Popular science Books

Book Synopsis''An original, provocative and fascinating new theory by one of the world''s leading neuroscientists about why the mind wanders - and when and why it''s good for you'' Daniel Gilbert''A gentle and humane book that should be read by everyone interested in the human mind and the human brain'' Andy ClarkOur brains are noisy. Certain regions are always grinding away at involuntary activities like daydreaming, worrying about the future and self-chatter, taking up to forty-seven percent of our waking time. This is mindwandering and while it can tug your attention away from the present and contribute to anxiety, cognitive neuroscientist Moshe Bar reveals that there is a method behind this apparent madness. Mindwandering is the first popular book to explore the multi-faceted phenomenon of our wandering minds and the cutting-edge new research behind it. Bar combines his decades of research to explain the benefits and the possible cost of mindwandering wTrade ReviewAn original, provocative, and fascinating new theory by one of the world’s leading neuroscientists about why the mind wanders – and how we can change its trajectory to make ourselves happier and more creative -- Daniel Gilbert, Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and bestselling author of STUMBLING ON HAPPINESSBrains constantly balance the two states of tracing known paths and setting off on new adventures. Bar's revelatory, pioneering studies on this are finally available for everyone to enjoy, so we can optimally direct our states of mind to better align with the moment. A fascinating read that will bring your mind back home -- David Eagleman, New York Times bestselling author of INCOGNITO and LIVEWIREDMindwandering is the best thing that can happen to anyone. What is it? Why is it good? Let Moshe Bar take you by the hand and show you the exciting ways it liberates us from the tedium of the known world into the world of possibilities’ -- Michael S. Gazzaniga, Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of THE CONSCIOUSNESS INSTINCTHighly accessible and entertaining, alternately personal and analytic, this lovely and stimulating book will make you appreciate your mind, and Bar’s -- Susanna Siegel, Edgar Pierce Professor of Philosophy, Harvard UniversityIn this highly original, accessible, erudite, engaging and informative book, a distinguished neuroscientist highlights the role of mindwandering in solving problems, inducing happiness, and in teaching us to "bring the right mind to the right time" -- Nancy Etcoff, psychologist at Harvard University and author of SURVIVAL OF THE PRETTIESTMindwandering evinces the intimate relationship between curiosity and creativity, mindwandering and mindfulness, agency and association, sentience and selfhood. It does so using a compelling mixture of personal narratives and high-end cognitive (and clinical) neuroscience . . . An addictive and eclectic read, crafted with a gentle and telling humour -- Karl J. Friston, Scientific Director at the Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging and Professor at University College LondonIn this important, entertaining and instructive treatment, Moshe Bar takes us on a journey through contemporary neuroscience to show when, why, and exactly how a wandering mind can be good for us. Along the way, we learn why we should meditate, how to profit from imagined experiences and how we can make the most of our limited mental resources. A gentle and humane book that should be read by everyone interested in the human mind and the human brain -- Andy Clark, Professor of Cognitive Philosophy, University of Sussex, and author of SURFING UNCERTAINTY

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Book SynopsisIn this book, Johnny Ball tells one of the most important stories in world history the story of mathematics. By introducing us to the major characters and leading us through many historical twists and turns, Johnny slowly unravels the tale of how humanity built up a knowledge and understanding of shapes, numbers and patterns from ancient times, a story that leads directly to the technological wonderland we live in today. As Galileo said, Everything in the universe is written in the language of mathematics', and Wonders Beyond Numbers is your guide to this language. Mathematics is only one part of this rich and varied tale; we meet many fascinating personalities along the way, such as a mathematician who everyone has heard of but who may not have existed; a Greek philosopher who made so many mistakes that many wanted his books destroyed; a mathematical artist who built the largest masonry dome on earth, which builders had previously declared impossible; a world-renowned pTrade ReviewThe great strength of this book is probably its wide coverage of practical applications of mathematics, especially in engineering and architecture. * The Mathematical Gazette *Johnny Ball's trademark enthusiasm for mathematics bubbles off every page. Clear, simple, readable, and informative – just as I expected. It's a winner! -- Ian Stewart, author of Significant FiguresI became an instant Johnny Ball fan when his TV series Think of a Number first aired in the UK, and I saw how he engaged and delighted my two young daughters in a way I, their maths professor dad, could not. With this new book, his passion for, and sheer enjoyment of, mathematics will surely entice yet more generations to the subject we both love. -- Keith Devlin, Stanford University mathematician, award-winning author and the 'Math Guy' on America's radio.I always found maths intriguing and baffling in equal measure - and the latter triumphed. If only I'd had Wonders Beyond Numbers when growing up. But I now have it and it is a re-awaking into a world of delight and wonder. It is a wonderful book. -- Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of BuckinghamTable of ContentsPreface: Mathematics means everything to me... Wow Factor Mathematical Index Explained Introduction: Russian Sums in an English Pub, Circa 1946 Chapter 1: The Most Ancient Mathematical Legend Chapter 2: The First Two Great Mathematicians Chapter 3: The Great Age of Grecian Geeks Chapter 4: Archimedes – the Greatest Greek of Them All Chapter 5: The Glory That Was Alexandria Chapter 6: Total Eclipse of the Greeks Chapter 7: Maths Origins, Far and Wide Chapter 8: Mathematics Was Never a Religion Chapter 9: Discovering the Unknown World Chapter 10: The Huge Awakening and a New Age of Learning Chapter 11: The New Age of Mathematical Discovery Chapter 12: How to Calculate Anything and Everything Chapter 13: A Mathematician With Gravitas Chapter 14: The Simple Mathematics That Underpins Science Chapter 15: The Many Tentacles of Mathematics Wow Factor Mathematical Index Bibliography Image credits Index

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Book SynopsisThe full story of how our relationship with light shapes our health, productivity and mood. 'A sparkling and illuminating study, one of those rare books that could genuinely improve your life' Sunday Times 'Life changing' Daily Mail 'Fascinating and readable ... Geddes's lovely book will fill you with longing!' The Times Since the dawn of time, humans have worshipped the sun. And with good reason. Our biology is set up to work in partnership with it. From our sleep cycles to our immune systems and our mental health, access to sunlight is crucial for living a happy and fulfilling life. New research suggests that our sun exposure over a lifetime - even before we were born - may shape our risk of developing a range of different illnesses, from depression to diabetes. Bursting with cutting-edge science and eye-opening advice, Chasing the Sun explores the extraordinary significance of sunlight, from ancient solstice celebrations to modern sleep labs, and from the unexpected health benefits of sun exposure to what the Amish know about sleep that the rest of us don't. As more of us move into light-polluted cities, spending our days in dim offices and our evenings watching brightly lit screens, we are in danger of losing something vital: our connection to the star that gave us life. It's a loss that could have far-reaching consequences that we're only just beginning to grasp.Trade ReviewLife-changing * Daily Mail *Readable and frequently fascinating ... Geddes's lovely book will fill you with longing for bright summer days, blue skies and a baking hot sun dispensing vitamin D and happiness to all who bask in its glow. Roll on, summer! -- James Marriott * The Times *A fascinating and deeply researched study into the surprising importance of sunlight for our health and wellbeing. Geddes will convince even the most committed sofa sloths to step outside into the sun. -- Gaia VinceWhat a BRILLIANT book! The antidote to anecdote, a great survey of current evidence. Just what the midwife ordered! -- Professor Alice RobertsThis sparkling study explains how sunlight is vital to our physical and mental health: a book that could genuinely improve your life. * Sunday Times *Illuminating -- Sam Kean * The Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisIs science the only path to knowledge?In this sparkling and provocative book, Jonah Lehrer explains that when it comes to understanding the brain, art got there first. Taking a group of celebrated writers, painters and composers, Lehrer shows us how artists have discovered truths about the human mind - real, tangible truths - that science is only now rediscovering. We learn, for example, how Proust first revealed the fallibility of memory; how George Eliot understood the brain''s malleability; how the French chef Escoffier intuited umami (the fifth taste); how Cézanne worked out the subtleties of vision; and how Virginia Woolf pierced the mysteries of consciousness. It''s a riveting tale of art trumping science again and again.Trade ReviewIf all science books were as successful in bridging the divide between art and science as this one is, there would no longer be a divide to bridge. -- Christopher Potter * * Sunday Times * *In this amazing first book [Lehrer] bridges 'the two cultures' with ease and grace. His clear and vivid writing - incisive and thoughtful, yet sensitive and modest - is a special pleasure. * * Oliver Sacks * *Still only in his mid-twenties, Lehrer is a dazzlingly clever young man whose writing bears witness to both the clarity of his scientific training and the humanity of his literary studies. The Whitmanesque electricity of all the thought and heart he has put into this book fizzes from each sentence. * * Telegraph Review * *There is more content here than in many books three times as long . . . I've heard it said that we live in a golden age as far as science writing is concerned. I've no idea, but I do know a golden book when one bumps into me, and this is one. * * Irish Times * *A slim, brainy book about the brain, modernist art, and literature . . . Lehrer writes skillfully and coherently about both art and science - no small feat. * * Entertainment Weekly * *Lehrer is gifted with the ability to find philosophy in science and stray bits of science buried amid the rubble of literary history. He is less critic than armchair philosopher, searching for meaning anywhere great thinkers have left their footprints. * * San Francisco Chronicle * *A precocious and engaging book that tries to mend the century-old tear between literary and scientific cultures . . . Lehrer is smart, and there are some fun moments in these pages. * * New York Times Book Review * *In this fascinating and unusual book, Lehrer makes an insightful case for Art triumphing over Science . . . Lehrer takes the modern-day reader into the archives of literary history, pondering over the musings of poets, writers, artists and composers in order to prove his theory. * * The Skinny * *The self-help book to end all self-help books . . . A sort of one-man third culture, healing the rift between the sciences and humanities by communicating and contrasting their values in a way that renders them comprehensible to partisans of either camp . . . Not everything that is true can be proved. Lehrer's quotation from Escoffier is well chosen: "No theory, no formula, and no recipe can take the place of experience." * * Guardian * *In 1959, C P Snow asserted that there were two cultures in the educated world, the scientific and the artistic, separated by "mutual incomprehension". Books such as Lehrer's show that the border between the two - though still real - is wearing amazingly thin. * * Scotsman * *Unlike many popularisers of science, Lehrer finds equal and complementary value in our available ways of considering the universe. * * Financial Times * *Perceptive and skilfully persuasive. * * Times * *Jonah Lehrer's new book confirms what his fans have known all along - that he knows more about science than a lot of scientists and more about writing than a lot of writers. -- Malcolm Gladwell, author of THE TIPPING POINT and OUTLIERS

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Book SynopsisGames are played everywhere: from economics and online auctions to social interactions, and game theory is about how to play such games in a rational way, and how to maximize their outcomes. This VSI reveals, without mathematical equations, the insights the theory can bring to everything from how to play poker optimally to the sex ratio among bees.Table of ContentsPreface ; 1. The Name of the Game ; 2. Chance ; 3. Time ; 4. Convention ; 5. Reciprocity ; 6. Information ; 7. Auctions ; 8. Biology ; 9. Bargaining and Coalitions ; 10. Puzzles and Paradoxes

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Book Synopsis ‘Probably the most readable, exciting and authoritative writer on science we have. A new Lawrence Krauss book always goes to the top of the curious mind’s wish list.’ Stephen Fry “I loved the fight scenes and the sex scenes were excellent.” (Eric Idle) 'In the span of a century, physics progressed from skepticism that atoms were real to equations so precise we can predict properties of subatomic particles to the tenth decimal place. Lawrence Krauss rightly places this achievement among the greatest of all stories, and his book—at once engaging, poetic and scholarly—tells the story with a scientist’s penetrating insight and a writer’s masterly craft.' (Brian Greene, author of The Elegant Universe, and Director, Center for Theoretical Physics, Columbia University) 'Unlike some very clever scientists, Lawrence Krauss is not content to bask on the Mount Olympus of modTrade Review“I loved the fight scenes and the sex scenes were excellent.” -- Eric Idle'In the span of a century, physics progressed from skepticism that atoms were real to equations so precise we can predict properties of subatomic particles to the tenth decimal place. Lawrence Krauss rightly places this achievement among the greatest of all stories, and his book—at once engaging, poetic and scholarly—tells the story with a scientist’s penetrating insight and a writer’s masterly craft.' -- Brian Greene, author of The Elegant Universe, and Director, Center for Theoretical Physics, Columbia University"Unlike some very clever scientists, Lawrence Krauss is not content to bask on the Mount Olympus of modern physics. A great educator as well as a great physicist, he wants to pull others up the rarefied heights to join him. But unlike some science educators, he doesn’t dumb down. In Einstein’s words, he makes it 'as simple as possible but no simpler.'" -- Richard Dawkins, author of The Magic of Reality“In every debate I’ve done with theologians and religious believers their knock-out final argument always comes in the form of two questions: Why is there something rather than nothing? and Why are we here? The presumption is that if science provides no answers then there must be a God. But God or no, we still want answers. In A Universe From Nothing Lawrence Krauss, one of the biggest thinkers of our time, addressed the first question with verve, and in The Greatest Story Ever Told he tackles the second with elegance. Both volumes should be placed in hotel rooms across America, in the drawer next to the Gideon Bible." -- Michael Shermer, Publisher Skeptic magazine, columnist Scientific American, Presidential Fellow Chapman University, author The Moral Arc."A Homeric tale of science, history, and philosophy revealing how we learned so much about the universe and its tiniest parts." -- Sheldon Glashow, Nobel Laureate, 1979 in physics“The Greatest Story Ever Told—So Far ranges from Galileo to the LHC and beyond. It's accessible, illuminating, and surprising—an ideal guide for anyone interested in understanding our accidental universe.” -- Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction“College students, hippies, squares, Christians, Muslims, democrats, republicans, libertarians, theists, even atheists—all of us—sit around BS-ing like: ‘So, how did all this, I mean everything, all of us, the whole universe, you know, man, everything, how did this all get here?’ While we were doing that, Lawrence Krauss and people like him were doing the work to figure it out. Then Krauss wrote this great book about it. ‘Wow, man, you mean, like we’re getting closer to really knowing? I guess we’ll have to go back to talking about politics and sex.’” -- Penn Jillette, author of Presto!“Discovering the bedrock nature of physical reality ranks as one of humanity’s greatest collective achievements. This book gives a fine account of the main ideas and how they emerged. Krauss is himself close to the field, and can offer insights into the personalities who have led the key advances. A practiced and skilled writer, he succeeds in making the physics ‘as simple as possible but no simpler.’ I don’t know a better book on this subject.” -- Martin Rees, author of Just Six Numbers“It is an exhilarating experience to be led through this fascinating story, from Galileo to the Standard Model and the Higgs boson and beyond, with lucid detail and insight, illuminating vividly not only the achievements themselves but also the joy of creative thought and discovery, enriched with vignettes of the remarkable individuals who paved the way. It amply demonstrates that the discovery that ‘nature really follows the simple and elegant rules intuited by the 20th- and 21st-century versions of Plato’s philosophers’ is one of the most astonishing achievements of the human intellect.” -- Noam Chomsky, Institute Professor & Professor of Linguistics (Emeritus), MIT“Charming... Krauss has written an account with sweep and verve that shows the full development of our ideas about the makeup of the world around us... A great romp.” -- Walter Gilbert, Nobel Award, Chemistry, 1980“History of science with an edge—humorous, personal, passionate, yet intellectually serious and authoritative.” -- Frank Wilczek, Nobel Laureate, Physics"Krauss beautifully explains how our refusal to believe that there are unknowable cosmic truths has rewarded humanity with brilliantly precise answers to puzzles previously obscured by the fog of dogmatic assurance… The scope of this book is truly impressive." -- Science Magazine"A masterful blend of history, modern physics, and cosmic perspective that empowers the reader to not only embrace our understanding of the universe, but also revel in what remains to be discovered." -- Neil deGrasse Tyson, American Museum of Natural History"A rich, definitely not-dumbed-down history of physics... An admirable complement to the author's previous book and equally satisfying for those willing to read carefully." -- Kirkus Reviews"This truly is the greatest story: how the universe arose, what it’s made of, how it works. Krauss is a warm and authoritative guide to what future generations will surely say is one of our species’ greatest accomplishments." -- Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of The Language Instinct and The Blank Slate"In confident...prose, Krauss tells a story that both celebrates and explores science. Through it, he reminds readers why scientists build such complicated machinery and push the boundaries of the quantum world when nothing makes sense: “For no more practical reason than to celebrate and explore the beauty of nature.”" -- Publishers Weekly"The story of reality—or at least as we understand it—this book is a testament to perseverance, a riveting account of dogged scientific effort to comprehend the fundamental forces of nature. Krauss (director, Origins Project, Arizona State Univ.; Fear of Physics) has a knack for making complex concepts accessible to lay readers who are willing to put in time and energy… A must-read for anyone who enjoyed Krauss’s previous titles, especially A Universe from Nothing, and those interested in delving into the history of science." -- Library Journal

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Book SynopsisWhat is learning? How does it take place? What happens when it goes wrong? The topic of learning has been central to the development of the science of psychology since its inception. Without learning there can be no memory, no language and no intelligence. Indeed it is rather difficult to imagine a part of psychology, or neuroscience, that learning does not touch upon. In this Very Short Introduction Mark Haselgrove describes learning from the perspective of associative theories of classical and instrumental conditioning, and considers why these are the dominant, and best described analyses of learning in contemporary psychology. Tracing the origins of these theories, he discusses the techniques used to study learning in both animals and humans, and considers the importance of learning for animal behaviour and survival.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1: What is learning (and how do we study it?) 2: What is learned during learning? 3: The surprising thing about learning 4: Maps and clocks: Learning about space and time 5: When learning goes wrong 6: Learning from others 7: Surely there is more to learning than that Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisFungi form an entire biological kingdom, and represent a great diversity of organisms. They are found in the soil, in the air, and on the surfaces of plants and animals. In this Very Short Introduction, Nicholas P. Money highlights the various effects of fungi on living organisms and considers their broader significance on our planet.Trade ReviewWitty and highly readable... When it comes to writing about fungi, Nik Money truly is the ultimate fun guide! * Botany One *Informative and fascinating * Steve Craggs, Northern Echo *Nicholas Money's Fungi: A Very Short Introduction just brims with passion for its subject. I read once that the perfect candidate for any professional job interview is one who exudes "cool professionalism, with sparkle". Nicholas Money's book on Fungi is the paper version of that ideal. * The Victoria Welch Science blog *Table of ContentsREFERENCES; INDEX

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Book SynopsisDarwin’s theory of natural selection was a monumental step in our understanding of evolution, explaining how useful adaptations are preserved over generations. However, Darwin’s great idea didn’t – and couldn’t – tell us how those adaptations arise in the first place. On its own, can random mutation really be responsible for all the creative marvels in nature? Renowned evolutionary biologist Andreas Wagner presents the missing piece of Darwin’s theory. Using cutting-edge experimental technologies, he has found that adaptations are driven by a set of laws which allow nature to discover new molecules and mechanisms in a fraction of the time that random variation would take. Meticulously researched, carefully argued, and full of fascinating examples from the animal kingdom, Arrival of the Fittest signals an end to the mystery of life’s rich diversity.Trade Review'Eminent evolutionary biologist Andreas Wagner fills in the parts of the puzzle even Darwin didn't understand.' * Mail on Sunday *‘Brilliantly polarises scientists’ research into the mystery of life itself’ * Financial Times, Readers' books of the year *‘A truly revolutionary book’ * Independent, best books of the year *‘Elegantly explores the cunning short cuts nature uses to achieve the seemingly impossible’ * Sunday Times, a best science book of the year *‘Wagner's book is an eye-opener. As a bonus, his writing is clear and elegant, with vivid analogies and concrete examples to illustrate his key points. You'll never think about evolution in the same way again’ * New Scientist *‘Arrival of the Fittest should be mandatory, corrective reading… mind-bending… tremendously exciting’ * BBC Focus *‘Quite astounding… The ideas are big, and the numbers hyper-astronomical, but Wagner has a gift for explaining the abstract… elegantly’ * THES *‘The author provides a detailed argument in support of the idea that evolutionary adaptations are not random as Darwin originally proposed, but instead, adaptations obey a set of laws that maximise discovery of new molecules and molecular pathways… I already expect I’ll see this book on next year’s Royal Society Winton Prize shortlist’ * Guardian Science blog *‘A book of startling congruencies, insightful flashes and an artful enthusiasm that delivers knowledge from the inorganic page to our organic brains.’ -- Kirkus‘Brand new scientific insights told in sparkling literary prose… a landmark book that combines original, perhaps revolutionary, ideas elegantly explained.’ -- Matt Ridley, author of Genome‘Arrival of the Fittest reveals the astonishing hidden structure of evolution, long overlooked by biologists, which makes Darwin’s grand idea viable after all. At the same time, it makes life seem even richer and more remarkable than you thought. Darwin would surely have loved this book; I think you will too.’ -- Philip Ball, author of The Music Instinct and Critical Mass‘Andreas Wagner is one of those rare scientists with the courage and intellect to see the real nature of evolution.’ -- Frank Vertosick, author of When the Air Hits Your Brain‘Wagner’s engaging and delightful book will open your eyes to the mysteries of innovation. His insights will entertain and astonish you, and they will also change the way you think.’ -- Daniel E. Lieberman, Edwin M Lerner II Professor of Biological Sciences, Harvard University‘If there is one subject even more controversial than the evolution of intelligence, it is the intelligence of evolution. Andreas Wagner presents a compelling, authoritative, and up-to-date case for bottom-up intelligence in biological evolution, and it sticks.’ -- George Dyson, author of Turing's Cathedral‘A radical departure from the mainstream perspective on Darwinian evolution. Andreas Wagner cuts to the core of innovation in living systems. Fundamental. Entertaining. Brilliant.’ -- Dr Rolf Dobelli, author of the bestseller The Art of Thinking Clearly

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Book SynopsisWhat makes a mammal a mammal? The answer is more complicated than you think!I, Mammal is a history of mammals and their ancestors and of how science came to grasp mammalian evolution. After a misdirected football left new father Liam Drew clutching a uniquely mammalian part of his anatomy, he decided to find out more. Considering himself as a mammal first and a human second, Liam delves into ancient biological history to understand what it means to be mammalian.In his humorous and engaging style, Liam explores the different characteristics that distinguish mammals from other types of animals. He charts the evolution of milk, warm blood and burgeoning brains, and examines the emergence of sophisticated teeth, exquisite ears, and elaborate reproductive biology, plus a host of other mammalian innovations. Entwined are tales of zoological peculiarities and reflections on how being a mammal has shaped the author''s life. In celebrating our mammalian-Trade ReviewA splendid evolutionary study ... Drew is a wry guide to wonders such as the evolution of the scrotum and the epic journey of marsupial newborns. -- NatureAn excellent combination of scientific principle and comedic wit that will appeal to biology fans and non-scientists alike. An excellent read. * How It Works *A witty romp through evolution ... I, Mammal is just the sort of book that can spark a love of nature and an appreciation for the ever-changing, eternally correcting march of science. * Science *Quotable, heartfelt and frequently fun. * The Biologist *Drew's immersion makes one proud to be a mammal. * Booklist *Drew vividly conveys the excitement of scientific discovery [and] combines detailed technical information with interesting natural-history tidbits. There's much to be savoured by scientists and nonscientists alike. * Publishers Weekly *From ice-sliding bison and tail-biting platypuses to cats and bats, hedgehogs and hooded seals, I, Mammal will change the way you think about hairy, milk-making, warm-blooded animals (yourself included). This carnival of mammals is science writing at its most funny, companionable and smart. -- Helen Scales, marine biologist, broadcaster and author of Spirals in TimeNot only fun and instructive but also wonderfully written, I, Mammal takes us on an erudite journey through mammalian evolution. Liam Drew effortlessly weaves science together with all manner of often very funny anecdotes. Reading it will be a pleasure for scientists and non-specialists alike. -- René Hen, Professor of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Columbia UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction: My Family and Other Mammals Chapter 1 : The Descent of Man(’s Gonads) Chapter 2 : Life on the Edge of Mammaldom Chapter 3 : Y, I’m Male Chapter 4 : The Mammalian Birds and Bees Chapter 5 : The Next Generation Chapter 6 : Afterbirth Before Birth Chapter 7 : The Milky Way Chapter 8 : Kids, Behave! Chapter 9 : Bones, Teeth, Genes and Trees Chapter 10 : It’s Getting Hot in Here, Put Your Coat On Chapter 11 : Scents and Sensibility Chapter 12 : A Multilayered Brain Teaser Chapter 13 : This Mammalian Life Afterword: Mammals Selected Reading Acknowledgement Index

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Book Synopsis''A riveting ride through your own brain'' - Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of OriginalsWINNER of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology''s book prize for ''The Promotion of Social and Personality Science''If humans are fundamentally good, why do we engage in acts of great cruelty? If we are evil, why do we sometimes help others at a cost to ourselves? Whether humans are good or evil is a question that has plagued philosophers and scientists for as long as there have been philosophers and scientists.Many argue that we are fundamentally selfish, and only the rules and laws of our societies and our own relentless efforts of will can save us from ourselves. But is this really true? Abigail Marsh is a social neuroscientist who has closely studied the brains of both the worst and the best among us-from children with psychopathic traits whose families live in fear of them, to adult Trade ReviewA brilliant, beautiful, and important book about the things that make some of us angels, some of us devils, and all of us human. You won't be able to put it down - Daniel Gilbert, Harvard University[Marsh's] book is deft enough to be chilling at times, infectiously optimistic at others - The Daily TelegraphReads like a thriller. Abigail Marsh takes us through the groundbreaking research that has thrown light on two of the most fundamental traits of human beings: extreme selfishness and extreme altruism. Page after page, she shows convincingly that the capacity to perceive and identify fear and, consequently, to feel empathy as one would for a child in danger, is the key factor that makes us behave as a psychopath or as someone who joyfully gives a kidney to a stranger. One of the most mind-opening books I have read in years - Matthieu Ricard, Author of Altruism: The Power of Compassion to Change Yourself and the WorldBeautifully and engagingly written, yet not compromising on science. Abigail Marsh has written a page-turner that takes you meticulously through the scientific evidence for why altruism exists, while fooling you into thinking that you are reading a detective novel. This is essential reading for anyone interested in why people vary in their capacity for empathy and love - Essi Viding PhD, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at UCLLet Abigail Marsh guide you on a riveting ride through your own brain. With lively writing and an impressive command of science, she shows how sensitivity to fear can be both a weapon of evil and a force for good - Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals, Give and Take, and Option B (with Sheryl Sandberg)The combination of thorough investigation and personal research experiences creates a volume far more engaging than those typically written by academics...Those who seek to comprehend the origin of fear, altruism, and elements of human nature will find this book a key factor in their increased understanding - ScienceThe book is overall a model of careful popular science writing, rebutting common oversimplifications... Best of all, her writing style is vivid and personable... And despite the book's optimistic message, there are moments-as when she describes a psychopathic teenage girl she tested as someone "with whom I would have been unwilling to spend a night alone in a house"-that send a chill down the spine. - The Wall Street JournalRecommend this fascinating text to readers of pop psychology and true crime fans who wish to better understand the minds of potential criminals - BooklistA fascinating tour of altruism research, all the better for being sprinkled with anecdotes about Marsh's life, career and unforgettable research subjects. As well as the extremes of human nature, Marsh says plenty that is of relevance to those of us in the middle of the bell curve, including how we can strive to be more altruistic in our everyday lives * New Scientist *Provides an illuminating dive into the science behind both altruism and psychopathy, promising an entertaining read for scientists and laypeople alike * Paste *A fine example of a book that looks deeper, showing how an ancient part of the brain--central to our emotional lives--plays a pivotal role in who we are and what we do. It's a sharp analysis sprinkled with relatable examples, and an excellent brain book * Forbes *

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Book Synopsis‘Revelatory … convey[s] the technical brilliance and political significance of an achievement that hides in plain sight’TelegraphFrom satellites circling the Earth, to weather stations far out in the ocean, through some of the most ingenious minds and advanced algorithms at work today - In this gripping investigation, Andrew Blum takes us on a global journey. Our destination: the simulated models weather scientists have constructed of our planet, which spin faster than time, turning chaos into prediction, offering glimpses of our future with eerie precision.This collaborative invention spans the Earth and relies on continuous co-operation between all nations – a triumph of human ingenuity and diplomacy we too often shrug off as a tool for choosing the right footwear each morning. But in this new era of extreme weather, we may come to rely on its maintenance and survival for our own.Trade ReviewThis fascinating book reveals the existence and origins of surely one of our species’ greatest creations, and Andrew Blum is the perfect writer to share both the remarkable human stories and the astonishing technical wizardry behind it all -- MARK VANHOENACKER, author of SkyfaringIt’s easy to … overlook the monumental achievement [weather forecasts] represent … The Weather Machine asks us to pause and marvel at … one of humankind’s greatest accomplishments * New Yorker *Revelatory … convey[s] the technical brilliance and political significance of an achievement that hides in plain sight. The machine’s complexity alone is off all familiar charts … Blum does an excellent job * Telegraph *I strongly recommend th[is] book, which is a fascinating glimpse of a mysterious world -- Tim Haford, author of The Undercover EconomistBlum’s wonderful book succeeds in making the science and industry of forecasting the weather … at once vitally human, technologically awesome and urgently, thrillingly relevant * Royal Geographical Society *Sharp, stylish and often surprising. In this absorbing book Andrew Blum tracks the development, from wild dream to astonishing reality, of the quietly revolutionary technology that shapes our everyday lives -- PETER MOORE, author of The Weather ExperimentExhilarating ... a hurricane-force tour of one of the most astonishing but under-appreciated facets of the modern world -- LEWIS DARTNELL, author of OriginsWritten with an ease and beauty that will captivate anyone who is simply curious about how things work and came to be' (Literary Review) * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisGamblers have been trying to figure out how to game the system since our ancestors first made wagers over dice fashioned from knucklebones: in revolutionary Paris, the 'martingale' strategy was rumoured to lead to foolproof success at roulette ; today, professional gamblers are using cutting-edge techniques to tilt the odds in their favour. Science is giving us the competitive edge over opponents, casinos and bookmakers. But is there such a thing as a perfect bet? The Perfect Bet looks beyond probability and statistics to examine how wagers have inspired a plethora of new disciplines - spanning chaos theory, machine learning and game theory - which are not just revolutionising gambling, but changing our fundamental notions about chance, randomness and luck. Explaining why poker is gaming's last bastion of human superiority over AI, how methods originally developed for the US nuclear programme are helping pundits predict sports results and why a new breed of algorithms are losing banks millions, The Perfect Bet has the inside track on any wager you'd care to place.Trade ReviewThis book is full of magic. It's brimming with clever people and clever ideas... The links between betting and science run deep and wide, allowing Kucharski to cover some thrilling intellectual territory. * New Scientist *Terrific: beautifully written, solidly researched and full of surprises * New York Times Numberplay blog *Elegant and amusing ... anyone planning to enter a casino or place an online bet would be advised to keep this book handy * Wall Street Journal *Kucharski's clear prose and eye for an entertaining historical anecdote give his book an accessible feel ... an enjoyable account. * Racing Post *[An] enjoyable... paean to human ingenuity, and a Robin Hood tale of wealth redistribution. * Daily Telegraph *Great stories of how smart people have used maths, statistics and science to try and beat the odds - legally' -- David Spiegelhalter, Winton Professor for the Public Understanding of Risk, University of CambridgeA wild ride through the history, psychology, mathematics, and technology of gaming - a remarkable look behind the curtain of what most people think is intuitive, but isn't -- Paul Offit, author of Bad FaithWith an entertaining writing style, Adam Kucharski guides us through the history and state of the art of "The Perfect Bet," showing us how mathematics and computers are used to come up with optimal ways to gamble, play games, bluff, and invest our money. Extremely well-written and carefully researched. I highly recommend it. -- Arthur Benjamin, Author of 'The Magic of Maths'A lucid yet sophisticated look at the mathematics of probability as it's played out on gaming tables, arenas, and fields... Gamblers and math buffs alike will enjoy it for its smart approach to real-world problems * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisThe Periodic Table is one of the most recognizable images in science - and in our culture. Its 118 elements make up everything on our planet and in the entire universe. But how many of us actually know how to interpret its distinctive design? And what does its unique arrangement tell us about the behaviour of each element in the world around us? The Periodic Table looks at the fascinating story and surprising history of each of these elements, from the little-known uses of gold in medicine to that of arsenic as a wallpaper dye in the ninteenth-century and the development of the hydrogen bomb. Packed with interesting facts and figures and helpful illustrations, this accessible guide will help the armchair chemist navigate through the different groups of elements - and discover the world afresh.Table of ContentsThe Periodic Table. Introduction. Hydrogen. Helium. Lithium. Beryllium. Boron. Carbon. Nitrogen. Oxygen. Fluorine. Neon. Sodium. Magnesium. Aluminium. Silicon. Phosphorus. Sulphur. Chlorine. Argon. Potassium. Calcium. Scandium. Titanium. Vanadium. Chromium. Manganese. Iron. Cobalt. Nickel. Copper. Zinc. Gallium. Germanium. Arsenic. Selenium. Bromine. Krypton. Rubidium. Strontium. Yttrium. Zirconium. Niobium. Molybdenum. Technetium. Ruthenium. Rhodium. Palladium. Silver. Cadmium. Indium. Tin. Antimony. Tellurium. Iodine. Xenon. Caesium. Barium. Lanthanum. Cerium. Praseodymium. Neodymium. Promethium. Samarium. Europium. Gadolinium. Terbium. Dysprosium. Holmium. Erbium. Thulium. Ytterbium. Lutetium. Hafnium. Tantalum. Tungsten. Rhenium. Osmium. Iridium. Platinum. Gold. Mercury. Thallium. Lead. Bismuth. Polonium. Astatine. Radon. Francium. Radium. Actinium. Thorium. Protactinium. Uranium. Neptunium. Plutonium. Americium. Curium. Berkelium. Californium. Einsteinium. Fermium. The Transfermium Elements. Glossary. Index.

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Book SynopsisWhat is 4% of 75?Can you calculate 60 + 60 x 0 + 1?Which is bigger, an 18-inch pizza or two 12-inch pizzas?Join award-winning maths presenter Kyle D Evans on an entertaining tour of viral maths problems that have gone wild on social media in recent years. From the infamous 'Hannah's sweets' exam question to percentages 'life-hacks', viral maths problems seem to capture the public's imagination without fail. In Maths Tricks to Blow Your Mind, Kyle presents over 50 viral maths problems with background information, explanations and solutions to similar problems, all in a humorous, accessible and inclusive manner. Want to dazzle and delight your friends and family? This book shows you how!Trade ReviewA chirpy guide to the most shared maths nuggets on the internet. -- Alex Bellos, author of ALEX'S ADVENTURES IN NUMBERLANDA cornucopia of numerical tricks and other quirky delights. I loved it. -- Tim Harford, author of HOW TO MAKE THE WORLD ADD UPWith wit and wisdom, Kyle Evans has compiled what is - literally - the most popular maths on the planet. And he's brought new insights and back stories to many old favourites. -- Rob Eastaway, author of MATHS ON THE BACK OF AN ENVELOPETable of Contentsi: Introduction 1: THIS ONE COOL MATHS TRICK WILL BLOW YOUR MIND: Maths tricks and 'life hacks' 2: IT WAS DIFFERENT IN MY DAY: Pre-internet viral maths 3: BACK TO SCHOOL: Viral exam questions and classroom conundrums 4: OUT OF ORDER: The trouble with BODMAS 5: BAD MATHS: When Facebook meets algebra 6: GET INTO SHAPE: Genius geometry problems vii: CONCLUSION: A better viral maths future? viii: Solutions

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Book SynopsisIf you think baby brain is bad for you, think again - because neuroscientist Dr Sarah McKay (author of The Women''s Brain Book) has looked at studies and talked to experts from all over the world and the proof is in: giving birth is one of the best things to ever happen to a woman''s brain.Moreover, the positive effects of baby brain last well beyond the baby stage - even into old age, with elderly mothers'' brains showing resilience to ageing. Plus, the benefits of baby brain show up for non-birth parents - even fatherhood has a profound effect on the hormones and brains of men.This fascinating book weaves together baby brain research and interviews with neuroscientists and women''s health specialists - many of whom are mothers - with personal experiences from parents concerning baby brain, nesting, maternal instinct, social support, anxiety and sleep. In each aspect the conclusion is clear: having a baby improves a mother''s memory, and makes her smarter and more empathetic, intuitive and socially savvy.Baby Brain contains the ultimate good-news story about mothers'' brains, backed up by scientific research from leading experts and presented in highly readable bite-sized sections by one of Australia''s leading science communicators.

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Book SynopsisA riveting new exploration of the octopus from the world-leading scientific expert. For fans of Netflix's 'My Octopus Teacher' and Other Minds by Peter Godfrey-Smith.'Enchanting.' MAIL ON SUNDAY'Abounds with wonders.' KATHLEEN JAMIE, NEW STATESMAN'Brings the world of the octopus vividly alive... a sense of what it might be like to live in their skins.' FINANCIAL TIMES'The deepest of octopus books.' PETER GODFREY-SMITHAS HEARD ON BBC RADIO 4'S TODAY PROGRAMME_________________What is it like to be an octopus?The octopus is a highly intelligent and deeply mysterious creature. It can change colour as quickly as it can move, 'think' with its tentacles and communicate in sophisticated ways.Marine biologist David Scheel's lifelong preoccupation with these animals has led to a career of groundbreaking research, from finding previously unknown species to the discovery of signaling communication. In Many Things Under a Rock, Scheel shares his deep scientific understanding of octopuses and recounts his intrepid adventures with these mysterious, charismatic creatures.He investigates four major mysteries about octopuses: what can we know about such elusive and camouflaged creatures? Why are they so extraordinarily resilient? How do their bodies work? And what kind of relationships do they have? In unravelling these mysteries, Dr Scheel shows octopuses to be complex emotional beings and reveals what they can teach us about ourselves.Trade Review"Scheel brings the world of the octopus vividly alive. The best nature books do not just describe animals: they give us a sense of what it might be like to shape-shift ourselves and live in their skins." * Financial Times *Fascinating. Scheel's unique perspective on these animals makes this the deepest of octopus books. * Peter Godfrey-Smith, author of Other Minds *David Scheel's astonishing observations make him one of the most important octopus ethologists working today. He is also, fortunately for us, a sensitive and lyrical writer, bringing knowledge and stories from native cultures to bear on the science he describes. I was agog at some of his accounts: severed arms wincing with pain; octopuses throwing things at each other; and octopuses seemingly standing sentinel over their octopus neighbourhoods. This book is mind-blowing and soul-expanding. You'll be thinking and talking about Many Things Under a Rock for a long time. * Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus *Enchanting... This is just one of the fascinating factoids that marine biologist David Scheel shares with us in this clever book, based on his 25 years as one of the leading octopus researchers in the world... It is enough to melt the stoniest of hearts. * Mail on Sunday *Octopuses are deeply, gloriously weird... The book abounds with wonders. -- Kathleen Jamie * New Statesman *Scheel offers fascinating glimpses of octopus life [...] that may thrill and surprise even those of us who have read The Soul of an Octopus or watched My Octopus Teacher... excellent. * Times Literary Supplement *Scheel has been studying cephalopods for 25 years. His fascination is infectious in Many Things Under a Rock, which sets out to address an interesting question: what is it like to be an octopus? ... How wonderfully weird and weirdly human. * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisOn 21 December 1872, HMS Challenger set sail from Portsmouth, England, to begin a global voyage of deep-sea exploration, unique for the scale of its ambition and scope. Made possible by technological and scientific developments, extensive international cooperation and supported by a team of researchers and naval officers, the expedition was part of a concerted nineteenth-century drive to map the ocean floors and search for life in the abyss. By the time the ship returned to Britain in 1876, the scientific team on board had amassed what was then the largest collection of examples of life from the deep sea. But their work was not finished and over the next two decades a global network of researchers prepared the results for publication, culminating in a 50-volume series that is considered the intellectual foundation of modern oceanography.

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Book SynopsisA deep dive into the science behind the creative ways Shakespeare killed off his characters.William Shakespeare found dozens of different ways to kill off his characters, and audiences today still enjoy the same reactions shock, sadness, fear that they did more than 400 years ago when these plays were first performed. But how realistic are these deaths, and did Shakespeare have the knowledge to back them up?In the Bard's day death was a part of everyday life. Plague, pestilence and public executions were a common occurrence, and the chances of seeing a dead or dying body on the way home from the theatre were high. It was also a time of important scientific progress. Shakespeare kept pace with anatomical and medical advances, and he included the latest scientific discoveries in his work, from blood circulation to treatments for syphilis. He certainly didn't shy away from portraying the reality of death on stage, from the brutal to the mundane, and the spectacTrade ReviewHarkup’s enjoyable and informative survey presents this somatic Shakespeare for the Horrible Histories generation. * Times Literary Supplement *Were I a school-teacher introducing phone-addicted teens to Macbeth or Romeo and Juliet, I'd go in big on Shakespeare's 'violent delights'. * Daily Mail (4 stars) *Well-written and intriguing, the book provides a rich behind-the-scenes look at science and historical fact, using the focus on death to deepen understanding of Shakespeare’s life and work. * Historical Novel Society *The author of A Is for Arsenic and Making the Monster: The Science Behind Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein continues her macabre cultural musings with an immensely readable roundup of Shakespearean death. * Smithsonian Magazine *Death By Shakespeare is a macabre but fascinating read, rich in historical context, scientific insight, and intriguing asides. * Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine *Harkup serves a delectable stew of history, science and wit that is sure to sate the appetite of any Anglophile. * Booklist *Serious scholarship meets horrid histories. Kathryn Harkup located Death by Shakespeare within the contexts of science and medicine, health and safety, crime and punishment, and in the process gives us tour de force descriptions of Juliet's deep coma, Cleopatra's asp, Ophelia's drowning and the carnage at Agincourt, among other celebrated exits. It's a good read – never morbid, and full of insights into the Tudor way of death and how far we've come. -- Professor Sir Christopher Frayling, cultural historian, writer and broadcasterLight enough to be a quick read for fun but hefty enough to educate, this is a book that any student would be happy to study for a class, and it’s a solid addition to any nonfiction or Shakespearean fan’s collection. Yet again, Harkup has delivered a satisfying, sterling examination of an iconic figure’s literary contributions to history. * Criminal Element *Table of ContentsI shall offend, either to detain or give it. The contents, as in part I understand them, are to blame. King Lear, Act 1, Scene 2 Prologue Chapter 1: Our Humble Author Chapter 2: All the World’s a Stage Chapter 3: Will You Be Cured of Your Infirmity? Chapter 4: Off With His Head! Chapter 5: Murder, Murder! Chapter 6: The Dogs of War Chapter 7: A Plague O’both Your Houses! Chapter 8: Most Delicious Poison Chapter 9: To Be, or Not to Be Chapter 10: Excessive Grief the Enemy to the Living Chapter 11: Exit Pursued by a Bear Epilogue Appendix Bibliography Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisFull of fascinating and bizarre cases of genetic mutation and irregularity, ‘Mutants’ is an amazing exploration of the human form in all its beautiful and unique guises.Trade Review‘Armand Leroi combines meticulous historical research, brand-new genetic understanding and consummate skill with words to tell an absorbing tale.’ Matt Ridley, author of ‘Genome’ and ‘Nature Via Nurture’ ‘Erudite, gracefully crafted…Enriching his observations and insights with examples drawn from science, medicine, history, philosophy and the arts, Leroi lifts us to a profound sense of wonder.’ Sunday Times ‘Poetic, philosophical, profound, witty and challenging.’ Guardian ‘“Mutants” thrills and repels and informs us of the delicacy and wonder of growth and development. It is written with great grace.’ Richard Fortey, author of ‘The Earth’ ‘Leroi writes beautifully, charging his case histories with drama and pathos.’ Time Out ‘Dr Leroi’s book is genuinely instructive and enlightening, a brilliant admixture of curious historical anecdote and up-to-date science, written in excellent and often elegant prose.’ Spectator

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Book SynopsisPo Bronson and Ashley Merryman's New York Magazine articles on the science of children have won the magazine journalism award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, as well as the Clarion Award from the Association for Women in Communications. Their articles for Time Magazine have won the award for outstanding journalism from the Council on Contemporary Families. Bronson has authored five books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller What Should I Do With My Life?Trade ReviewAn explosive new book... Many of the findings in Nurtureshock are not what we parents expect or want to hear, but we have to hear it * Daily Mail *A wake-up call for parents... the Freakonomics of child-rearing... a fantastic read * Good Morning America *The least touchy-feely [parenting book] ever... hard to put down and easy to take seriously. * A.V. Club,The Onion *

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Book SynopsisAs an acoustic engineer, Trevor Cox has spent his career eradicating unwanted noises echoes in concert halls, clamour in classrooms. Until the day he heard something so astonishing that he had an epiphany: rather than quashing rare or bizarre sounds, we should be celebrating these sonic treasures. This is the story of his investigation into the mysteries of these Sonic Wonders of the World. In the Mojave Desert he finds sand dunes that sing. In France he discovers an echo that tells jokes. In California he drives down a musical road that plays the William Tell Overture. In Cathedrals across the world he learns how acoustics changed the history of the Church. Touching on physics, music, archaeology, neuroscience, biology, and design, Cox explains how sound is made and altered by the environment and how our body reacts to peculiar noises from the exotic sonic wonders he encounters on his journey, or the equally unique and surprising sounds of our everyday environmTrade ReviewA riveting ear-opener, Trevor Cox describes in lyrical detail a range of sonic events and new ways of listening that can only brighten our experience of the acoustic world around us. A must-read for sound-lovers of all stripes -- Bernie Krause, author of The Great Animal OrchestraThis is acoustician Trevor Cox’s fun but thoroughly detailed tour through some of the world’s aural gems. Sounds like music to our ears * New Scientist *A must read for musicians, producers, sound engineers and nerds of all kinds -- Lauren Laverne * BBC 6 Music *A David Attenborough of the acoustic realm, whose knowledge is unimpeachable yet worn lightly, whose language is vivid yet without indulgence -- David Hendy * Observer *Sonic Wonderland by Trevor Cox is one of those books that require a "this book will change your life" sticker -- Simon Barnes * The Times *Sonic Wonderland, a delightfully instructive book, will make you want to listen to the world anew and with beatifically attuned ears -- Ian Thomson * Sunday Telegraph (Book of the Week) *Captivating book... This book does not call for quiet, but for good sound over bad... Reading this revelatory book, it is impossible not to be converted to his cause. He syringes his readers’ ears and the effect is delightful -- James McConnachie * Sunday Times *If there's one man who could give you an informed account of one-hand clapping, it's Trevor Cox. Fascinating …. Thought-provoking -- Tibor Fischer * The Times *Cox explores a dazzling variety of fascinating sounds... When we actively listen rather than merely hear, the world becomes a richer and fuller place, and Cox's book is the perfect primer for retraining your ears -- Chris Maume * Independent *It's a joy as a reader to follow [Cox's] captivating forays into this "sonic wonderland" that surrounds us all. His enthusiasm is palpable and I challenge anybody to read this book and not want to experience for themselves at least one of the subjects described. This really is a perfect book for anyone with an interest in sound * BBC Focus *Compellingly original... Fluent and engaging, the book's lapses into scientific jargon are leavened by Cox's boyish enthusiasm and earnest desire that the world's sonic wonders should not fall on deaf ears * Lonely Planet Traveller *Delightful and informative * Sunday Times *An infectiously enthusiastic study -- Caspar Henderson * Guardian *[An] intriguing book -- Orlando Bird * Financial Times *Cox’s strengths are founded in joyful ardour – a love of unusual sound events – and the scientific knowledge and communicative skills to analyse each of these events as he encounters them on his travels -- David Toop * Times Higher Education *

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Book SynopsisAlan Guth, after receiving his doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, held positions at Princeton University, Columbia, Cornell and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. He is now the V. F. Weisskopf Professor of Physics at MIT. He has been elected to the US National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and has been awarded the Eddington Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in London.Trade ReviewMind-blowing stuff * Sunday Times *[Alan Guth's] remarkably lucid account is set to become a seminal text in cosmology...helping us up the learning curve without ever making recourse to unfriendly mathematical equations * Literary Review *[Guth] conveys how science can be an intensely social and interactive activity, and the erratic and fitful way in which new ideas clarify * The Times *One of the most fascinating and fundamental fields of human enquiry...handsomely rewards study * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisWhen he was twenty-seven, Henry Molaison underwent surgery for his epilepsy. He awoke with part of his brain destroyed, and for the rest of his life would be trapped in the moment, unable to remember anything for more than a few seconds. For nearly five decades, distinguished neuroscientist Suzanne Corkin studied Molaison and oversaw his care. In Permanent Present Tense she tells his extraordinary story, showing how his amnesia revolutionized our understanding of the brain, and also challenged our very notions of who we are.Trade ReviewFascinating ... rich with implications for our understanding of the brain, our experience and what it means to be human -- Steven Pinker, author of 'How the Mind Works' and 'The Stuff of Thought'The poignant story of a man who became one of history's most studied patients -- John Carey * Sunday Times *In this fine and moving book, Corkin pays tribute to a much-missed friend, as well as offering lucid accounts of the neuropsychological discoveries he made possible -- Jonathan Rée * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisMany scientific and philosophical ideas are so powerful that they can be applied to our lives to help us think smarter and more effectively about our behaviour and the world around us. Surprisingly, many of these ideas remain unknown to most of us. Drawing on his own groundbreaking research, Richard Nisbett presents these ideas in clear and accessible detail to offer a tool kit for better thinking and wiser decisions. Mindware shows how to reframe common problems - whether professional, business, or personal - in such a way that these powerful scientific and statistical concepts can be applied to them.Trade ReviewThe most influential thinker, in my life, has been Richard Nisbett. -- Malcolm Gladwell * New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisWhat is dreaming and what causes it? Why are dreams so strange and often hard to remember? Modern science has given us a new and increasingly clear picture of how dreaming is created by the brain. This book introduces sleep laboratory science, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of sleep, and explores how the science of dreaming impacts our understanding of psychoanalysis and mental illness.Trade ReviewFascinating. * Caroline Green, BBC Focus *Table of Contents1. What is dreaming? ; 2. Why dream content analysis failed to become a science ; 3. How is the brain activated in sleep? ; 4. Cells and molecules of the dreaming brain ; 5. Why dream? The functions of brain activation in sleep ; 6. Disorders of dreaming ; 7. Dreaming as delirium: sleep and mental illness ; 8. The new neuropsychology of dreaming ; 9. Dreaming, learning and memory ; 10. Dream consciousness ; 11. The interpretation of dreams ; Conclusion

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Book SynopsisVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Almost everything we know about the Universe has come from studying the messages carried by light from outer space. Until only a handful of decades ago, this meant observing optical photons in the narrow visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. However, recent technological developments have now enabled us to extend this range and explore the Universe at radio, infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths. The observations reveal a plethora of exotic phenomena such as young galaxies at the edge of the visible Universe, quasars, pulsars, colliding galaxies, and exploding stars, often at great distances. We have discovered that the Universe is expanding and that the expansion itself is accelerating. Closer to our home planet, we track killer asteroids and comets. Working closely together, observational astronomy and astrophysics have shown us how stars produce their energy, where the chemical elements come Table of ContentsList of illustrations Preface 1: The observable Universe 2: The life and death of stars 3: Big telescopes 4: The radio Universe 5: Observations from space 6: The transient Universe 7: Multi-messenger astronomy 8: A bigger picture Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisCrystals have fascinated us for centuries with their beauty and symmetry, and have often been invested with magical powers. The use of X-ray diffraction, first pioneered in 1912 by father and son William and Lawrence Bragg, enabled us to probe the structure of molecules, and heralded the scientific study of crystals, leading to an understanding of their atomic arrangements at a fundamental level. The new discipline, called X-ray crystallography, has subsequently evolved into a formidable science that underpins many other scientific areas. Starting from the determination of the structures of very simple crystals, such as that of common salt, today it has become almost routine to determine the positions of tens of thousands of atoms in a crystal. In this Very Short Introduction Mike Glazer shows how the discoveries in crystallography have been applied to the creation of new and important materials, to drugs and pharmaceuticals and to our understanding of genetics, cell biology, proteins, and viruses. Tracing the history of crystallography, he analyses astonishing developments in new sources of X-rays, as well as of neutrons, and in electron microscopy, and considers the impact they have on the study of crystals today. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade Reviewhighly recommended as a starter reference on crystallography for general readers with a scientific bent. The book combines scientific rigour and moderate entertainment value in a brief and affordable format. * John D. Clayton, Contemporary Physics *The merits of this book are that it is extremely concise and compact, yet precise and complete; it is written in a very pleasant and clear way; and it mixes history, anecdotes, theory and examples in a well-blended recipe. It is easy to read and the concepts flow naturally, and you arrive to the end with the impression of a birds eye view on all what you need to know about crystallography. * Crystallography Reviews *This book is an excellent account of the science behind the study and understanding of crystals. * John Nicholson, Chemistry and Industry *Explaining in 144 pages just what crystallography is, how it originated and developed, and in what fields it has been put to use, this new VSI volume superbly embodies the purpose of the Very Short Introductions series. * The Well-Read Naturalist *for anyone layperson or technicianwho would like to know what crystallography is all about, this is the book to read. * Optics and Photonics *The author of this book should write so many more books, what a good read! The illustrations were informative and clear and the writing was not only informative, but there was also a distinct sense of humor. I would highly recommend this to anyone working with or interested in crystallography or XRD. * Emily, Amazon Review *Table of ContentsPreface ; A long history! ; Symmetry ; Crystal structures ; Diffraction ; Seeing atoms ; Sources of radiation ; Further Reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisThe 1960s revealed a new and revolutionary idea in geological thought: that the continents drift with respect to one another. After having been dismissed for decades as absurd, the concept gradually became part of geology''s basic principles. We now know that the Earth''s crust and upper mantle consist of a small number of rigid plates that move, and there are significant boundaries between pairs of plates, usually known as earthquake belts. Plate tectonics now explains much of the structure and phenomena we see today: how oceans form, widen, and disappear; why earthquakes and volcanoes are found in distinct zones which follow plate boundaries; how the great mountain ranges of the world were built. The impact of plate tectonics is studied closely as these processes continue: the Himalaya continues to grow, the Atlantic is widening, and new oceans are forming. In this Very Short Introduction Peter Molnar provides a succinct and authoritative account of the nature and mechanisms of plate tectonics and its impact on our understanding of Earth.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewThis excellent guide to the plate tectonics revolution joins the superb Very Short Introduction series ... The book is peppered with engaging images ... illustrated with beautifully produced line drawings. * Dr Chris Pyle, Geography *yet another informative and engaging book in the wonderful Very Short Introductions series. * Guardian Online, Grrl Scientist *Table of Contents1. The basic idea ; 2. Seafloor spreading and magnetic anomalies ; 3. Fracture zones and transform faults ; 4. Subduction of oceanic lithosphere ; 5. Rigid plates of lithosphere ; 6. Tectonics of continents ; 7. Tectonics of continents ; Further reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisThe greatest challenge for physics is to combine its two most successful theories: general relativity and quantum mechanics. The resulting quantum theory of gravity would explain the universe across all scales. Much has been said about the approach based on string theory. Here, Jim Baggott describes its powerful rival: Loop Quantum Gravity.Trade Review...if you have enjoyed/got through popular science books about such areas as strings and superstrings, time, and the God particle, here is a fine addition to the oeuvre. * Ian Francis, School Science Review *There is no doubt that Jim Baggott is an excellent popular science writer, and Quantum Space is the first complete and approachable account to a quantum theory that delves deep into the quest to resolve one of the great unanswered problems of modern physics: How can general relativity be made compatible with quantum mechanics? Baggott proposes Loop Quantum Gravity, which in our mind is one of the best explanations for anyone who wants to understand more about our puling universe ... It's a triumph. * All About Space Magazine *There's no doubt that Jim Baggott is one of the best popular science writers currently active ... [he] has done a huge favour for anyone who really wants to understand modern theoretical physics, giving a much better understanding of this fascinating attempt to deal with a central requirement to explain the workings of our universe. It's a triumph. * Brian Clegg, popularscience.com *A lucid exposition of loop quantum gravity and the search for the structural space, time and the universe focusing around the work of Lee Smolin and Carlo Rovelli. * David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer *The discovery and development of Loop Quantum Gravity has been a great adventure. Jim's story beautifully captures its insights and excitement. * Carlo Rovelli, author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics *...if you have enjoyed/got through popular science books about such areas as strings and superstrings, time, and the God particle, here is a fine addition to the oeuvre. * Ian Francis, School Science Review *There is no doubt that Jim Baggott is an excellent popular science writer, and Quantum Space is the first complete and approachable account to a quantum theory that delves deep into the quest to resolve one of the great unanswered problems of modern physics: How can general relativity be made compatible with quantum mechanics? Baggott proposes Loop Quantum Gravity, which in our mind is one of the best explanations for anyone who wants to understand more about our puling universe ... It's a triumph. * All About Space Magazine *There's no doubt that Jim Baggott is one of the best popular science writers currently active ... [he] has done a huge favour for anyone who really wants to understand modern theoretical physics, giving a much better understanding of this fascinating attempt to deal with a central requirement to explain the workings of our universe. It's a triumph. * Brian Clegg, popularscience.com *A lucid exposition of loop quantum gravity and the search for the structural space, time and the universe focusing around the work of Lee Smolin and Carlo Rovelli. * David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer *The discovery and development of Loop Quantum Gravity has been a great adventure. Jim's story beautifully captures its insights and excitement. * Carlo Rovelli, author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics *Table of ContentsPreface Prologue Part I: Foundations 1: The Laws of Physics are the Same for Everyone 2: There>'s No Such Thing as the Force of Gravity 3: Why Nobody Understands Quantum Mechanics 4: Mass Ain>'t What it Used To Be 5: How to Fudge the Equations of the Universe Part II: Formulation 6: To Get There I Wouldn>'t Start From Here 7: A Gift From the Devil>'s Grandmother 8: Our Second or Third Guess Solved the Equations Exactly 9: I Used Every Available Key Ring in Verona 10: Is There Really No Time Like the Present? Part III: Elaborations 11: Gravitons, Holographic Physics and Why Things Fall Down 12: Fermions, Emergent Particles and the Nature of Stuff 13: Relational Quantum Mechanics and Why

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Book SynopsisHow fast can you calculate? Would you like to be faster? This book presents the time honored tricks and tips of calculation, from a fresh perspective, to boost the speed at which you can add whether a couple of numbers, or columns so long an accountant may faint. Find out how to subtract, multiply, divide, and find square roots more quickly.Trade ReviewIf you think mental arithmetic is out of date in the 21st century, think again. This engaging book is about insight and interestingness beyond the simple utility of quicker calculations. The general style is original and characterful, and makes the book distinctive. * Prasenjit Saha, University of Zurich *This book is about very elementary concepts that ought to be read by sophisticated people who appreciate that elementary does not mean trivial. The author's erudite scholarship shines in the prose, along with just the right level of dry wit. It's serious stuff he's writing about (without numbers and arithmetic, our modern world simply vanishes into the ancient past where numbers were limited to none, one, and many), but in such a way that the reader does not slowly nod-off into a coma. * Paul J. Nahin, University of New Hampshire *Lipscombe's book is unusual, being, as it is, an expansive view of a small subject. The text he presents here is excellent, and is a model of everything a writer strives for: concision, simplicity, directness, accuracy, and surprise. * Don S. Lemons, Bethel College, Kansas *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Challenge 1: Arithmetical Advice 2: Speedier Sums and Subtractions Interlude I: The Magic of 111,111 3: Accounting for Taste -- Adding Columns Quickly Interlude II: Checking, Check Digits, and Casting out Nines 4: Quicker Quotients and Pleasing Products -- Multiply and Divide by Specific Numbers Interlude III: Doomsday 5: Calculations with Constraints -- Multiply and Divide by Numbers with Specific Properties Interlude IV: Multicultural Multiplication 6: Super Powers -- Calculate Squares, Square Roots, Cube Roots, and More 7: Close-Enough Calculations -- Quick and Accurate Approximations Interlude V: Approximating the Number of Space Aliens 8: Multiplying Irrationally The Grand Finale Further Reading Appendix I: Calculating Doomsday Appendix II: The Squares from 1 to 100

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Book SynopsisThis is a book about an ocean that vanished six million years ago - the ocean of Tethys. Named after a Greek sea nymph, there is a sense of mystery about such a vast, ancient ocean, of which all that remains now are a few little pools, like the Caspian Sea. There were other great oceans in the history of the Earth - Iapetus, Panthalassa - but Tethys was the last of them, vanishing a mere moment (in geological terms) before Man came on the scene. Once Tethys stretched across the world. How do we know? And how could such a vast ocean vanish? The clues of its existence are scattered from Morocco to China. This book tells the story of the ocean, from its origins some 250 million years ago, to its disappearance. It also tells of its impact on life on Earth. The dinosaurs were just beginning to get going when Tethys formed, and they were long dead by the time it disappeared. Dorrik Stow describes the powerful forces that shaped the ocean; the marine life it once held and the rich deposits ofTrade ReviewReview from previous edition Vanished Ocean is an ideal book for those who are already widely read in natural science. It should appeal strongly to legions of former science students who, having since made their way in the world as accountants and personnel managers, hanker for the interest ad excitement of a life they once glimpsed but were unable to grasp. * Ted Nield, Literary Review *'Vanished Ocean' is an ideal general reader for students and those who are already widely read in natural science. * Ted Nield, Geoscientist *A wealth of nourishing knowledge revealed through the history of Tethyan Realm. * Ted Nield, Geoscientist *'Vanished Ocean' is an ideal book for those who are already widely read in natural science. * Ted Nield, Literary Review *A well argued contribution to one of the great scientific debates of the last 30 years. * Jonathan Beard, New Scientist *Table of ContentsPreface ; 1. Tethys the Sea Goddess ; 2. Pangea the Supercontinent and the Birth of Tethys ; 3. Extinction, Evolution, and the Great Cycles of Life ; 4. Tethyan Fecundity in the Jurassic Seas ; 5. Black Death to Black Gold ; 6. The Greatest Flood of All Time: Rise and Fall of the Seas ; 7. End of an Era: The Debate Continues ; 8. Portrait of the Tethys Seaway ; 9. Closing Ocean, Rising Mountain ; 10. Death Throes of an Ocean ; 11. Epilogue: Perspective on the Future ; Further Reading ; Glossary of terms

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Book Synopsis100 years ago, Einstein''s theory of relativity shattered the world of physics. Our comforting Newtonian ideas of space and time were replaced by bizarre and counterintuitive conclusions: if you move at high speed, time slows down, space squashes up and you get heavier; travel fast enough and you could weigh as much as a jumbo jet, be squashed thinner than a CD without feeling a thing - and live for ever. And that was just the Special Theory. With the General Theory came even stranger ideas of curved space-time, and changed our understanding of gravity and the cosmos. This authoritative and entertaining Very Short Introduction makes the theory of relativity accessible and understandable. Using very little mathematics, Russell Stannard explains the important concepts of relativity, from E=mc2 to black holes, and explores the theory''s impact on science and on our understanding of the universe.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of ContentsFURTHER READING; INDEX

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Book SynopsisSuperconductivity is one of the most exciting areas of research in physics today. Outlining the history of its discovery, and the race to understand its many mysterious and counter-intuitive phenomena, this Very Short Introduction explains in accessible terms the theories that have been developed, and how they have influenced other areas of science, including the Higgs boson of particle physics and ideas about the early Universe. It is an engaging and informative account of a fascinating scientific detective story, and an intelligible insight into some deep and beautiful ideas of physics.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. What is superconductivity? ; 2. The quest for low temperatures ; 3. The discovery of superconductivity ; 4. Expulsion ; 5. Pairing up ; 6. Symmetry ; 7. Before the breakthrough ; 8. High-temperature superconductivity ; 9. The making of the new superconductors ; 10. What have superconductors ever done for us? ; Dramatis personae ; Further Reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisOceans make up most of the surface of our blue planet. They may form just a sliver on the outside of the Earth, but they are very important, not only in hosting life, including the fish and other animals on which many humans depend, but in terms of their role in the Earth system, in regulating climate, and cycling nutrients. As climate change, pollution, and over-exploitation by humans puts this precious resource at risk, it is more important than ever that we understand and appreciate the nature and history of oceans. There is much we still do not know about the story of the Earth''s oceans, and we are only just beginning to find indications of oceans on other planets. In this book, geologists Jan Zalasiewicz and Mark Williams consider the deep history of oceans, how and when they may have formed on the young Earth -- topics of intense current research -- how they became salty, and how they evolved through Earth history. We learn how oceans have formed and disappeared over millions of years, how the sea nurtured life, and what may become of our oceans in the future. We encounter some of the scientists and adventurers whose efforts led to our present understanding of oceans. And we look at clues to possible seas that may once have covered parts of Mars and Venus, that may still exist, below the surface, on moons such as Europa and Callisto, and the possibility of watery planets in other star systems.Trade ReviewThis book crams a lot of information into its 265 pages, all well referenced with notes at the back. From pirates to exoplanets and penis-worms to space probes this is truly the story of water, life, and discovery. A must-read for those with a hunger for general knowledge, or any interest in the topic. You will certainly find something new to explore further in this fascinating and accessibly written book. * Jonathan Scafidi, The Geological Society *Fluid and fascinating prose with just the right dosage of entertaining anecdotes and human interest * Chemistry & Industry, Michael Gross *readable and absorbing account * Guardian, Devorah Bennu *[A] fast-paced but very readable ride through deep time ... Recommended. All academic library collections * CHOICE *Exhilirating foray * Barbara Kiser, Nature *Table of ContentsPreface 1: Water in the Cosmos 2: Ocean Origins on Earth 3: Ocean Forms 4: The Salt of the Earth 5: Moving the Waters 6: Life of the Oceans 7: Oceans in Crisis 8: The End of Earthly Oceans 9: Oceans of the Solar System 10: Undreamed Shores Notes References and Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisLight enables us to see the world around us. Our sense of sight provides us with direct information about space and time, the physical arrangement of the world, and how it changes. This almost universal shared sensation of vision has led to a fascination with the nature and properties of light across the ages. But the light we see is just a small part of the whole spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, ranging from radio waves to gamma rays.In this Very Short Introduction Ian Walmsley discusses early attempts to explain light, and the development of apparently opposing particulate and wave theories by scientists such as Isaac Newton and Christiaan Huygens. He shows how light was recognized as an electromagnetic wave in the 19th century, and the development of the quantum mechanics view of wave-particle duality in the 20th century. He also describes the many applications of light, domestic and scientific, such as microwaves, DVDs, and lasers. We now use the whole range of electromagnetic radiation to peer both into the human body and deep into space. Turning to the future of optics, Walmsley concludes by looking at some of the most exciting new developments using quantum light sources in communications and computing.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade Reviewa solid little collection of material on the nature of light. * Popularscience.com *Table of Contents1. What is light? ; 2. Rays ; 3. Waves ; 4. Duality ; 5. Light matters ; 6. Light, space and time ; 7. Lighting the frontiers ; 8. Quantum Light ; 9. Twilight ; Further Reading ; Index

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Book Synopsis''The one meditation tactic that will get you through the toughest times'' Oprah DailyOvercome negative thoughts and develop a positive mindset this January with these meditation practices proven by neuroscientific research.In this modern digital age, many of us feel overwhelmed, panicked and short on time. The practice of meditation is an ancient and scientifically proven antidote to that frenzied feeling. Combining scientific expertise and spiritual wisdom, this is a practical guide on how it can help you feel calm and in control.With chapters on Breathing, Compassion and Worry, it is full of empirically proven and easy-to-follow exercises that will help you tackle mental obstacles, including issues such as self-doubt and negative thought patterns. This is a fresh perspective on meditation that will uplift and soothe your mind, whether you''re new to it or not.FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, DANIEL GOLEMAN ''The perfect guide for finding true inner peace'' Ruby WaxTrade ReviewThis beautiful and inspiring book, arising from the brilliance of two great minds, contains profound yet practical advice on meditation and its power to nourish the world * Gelong Thubten, author of A Monk’s Guide to Happiness *The one meditation tactic that will get you through the toughest times * Oprah Daily *The perfect guide for finding true inner peace * Ruby Wax, author of A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled *Practical, doable techniques for making two game-changing inner moves: getting out of your head, as well as taming your demons [...] all backed up by rigorous science * Dan Harris, author of 10% Happier *Highly recommend * Dan Harris, bestselling author of 10% Happier *An exciting new book that combines recent research into meditation with fresh, accessible, and profound teachings on the actual practice * Pema Chödrön, author of When Things Fall Apart *A rare blend of genuine, far-reaching meditative wisdom and the cutting-edge neuroscience that both explains and supports it. This book is an extraordinary collaboration and a great jewel that will benefit all who read it * Joseph Goldstein, author of Seeking the Heart of Wisdom *PRAISE FOR TSOKNYI RINPOCHE - He is a powerful and eloquent link between the great yogi practitioners of old Tibet and our bewildering twenty-first century. He's completely comfortable in both. And he makes us comfortable, too. * Richard Gere *Goleman offers hope for us all * The Times *[Why We Meditate] shows how we can regain our innate rhythm * Sainsbury's Magazine *Each chapter is a kind of antidote for the scepticism...read this book * New Scientist *

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Book SynopsisEye-openingmemorableRosenblum's enthusiasm is contagious and his prose accessible. Kirkus ReviewsTrade Review"[An] appealing and compelling look at new findings about the powers of our less-conscious brain, the realm of the senses." -- Booklist"Rosenblum provides hundreds of fascinating examples of the ways in which our sensory entanglements influence our daily lives and make us, well, us." -- Scientific American"This is the first book I've seen that expertly draws the non-scientist into the fascinating world of sensory experience and perception. Rosenblum engages the reader with many stories of intriguing individuals and he does this while melding in lucidly explained hard science." -- Rachel Herz, author of Why You Eat What You Eat

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Book SynopsisAn inspirational introduction to the physics of the twenty-first century, Mr Tompkins explores the extreme edges of the universe to understand Einstein's relativity, the birth of the universe and more. In this 1999 edition, Russell Stannard (the Uncle Albert Trilogy) has revised, updated and expanded George Gamow's book Mr Tompkins in Paperback (1965).Trade Review'The best just got better. Two of the most influential popular science books ever were Mr Tompkins in Wonderland (1940) and Mr Tompkins Explores the Atom (1945) … They were brought together in one volume, slightly updated, and reprinted in 1965 as Mr Tompkins in Paperback … Russell Stannard, the very best writer of science books for young readers [has updated Mr Tompkins] with immense care and subtlety, rearranging the text, adding new material and changing a word or two where necessary … I had two fears - that my remembered delight in the original would be destroyed by looking at it through more mature eyes, and that Stannard might spoil the book. Both were unfounded. There is a certain period charm about the original, but Stannard has improved on both the physics and the narrative … It is absolutely the best place to get a feel for the most important scientific ideas of the twentieth century.' John Gribbin, The Independent'… as I kept reading, I began to realize that Stannard had actually done a remarkable job of preserving the mood and feeling of the original … The book still has a charming naiveté, and although the illustrations have been changed, they too still have that same, almost Victorian quality. So, to my surprise, I have to pronounce the translation a success. If newcomers who have not seen the original read the book, they will find a charming, whimsical introduction to modern physics … Are there other good books that cover the same material? Lots of them! Is there another book that does it so pleasantly, giving the reader a direct, sort of inside view of otherwise very remote phenomena, all within the context of a running short novel? I doubt it! The New World … is a unique book.' Physics Today'… here is a version that Stannard believes Gamow himself might have written, had he been at work today. Physics took a giant leap at the junction of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries … the book deals very well with the more recent developments and Mr Tompkins' visit to a particle accelerator is well described. Stannard has also updated the language, where appropriate. This has been a successful exercise that Gamow … would have liked. I can recommend the book both for general readers, and for specialists who may like to check how their subject is being presented to Mr Tompkins today.' Physics World'A new version of the Mr Tompkins' adventures, revised and updated by Russell Stannard, brings the experiences into modern day. A welcome addition to the original.' Astronomy Now'For more than five decades the fictional Mr Tompkins has helped familiarize people with many esoteric concepts of physics. Russell Stannard … has brought George Gamow's Mr Tompkins into atomic physics and cosmology but has kept the British flair.' Sky and Telescope'For more than five decades the fictional Mr Tompkins has helped familiarize people with many esoteric concepts of physics. Russell Stannard … has brought George Gamow's Mr Tompkins in atomic physics and cosmology but has kept the British flair.' Sky and Telescope'Russell Stannard is a brilliant communicator.' The Times Higher Education SupplementFrom reviews of Mr Tompkins in Paperback: 'Enthusiastically recommended to both scientific and general readers.' The Guardian'Not only entertaining; the ordinary reader can learn from it a great deal about sub-atomic particles - electrons, neutrons and the rest - and the strange rules which govern their behaviour.' The Observer'Will vastly fascinate the whimsical, and is also entirely scientific.' Scientific American'An inspired double reissue'. GNOMON'All in all, this has been a successful exercise … I can recommend the book both for general readers, and for specialists who may like to check how their subject is being presented to Mr Tompkins today.' Jayant Narlikar, Physics World' … a new edition of this classical book, revided and updated by Russell Stannard. Such an update was, indeed, long overdue … If you need a gift for a non-physicist, The New world of Mr Tompkins is the right thing for you to buy.' Volker Perlick, General Relativity and Gravitation'Popular science author Russell Stannard, has treaded - successfully in this reviewer}s opinion - on hallowed ground by updating a classic, written by an author who has made major contributions to cosmology and nuclear physics, and who was a tireless populizer of science … other than there not being enough sex, this is a wonderful introduction to the most important scientific ideas of our time.' MNASSA'Modern physics has never been explained in such an entertaining way.' School Science Review (Association for Science Education)Table of ContentsRevisor's foreword; Gamow's preface; 1. City speed limit; 2. The professor's lecture on relativity which caused Mr Tompkins' dream; 3. Mr Tompkins takes a holiday; 4. Notes of the professor's lecture on curved space; 5. Mr Tompkins visits a closed universe; 6. Cosmic opera; 7. Black holes, heat death and blow torch; 8. Quantum snooker; 9. The quantum safari; 10. Maxwell's demon; 11. The merry tribe of electrons; 11.1/2. The remainder of the previous lecture through which Mr Tompkins dozed; 12. Inside the nucleus; 13. The woodcarver; 14. Holes in nothing; 15. Visiting the 'atom smasher'; 16. The professor's last lecture; 17. Epilogue.

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Book SynopsisBill Bryson (Author, Reader) Bill Bryson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1951. His bestselling books include The Road to Little Dribbling, Notes from a Small Island, A Walk in the Woods, One Summer and The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. In a national poll, Notes from a Small Island was voted the book that best represents Britain. His acclaimed work of popular science, A Short History of Nearly Everything, won the Aventis Prize and the Descartes Prize, and was the biggest selling non-fiction book of its decade in the UK. His new book The Body: A Guide for Occupants is an extraordinary exploration of the human body which will have you marvelling at the form you occupy.Bill Bryson was Chancellor of Durham University 20052011. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society. He lives in England.Trade ReviewPossibly the best scientific primer ever published. * Economist *'A travelogue of science, with a witty, engaging, and well-informed guide who loves his patch and is desperate to share its delights with us' -- Peter Atkins * The Times *'A thoroughly enjoyable, as well as educational, experience. Nobody who reads it will ever look at the world around them in the same way again' -- William Hartston * Daily Express *'Brims with strange and amazing facts...destined to become a modern classic of science writing' -- Ed Regis * New York Times Book Review *'It deserves to sell as many copies as there are protons in the full stop that ends this review (at least 500,000,000,000).' -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisWhat are you, who are you and where are you going? - the beginner's guide to modern scienceTrade Review‘This is a fine piece of work... very entertaining and informative... It should appeal and be useful to the generalist who wants an overview of science’ Sir Peter Ratcliffe, 2019 Nobel Prize winner and head of clinical research at the Francis Crick Institute

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Book SynopsisA mathematical sightseeing tour of the natural world from the author of THE MAGICAL MAZEWhy do many flowers have five or eight petals, but very few six or seven? Why do snowflakes have sixfold symmetry? Why do tigers have stripes but leopards have spots?Mathematics is to nature as Sherlock Holmes is to evidence. Mathematics can look at a single snowflake and deduce the atomic geometry of its crystals; it can start with a violin string and uncover the existence of radio waves. And mathematics still has the power to open our eyes to new and unsuspected regularities - the secret structure of a cloud or the hidden rhythms of the weather. There are patterns in the world we are now seeing for the first time - patterns at the frontier of science, yet patterns so simple that anybody can see them once they know where to look.

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Book SynopsisAn irresistible stocking-filler: a hilarious romp through the science of Christmas.Trade ReviewAn extensively revised edition of a light-hearted scientific look at the rituals and icons of Christmas from such questions as the thermodynamics involved in cooking a turkey to the likely celestial candidates for the Star of Bethlehem and what happens to us physically when we over-indulge in alcohol. And there's a new chapter on how religion can help your entire life.

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