book SynopsisBorn into one of the wealthiest families, Walter Rothschild became the best known zoologist of his day - and one of Britain's great eccentrics. Walter's life traversed the fields of politics and finance, as well as zoology, and was packed with achievement and incident. This book presents complexities and conflicts this man faced during his life.Table of ContentsPreface to this edition vAuthor's Preface viiAuthor's Acknowledgements viiiLionel Walter Rothschild--principal events xiCHAPTERS 1--351 Walter Rothschild 12 Tring is Fairyland 33 Emma, Walter's Mother 94 Emma--the iron apronstrings 195 Walter's Father--the Eminence Blanche 256 Walter's Father--Nobody wanted to touch Lloyd George 417 Because I am so happy, Mama 528 I have nearly driven Althaus out of his senses 579 Who is the pink and gold boy in the corner? 7010 I am not a Lieutenant, I am a Captain 8011 Please ask Walter 8612 Rozsika, Walter's sister-in-law 9413 My Museum 10014 The rump of our only old male is rather dicky ... 11015 The fellow is always right 12016 Walter's Curators--Ernst Hartert and the birds 12817 Walter's Curators--Karl Jordan and the butterflies 14318 Walter's Collectors 15419 Walter's Collectors--A.F.R. Wollaston and N.C. Rothschild 17020 Walter's Collectors--William Doherty 17721 Walter's Collectors--The King of Bulgaria is coming on Friday ... 18122 Hurrah! We are off ... 18523 The Giants 19724 The Rothschilds and animals 20625 The Great Row 21526 Catherine wheels 22427 If His Majesty's Government will send me a message ... 23328 Dear Lord Rothschild 24929 What has become of two ostriches ... 27030 A figure in the background 28331 You will be painted blue and yellow and exposed in the High Street 28732 The Primrose Way--The truth about the Rothschilds 29533 The birds cross the Atlantic 30234 Home Farm 30535 Candle ends 313Bibliographical notes 319BibliographyBooks 351Newspapers, Journals, Catalogues and Reports 356Manuscript Sources 362Appendix 1Synopsis of species and subspecies of plants and animals named inhonour of Walter Rothschild 362Index 363Family tres 383
£12.34
The History Press Ltd Scurvy
Book SynopsisThe story of how three individuals conquered the plague of the sea
£13.49
Wolfram Media Inc Adventures Of A Computational Explorer
Book Synopsis
£19.79
