Biography: science, technology and medicine Books

Book SynopsisA personal and literary examination of hypochondria.A free-wheeling philosophical essay, Hypochondria combines cultural critique, literary history, and Rees’s own experience of health anxiety to ask what we might learn from the hypochondriac’s discomforting experience of their body.Hypochondria is unashamedly capacious in its range of references, from the writings of Robert Burton, Franz Kafka and Charlotte Brontë to original yet accessible readings of theorists like Lauren Berlant and Maurice Blanchot. Whether he is discussing Seinfeld, John Donne or his own hypochondriac past, Rees reveals himself to be a wry and perceptive critic, exploring the causes - and the costs - of our desire for certainty.An exercise in what Freud calls “evenly suspended attention,” Hypochondria demonstrates the rewards and the perils of reading (too) closely the common but typically overlooked aspects of our everyday lives."In Hypochondria, Will Rees pulls off an almost impossible balancing act. He recalls his personal history with great clarity and vulnerability, and he assembles a dazzling archive of his fellow writers and hypochondriacs: Melville, Kafka, Freud, Sartre, Didion. Hypochondria, Rees shows us, is a specific case of fantasizing about what we cannot know - we are all, in our own ways, hypochondriacs." - Merve Emre, author of The Personality Brokers"I marvelled at this elegant and intellectually capacious book. Unmoored by its elusive subject, Rees innovates an utterly engrossing mode of inquiry that seems forged from the very material of hypochondria itself — radical doubt. And, like all good hypochondriacs, this book is many things at once: a philosophical intrigue, a meticulous catalogue of symptoms, a literature of writerly ailments, and a gripping tale of desire’s shadow. Here are hypochondria’s many indignities, but also its raptures and romance. What emerges from Rees’s ability to dwell in uncertainty is proof of doubt’s generative potential; its questions are insistent and hard-won vital signs. What if we are what we read? What if health is little more than blissful ignorance? What if we can never be sure of just how sick we really are?" - Daisy Lafarge, author of Paul"Hypochondria is a beautifully written, exacting, exquisite piece of literature and an urgent intervention into a deeply necessary conversation that has languished in the shadows for far too long. This book is as clever as it is brave, and it will change and move everyone who reads it. To capture the intricacies of our relationship with illness, both individually and in our collective consciousness, is one of the most difficult things a writer can do - Will has done it perfectly. Everyone must read this book." - Lucia Osborne-Crowley, author of The Lasting Harm"''The position of hypochondria has never been less certain,'' Will Rees writes in this extraordinary and utterly compelling new book. Part personal memoir, and part riveting history of the fateful and absorbing uncertainty that is hypochondria, this book will be an illumination for anyone who has ever wondered if they are ill." - Adam Phillips, author of On Giving Up

Read more less

Book SynopsisNewton’s Notebook is a biography with a difference. It provides a full and detailed account of Sir Isaac Newton’s life and discoveries, but is written, designed and illustrated to look like a personal notebook.By mining the rich sources of Newton’s own journals and books, and incorporating a variety of quotations and illustrations, Newton’s Notebook brings its subject to life more vividly than any ordinary biography. It reveals the man behind the theories and examines Newton’s personal and family life as well as the amazing impact of his ideas and the world’s reaction to them.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE ROYAL SOCIETY TRIVEDI SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE 2024''Fascinating, witty and perspective-shifting . . . I finished it not only better informed about a captivating branch of mathematics, but with an invigorating sense of greater purchase on the world'' OLIVER BURKEMANThomas Bayes was an eighteenth-century Presbyterian minister and amateur mathematician whose obscure life belied the profound impact of his work. Fusing biography, razor-sharp science communication and intellectual history, Everything Is Predictable is a captivating tour of Bayes'' theorem and its impact on modern life. From medical testing to artificial intelligence, Tom Chivers shows how a single compelling idea can have far-reaching consequences.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFew people have changed the world like the Nobel Prize winners. Each of them has a unique story to tell, combining advice and inspiration, challenges and discoveries, eureka moments and failures. A call from Stockholm turned a group of twenty-four academics into Nobel Prize winners. This is their call to the next generations worldwide.Trade Review'Stefano Sandrone's wonderful gift to the readers of this book is an opportunity to spend a few precious private moments with 24 Nobel Prize winners. There are wisdom and valuable advice in each chapter, but it is the insights into each Nobelist as a real person, with real life stories, that makes this book very special.' Magdalena Skipper, Editor-in-Chief of Nature'Nobel Life offers tantalising glimpses into the Nobel Prize winners' works, their ideas and their personalities. Showing the humanity of some and the humanness of all, we see curiosity and creativity, collaboration and competition, selfishness and generosity, graciousness and haughtiness.' Shirley M. Malcom, Head of Education and Human Resources Programs of the American Association for the Advancement of Science'In these touching conversational portraits of Nobel Laureates, the reader is invited to follow their scientific quest and personal life trajectories, often marked by unexpected turns. Stefano Sandrone succeeds in revealing the human side of brilliant scientists who emerge as individuals with their passions and quirks, yet humble and with a sense of social responsibility.' Helga Nowotny, Professor emerita at ETH Zurich and Former President of the European Research Council'No interviews have ever discussed all the facets of the lives of these explorers of unknown territories in science and medicine. Stefano Sandrone has formulated intelligent questions for intelligent people.' Anders Bárány, Professor emeritus at Stockholm University and Former Scientific Secretary to the Nobel Committee for Physics'An interesting collection of interviews of Nobel Prize winners. An insight into their minds. Their struggles. Their findings and science. What they were doing when they got the call. All have one thing is common. They are humble and thankful. A wonderful read to enlighten readers.' Amit V, NetGalley Reader'This would make a superlative choice for library acquisition, as well as for readers who enjoy science writing and biography … Five stars. Well written and interesting with insights into a world most of us will never experience.' Annie Buchanan, Goodreads'The book includes much vivid detail about the human side of science.' Matthew Reisz, Times Higher Education'sometimes funny, occasionally poignant, and always insightful … Highly recommended for all readers.' Z. B. Johnson, Choice ConnectTable of Contents1. The periodic table Roald Hoffmann; 2. Eureka in Disney world Peter Agre; 3. Flying high Richard Ernst; 4. I'll show you what a woman can do Françoise Barré-Sinoussi; 5. Toys' stories Aaron Ciechanover and Edmond Fischer; 6. Clarity Tim Hunt; 7. Mentoring Martin Chalfie, Hamilton Smith and Johann Deisenhofer; 8. A stroke of colour Roger Tsien; 9. Impact factors Randy Schekman; 10. Know thyself Venkatraman Ramakrishnan; 11. Memory and vision Eric Kandel and Torsten Wiesel; 12. Words and people Daniel Kahneman; 13. Christmas and carol Elizabeth Blackburn and Hamilton Smith; 14. Rocket science Kary Mullis; 15. The big bang practice Arno Penzias, Hamilton Smith and David Gross; 16. Houston, we have a solution and many questions John Mather; 17. À la recherche of space and time Brian Schmidt; 18. Leadership and society Roger Myerson; 19. Of kings and cabbages Bob Solow; 20. Foreword to the future; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisNow a major film starring Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy and Kyle Chandler, directed by Oscar-winner Damien Chazelle, First Man by James Hansen offers the only authorized glimpse into the life of America’s most famous astronaut, Neil Armstrong – the man whose “one small step” changed history. In First Man, Hansen explores the life of Neil Armstrong. Based on over 50 hours of interviews with the intensely private Armstrong, who also gave Hansen exclusive access to private documents and family sources, this “magnificent panorama of the second half of the American twentieth century” (Publishers Weekly, Starred Review) is an unparalleled biography of an American icon. When Apollo 11 touched down on the moon’s surface in 1969, the first man on the moon became a legend. Hansen vividly recreates Armstrong's career in flying, from his seventy-eight combat missions as a naval aviator Trade Review'Let it be said at once that his book is an outstanding success. It has been immaculately researched and is packed with detail, but written in a way that will appeal to readers of all kinds...this is an important book, and should be in every scientific library.' -- Sir Patrick Moore * Times Higher Educational Supplement *‘The man was a fine engineer, a good pilot – although there is some dispute about that – patriotic, cool, courageous and hard-working, just the sort of guy you want next to you when the chips are down.' * Sunday Times *'Although he was the first man to set foot on the moon, Neil Armstrong has always been the least public of the Apollo 11 astronauts. He has seldom given interviews, or lent his name to merchandising tat, or haunted the same professional old-boy circuit as his former colleagues... But at 75, he’s finally decided to break his silence - or to have it broken for him by his official biographer, James R.Hansen.’ * Sunday Telegraph *'To understand Armstrong on his own terms is to see a large truth of our time...[Hansen’s] mastery of detailis put to splendid use. The narrative of the moon mission is crisp and dramatic, the science clear. He deftly takes us back into those few days of global fascination with the adventure of the three distant voyagers and the tense uncertainty about how it would turn out...I finished Hansen’s Apollo story with a wholly fresh sense of awe at the magnitude of NASA’s achievement...a compelling and nuanced portrait of the astronaut.' -- James Tobin * Chicago Tribune *'To understand Armstrong on his own terms is to see a large truth of our time...[Hansen’s] mastery of detailis put to splendid use. The narrative of the moon mission is crisp and dramatic, the science clear. He deftly takes us back into those few days of global fascination with the adventure of the three distant voyagers and the tense uncertainty about how it would turn out...I finished Hansen’s Apollo story with a wholly fresh sense of awe at the magnitude of NASA’s achievement...a compelling and nuanced portrait of the astronaut.' -- U.S. Navy Captain William Readdy * Aviation Week & Space Technology *'Most of the astronauts’ books are about the adventure. Jim Hansen’s well researched and documented book is about the adventurer. First Man is a compelling story of a modern-day Columbus which provides the rare opportunity to understand the personal qualities driving explorers. Quiet, complex, and deep, Armstrong, as fuel was running out, was the right man at the right time to take America and the world to the surface of the moon.' -- Eugene F. Kranz, author of Failure Is Not an Option'A powerful, unrelenting biography of a man who stands as a living testimony to everyday grit and determination... A must for astronaut buffs and history readers alike.' * Publishers Weekly *'Ever since Apollo 11’s "one giant leap for mankind" in 1969 the world has wondered who Neil Armstrong really is. Now, at last, Jim Hansen has stripped away the myths and mysteries to bring us face to face with the man himself. This definitive portrait offers many new and fascinating details about Armstrong and his life and about the momentous and unforgettable era of exploration in which he was lucky enough—and talented enough—to play a key role.' -- Andrew Chaikin, author of A Man on the Moon'This impressively documented and engagingly written biography will stand the test of time.' * Library Journal *'Masterfully written...technically accurate, scholarly yet independent and accessible...Mission accomplished and a perfect touchdown.' -- Leonard David * Ad Astra, The Magazine of the National Space Society *'Hansen’s research is staggeringly impressive... A work that has great appeal for anyone interested in why we explore, who we are in this aerospace age, and what it was about the United States that could enable a little kid from Wapakoneta, Ohio, to take that "one small step" at Tranquility Base in the summer of 1969. A must read!' -- Richard P. Hallion, chief historian for the U.S. Air Force'Jim Hansen has captured the essence of Neil Armstrong, not only as the first man on the Moon, but also as an outstanding aviator and astronaut. I was there for Neil’s other major "space step"—he recovered Gemini 8 from the ultimate end game with aggressive action, cool skill and creative judgement seldom performed in any aviation or space endeavor. Just 16 days after the deaths of the Gemini 9 crew, he probably saved the Moon. Jim Hansen has written an exceptional and accurate account of a unique period in aerospace history and the adventures of Neil Armstrong.' -- Dave Scott, Gemini VIII, Apollo 9, Commander, Apollo 15

Read more less

Book SynopsisCharles Ulm and Charles Kingsford Smith were the original pioneers of Australian aviation. Together they succeeded in a number of record-breaking flights that made them instant celebrities in Australia and around the world: the first east-to-west crossing of the Pacific, the first trans-Tasman flight, Australia to New Zealand, the first flight from New Zealand to Australia. Business ventures followed for them, as they set up Australian National Airways in late 1928. Smithy was the face of the airline, happier in the cockpit or in front of an audience than in the boardroom. Ulm on the other hand was in his element as managing director. Ulm had the tenacity and organisational skills, yet Smithy had the charisma and the public acclaim. In 1932, Kingsford Smith received a knighthood for his services to flying, Ulm did not.Business setbacks and dramas followed, as Ulm tried to develop the embryonic Australian airline industry. ANA fought hard against the young Qantas, already an establishment favourite, but a catastrophic crash on the airline's regular route from Sydney to Melbourne and the increasing bite of the Great Depression forced ANA's bankruptcy in 1933. Desperate to drum up publicity for a new airline venture, Ulm's final flight was meant to demonstrate the potential for a regular trans-Pacific passenger service. Somewhere between San Francisco and Hawaii his plane, Stella Australis, disappeared. No trace of the plane or crew were ever found.In the years since his death, attention has focused more and more on Smithy, leaving Ulm neglected and overshadowed. This biography will attempt to rectify that, showing that Ulm was at least Smithy's equal as a flyer, and in many ways his superior as a visionary, as an organiser and as a businessman. His untimely death robbed Australia of a huge talent.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA magnificent, definitive, and indefatigable tribute to an indefatigable man . . . Greene beautifully puts the record straight with a portrait of Wegener as a respected 'cosmic physicist.'—NatureIn this book Mott Greene has ably explained every detail of Wegener’s ideas and research and has created a well-deserved tribute to one of the most creative and energetic scientists of the twentieth century.—MetascienceA remarkably detailed and wonderfully well-written biography of Alfred Wegener . . . Includes insight into what makes a person such as Wegener a genius—what it was about him that led to an ability to create such a novel and correct view of nature. That is the true value of this exceptional book, to be able to feel as though one can literally experience the scientific genius that was Alfred Wegener.—ChoiceMott Greene's magnificent book reveals deep themes and connections to Wegener's many fruitful ideas and extraordinary scientific accomplishments, even as it examines the many distinct dimensions of thought and action that emanated from Wegener's apparently heedless embrace of all manner of risk-taking . . . Anglophone readers, especially, have never had such an opportunity to understand Alfred Wegener.—ScienceDirectThis biography is clearly a labor of love for its author. Greene worked on this book for more than twenty years, conducting archival research, visiting libraries and collections across Europe and in North America, and conducting interviews with key figures, including Wegener’s surviving family members . . . I came away with a renewed appreciation for Wegener as an engaged scientist who refused to let the boundaries of academic disciplines dampen his enthusiasm for scientific endeavor.—AAG Review of BooksMott Greene spent twenty years working on Alfred Wegener, a masterpiece in which he revolutionizes our understanding of Wegener, just as Wegener revolutionized our understanding of the Earth . . . a brilliant and compelling account of the life of one of the most talented, versatile, and remarkable scientists in history.—IsisGreene has created an important work that gives context to one of the most recent paradigm shifts in science . . . Greene tells the story with enough documentation to keep the story grounded in reality, yet uses his prose to maintain interest even after the 'eureka' moment, even after Wegener’s death on the ice.—Science & EducationTable of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgments1. The Boy2. The Student3. The Astronomer4. The Aerologist5. The Polar Meteorologist6. The Arctic Explorer (1)7. The Atmospheric Physicist (1)8. The Atmospheric Physicist (2)9. At a Crossroads10. The Theorist of Continental Drift (1)11. The Theorist of Continental Drift (2)12. The Arctic Explorer (2)13. The Soldier14. The Meteorologist15. The Geophysicist16. From Geophysicist to Climatologist17. The Paleoclimatologist18. The Professor19. Theorist and Arctic Explorer20. The Expedition LeaderEpilogueNotesBibliographical EssayIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE WORLD''S GREATEST TEST PILOT TELLS HIS STORY ''When you read through his life story, it makes James Bond seem like a bit of a slacker''Kirsty Young, Desert Island Discs''The greatest test pilot who ever lived. A true inspiration''Tim Peake, astronaut and former regular British Army Air Corps officer''The stories beggar belief''Guardian''Fascinating reading . . . His amazing life story is quite literally stranger than fiction''Today''s PilotIn 1939, Eric Brown was on a University of Edinburgh exchange course in Germany, and the first he knew of the war was when the Gestapo came to arrest him. They released him, not realising he was a pilot in the RAF volunteer reserve: and the rest is history. Eric Brown joined the Fleet Air Arm and went on to be the greatest test pilot in history, flying more different aircraft types than anyone else.During his lifetime he made a rTrade ReviewThe greatest test pilot who ever lived. A true inspiration -- Tim PeakeWhen you read through his life story, it makes James Bond seem like a bit of a slacker -- Kirsty Young * DESERT ISLAND DISCS *

Read more less

Book SynopsisBy the age of nine, Taylor had mastered the science of rocket propulsion.At eleven, his grandmother''s cancer diagnosis inspired him to seek new ways to produce medical isotopes.And by fourteen, Taylor had built a reactor which produces temperatures hotter than the sun, becoming the youngest person in history to achieve nuclear fusion.How did Taylor manage all this? And how did his parents find the courage to give their son the support and freedom he needed to succeed? Here is an astonishing story of audacity, perseverance and passion -- and a boy whose world seems to have no limits.

Read more less

Book SynopsisProfessor Brian Cox is among the best-known physicists in the world. As presenter of hit television series Human Universe, Wonders of the Solar System and Wonders of the Universe, his affable charm and infectious enthusiasm have brought science to a whole new audience. Born in Lancashire in 1968, Cox was a bright but not brilliant pupil at school. He flourished at university, however, gaining a first-class honours degree and an MPhil in Physics from Manchester University before being awarded his PhD in particle physics in 1998. Alongside his studies, he played keyboards in the band D:Ream, who topped the charts in 1994 with 'Things Can Only Get Better', which was famously used by the Labour Party for its 1997 election campaign. Although an award-winning celebrity TV presenter, Brian Cox remains devoted to scientific research. He is a Royal Society University Research Fellow, an advanced fellow at the University of Manchester, and also works on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland. In 2010 he was awarded the OBE for his services to science. Featuring exclusive interviews and in-depth research, this book delves into the fascinating universe of the man who single-handedly made physics cool.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe story of a working class boy from Leicestershire who started out restoring cars with his father and went on to produce a low volume car that would shake the establishment: the Noble M12.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe remarkable story of a boy raised in the Scottish Highlands who travelled the world, survived epic naval battles, advanced natural and medical science and fulfilled his wildest dreams of adventure and discovery

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe quirky and profound international bestseller - at once a life-affirming memoir on how to live well in a world governed by chaos, and a darkly astonishing scientific biography

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThird printing. First paperback printing. Original copyright date: 2013.Trade Review"Meshing logic problems with the stories of two extraordinary men ... Paul Nahin fashions a tale of innovation and discovery. Alongside a gripping account of how Shannon built on Boole's work, Nahin explores others key to the technological revolution, from Georg Cantor to Alan Turing."--Nature "Engaging... Nahin assumes some rudimentary knowledge but expertly explains concepts such as relay circuits, Turing machines, and quantum computing. Reasoning through the problems and diagrams will give persistent readers genuine aha moments and an understanding of the two revolutionaries who helped to lay the foundation of our digital world."--Scientific American "Part biography, part history, and part a review of basic information theory, this book does an excellent job of fitting these interlocking elements together."--Library Journal "The reader is taken on a journey from the development of some abstract mathematical ideas through a nearly ubiquitous application of those ideas within the modern world with so many embedded digital computers... I enjoyed the discussion of Claude Shannon. In the history of the computer and development of the internet and World Wide Web, his ideas and contributions are too often overlooked. He is one of my heroes and I believe that everyone that reads this book will come to the same conclusion."--Charles Ashbacher, MAA Reviews "Paul J. Nahin really knows how to tell a good story... The Logician and the Engineer is truly a gem."--New York Journal of Books "A short but fairly detailed exploration of the genesis of Boolean logic and Shannon's information theory... [G]ood background reading for anyone studying electronics or computer science."--Christine Evans-Pughe, Engineering & Technology "Although the book is technical, it is always easily understandable for anyone (for those who need it, some basic rules for electrical circuits are collected in a short appendix). It is not only understandable but also pleasantly bantering and at occasions even facetious."--A. Bultheel, European Mathematical Society "Most valuable to this reviewer, and likely to many potential readers, is the closing chapter, aptly titled Beyond Boole and Shannon. Here is provided an introduction to quantum computing and its logic, possibly portending the future of computers, yet unmistakably bearing the footprints of the two early pioneers. It is an unexpected yet fitting conclusion to this thoroughly enjoyable read."--Ronald E. Prather, Mathematical Reviews Clippings "Nahin has had the very good idea of connecting the very different worlds and times of Boole, Shannon, and others to demonstrate that a little Victorian algebra can turn out to be very useful."--SIAM Review "The exposition is clear and does not assume any prior knowledge except elementary mathematics and a few basic facts from physics. I recommend this well-written book to all readers interested in the history of computer science, as well as those who are curious about the fundamental principles of digital computing."--Antonin Slavik, Zentralblatt MATH "[T]his is a useful and often interesting introduction to the life and work of two intellectual giants who are largely unknown to the general public."--Gareth and Mary Jones, London Mathematical Society Newsletter "The problems are varied and indeed intriguing, and the solutions are delightful."--Mathematics Magazine "This book is not light reading. It would be excellent for advanced high school juniors or seniors with a strong interest in computer science as well as mathematics."--Tom Ottinger, Mathematics Teacher "Nahin leavens the math and engineering with humor and an infectious intellectual curiosity, and the parallels between Boole and Shannon are convincingly drawn... [The Logician and the Engineer] will give your brain a workout, but an enjoyable one."--San Francisco Book ReviewTable of ContentsPreface xi 1 What You Need to Know to Read This Book 1 Notes and References 5 2 Introduction 6 Notes and References 14 3 George Boole and Claude Shannon: Two Mini-Biographies 17 *3.1 The Mathematician 17 *3.2 The Electrical Engineer 28 * Notes and References 39 4 Boolean Algebra 43 *4.1 Boole's Early Interest in Symbolic Analysis 43 *4.2 Visualizing Sets 44 *4.3 Boole's Algebra of Sets 45 *4.4 Propositional Calculus 48 *4.5 Some Examples of Boolean Analysis 52 *4.6 Visualizing Boolean Functions 59 * Notes and References 65 5 Logical Switching Circuits 67 *5.1 Digital Technology: Relays versus Electronics 67 *5.2 Switches and the Logical Connectives 68 *5.3 A Classic Switching Design Problem 71 *5.4 The Electromagnetic Relay and the Logical NOT 73 *5.5 The Ideal Diode and the Relay Logical AND and OR 76 *5.6 The Bi-Stable Relay Latch 81 * Notes and References 84 6 Boole, Shannon, and Probability 88 *6.1 A Common Mathematical Interest 88 *6.2 Some Fundamental Probability Concepts 89 *6.3 Boole and Conditional Probability 96 *6.4 Shannon, Conditional Probability, and Relay Reliability 99 *6.5 Majority Logic 106 * Notes and References 110 7 Some Combinatorial Logic Examples 114 *7.1 Channel Capacity, Shannon's Theorem, and Error-Detection Theory 114 *7.2 The Exclusive-OR Gate (XOR) 122 *7.3 Error-Detection Logic 127 *7.4 Error-Correction Theory 128 *7.5 Error-Correction Logic 132 * Notes and References 137 8 Sequential-State Digital Circuits 139 *8.1 Two Sequential-State Problems 139 *8.2 The NOR Latch 142 *8.3 The Clocked RS Flip-Flop 146 *8.4 More Flip-Flops 154 *8.5 A Synchronous, Sequential-State Digital Machine Design Example 158 * Notes and References 160 9 Turing Machines 161 *9.1 The First Modern Computer 162 *9.2 Two Turing Machines 164 *9.3 Numbers We Can't Compute 168 * Notes and References 173 10 Beyond Boole and Shannon 176 *10.1 Computation and Fundamental Physics 176 *10.2 Energy and Information 178 *10.3 Logically Reversible Gates 180 *10.4 Thermodynamics of Logic 184 *10.5 A Peek into the Twilight Zone: Quantum Computers 188 *10.6 Quantum Logic--and Time Travel, Too! 197 Notes and References 205 Epilogue For the Future: The Anti-Amphibological Machine 210 Appendix Fundamental Electric Circuit Concepts 219 Acknowledgments 223 Index 225

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

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 and the British Society for the History of Science Hughes Prize.'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 *A master biographer brings this original, impulsive and politically misguided figure into sharp focus in this rare account of intellect and temperament in action. * 'Top Ten Books of 2020'. Wall Street Journal *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... The best Haldane biography yet. * 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

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of ContentsCalendar of DocumentsList of Editorial HeadnotesList of MapsPrefaceChronology of Thomas A. Edison, January 1888–December 1889Editorial Policy and User's GuideEditorial SymbolsList of Abbreviations–1– January–March 1888 (Docs. 3128–3172)–2– April–June 1888 (Docs. 3173–3219)–3– July–September 1888 (Docs. 3220–3266)–4– October–December 1888 (Docs. 3267–3304)–5– January–March 1889(Docs. 3305–3338)–6– April–June 1889 (Docs. 3339–3372) 594–7– July–September 1889 (Docs. 3373–3419)–8– October–December 1889 (Docs. 3420–3458)Appendix 1. Edison's Autobiographical NotesAppendix 2. Edison's Draft List of Inventions for Henry VillardAppendix 3. List of Edison's "Dead Experiments for 1888"Appendix 4. Laboratory Experimental Staff, 1888–1889Appendix 5. Edison's U.S. Patent Applications, 1888–1889BibliographyCreditsIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat makes a quark? How many quarks make a proton? How many protons make an oxygen atom? How many oxygen atoms make a carbon dioxide molecule? How many carbon atoms make you? In this accessible little book, packed with helpful diagrams and interesting information, science writer Matt Tweed takes us on a whirlwind tour into the tiny realms, the stuff we are all made of, the building blocks of the material world, the elements of chemisty.Trade ReviewWooden Books are: "Fascinating" FINANCIAL TIMES. "Beautiful" LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS. "Rich and Artful" THE LANCET. "Genuinely mind-expanding" FORTEAN TIMES. "Excellent" NEW SCIENTIST. "Stunning" NEW YORK TIMES. Small books, big ideas.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlan Turing is regarded as one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century. But who was Turing, and what did he achieve during his tragically short life of 41 years? Best known as the genius who broke Germany''s most secret codes during the war of 1939-45, Turing was also the father of the modern computer. Today, all who ''click-to-open'' are familiar with the impact of Turing''s ideas. Here, B. Jack Copeland provides an account of Turing''s life and work, exploring the key elements of his life-story in tandem with his leading ideas and contributions. The book highlights Turing''s contributions to computing and to computer science, including Artificial Intelligence and Artificial Life, and the emphasis throughout is on the relevance of his work to modern developments. The story of his contributions to codebreaking during the Second World War is set in the context of his thinking about machines, as is the account of his work in the foundations of mathematics.Trade ReviewThis book is highly entertaining and informative * Zentralblatt Math, Teodora-Liliana Radulescu *Fans drawn to the Turing biopic ... should move on to this lively biography of the scientific genius who cracked Enigma * Independent *[T]hanks to Professor Copelands book we can walk with Alan Turing through his finest hours. * Jim Young, Glycosmedia *This book is entertaining and informative ... Highly recommended. * S.M. Frey, CHOICE *Table of Contents1. Click to Open ; 2. Turing's Universal Machine ; 3. Sinking Hilbert ; 4. The Intuitive Mathematician ; 5. Breaking Enigma ; 6. Tunny - Hitler's BlackBerry ; 7. The Colossus of Computers ; 8. ACE- A Month's Work in a Minute ; 9. The Manchester "Electronic Brain" ; 10. Artificial Intelligence ; 11. The Imitation Game ; 12. Educating Machinery ; 13. Computer Chess ; 14. Artificial Life ; 15. Epilogue

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn 1983 Gerry Kennedy set off on a tour through Russia, China, Japan and the USA to visit others involved in the global anti-war movement. Only dimly aware of his Victorian ancestors: George Boole, forefather of the digital revolution and James Hinton, eccentric philosopher and advocate of polygamy, he had directly followed in the footsteps of two dynasties of radical thinkers and doers.Their notable achievements, in which the women were particularly prominent, involved many spheres. Boole's wife, Mary Everest, niece of George Everest, surveyor of the eponymous mountain, was an early advocate of hands-on education. Of the five talented Boole daughters, Ethel Voynich, wife of the discoverer of the enigmatic, still unexplained Voynich Manuscript, campaigned with Russian anarchists to overthrow the Tsar. Her 1897 novel The Gadfly, filmed later with music by Shostakovich, sold in millions behind the Iron Curtain. She was rumoured to have had an affair with the notorious 'Ace of Spies', Sidney Reilly. One of Ethel's sisters married Charles Howard Hinton: a leading exponent of the esoteric realm of the fourth dimension and inventor of the gunpowder baseball-pitcher.Of their descendants, Carmelita Hinton also pioneered progressive education in the USA at her school in Putney, Vermont. Her children dedicated their lives to Mao's China. Appalled by the dropping on Japan of the atomic bomb that she had helped design, Joan Hinton defected to China and actively engaged in the Cultural Revolution. William Hinton wrote the influential documentary Fanshen based on his experience in 1948 of revolutionary change in a Shanxi village. Other members of the clan became renowned in their fields of physics, entomology and botany. Their combined legacy of independent and constructive thinking is perhaps typified by the invention of the Jungle Gym: the climbing-frame now used by children the world over. In The Booles and the Hintons the author embarks on a quest to reveal the stories behind their remarkable lives.Table of ContentsContentsAcknowledgements viiiForeword ixWho's Who xii 1 GRAVY OVER A TABLECLOTH 1The author's own background in West London. 'Discovery' of the Booles, brief outline of the Boole/Hinton major characters.2 THE UGLY DUCKLING 12The Voynich Manuscript in brief: its history and research to date.3 BRINGING STARRY WISDOM DOWN 29The author's visit to Lincoln. George Boole's life and background.4 THE MISSUS 59Mary Everest Boole: her life with George Boole and her own views on life and education.5 TADPOLES INTO FROGS 83The five Boole daughters' early lives.6 THE WIZARD 89James Hinton: his life and philosophy.7 TRAPDOORS AND VELVETEEN 104Tsarist Russia in the late nineteenth century. Russian anarchists: Kropotkin and Stepniak. Charlotte Wilson and Wyldes Farm.Radical politics in England in the 1880s.8 CITIZENS' DIPLOMACY 119The author's peace politics, Moscow dissidents and journey on the Trans-Siberian railway, 1983. Ethel Boole's stay in St Petersburg, 1887-89.9 ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN 141James Hinton's comeuppance. Olive Schreiner and Havelock Ellis. Caroline Haddon. The Men and Women's Club.10 THE RIFF-RAFF OF RASCALDOM 153The Society of Friends of Russian Freedom. Russian anarchists and related novels of the period. London arrival of Wilfrid Voynich.11 COMMUNING WITH SPACE 170Charles Howard Hinton and the fourth dimension. His and Mary Ellen Boole's exile to Japan and the USA in 1887. Hinton'swritings and influence in Europe. Peter Ouspensky in Russia.12 THE CITADEL 197The author's visit to Warsaw. Proletariat: early Polish socialists. History of Wilfrid's escape from Siberia.13 DEAD AS MUTTON? 213Ethel Voynich's novel The Gadfly. Wilfrid Voynich establishes his book trade. Jack Raymond, another novel by Ethel.14 THE ENGLISH AUNTS 227The five Boole sisters: Mary Ellen, Margaret, Alice, Lucy and Ethel's later lives. Ethel and Ivor Gurney.15 BRINGING HOME THE BACON 247The Voynich Manuscript again. Ethel and Wilfrid in the USA.16 THE BIGGLES OF COMMUNISM 259Ethel in New York; her last novel. Ethel 're-discovered'. Scandal with the spy, Sidney Reilly.17 OLIVE AND OVOD 277The author's return to Russia via Lithuania searching for The Gadfly in Moscow and St Petersburg.18 A CQR LIFE 302The life of Cambridge scientist, Sir Geoffrey Taylor, grandson of George Boole.19 THE HINTON GENUS 314Hinton descendants in Mexico in the mining industry and their plant collecting. The life of Howard Everest Hinton, entomologist.20 UNCOLLAPSIBLE HINTONS 337The Byrdcliffe arts community, Woodstock USA. Carmelita Hinton and the setting up of Putney School, Vermont USA.21 THE GADGET 356The Manhattan Project and Joan Hinton. Hiroshima.22 PEKING JOAN 374Joan Hinton and Sid Engst in Mongolia, Si'an and Beijing during the Cultural Revolution.23 FANSHEN 398The life of Bill Hinton and the rural revolution in China. Author's visit to Long Bow village.24 THE VERMONTER 417The author returns to the USA to visit Putney School.Afterword 422Notes 427Illustration Credits 453Index 456

Read more less

Book SynopsisWith his “deeply informed and compassionate book…Dr. Epstein tells us that it is a ‘moral imperative’ [for doctors] to do right by their patients” (New York Journal of Books).The first book for the general public about the importance of mindfulness in medical practice, Attending is a groundbreaking, intimate exploration of how doctors approach their work with patients. From his early days as a Harvard Medical School student, Epstein saw what made good doctors great—more accurate diagnoses, fewer errors, and stronger connections with their patients. This made a lasting impression on him and set the stage for his life’s work—identifying the qualities and habits that distinguish master clinicians from those who are merely competent. The secret, he learned, was mindfulness. Dr. Epstein “shows how taking time to pay attention to patients can lead to better outcomes on both sides of the stethoscope&rdTrade Review“This book is phenomenal, and will be phenomenally useful to physicians and to all of us who are desperately in need of true health care and caring. It is hard for me to imagine a doctor reading it and not immediately recognizing, taking to heart, and implementing its messages in any number of different ways, being so commonsensical, clear, innately transformative, and healing. And it is equally hard for me to imagine that it will not energize all of us, when we find ourselves in the role of ‘the patient,’ to demand greater mindfulness from our care-givers across the board, and know what we mean by that.”—Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Full Catastrophe Living and Mindfulness for Beginners “As a student admissions committee member reviewing Ron Epstein's application to medical school, I knew he was special, a view surpassed by his visionary achievements illuminating the important nature of how physicians care for their patients, and how they can best care for themselves. Attending is the book every medical caregiver needs to strengthen their minds and harness their resilience to care for others—and every patient needs to understand how doctors think. This is a work of heart and head, a beautiful synthesis of inner wisdom and hard earned scientific empirical findings that point the way to proven methods for improving the lives of both giver and receiver of medical care. With clear explanations, captivating stories, and well-described challenges and approaches to their solutions, this book is exactly what the field of medicine needs.”—Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., author of Mind and The Mindful Brain and Executive Director, Mindsight Institute Founding Co-Director, UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center “I recommend Attending for anyone interested in health. In a most accessible way, Epstein makes a very convincing case for how doctors and patients would prosper from doctors becoming more mindful.”—Ellen Langer, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, author of Mindfulness and Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility"This powerful and inspiring book opens the pathway to bringing care, wisdom, and mindfulness into practice of medicine. A must-read for all clinicians and for lay readers as well."--Joan Halifax, PhD, author of Being With Dying"Ronald Epstein cuts through the cacophony and illuminates the heart of the medical enterprise—the attentive and compassionate connection between doctor and patient. In a world awash with medical error, patient dissatisfaction, and burned-out doctors, this attention to mindfulness is much needed balm. Attending is at once penetrating, counterintuitive, and profoundly humbling."--Danielle Ofri, MD, PhD, author of What Patients Say, What Doctors Hear"Attending got my attention from the opening paragraphs. Beautiful, compelling, and wise stories of how medicine and care-taking can be, (should be) when approached with common sense, a fierce sense of what is best for both the doctor and patient, and a compassionate heart. A timely and important book!"--Marc Lesser, CEO of Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (SIYLI) and author of Know Yourself, Forget Yourself and LESS: Accomplishing More By Doing Less"Ronald Epstein truthfully and powerfully describes the challenging and changing worlds of both the physician and and the patient. Attending will encourage the recognition that mindfulness and compassion training contribute to effective medicine. The book clearly demonstrates how these contemplative practices can help enrich the lives of everyone involved in health care."--Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Happiness"Epstein presents for general readers a concise guide to his view of what mindfulness is, its value, and how it is a skill that anyone can work to acquire."--Library Journal"A deeply informed and compassionate book...[Dr. Epstein] tells us that it is a 'moral imperative' to do right by our patients. And he shows why and how."--Lloyd Sederer, New York Journal of Books"Vivid... Epstein’s candor and courage...that makes the book so compelling."--Pharos

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom small steps to giant leaps, A Galaxy of Her Own tells fifty stories of inspirational women who have been fundamental to the story of humans in space, from scientists to astronauts to some surprising roles in between.From Ada Lovelace in the nineteenth century, to the women behind the Apollo missions, from the astronauts breaking records on the International Space Station to those blazing the way in the race to get to Mars, A Galaxy of Her Own reveals extraordinary stories, champions unsung heroes and celebrates remarkable achievements from around the world.Written by Libby Jackson, a leading UK expert in human space flight, and illustrated with bold and beautiful artwork from the students of London College of Communication, this is a book to delight and inspire trailblazers of all ages.Packed full of both amazing female role models and mind-blowing secrets of space travel, A Galaxy of Her Own is guaranteed to make any reader reach for the stars.Trade Reviewbeautifully illustrated … its specific focus on space will be very encouraging to young girls interested in science. * Easy Parenting magazine *A fab book, great for Christmas, great for any time! -- Steve Wright * BBC Radio 2 *Gorgeous -- Emma Gannon, blogger, author and presenter of CTRL ALT DELETE podcastAn important and beautiful book … you will want to own this -- Dallas Campbell, author and TV presenterCelebrates the fact that space is an equal opportunities environment, that women can and should be involved in the huge array of opportunities in the world of space exploration * Radio 4 Today *Will suitably inspire trailblazers of all ages * Irish News *A wonderful read * BBC World News *Brilliantly readable -- Radcliffe & Maconie * BBC 6 Music *Needs to be on every space-lover’s Christmas list -- Hannah Beckerman, journalist and authorA wonderful book! Beautifully written and put together -- Ahrani Logan, journalist, producer and CEOReveals extraordinary stories, champions unsung heroes and celebrates remarkable achievements from around the world * RTE Guide *

Read more less

Book SynopsisJames Clerk Maxwell published the Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism in 1873. At his death, six years later, his theory of the electromagnetic field was neither well understood nor widely accepted. By the mid-1890s, however, it was regarded as one...Trade ReviewGeorge Francis Fitzgerald's indirect influence was immense, and his reputation grows with every retelling of his period by the historians of science, especially in... The Maxwellians, by Bruce Hunt.... He was the acknowledged leader of an international team—what we would today call an invisible college—calling themselves the Maxwellians—the subject of Hunt's splendid book. -- D. Weaire, Trinity College, Dublin * Europhysics News *The entire story is fascinating and often surprising. It deserves a wide audience. This will be facilitated by the fact that the book is in English, not in mathematics; a few equations appear, but most are in plain prose. * American Scientist *The Maxwellians is a remarkable achievement.... Hunt combines the highest level of professional historical scholarship with a narrative that is lively and compelling throughout. * Nature *This excellent book is the story of three men whose lives were shaped and whose friendship was made through the study of one book, James Clerk Maxwell's Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism. Behind this story is another of how the premature death of one man, Maxwell, caused an intellectual dislocation in science propagating over many years. * Science *Told with historical sensitivity and analytical skill, Hunt's story demolishes many of the long-accepted myths about the history of electromagnetism after Maxwell.... Hunt provides a readable account, written in terms accessible to anyone with a basic knowledge of physics. * Times Higher Education Supplement *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn THE NURSES, journalist Alexandra Robbins peers behind the staff only door to write a lively, fast paced story. Robbins followed real like nurses in four hospitals and interviewed hundreds of others in a captivating book filled with joy and violence, miracles and heartbreak, dark humour and narrow victories, gripping drama and unsung heroism.

Read more less

Book SynopsisUnique biography of Charles Darwin in the form of a personal notebookTrade ReviewNever having ploughed through 'The Origin of the Species' this beautifully compiled edition with sketches and illustrations is a delightful way of learning more about the genius. -- Janet Suzman

Read more less

Book SynopsisI, WOZ offers readers a unique glimpse into the offbeat and brilliant but ethical mind that conceived the Macintosh. After 25 years avoiding the public eye, Steve Wozniak reveals the full story of the Apple computer, from its conception to his views on the iconic cult status it has achieved today. In June 1975 Steve''s curiosity and determination inspired him to build a computer, the first Apple. Six months later, he sold the machine, and for the self-professed ''engineer''s engineer'', success was imminent. But this story is full of life lessons, critical decisions, huge triumphs and big mistakes. Steve speaks also of his childhood, phone hacking pranks, working at Hewlett-Packard, the life-changing plane crash and teaching.Trade Review'Fascinating' * The Times *'A compelling, first-hand account' * Daily Telegraph *'Full of detail and charm' * The Times *'[An] oddly endearing autobiography... written in a cheery, artless style' * FT magazine *'A small triumph' * Sunday Times *'An honest but quirky biography' * City A.M. *'I, WOZ is essential reading, not just because of the great prose or because it makes revelations...it's real value lies in the reflections of the man who sparked the computer revolution...I, WOZ offers lessons for the next generation: believe in yourself, make do, be honest and work alone. He might have added: "be generous" - it's the way he's led his life' * Sydney Morning Herald *'Wozniak... helped to kick-start the computer revolution. His account of his early geekdom and how all his skills came together to conceive the Apple I and Apple II computers is in many ways the highlight of the book' * Sunday Express *'A valuable book' * Sunday Times *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of Contents 1: Perceptive pioneers 1: Aristotle 2: Greek greats 1: Pythagoras 2: Empedocles 3: Democritus 4: Euclid 5: Hypatia 4: Archimedes 5: Hippocrates 6: Zhang Heng 7: Claudius Galen 8: Al-Khwarizmi 9: Avicenna 10: Averroes 11: Fibonacci 12: Francis Bacon 2: Brilliant biologists 1: Hildegard of Bingen 2: Mary Anning 3: Seeing things 1: Alhazen 2: Roger Bacon 3: Willebrord Snell 4: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 5: Patricia Bath 4: Robert Hooke 5: Carl Linnaeus 6: Charles Darwin 7: Gregor Mendel 8: Nettie Stevens 9: Thomas Hunt Morgan 10: Alexander Fleming 11: Franklin, Crick, and Watson 12: Inge Lehmann 13: Live James Lovelock 14: Charles David Keeling 15: Medical masterminds 1: Edward Jenner 2: Jonas Salk 3: Paul Ehrlich 4: Françoise Barré-Sinoussi 5: Joshua Lederberg 3: Clever chemists 1: Robert Boyle 2: Joseph Black 3: Joseph Priestly 4: Alessandro Volta 6: Michael Faraday 7: Louis Pasteur 8: Dmitri Mendeleev 9: Inventive chemists 1: Charles Goodyear 2: Leo Baekeland 3: Percy Julian 4: Stephanie Kwolek 5: George William Gray 10: The Curies 11: Alice Ball 12: Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin 13: Barbara McClintock 4: Phenomenal physicists 1: Leonardo da Vinci 2: Nicolaus Copernicus 3: Galileo Galilei 4: Johannes Kepler 5: Christiaan Huygens 6: Edmond Halley 7: Henriette Swan Leavitt 8: Isaac Newton 9: James Clerk Maxwell 10: Ernest Rutherford 11: Albert Einstein 12: J Robert Oppenheimer 13: Penzias and Wilson 14: Quantum physicists 1: James Chadwick 2: Werner Heisenberg 3: Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar 4: Richard Feynman 5: Peter Higgs 15: Edwin Hubble 16: Vera Rubin 17: Stephen Hawking 5: Incredible inventors 1: James Watt 2: Rudolf Diesel 3: Computing creatives 1: Ada Lovelace 2: Grace Murray Hopper 3: John von Neumann 4: Anne Easley 5: Tim Berners-Lee 4: Wilhelm Rontgen 5: C V Raman 6: Nikola Tesla 7: Joseph Lister 8: Alan Turing 9: Alfred Nobel 10: Ali Javan 11: Rachel Carson 12: Communicators 1: David Attenborough 2: Carl Sagan 3: Dava Sobel 3: Bill Nye 4: Neil DeGrasse Tyson 6: Let’s applaud… 7: Glossary 8: Index 9: Acknowledgments

Read more less

Book SynopsisJohn Burdon Sanderson Haldane F.R.S. (18921964) was one of the leading scientists of the twentieth century, renowned for helping, through statistical wizardry, to reconcile Darwin's theory of natural selection with Mendel's discovery of genes. The product of a distinguished family of scientists and public figures, JBS trained and influenced a swathe of students and colleagues at Oxford, Cambridge, and University College London, many of whom, such as the evolutionary theorist John Maynard Smith, went on to distinction in their own right. As a widely known left-wing public intellectual, Haldane gained fame as a popularizer of science and commentator on public affairs, broadcasting often on the BBC and publishing extensively in newspapers and magazines. His collections of popular scientific essays influenced a generation of upcoming scientists and remain in print today. On his death in 1964, he was accorded the rare tribute of a televised self-obituary on the BBC. Celebrated for his ability to connect seemingly disparate subjects, during the Second World War Haldane was extensively involved in scientific research to aid the British war effort. Using evidence gathered from VENONA Signals Intelligence intercepts, MI5 files, and the Haldane papers, this book reveals that Haldane was also a Soviet spya member of the X Group, an espionage ring that was run out of the Soviet Embassy in London. His interlocking associations with other spies, such as Ivor Montagu and Hans Kahle; his role as a hardline Stalinist propagandist through the onset of the Cold War; his betrayal of his colleague and friend, the Soviet geneticist Nikolai Vavilov; his long-standing support for the charlatan Soviet scientist Trofim D. Lysenko; and his concealed stalemate with the Communist Party of Great Britain once his ability to finesse Lysenko was extinguished, are unraveled here for the first time.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn exhilarating and uncensored account of the maverick tech titan’s wild life, a breakneck journey from Silicon Valley to his sudden, mysterious death in a Barcelona prison.“This is the only possible book that could have been written about John McAfee.” —Stephen L. Miller, Washington Examiner “John McAfee is an American original—bold, brilliant, unpredictable. Characters like him came from a different era—not the woke, soy boy, non-confrontational culture of modern high tech. You meet McAfee head on in No Domain—in his raw energy and spit-in-your-eye cussedness. Buy this book, read this book, and understand—could anything, even John McAfee, kill John McAfee?” —Stephen K. Bannon, White House Chief Strategist, Host: War Room Delete everything you think you know about tech pioneer John McAfee, whose antivirus software operates on millions of computers around the world. Uninstall any impressions you have of the man depicted in the news, the man in disguise and on the run in Central America, even the man who reinvented himself as the Libertarian Party’s candidate in the 2016 presidential election. Move these images to your brain’s trash file. The real John McAfee is far more complex. Drawn from hours of conversations between Mark Eglinton and John McAfee in 2019—while he was hiding in an undisclosed location—No Domain: The John McAfee Tapes provides startling insight into the extraordinary life of one of America’s genuine renegades. McAfee shares his life story like it’s his last will and testament, providing revelatory details on the abusive father who shot himself when John was a young boy; the life-changing LSD overdose in St Louis, during which he was nearly convinced by voices in his head to try to kill his first wife and daughter; the unexpected government clearance that led to him working on CIA dark programs; the combined affinity for mathematics and hallucinogens that informed the hedonistic nature of his software company in Silicon Valley; the attempt to find a quiet life in Belize only to become a pariah in the eyes of the local militia, from whom he’d later flee, having been framed for the murder of his neighbor; and the subsequent years on the run in the US, evading a cast of pursuers, including the Sinaloa Cartel, while burying bags of money and valuables in marked locations around the Southwest, before fleeing the country on his yacht. John McAfee has lived a life that defies description. This larger-than-life biography documents it all.Trade Review“This is the only possible book that could have been written about John McAfee. An autobiography, while interesting, would reveal no real personal information and would likely be more grand half-fictions meant to entertain the room...With Eglinton respectfully pressing back and at times very skeptical on what is true or not true, he puts McAfee in the chair and under the spotlight. It is an easy read about an incredibly complex character, and one we might never see again in this world...” -- Stephen L. Miller, Washington Examiner

Read more less