Popular science Books

Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestseller. An astonishing account of the sailors, scientists and inventors who sought to understand the weather.**Book of the Week on Radio 4**''Gripping'' The Times''Exhilarating'' Sunday TimesIn an age when a storm was evidence of God's wrath, pioneering meteorologists had to fight against convention and religious dogma to realise their ambitions. But buoyed by the achievements of the Enlightenment, a generation of mavericks set out to unlock the secrets of the atmosphere. Meet Luke Howard, the first to classify the clouds, Francis Beaufort, quantifier of the winds, James Glaisher, explorer of the upper atmosphere by way of a hot air balloon, Samuel Morse, whose electric telegraph gave scientists the means by which to transmit weather warnings, and at the centre of it all Admiral Robert FitzRoy: master sailor, scientific pioneer and founder of the Met Office. Peter MoTrade ReviewRichly researched, exciting... It is both scientific and cultural history, of prizewinning potential and as fresh and exhilarating throughout as a strong sea breeze. -- James McConnachie * Sunday Times *Superbly researched and grippingly written... Moore is at least as interested in the personalities and their rivalries, and the sheer spendour and catastrophies of weather itself - storms and shipwrecks, heatwaves and floods (all vividly described) - as by the science. And he weaves it together, deftly picking up threads left dangling in earlier chapters, darting across continents, embracing swashbuckling sea captains and fastidious bureaucrats, penny-pinching politians and mad inventors, with as sharp an eye for eccentricity, absurdity and tragedy as for genius. The result is a panorama of the entire Victorian era. -- Richard Morrison * The Times *The Weather Experiment is a genuinely gripping read and demonstrates how scientific ideas can come ahead of the time -- Gavin Pretor, 4 stars * Mail on Sunday *Moore is the rare science writer who can describe dew point so poetically you feel you’re with him in a twinkling field of white clover on a cool summer morning… Evocative and full of wisdom for modern times. -- New York Times Book ReviewThe Weather Experiment is not the first book to have been written about FitzRoy…but Moore’s achievement is to imbue him and his work with palpable narrative life, while surrounding him with a large supporting cast of contemporaries * The Times Literary Supplement *A skilful, detailed account of a complex story, in which scientific advances are far from inevitable in a world of flawed humans and bad luck... Moore's engaging, often surprising work of storytelling, written with such care and pleasure, is a fine tribute -- Daniel Hahn * Spectator *Impressive -- Ben East * Guardian Weekly *Thought-provoking… Rich and informative … Arnold Toynbee once railed against the view that ‘History is just one damned thing after another’. Recording weather data day in, day out must feel like one damn temperature reading after another. Yet Moore has skilfully converted decades of routine monotony into a gripping tale of derring-do. -- Patricia Fara * Literary Review, Book of the Month *Elegantly constructed … The Weather Experiment surprises constantly, often by weaving together the famous and the obscure -- Mike Jay * Wall St Journal *Prepare for turbulence in this history of Britain’s seminal contribution to weather forecasting * Nature *This biography is an impressive achievement -- 4 stars * BBC Focus *Moore’s enthusiasm for his subject and the astonishing audacity of those long ago storm chasers make the book a deeply enjoyable read. * Daily Beast *Moore writes about this band of ad hoc scientists with brio, and it’s hard not to be awed and charmed by their united quest to prove that earth’s atmosphere was not chaotic beyond comprehension, that it could be studied, understood and, ultimately, predicted … Detailed and insightful, this book is as relevant as ever in this era of rapid climate change. * Kirkus Reviews *Rich and enlightening, I’ll never look at a dewy morning in the same way again. -- Sarah BakewellFor illuminating a byway of scientific history that many scarcely knew existed we must thank Peter Moore, whose superbly researched an grippingly written book is more than a dusty account of early meteorologists -- Richard Morrison * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThe greatest mass extinction in Earths history happened some 251 million years ago. In this cataclysm at least 90 per cent of life was killed, both on land and in the sea, almost bringing evolution to a halt. What caused destruction on such an unimaginable scale? Was it the impact of a huge meteorite, or prolonged volcanic eruption in Siberia?Trade Review'A superb book that tells a gripping tale … a dénouement worthy of Hercule Poirot' - The Times Higher Education Supplement'Brings back to Earth Science a sense of adventure ... it is both a wonderfully good read and a valued reference' - James Lovelock, author of GaiaTable of ContentsPrologue: The Geological Time-scale • Chapter 1: Antediluvian Sauria • Chapter 2: Murchison Names the Permian • Chapter 3: The Death of Catastrophism • Chapter 4: The Concept that Dared Not Speak Its Name • Chapter 5: Impact! • Chapter 6: Diversity, Extinction and Mass Extinction • Chapter 7: Homing in on the Event • Chapter 8: Life’s Biggest Challenge • Chapter 9: A Tale of Two Continents • Chapter 10: On the River Sakmara • Chapter 11: What Caused the Biggest Catastrophe of all Time? • Chapter 12: Recovery from the Bring • Chapter 13: The Sixth Mass Extinction?

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Book SynopsisCivil engineering produces the structures of all human settlements worldwide and is a vital discipline for many aspects modern life, underlying housing, transport, and our major areas and buildings related to work, study, and leisure.In this Very Short Introduction, David Muir Wood demonstrates the nature and importance of civil engineering not only in the history of civilization and urbanization, but its range of facets today, and its challenges for the future. Beginning with the challenge of creating a settlement on a deserted island, which sets out the problems that civil engineers need to solve, he looks at the social and environmental considerations as well as the science, technology, and craft of building bridges, tunnels, houses, and areas of recreation.He highlights the lives of some major civil engineers, including Brunel and Bazalgette, considers the challenges of managing water and energy, and looks at our increasing sensitivity to building and the environment. 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. Civil engineering ; 2. Materials of civil engineering ; 3. Water and waste ; 4. 'Directing the great sources of power in nature' ; 5. Concept - technology - realisation ; 6. Robustness ; 7. The future ; Further reading

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Book SynopsisA FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020How did we end up in a world where humans coexist with technologies we can no longer fully control or understand?George Dyson plots an unexpected course through the past 300 years to reveal the hidden connections that underpin our digital age, ending with a premonition of what lies ahead. From an eighteenth-century Russian voyage across the North Pacific, to the mirror signals that heralded the age of digital telecommunications and the invention of the vacuum tube, Analogia interweaves historical adventure with scientific insight in a deeply personal story that frames the pursuit - and cost - of the digital revolution in a captivating new light.Trade ReviewThis book pierces through the fog of everyday life. Read and you will become aware of history you need to know, and of how the last few centuries of the human story sit within a much larger, epochal frame. An extra treat is insight into the remarkable Dyson family -- Jaron Lanier * Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now *The most delightfully peculiar book I've ever read. It's grand and intimate, personal and cosmic, and about digital computing and archaic hunter gatherers. Every paragraph is a surprise -- Kevin Kelly * Wired *An odyssey of discovery ... part autobiography, part science manual, part history book -- Izabella Kaminska * Financial Times *Few writers could string together a coherent and compelling tale out of elements as varied as the Bering-Chirikov expedition to Siberia in 1741, the construction of a US heliograph intelligence network, tree houses, kayak designs and the future of artificial intelligence. Dyson is one in this quirky personal history of technology. -- John Tothill * Financial Times *Brilliant ... idiosyncratic ... to read him is to be led on the strangest of adventures, on paths untread, up and down trees, and through rivers of time -- Jason Kehe * WIRED *

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Book SynopsisIn 1859, Charles Darwin shocked the world with a radical theory - evolution by natural selection. One hundred and fifty years later, his theory still challenges some of our most precious beliefs.Introducing Evolution provides a step-by-step guide to 'Darwin's dangerous idea' and takes a fresh look at the often misunderstood concepts of natural selection and the selfish gene. Drawing on the latest findings from genetics, ecology and animal behaviour- as well as the work of best-selling science writers such as Richard Dawkins and Steven Pinker- this book reveals how the evidence in favour of evolutionary theory is stronger than ever.

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Book SynopsisGenetics is the newest of all sciences - nothing useful was known about inheritance until just over a century ago. Now genetics is exploding, and before long we will have the complete code, written in three thousand million letters of DNA, of what makes a human being. Introducing Genetics takes us from the early work of Mendel to the discovery of DNA, the human gene map and the treatment of inborn disease. No one can afford to be ignorant of genetics. This book is the perfect introduction.

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Book SynopsisEvery day, most of us will read or watch something in the news that is based on statistics in some way. Sometimes it''ll be obvious - ''X people develop cancer every year'' - and sometimes less obvious - ''How smartphones destroyed a generation''. Statistics are an immensely powerful tool for understanding the world, but in the wrong hands they can be dangerous.Introducing you to the common mistakes that journalists make and the tricks they sometimes deploy, HOW TO READ NUMBERS is a vital guide that will help you understand when and how to trust the numbers in the news - and, just as importantly, when not to.Trade ReviewA charming, practical and insightful guide. You might not even notice how much you're learning - you'll be too busy having fun -- TIM HARFORD, author of HOW TO MAKE THE WORLD ADD UPA vital plea to take statistics more seriously - the prose being as clear and elegant as the numbers -- SATHNAM SANGHERA, author of EMPIRELANDReading this book is strongly correlated with not looking stupid. Highly recommended -- HELEN LEWIS, author of Difficult WomenAn excellent guide to everyday statistics . . . the authors do a splendid job of stringing words together so smartly that even difficult concepts are explained and so understood with ease. [A] timely and lively book -- Manjit Kumar * THE TIMES *Wonderfully written - incredibly readable. It should be made compulsory reading for everyone before they leave school -- EVAN DAVISAn erudite, enlightening guide to the numbers we read in the news - and why they are so often wrong. The authors make sense of dense material and offer engrossing insights into sampling bias, statistical significance and the dangers of believing the casual language used in newspapers * INDEPENDENT *[A] fascinating, easy-to-read explanation of how to interpret numbers in the news . . . their enlightening book provides us with the tools to spot when we're being led astray -- Nick Rennison * DAILY MAIL *An absolute lifesaver . . . Breezy, easy to read, funny and loaded with useful information -- IAN DUNT, author of HOW TO BE A LIBERALA great combination of important and accessible -- MISHAL HUSAINBrilliant . . . part of the joy of How to Read Numbers is how light and fun it is. At the end of the process, you'll be better equipped to understand what it means when a glass of red wine can both increase and decrease your chances of getting cancer, how many portions of fruit and veg you need to eat each day, and any number of stories about numbers you might read or hear * THE BIG ISSUE *

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Book SynopsisRanging across the 4.6 billion year history of the planet, geology is the subject that encompasses almost all that we see around us, in one way or another, and also much that we cannot see, beneath our feet, and on other planets. The fruits of geology provide most of the materials that give us shelter, and most of the energy that drives our modern lives. Within the study of geology lie some of the clues to the extraordinary impact our species is going to play out on the planet, in centuries and millennia to come.In this Very Short Introduction Jan Zalasiewicz gives a brief introduction to the fascinating field of geology. Describing how the science developed from its early beginnings, he looks at some of the key discoveries that have transformed it, before delving into its various subfields, such as sedimentology, tectonics, and stratigraphy. Analysing the geological foundations of the Earth, Zalasiewicz explains the interlocking studies of tectonics, geophysics, and igneous and metamorphic petrology and geochemistry; and describes how rocks are dated by radiometric dating. Considering the role and importance of geology in the finding and exploitation of resources (including fracking), he also discusses its place in environmental issues, such as foundations for urban structures and sites for landfill, and in tackling issues associated with climate change. Zalasiewicz concludes by discussing the exciting future and frontiers of the field, such as the exploration of the geology of Mars.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 ReviewIf you do not want to have to wade through heavy tomes and are equipped with only school-level knowledge of science, to gain a basic appreciation of this subject, then this 150 page short book could well be just what you need. * Jonathan Cowie, Science Fact & Science Fiction Concatenation *I have never read a better introduction to this vast, fascinating, and vital subject. It really is like seeing the world in a grain of sand. * Dr Ted Nield, Editor, Geoscientist magazine *How much do we know about our home? Jan Zalasiewicz's brief history of Earth is fun to read, yet strong on science too. It's a clear and accurate guide to our planet, and also addresses the challenge of caring for the environment. Just right for that flight or a long train trip! * Euan Nisbet, Foundation Prof. of Earth Science, Royal Holloway, Univ. of London *Table of Contents1: What is geology? 2: Geology: the early days 3: Modern breakthroughs and revolutions 4: Deep Earth geology 5: Earth surface geology 6: Geological fieldwork 7: Geology for resources 8: Geology for society and the environment 9: A very brief history of the Earth

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Book SynopsisMolecules of Murder is about infamous murderers and famous victims; about people like Harold Shipman, Alexander Litvinenko, Adelaide Bartlett, and Georgi Markov. Few books on poisons analyse these crimes from the viewpoint of the poison itself, doing so throws a new light on how the murders or attempted murders were carried out and ultimately how the perpetrators were uncovered and brought to justice. Part I includes molecules which occur naturally and were originally used by doctors before becoming notorious as murder weapons. Part II deals with unnatural molecules, mainly man-made, and they too have been dangerously misused in famous crimes. The book ends with the most famous poisoning case in recent years, that of Alexander Litvinenko and his death from polonium chloride. The first half of each chapter starts by looking at the target molecule itself, its discovery, its history, its chemistry, its use in medicine, its toxicology, and its effects on the human body. The second half then investigates a famous murder case and reveals the modus operandi of the poisoner and how some were caught, some are still at large, and some literally got away with murder. Molecules of Murder will explain how forensic chemists have developed cunning ways to detect minute traces of dangerous substances, and explain why some of these poisons, which appear so life-threatening, are now being researched as possible life-savers. Award winning science writer John Emsley has assembled another group of true crime and chemistry stories to rival those of his highly acclaimed Elements of Murder.Trade Review"Molecules of murder is a paean to forensic chemistry. It is also an eminently readable discussion of classic poisoning cases and the science behind them." * Molecular Interventions, P146. *"This very well written book should find its way into most school libraries, as it will appeal to those - young and old - who are fascinated either by the chemistry involved, or by the history of several murder cases." * Science in School, issue 13, Tim Harrison, University of Bristol. *"...each chapter is full of interesting nuggets of information that you just don't find in the standard toxicology textbooks.""...an excellent read for the chemist, toxicologist or occupational hygienist who is interested in the world of "true crime.""...the writing is a model of clarity, the stories logically laid out.""Highly recommended, too, for anybody who enjoys a good thriller!" * Safety and Health Practitioner *"This book is clearly written and much easier to digest than the compounds it describes.""Emsley has written a book that satisfies the true-crime reader as well as the science-orientated specialist.""I'm sure Gil Grisson, former head of the forensic investigation team in the TV Show "CSI" would have a copy on his shelf" * Chemical and Engineering News, Feb 2 2009, Volume 87, Number 05, Charles Tumosa *"In this highly engaging, detailed and morbidly fascinating slim volume, chemist John Emsley narrates the stories of those who made use of science for killing their fellow beings through deadly means""The cases are fascinating for science buffs because of the scientific background about the poisons, and for others for the ingenious thinking that went both into murders and the detective work involved in solving them." * Ashutosh Joglekar Blog, December 04, 2008 *"The accounts are superbly written, with appropriate ammounts of chemistry expertly blended with gripping accounts of criminal acts.""...I found this book fascinating and a brilliant mixture of chemistry and crime. The writing is excellent, the research thorough and the resulting book outstanding." * Education in chemistry, John Nicholson. *"This book is a must read for students of forensic science.""...is the right balance between a book on toxicology and an analysis of the use of poisons in crime""The case study analysis makes the book useful in other disciplines apart from a pure science and this would be a very good text for use in criminolgy or other social science based courses""The book has a very good glossary making it a useful reference source" * Physical Science Centre, Volume 9, Issue 2 *Table of ContentsPart I: From medicine to murder; Chapter 1: Ricin and the assassination of Georgi Markov; Chapter 2: Hyoscine and the murder of Belle Elmore; Chapter 3: Atropine and Mrs Agutter's gin and tonic; Chapter 4: Diamorphine and the Dr Jekyll of Hyde; Chapter 5: Adrenaline and the near-perfect murders of Kirsten Gilbert; Part II: So simple, so useful, so deadly; Chapter 6: Chloroform and the murder of Edwin Bartlett; Chapter 7: Life & Death & CO; Carbon monoxide and the homemade gas chamber; Chapter 8: Cyanide and the death on the Nile; Chapter 9: Paraquat and the poisoned gravy; Chapter 10: Polonium and the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko;

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Book SynopsisA guide to the 99% of the Universe our eyes can’t see from a dazzling new voice in popular scienceTrade Review‘Engaging…this book will be of interest to anyone wanting to know more about how we’ve learned what we know about the Universe.’ -- Chris North, BBC Sky at Night‘Matthew Bothwell’s excellent book is a compelling read. He sets the latest fascinating discoveries in their historical context, and highlights the mysteries that challenge future astronomers. The coverage is comprehensive and clear. The book stands out in a crowded field and deserves very wide readership.’ -- Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal‘Matthew Bothwell has opened a new window onto the night sky for his readers… A unique and compelling read that will open your eyes to the beautiful and multifaceted universe that scientists are exploring today.’ -- Emily Levesque, author of The Last Stargazers‘Matt’s book is an excellent introduction to how astronomers have learnt "what’s out there", particularly using radiation invisible to the human eye. He deftly conveys ideas with a cheerful and infectious enthusiasm, using humour, vivid analogies and personal anecdotes to bring our understanding of the Universe to life, without losing any scientific rigour. Highly readable, it offers an increased sense of wonder at the workings of the cosmos.’ -- Carolin Crawford, Emeritus Gresham Professor of Astronomy‘The Invisible Universe shows everything in a new light. In clear language this book takes you from the familiar to the deeply strange, from blue skies to black holes and beyond, showing how much we’ve learned and the immensity of what we have yet to understand.’ -- Ken MacLeod, author of the award-winning Fall Revolution series‘Matt Bothwell guides us through the world of astronomy and astrophysics with an engagingly written, up-to-date view of some of the key current frontiers. He opens our eyes to wavelengths beyond the light we can see. His journey includes galaxies, black holes, star formation, dust, gravitational waves, dark matter and dark energy – all with interesting historical context, accessible explanations and richly peppered with accurate analogies. A compelling read.’ -- Andrew Coates, Professor of Physics at UCL and Deputy Director (Solar System) at UCL’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory‘This book bursts with information without once becoming dull or over-complicated. Ideas are introduced at an accessible level, and unique analogies put abstract concepts and almost inconceivable quantities into a context that we can understand intuitively… Some of the core scientific content of this book may have been covered in other popular astronomy books, but rarely in such an engaging, warm, and readable way. Readers of all ages who want to gain a better understanding of the unseen Universe will find something here to enjoy.’ -- Astronomy Now‘Intriguing… In Dr Bothwell’s fascinating new book, we are taken on a cosmic journey… beautifully presented in a way that makes for compelling reading and opens up your mind to the unseen. A book that fully deserves to be on any curiously minded person’s book shelf.’ * Astronomy Ireland *‘A fascinating account that particularly stands out in the crowded field of scientific literature… Explaining difficult concepts in a digestible way, The Invisible Universe is a must-read for those seeking a straightforward route into the world of astronomy. One can’t help being attracted to Bothwell’s infectious passion for science, prompting us to stare out at the night sky and wonder what other discoveries lie hidden amongst the stars.’ -- Reaction‘A highly recommended and enjoyable read, especially if this is your first guidebook for this armchair trip… Dr. Bothwell examines each topic with the right mix of history, anecdote, analogy, science and implications… captivating.’ -- Starvind‘Matthew Bothwell has opened a new window onto the night sky for his readers, taking us on a sweeping tour of some of the most cutting-edge phenomena in the cosmos and using his knack for clear, precise, and inventive explanations to help us all see the unseen. A unique and compelling read that will open your eyes to the beautiful and multifaceted universe that scientists are exploring today.’ -- Emily Levesque, author of The Last Stargazers‘Excellent… a great read… Matthew Bothwell has a sense of wonder and joy about the concepts and ideas he is explaining. His enthusiasm and marvel are contagious… definitely the best book we have read and reviewed in 2022.’ -- Simon Cocking, Irish Tech News‘This is a beautifully articulated and informative book all about the wonders of our universe and the history behind it all. I was drawn to this book because the concept of space and all that’s in it interested me, and reading this has made me even more fascinated. It is truly a page-turner and was really hard to put down once I started reading.’ -- SMS Non-fiction Book Reviews

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Book SynopsisFor centuries, scientists had only one way to study the brain: wait for misfortune to strike - strokes, seizures, infections, lobotomies, horrendous accidents, phantom limbs, Siamese twins - and see how the victims changed afterwards. In many cases their survival was miraculous, and observers marvelled at the transformations that took place when different parts of the brain were destroyed. Parents suddenly couldn't recognise their children. Pillars of the community became pathological liars and paedophiles. Some people couldn't speak but could still sing. Others couldn't read but could write.The stories of these people laid the foundations of modern neuroscience and, century by century, key cases taught scientists what every last region of the brain did. With lucid explanations and incisive wit, Sam Kean explores the brain's secret passageways and recounts the forgotten tales of the ordinary individuals whose struggles, resilience and deep humanity made neuroscience possible.Trade ReviewKean's lively new book unpacks a bundle of fascinating, alarming and sometimes heartbreaking case histories * Mail on Sunday *Entertaining... Some of his stories are astonishing... Kean tells a good story and asks the right questions * The Sunday Times *Kean...reveal[s] how intracranial calamities have built neuroscience case by puzzled-out case, gross anatomy to consciousness. However pop the science, there is much to compel * Nature *The author's skill in illuminating how the brain functions and malfunctions manifest themselves in people's lives makes for absorbing reading....These avowals ultimately raise weighty, compelling questions about the nature of identity and what it means to be human * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisOur understanding of the British Palaeolithic and Mesolithic has changed dramatically over the last three decades, and yet not since H. J. Fleure's A Natural History of Man in Britain (1951) has the New Naturalist Library included a volume focused on the study of early humans and their environment.In this long overdue new book, distinguished archaeologist Nick Ashton uncovers the most recent findings, following the remarkable survival and discovery of bones, stone tools and footprints which allow us to paint a picture of the first human visitors to this remote peninsula of north-west Europe.As part of the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain project and subsequent research, Ashton is involved in an unrivalled collaborative effort involving archaeologists, palaeontologists, and earth scientists at different British institutes, including the Natural History Museum and the British Museum. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the book explores the latest discoveries such as footprints at HaTrade Review‘[An] insightful study’ Nature ‘Early Humans packs in a huge amount of data, yet its research anecdotes, clear style and light humour make it accessible to a wide readership – ideal for students and researchers, but equally to be enjoyed by anyone curious about our extraordinary story on the edge of the early human world.’ British Archaeology ‘Well-designed … the images and illustrations are crisp andcolourful … the professional, the amateur and the dilettante alike will find something of interest from Early Humans, and will learn a great deal about Britain’s Ice Age past.’ Antiquity Praise for the New Naturalist series: ‘Taken either individually or as a whole, they are one of the proudest achievements of modern publishing’ The Sunday Times ‘The series is an amazing achievement’ The Times Literary Supplement ‘The books are glorious to own’ Independent

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Book Synopsis** Winner of Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books 2015 **We live in epoch-making times. The changes we humans have made in recent decades have altered our world beyond anything it has experienced in its 4.6 billion-year history. As a result, our planet is said to be crossing into the Anthropocene the Age of Humans. Gaia Vince decided to travel the world at the start of this new age to see what life is really like for the people on the frontline of the planet we've made. From artificial glaciers in the Himalayas to painted mountains in Peru, electrified reefs in the Maldives to garbage islands in the Caribbean, Gaia found people doing the most extraordinary things to solve the problems that we ourselves have created. These stories show what the Anthropocene means for all of us and they illuminate how we might engineer Earth for our future.Trade ReviewA heroic and important work -- Bryan Appleyard * Sunday Times *An excellent book... Vince writes with great freshness and vigour, and her stories are hard to stop reading * Daily Telegraph *It holds a mirror up to humanity and says: look what you have done to the world, the only world you will ever have... in every sense a good book, as well as a compelling read * Guardian *A masterpiece... a wondrous, remarkable, but heart-rending story * Ecologist *A masterpiece... a wondrous, remarkable, but heart-rending story * Ecologist *A story of optimism about how 10 billion people can in future live together and prosper... Fresh and unencumbered, Vince glides from ecology to economics, politics to philosophy, seeing it all through the people she meets * New Scientist *

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Book Synopsis***20th Anniversary Edition - With a New Introduction***Cover note: Each copy of the anniversary edition of Climbing Mount Improbable features a unique shell. No two covers are exactly alike.How could such an intricate object as the human eye - so complex and so precise - have come about by chance? In this masterful piece of popular science, Richard Dawkins builds a powerful and carefully reasoned argument for evolutionary adaptation as the force behind all life on earth. The metaphor of ''Mount Improbable'' represents the combination of perfection and improbability that we find in the seemingly ''designed'' complexity of living things. And through it all runs the thread of DNA, the molecule of life, responsible for its own destiny on an unending pilgrimage through time. Evocative illustrations accompany Dawkins'' eloquent descriptions of astonishing adaptations in the living world.Trade ReviewA beautiful, barnstorming thunderclap of a book -- Michael White * Mail on Sunday *Mount Improbable is Dawkins's metaphor for natural selection: its peaks standing for evolution's most complex achievements ... a perfect, elegant riposte to a great deal of fuzzy thinking * Observer *One of the most gifted storytellers of our generation ... he writes like an angel * Scotland on Sunday *A cracking good book -- John Gribbin

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Book SynopsisMichio Kaku''s Physics of the Future: The Inventions that will Transform our Lives is a hypothetical journey through the next 100 years of scientific innovation, as told by the scientists who are making it happen. We all wish we could predict the future, but most of us don''t know enough about the science that makes it possible. That''s why Michio Kaku decided to talk to the people who really know - the visionaries who are already inventing the future in their labs. Based on interviews with over three hundred of the world''s top scientists, Kaku gives us an insider''s perspective on the revolutionary advances that mean we''ll soon be able to take an elevator into space, access the internet via our contact lenses, scan our DNA for signs of disease and even change the shape of objects - and all still within the laws of known physics. This isn''t just the shape of things to come - as Kaku shows, it''s already happening. ''Summons up theTrade ReviewSummons up the sheer wonder of science * Daily Telegraph *A wide-ranging tour of what to expect from technological progress over the next century or so ... fascinating * Walll Street Journal *Mind-bending ... fascinating ... engrossing * San Francisco Chronicle *

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Book Synopsis''A gem of a book'' Carlo Rovelli, author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics''A unique and beautifully written masterpiece'' Max Tegmark, author of Life 3.0Could there be a civilization on a mote of dust? How much of your fate have you made? Who cleans the universe?Through more than fifty Koans - pleasingly paradoxical vignettes following the ancient Zen tradition - leading physicist Anthony Aguirre takes us across the world from Japan to Italy, and through ideas spanning the age, breadth and depth of the Universe. Using these beguiling stories and a flair for explaining complex science, he covers cosmic questions that giants from Aristotle to Galileo to Heisenberg have grappled with - from the nature of time to the origin of multiple universes to the meaning of quantum theory.Playful and enlightening, Cosmological Koans invites the reader into an intellectual adventure of the highest order, givingTrade ReviewThis unique and beautifully written masterpiece transforms the deepest mysteries of our universe into a captivating and accessible quest for personal enlightenment -- Max Tegmark, author of Life 3.0A gem of a book -- Carlo Rovelli, author of Seven Brief Lessons on PhysicsA delight for readers raised on Gödel, Escher, Bach and The Dancing Wu Li Masters * Kirkus *This is calisthenics for the mind - it will stretch your imagination almost to the breaking point, and your understanding of reality will come away more healthy and flexible than before -- Sean Carroll, author of The Big PictureA truly creative exploration of physics and its profound insights into the Universe -- Adam Frank, author of Light of the StarsThe paradoxes of Zen Buddhism could help us grasp fundamental physics. . . What Aguirre does remarkably well is to find a way of threading many of the most interesting questions in theoretical physics onto a single narrative chain. . . At its heart the book offers a compelling answer to the question of how to talk about the un-talk-about-able -- Gilead Amit * The New Scientist *

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Book SynopsisA stimulating and highly readable introduction to the science of imperfections, this book focuses on their crucial role in technology, as well as their influence on society, love, life, health, politics, career development, and key environmental issues, enabling readers to counteract scientific misinformation.Trade ReviewTownsend authored one of the most eloquent and lovely statements in the science of crystals: "Crystals are like people and it is their imperfections that make them interesting". This book is beautifully written and the wide range of topics fit well together. * Vasily V. Bulatov, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory *The range of topics is accessibly presented with confidence and there are interesting and often unexpected things to learn throughout. This is a book that is completely accessible to non-scientists, while not at all boring or tedious to more scientifically literate readers. * Gary Atkinson, University of the West of England *The book is written in an enjoyable style. The author adequately mixes scientific explanations with personal experiences and matters of topical interest. * Ginés Lifante Pedrola, Autonomous University of Madrid *Peter Townsend's book is highly readable, often provocative, and full of insights into technology, the nature of science, and even the broader nature of life. * N. David Mermin, Cornell University *In The Power of Imperfections, Peter Townsend argues that we are conditioned to orient toward a fictional ideal of perfection that leads to a disregard of any form of imperfection. His book is an attempt to overcome this conditioning and show that praising imperfection is justifed in many cases. * Bas de Boer, Metascience *The book attempts to make the general public sensitive to the beauty of imperfections in the context of technology, as well as show how the recognition of imperfections helps people to flourish in their social and professional lives. * Bas de Boer, Metascience *Table of Contents1: Before We Begin 2: The Case for Technological Imperfections 3: Cookery and Technological Spices 4: A Short Log of Technology from Wood 5: Reader Beware 6: Key Features of Chemistry and Solids 7: Examples of New Glass Technologies 8: Optical Fibre Communication 9: Beauty from Imperfections 10: Valuable Imperfections in Crystal Lattices 11: Impurities and the Growth of Semiconductors 12: Small Anomalies and Long-range Consequences 13: Photonics in the 21st Century 14: Chemistry and Catalysis 15: Imperfections in Music 16: Evolution Achieved through Imperfections 17: Hints for a Successful Scientific Career 18: Science in the Realm of Opinion 19: Improving our Future Lives 20: The Greatest Challenges that We Face

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Book SynopsisSince the dawn of human civilization, forests have provided us with food, resources, and energy. The history of human development is also one of forest loss and transformation, and yet even in our increasingly urbanized societies we remain surprisingly dependent on forests for a wide range of goods and services. Moreover, forests still retain a remarkable hold on our environmental values. In an era of continuing tropical deforestation and temperate forest resurgence, and in the midst of uncertainties of climate and land use changes, it is more important than ever to understand what forests are, how they contribute to our livelihoods, and how they underpin our cultural histories and futures. In this Very Short Introduction Jaboury Ghazoul explores our contrasting interactions with forests, as well as their origins, dynamics, and the range of goods and services they provide to human society. Ghazoul concludes with an examination of the recent history of deforestation, transitions to reforestation, and the future outlook for forests particularly in the context of expected climate change.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 ReviewAlthough the Very Short Introduction books aim to be accessible introductions to someone new to their subject, there is ample here to stimulate anyone with an interest in forests. * Wilma Harper, Scottish Forestry *I very much enjoyed this book, and the exercise of thinking of things that I would have liked mentioned was part of the fun there weren't many of these; Jaboury Ghazoul has packed a huge amount into this slim volume. Reading about favourite examples like the Sook Plain and the Eastern White Pine was like seeing old friends again. I heartily recommend this book to forest ecologists, and suggest that anyone beginning a degree in ecology spend an evening reading it. * BES Forest Ecology Group, Dan Bebber *Table of Contents1. Forests in human culture ; 2. Forest origins ; 3. Many forests ; 4. Forest dynamics ; 5. Good and services ; 6. Past, present and future ; Further reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisJohn Parrington argues that social interaction and culture have deeply shaped the exceptional nature of human consciousness.The mental capacities of the human mind far outstrip those of other animals. Our imaginations and creativity have produced art, music, and literature; built bridges and cathedrals; enabled us to probe distant galaxies, and to ponder the meaning of our existence. When our minds become disordered, they can also take us to the depths of despair. What makes the human brain unique, and able to generate such a rich mental life?In this book, John Parrington draws on the latest research on the human brain to show how it differs strikingly from those of other animals in its structure and function at a molecular and cellular level. And he argues that this ''shift'', enlarging the brain, giving it greater flexibility and enabling higher functions such as imagination, was driven by tool use, but especially by the development of one remarkable tool - language.The complex sociaTrade Reviewimpressive study * David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer *John Parrington gives us a very personal take on what it is to be human from the viewpoint of the mind/brain... a genuinely interesting [book]... Parrington's theme is fascinating, and the book is loaded with ideas. * Popular Science *A tour de force that will equally interest both scientists and those who consider themselves over on the humanities side. * Richard Lofthouse, Quad *John Parrington has already proved himself a master-explainer, transmitting the extraordinary breakthroughs in contemporary science to a non-specialist readership. Now he takes on the big question of the relationship between cultural change and the development of the human brain. The result is a book of remarkable range and empathy, in which readers with a background in the humanities will learn a great deal of neuroscience and those with scientific interests will encounter great cultural riches, as Parrington brings together the theory of play, problems of mental illness and much, much more. * Sir Jonathan Bate, Foundation Professor of Environmental Humanities, Arizona State University *What is it about the human brain that allowed it to take over every corner of the planet? And what does that have to do with language, culture, art, and consciousness? With a keen and insightful eye, Parrington dissects what we know about the mind and rebuilds it into a powerful framework. * David Eagleman, neuroscientist at Stanford and NYT best-selling author of Livewired and The Runaway Species *Table of ContentsIntroduction Part 1: Origins of Mind 1: Mind and Matter 2: Tool and Symbol 3: Individual and Society Part II: Mind and Brain 4: Nerve and Brain 5: Genome and Epigenome 6: Growth and Development Part III: The Dynamic Mind 7: Learning and Memory 8: Thought and Language 9: Creativity and Imagination 10: Emotion and Reason 11: Conscious and Unconscious Part IV: Mind in Trouble 12: Sanity and Madness 13: Depression and Anxiety 14: Normality and Diversity 15: Crime and Punishment Part V: The Social Mind 16: Class and Division 17: Resistance and Rebellion Part VI: Mind and Culture 18: Music and Rhythm 19: Art and Design 20: Fact and Fiction 21: Science and Technology Part VII: The Future of Mind 22: Mind and Meaning 23: Mind and Machine A 21st Century Mind Glossary Endnotes

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Book SynopsisLess than 450 years ago, all European scholars believed that the Earth was at the centre of a Universe that was at most a few million miles in extent, and that the planets, sun, and stars all rotated around this centre. Less than 250 years ago, they believed that the Universe was created essentially in its present state about 6000 years ago. Even less than 150 years ago, the view that living species were the result of special creation by God was still dominant. The recognition by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace of the mechanism of evolution by natural selection has completely transformed our understanding of the living world, including our own origins. In this Very Short Introduction Brian and Deborah Charlesworth provide a clear and concise summary of the process of evolution by natural selection, and how natural selection gives rise to adaptations and eventually, over many generations, to new species. They introduce the central concepts of the field of evolutionary biology, as they have developed since Darwin and Wallace on the subject, over 140 years ago, and discuss some of the remaining questions regarding processes. They highlight the wide range of evidence for evolution, and the importance of an evolutionary understanding for instance in combating the rapid evolution of resistance by bacteria to antibiotics and of HIV to antiviral drugs. This reissue includes some key updates to the main text and a completely updated Further Reading section.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 ContentsREFERENCES; FURTHER READING; INDEX

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Book SynopsisMartin Stevens explores the extraordinary variety of senses in the animal kingdom, and discusses the cutting-edge science that is shedding light on these secret worlds. Our senses of vision, smell, taste, hearing, and touch are essential for us to respond to threats, communicate and interact with the world around us. This is true for all animals - their sensory systems are key to survival, and without them animals would be completely helpless. However, the sensory systems of other animals work very differently from ours. For example, many animals from spiders to birds can detect and respond to ultraviolet light, to which we are blind. Other animals, including many insects, rodents, and bats can hear high-frequency ultrasonic sounds well beyond our own hearing range. Many other species have sensory systems that we lack completely, such as the magnetic sense of birds, turtles, and other animals, or the electric sense of many fish. These differences in sensory ability have a major bearing on the ways that animals behave and live in different environments, and also affect their evolution and ecology.In this book, Martin Stevens explores the remarkable sensory systems that exist in nature, and what they are used for. Discussing how different animal senses work, he also considers how they evolve, how they are shaped by the environment in which an animal lives, and the pioneering science that has uncovered how animals use their senses. Throughout, he celebrates the remarkable diversity of life, and shows how the study of sensory systems has shed light on some of the most important issues in animal behaviour, physiology, and evolution. He also describes evidence of the disruptive effects of human activities on the way other animals navigate the world.Trade Reviewa riveting new volume that explores the extraordinary senses of animals....This volume brings the wonders of these sensory worlds to a more general audience. * Michael J. Ryan, Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol.97, no.1 *While paying its dues to those amazing abilities of animals, Secret Worlds has some very intriguing things to say about the evolution and plasticity of the sense - and above all, the cost of acquiring them. [... ] One can only hope that Stevens will return with fresh insights in a few years. * Simon Ings, New Scientist *Table of ContentsPreface 1: A Plethora of Senses 2: Singing Mice and Painting Pictures with Sound 3: For My Eyes Only 4: Electric Attraction 5: Stars of the Tactile World 6: Smelling in Stereo 7: Homing Turtles and Animal Magnetism 8: A Changing World

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Book SynopsisFrom the sudden expansion of a cloud of gas or the cooling of a hot metal, to the unfolding of a thought in our minds and even the course of life itself, everything is governed by the four Laws of Thermodynamics. These laws specify the nature of ''energy'' and ''temperature'', and are soon revealed to reach out and define the arrow of time itself: why things change and why death must come. In this Very Short Introduction Peter Atkins explains the basis and deeper implications of each law, highlighting their relevance in everyday examples. Using the minimum of mathematics, he introduces concepts such as entropy, free energy, and to the brink and beyond of the absolute zero temperature. These are not merely abstract ideas: they govern our lives. In this concise and compelling introduction Atkins paints a lucid picture of the four elegant laws that, between them, drive 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.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition It takes not only a great writer but a great scientist with a lifetime's experience to explains such a notoriously tricky area with absolute economy and precision, not to mention humour. * Books of the Year, Observer. *His engaging account...the lucid figures offer readers a firm understanding of energy and entropy. * Science *Concise, well-written, engaging and carefully structured... an enjoyable and informative read. * Chemistry World *Peter Atkins's account of the core concepts of thermodynamics is beautifully crafted. * Simon Mitton, THES *A brief and invigoratingly limpid guide to the laws of thermodynamics. * Saturday Guardian *Atkins's systematic foundations should go a long way towards easing confusion about the subject...an engaging book, just the right length (and depth) for an absorbing, informative read. * Mark Haw, Nature *[Atkins'] ultra-compact guide to thermodynamics [is] a wonderful book that I wish I had read at university. * New Scientist *Table of ContentsPreface ; 1. The Zeroth Law ; 2. The First Law ; 3. The Second Law ; 4. The Third Law ; Afterword

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Book Synopsis''Punchy and to the point. No beating around the bush. This brilliant book contains all the information we need to have in our back pocket in order to move forward'' Christiana Figueres, Former Executive Secretary UN Climate Change Convention''Amazing book'' Chris Evans, Virgin Radio Breakfast Show''Everyone should have this book'' Rick Edwards, BBC Radio 5 Live''A timely and important book, not only laying out the facts...but suggesting real solutions to the challenges facing us'' Professor Alice Roberts, Anatomist, Professor of Public Engagement in Science, University of Birmingham_________________________ How can we save our planet and survive the 21st century? How can you argue with deniers? How can we create positive change in the midst of the climate crisis? Professor Mark Maslin has the key facts that we need to protect our future. Global awareness of climate chaTrade ReviewThe facts should speak for themselves, but we hardly ever let them. Each line of Mark Maslin's brilliant and comprehensive accounting offers a mesmerizing glimpse of humanity's appetite and ambition, blindness and brutality and capacity for self-destruction. Perhaps, one hopes, self-renewal, too. For that, we will have to wait and see, but How to Save Our Planet is an eye-opening start * David Wallace-Wells, author of 'The Uninhabitable Earth' *How to Save Our Planet: The Facts is a much needed evidence-based handbook and rallying cry for urgent climate action. Professor Mark Maslin unfolds the magnitude of what humans have done to our precious planet while pointing to how we can solve the climate emergency before it is too late * Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director, Greenpeace International *Climate change facts have never been as understandable or as compelling as in Professor Maslin's book. This is a book to be read, understood and acted upon * Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 2010-2016, author of The Future We Choose *Fascinating, terrifying, but ultimately hopeful, How To Save Our Planet is an important call to arms for the most important battle of all - the fight to secure our future. It injects much-needed clarity and offers practical advice for a problem that for many of us has felt too complex and overwhelming to face, let alone fix. Saving the world is no small thing, but picking up this book's a good start * Paris Lees, Contributing Editor at British Vogue, campaigner *Mark Maslin's book is a fact-bomb, one that blasts through climate denial to clear a path for action on the greatest threat that our planet faces * Roger Highfield, Science Director, Science Museum *A handbook of clearly established, authoritative facts and figures about the terrible toll we as humans have taken of our planet, plus ways in which we can lessen the impact. For laypeople like me, who can see what is happening but haven't always got the precise statistics to hand, it's hugely valuable. I think everyone should read it and absorb its contents: sobering, certainly, and more than a little frightening, but at least we won't be able to claim ignorance as we blunder on our destructive way * John Simpson CBE, BBC World Affairs Editor, Broadcaster, Author & Columnist *There are some books which are important, and there are others which are a necessity. This is certainly the latter. It's powerful, honest and really cleverly written. I am left feeling more informed of the solutions and more empowered to make a difference * Megan McCubbin, Wildlife TV Presenter BBC Springwatch, Zoologist, photographer *I love it. My kids love it * Chris Evans, Virgin Radio Breakfast Show *Mark Maslin is an environmental pathologist stripping away the superfluous and cutting to the very heart of the problem with a brilliant clarity. This book is a roadmap to recovery for humanity, informing and inspiring in equal measure. It is a book every human needs to have to hand as we tackle this crisis head on * Bella Lack, Conservationist and Environmental Activist *Ideological debates on Global Warming often produce a fog of confusion in public life. This book cuts through that fog and suggests a way forward. The handy list of salutary and indisputable facts that Maslin has assembled here will ensure that How to Save Our Planet will serve as a much-needed guidebook that will help us negotiate our disorienting times * Dipesh Chakrabarty, author of The Climate of History in a Planetary Age (forthcoming March 2021) *From the big bang to the future of our fast-warming world, Mark takes us at breakneck speed through the ways humanity is shaping the planet, and presents with amazing clarity steps everyone can take to make the world a better place * Will McCallum, Head of Oceans at Greenpeace UK and author of How to Give Up Plastic *A book for anyone who needs a crash course on the condition of our planet and what can be done about it, and it offers a perfect balance of climate realism and climate optimism * Jamie Margolin, Climate Justice Activist and Zero Hour Founder & Co-Executive Director *A valuable resource, in that epic struggle, now underway, to head off apocalypse. Mark does not pull punches about the nightmare that we are staring down the barrel of. He is helpfully clear that we cannot now prevent disasters: they are here, and we are going to have to adapt to a rising tide of them. He is right that there is enormous scope for us to act, collectively, to slow down that rising tide - and even perhaps, even now, to create an ecotopia on Earth * Prof. Rupert Read, former Extinction Rebellion spokesperson; author, PARENTS FOR A FUTURE, and co-author, FACING UP TO CLIMATE REALITY *A timely and important book, not only laying out the facts - what we know and how we know it - but suggesting real solutions to the challenges facing us * Professor Alice Roberts, Anatomist, author & broadcaster, Professor of Public Engagement in Science, University of Birmingham *A compelling and crystal clear narrative. By marshalling all the facts, by giving a reference for every single one of them, he has made this slim volume both a sword of truth and the doorway to a much deeper understanding of the facts * Vivienne Parry OBE, Writer and broadcaster *Professor Mark Maslin has produced what is an essential guide to climate solutions and a must for all our communities in order to tackle the minefield of climate action * Mya-Rose Craig, Birdgirl, Founder & President Back2Nature *More than anything this book is about empowerment. A reminder that facts and action matter, and that every one of us can make a difference. Professor Maslin has packed a rucksack for change. Pick it up and let's go save our planet! * Peter C. Kjærgaard, PhD, FLS Museum Director & Professor of Human History *A brilliantly crafted book that addresses one of the huge issues underlying the climate crisis: having the right tools and knowledge to clearly communicate facts, counter misinformation and offer up solutions. So we can effectively spread the word about how to collectively fix our planet * Edzard van der Wyck, CEO & Co-Founder Sheep Inc. *In a strikingly original and accessible format, Mark Maslin's book provides a fascinating collection of the most important facts about the climate crisis and how to tackle it * Prof. Peter Stott, leader of the Climate Monitoring and Attribution team at the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research at the UK Met Office *Don't let anyone tell you climate change is an insoluble problem. It can be solved, and in time to avoid the worst impacts. In this vital book Mark Maslin - punchily and entertainingly - tells us how * Mark Lynas, author of OUR FINAL WARNING: SIX DEGREES OF CLIMATE EMERGENCY *This book is for everyone. Climate change is happening to us all and we all have a responsibility to understand what is going on to be able to make a difference, this book is your quick and accessible guide to understanding the science and what it's going to take for each and every one of us to save our planet * Sara Essa, Founder of Sustainability Hub & Sustainability Club on Clubhouse *Everyone should have this book * Rick Edwards, BBC Radio 5 Live *Amazing book * Chris Evans, Virgin Radio Breakfast Show *A no-nonsense crib sheet on the state of the world and how to help it * The I Newspaper *If his book falls into the hands of the powerful then it could just save the planet. At the very least, it will provide some thought-provoking facts * The I Newspaper *Punchy and to the point. No beating around the bush. This brilliant book contains all the information we need to have in our back pocket in order to move forward * Christiana Figueres, author of The Future We Choose *

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Book SynopsisThis title is printed in full color throughout.From one of the most original and...

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Book SynopsisDid you know that the male brain is a lean, mean problem-solving machine that uses analytical brain structures, not emotional ones, to find solutions. This guide follows the male brain from infancy to adulthood. It unlocks many secrets and offers insights into a range of subjects, including emotional intimacy, anger, agression, and winning.Trade ReviewDr Louann Brizendine's lucid, lively, and always fascinating discussion of how the male brain works (and why) has enlightened me in more ways than I can count. * Jane Fonda, actress and writer *Dr Louann Brizendine brings the latest in state-of-the-art science in helping us to understand the most ancient and primal of male passions and desires ... Highly recommended. * Dr Dean Ornish, author of The Spectrum and Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCLA. *The book uses the latest research to follow the male brain from infanthood to old age, with fascinating results. * Daily Telegraph *A fascinating read... you will pick up some valuable tips to help you understand, appreciate and connect with the men in your life. * Helen Fisher, author of Why Him? Why Her? *

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Ed Yong, Brian Cox and Carl Zimmer: a dazzling scientific and cultural adventure through our ideas about extraterrestrial life.Trade Review'An entertaining and instructive rumination on both earthbound existence and the prospect of extraterrestrial encounter' TLS'Ostensibly a book about aliens, The Possibility of Life is really a treatise about how we think about the world—and the ways in which our discoveries fuel our imaginations, and vice versa... It had me hooked from the first page' Ed Yong, bestselling author of An Immense World‘A fascinating and thoughtful reminder of the fact that we may not be alone. Highly recommended’ Jeff VanderMeer, New York Times-bestselling author of Annihilation'Jaime Green’s The Possibility of Life takes the reader on an utterly gripping, endlessly surprising voyage from the “hopeful monsters” of early multicellular organisms to the records of human existence hurtling beyond the edge of our solar system. Green’s voice is rigorous, curious, tender, and often rightfully bemused. She is the best company I could imagine for this journey to the limits of what we can imagine, and a thrilling ruminator on what these acts of imagination might teach us about ourselves' Leslie Jamison, New York Times-bestselling author of The Empathy Exams‘Jaime Green casts her gaze deep into the universe for the possibilities of extraterrestrial life but, at the same time, looks deep into us, too, into our humanity and our history and into why we even want to look for that life in the first place. What results is an accessible, weird, funny and ultimately illuminating look into the search for life beyond our world’ Chuck Wendig, bestselling author of Star Wars: Aftermath‘A rivetingly good read… Even the most basic questions about extraterrestrial life have no meaningful consensus at all. With such a lack of consensus, the field is wide open for “what if”-type speculation – and that’s what this book is all about. Fascinating and enjoyable, intelligent and well-informed’ Andrew May, author of Astrobiology: The Search for Life Elsewhere in the Universe‘The Possibility of Life left me dizzy with awe and brimming with hope. Jaime Green elegantly uncorks our tiny patch of the universe and takes us on a tour of our best and worst approximations of aliens—unearthly heptapods, a manipulative ocean, and blue humanoids—and explains why the most likely aliens may be more like a platypus than a Klingon. Although The Possibility of Life asks us to fathom the unfathomable, Green is a steadfast, witty, and charming guide through this cosmic murk. I found myself yearning for a signal in the cosmos and this book acutely reminded me of how all life on Earth is already more than enough’ Sabrina Imbler, author of My Life in Sea Creatures‘The Possibility of Life is both a delight and a marvel, widening the imagined potential of life on Earth, in the cosmos, and in our art and stories. Every page of this book makes our shared universe feel larger and more interesting than ever before, a true gift of fascinating science and engrossing storytelling’ Matt Bell, author of Appleseed

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: Biology Basics 5 Chapter 1: Exploring the Living World 7 Chapter 2: How Life Is Studied 13 Chapter 3: The Chemistry of Life 29 Chapter 4: The Living Cell 49 Chapter 5: Acquiring Energy to Run the Motor 67 Part 2: Let’s Talk about Sex, Baby: Cell Reproduction and Genetics 81 Chapter 6: Dividing to Conquer: Cell Division 83 Chapter 7: Making Mendel Proud: Understanding Genetics 103 Chapter 8: Reading the Book of Life: DNA and Proteins 119 Chapter 9: Engineering the Code: DNA Technology 135 Part 3: It’s a Small, Interconnected World 155 Chapter 10: Exploring the Living World: Biodiversity and Classification 157 Chapter 11: Observing How Organisms Get Along 173 Chapter 12: Evolving Species in an Ever-Changing World 197 Part 4: Systems Galore! Animal Structure and Function 217 Chapter 13: Pondering the Principles of Physiology 219 Chapter 14: Moving and Shaking: Skeletal and Muscular Systems 227 Chapter 15: Going with the Flow: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems 239 Chapter 16: Checking Out the Plumbing: Animal Digestive and Excretory Systems 259 Chapter 17: Fighting Back: Human Defenses 277 Chapter 18: The Nervous and Endocrine Systems, Messengers Extraordinaire 295 Chapter 19: Reproduction 101: Making More Animals 313 Part 5: It’s Not Easy Being Green: Plant Structure and Function 337 Chapter 20: Living the Life of a Plant 339 Chapter 21: Probing into Plant Physiology 351 Part 6: The Part of Tens 361 Chapter 22: Ten Great Biology Discoveries 363 Chapter 23: Ten Ways Biology Affects Your Life 369 Index 375

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Book SynopsisHighly commended at the British Medical Association Book Awards 2019Are we living in an age of unprecedented anxiety, or has this always been a problem throughout history?We only need look around us to see anxieties: in the family home, the workplace, on social media, and especially in the news. It''s true that everyone feels anxious at some time in their lives, but we''re told we''re all feeling more anxious than we''ve ever been before - and for longer than we''ve ever done before. It''s even reported that anxiety is a modern epidemic significant enough to challenge the dominance of depression as the most common mental health problem.Much of this increase has been attributed to changes in lifestyles that have led to more stress and pressure being placed on people: from childhood, to adolescence, to adulthood. But that''s a big claim. Going back over the generations, how anxious were people in 1968 or 1818? Are people just anxious all the time Trade ReviewDrawing on personal and extensive academic experience as leading anxiety researcher Professor Davey addresses one of the major but neglected sources of suffering in our time. Everyone should pay attention to his engaging, informative and at times controversial discourse on anxiety. This book is a must read for all those interested in one of the most fundamental but disruptive human emotions -- Adrian Wells, Ph.D, Professor of Clinical and Experimental Psychopathology, University of ManchesterGraham Davey, one of the foremost experts on anxiety in the world, alerts us that 'if you're alive you'll experience anxiety'. But is it good or bad for you? Where does it come from? Is it worse now than it used to be in prior ages? And what is there to do about it? Answers to these and many other questions are forthcoming in this highly readable, entertaining book. Everyone wrestling with anxiety in their lives will benefit from the up to date information provided -- Dr. David H. Barlow PhD, ABPP, Professor of Psychology and Pyschiatry Emeritus at Boston University

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Book SynopsisAn engaging and original history of the first hundred years of DNA, one of the greatest triumphs of modern science.Trade ReviewGareth Williams, the former dean of medicine at Bristol University, has woven a truly superb narrative from short biographies of all the scientists who contributed to, and in some cases just missed out on, the epochal discovery that the secret of life is a digital linear code written on DNA ... By choosing to fill in the gaps in conventional accounts, Williams has done a good job of telling the whole story of science's greatest discovery. He has done it with fluency and a real feel for narrative -- Matt Ridley * The Times *This is a FANTASTIC book -- Professor Alice Roberts via Twitter (@theAliceRoberts)...a riveting good read...Not only did I find it hard to put down, I'm now moved to seek out other science histories by Williams. Highly recommended. * CHEMISTRY WORLD *

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Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author of Elephant's on Acid comes a collection of the wackiest theories from science and history.What if we’re living inside a black hole? What if we’ve already found extraterrestrial life? What if the dinosaurs died in a nuclear war? What if Jesus Christ was actually a mushroom?In Psychedelic Apes, bestselling author Alex Boese delves into the curious scientific subculture of weird theories. Thoroughly bizarre and contrary to the established norm, these ideas are often vehemently rejected by the intellectual community.From the creation of the universe to the evolution of humans, the birth of civilization right through to our more recent past, Psychedelic Apes explores some of the craziest ideas from science and history and shows that, sometimes, even the weirdest theories may be proved true . . .Trade ReviewEye-popping -- Daily Mail on Electrified SheepVery well researched and engaging . . . this will likely be enjoyed equally by science buffs and casual aficionados of the curious. One of the finest science/history bathroom books of all time. -- Kirkus Reviews on Elephants on Acid

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Book Synopsis'An electric, warm, comforting and funny handbook on panic and how to cope and live alongside it' Laura Dockrill, author of What Have I Done?Award-winning blogger and author Claire Eastham is an expert on panic. She's not a doctor or an academic, but over a seven-year period, she has experienced 371 panic attacks (and counting), and learnt a thing or two along the way. Part memoir, part guide, How I Learned to Live with Panic is an intimate, honest and ultimately uplifting exploration into panic attacks. In practical thematic chapters Claire covers the crisis points where panic can hit and interviews a host of people - scientists, professors, dieticians, psychologists and people who struggle with panic - to anatomise how it can be managed. Frank, funny and blazing, Claire's story will speak to all those seeking to reclaim their lives.'I wish I had this book when I was 18... It's smart, witty, informative and, importantly, it lets you know that if you have panic attacks too...you are not alone' Dr Sophie Mort, author of A Manual For Being HumanTrade ReviewAn electric, warm, comforting and funny handbook on panic and how to cope and live alongside it. Accessible, reassuring, practical and relieving. -- Laura DockrillI wish I had this book when I was 18 and having panic attacks. It's smart, witty, informative and importantly, it lets you know that if you have panic attacks too... you are not alone. -- Dr Sophie MortIt made me laugh, cry and warmed my heart. Filled with nuggets of wisdom. -- Ruth Cooper Dickson

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Book SynopsisHow do you know when you've studied enough to pass an exam?Should you accept the testimony of an eyewitness?How do you know when to trust a doctor's orders?The answer is self awareness. Self awareness is humans' greatest superpower. Like the conductor of an orchestra, self awareness guides the musicians of the mind - memory, creativity, intelligence and skill - to perform at their best. So why do we so often get it wrong? Drawing on his own pioneering studies, as well as cutting-edge research in computer science, psychology and evolutionary biology, Stephen Fleming shows how we can learn from this groundbreaking new science, and gain the edge in a rapidly changing world.

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Book Synopsis'A brilliant account of how models are so often abused and of how they should be used' John KayHow do mathematical models shape our world - and how can we harness their power for good?Models are at the centre of everything we do. Whether we use them or are simply affected by them, they act as metaphors that help us better understand the increasingly complex problems facing us in the modern world. Without models, we couldn't begin to tackle three of the major challenges facing modern society: regulation of the economy, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet in recent years, the validity of the models we use has been hotly debated and there has been renewed awareness of the disastrous consequences when the makers and interpreters of models get things wrong.Drawing on contemporary examples from finance, climate and health policy, Erica Thompson explores what models are, why we need them, how they work and what happens when they go wrong. This is not a book that argues we should do away with models, but rather, that we need to properly understand how they are constructed - and how some of the assumptions that underlie the models we use can have significant unintended consequences. Unexpectedly humorous, thought-provoking and passionate, this is essential reading for everyone.Trade ReviewA brilliant account of how models are so often abused and of how they should be used -- John KayA wise, lucid and compelling guide to how mathematical modelling shapes our world. Dr Thompson teaches us how to go from being unthinking consumers of models to sophisticated users, combining a rich variety of vivid examples and case studies with deep conceptual expertise -- Stian Westlake, CEO, Royal Statistical SocietyDemystifies the process of making the mathematical models that are increasingly used to make decisions about our lives . . . A thought-provoking and helpful guide for data scientists and decision makers alike -- Stephanie Hare, author of TECHNOLOGY IS NOT NEUTRALCarefully researched and beautifully written . . . For an open-minded reader keen to expose, understand and potentially reconstruct their own worldview, Escape from Model Land is, at the same time, an uncomfortable and uplifting read. It shines a gentle light on many of our own norms and beliefs -- Kevin AndersonAn eye-opening account . . . Thompson offers a host of lessons . . . The result is a thoughtful, convincing look at how data works -- Publisher's WeeklyBrilliant . . . a highly engaging work of popular science -- E&T Magazine[A] healthy realism about data, algorithms and their limitations . . . Thompson asks data scientists to be conscious of the choices and values in a model's design . . . [offering] the basis for a constructive agenda -- The EconomistData, computing power, AI, and the models that use them will continue to proliferate. The wisdom, life experience, and humility to make the best use of those powerful tools will remain scarce. This delightfully wide-ranging book offers heaps of the latter to help us generate genuine insights from the former -- Charles J. Wheelan, bestselling author of NAKED STATISTICSOffers a contemplative, densely encapsulated summary of her reflection and research . . . it's up to us to learn from models without being drawn in by their seductive elegance, and to ensure that the lessons from Model Land find substantive expression where it actually matters: in our messy, material, magnificent world -- Wall Street Journal

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Book Synopsis'Moving and awe-inspiring... The story of the decade'Mail on Sunday'Vaxxers is so good that the book will be read for long after the pandemic is over'Financial Times'The amazing tale of a vaccine that has saved so many of our lives. It's a dramatic, page-turning read, and incredibly moving'Chris Evans'I dare anyone to read this and not come away impressed' Guardian__________The bestselling inside story of a historic moment for science and for humanity.On 1 January 2020, Professor Sarah Gilbert read an article about four people in China with an illness of unknown cause. Within two weeks, she and her team had designed a new vaccine that would go on to save millions of lives from Covid-19.Capturing a landmark moment, Sarah Gilbert and Catherine Green reveal their story of making the pioneering Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and fighting a pandemic as ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. They separate fact from fiction, they explain how they made their highly effective vaccine in record time with the eyes of the world watching, and they give us hope for the future.Trade ReviewThis book is a profound success. I have read few that have given me such an immediate, eye-level view of working science - of brilliant, committed, heroic science. * Sunday Times *Vaxxers is the amazing tale of a vaccine that has saved so many of our lives. It's a dramatic, page-turning read, and incredibly moving -- Chris EvansMoving and awe-inspiring... The story of the decade * Mail on Sunday *Excellent and readable ... Vaxxers is so good that the book will be read for long after the pandemic is over. * Financial Times *Urgent and fascinating ... A tale of hard work and victory against steep odds, a unique insight into vaccines generally ... A gripping yarn ... I dare anyone to read this and not come away impressed. * Guardian *An enthralling tale of toil, tenacity and triumph ... The world needs all the Sarah Gilberts and Catherine Greens it can get. Just brilliant. -- Dr Rachel Clarke, author of BREATHTAKING and DEAR LIFEHeroes of our time ... Fired by a mission to save the world, these researchers are dedicated, altruistic, and determined ... Let's hope people who have not yet taken up the vaccine read Vaxxers and decide to have the jab. * The Lancet *One of the most epic and pioneering moments in human history, comparable to the race to put a man on the moon, the discovery of DNA, or the first ascent of Everest. The Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine is a triumph and its creators are life savers. -- Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome TrustAn extraordinary story with a remarkable beginning and an astonishing denouement * Observer *A personal story of one of the most epic moments in human history ... I take my hat off in thanks to these remarkable women. * Irish Times *An extraordinary story of professional determination and excellence... Vaxxers is a quintessential feel-good read... Bravo Sarah. Bravo Cath. Thank you for making the world a safer place. * Irish Examiner *One of the most extraordinary stories in the history of medicine. -- Matt D'AnconaA book that anyone even slightly vaccine-hesitant should read, because it addresses almost every concern or question that might be raised... a fascinating behind-the-scenes look ... One of the great moments in modern science * Sydney Morning Herald *A biomedical thriller. * Observer *Enthralling and engagingly personal ... Vaxxers is an engrossing tale of solid science that should reassure anyone. * The Australian *

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Book Synopsis'A delightful and engaging treasure trove of a book that brings the chemical elements to life and gives them personalities of their own. A wonderful read for young and old alike to get you inspired by chemistry.' Jim Al-Khalili 'The perfect book to escape our human-sized existence and take a tour of the atomic world instead.' Helen Arney, science comedian and broadcasterWhen we think of the periodic table we picture orderly rows of elements that conform to type and never break the rules. In this book Kathryn Harkup reveals that there are personalities, passions, quirks and historical oddities behind those ordered rows, and shows us that the periodic table is a sprawling family tree with its own black sheep, wayward cousins and odd uncles. The elements in the periodic table, like us, are an extended family - some old, some newborn, some shy and reticent, some exuberant or unreliable. Dr Harkup tells the weird and wonderful stories of just fifty two members of this family - remarkable tales of discovery, inspiration and revolution, from the everyday to the extraordinary. Some elements are relatively anonymous; others, already familiar, are seen in a new light; and old friends have surprising secrets to share. From our green-fingered friend magnesium to the devil incarnate polonium, this eclectic collection of engaging and informative stories will change the way you see the periodic table for ever.Trade Review'A delightful and engaging treasure trove of a book that brings the chemical elements to life and gives them personalities of their own. A wonderful read for young and old alike to get you inspired by chemistry.' -- Jim Al-Khalili'The perfect book to escape our human-sized existence and take a tour of the atomic world instead.' - Helen Arney, science comedian and broadcaster.

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Book Synopsis A complete and accessible introduction to chemistry. 

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Book SynopsisSwearing, it turns out, is an incredibly useful part of our linguistic repertoire. Not only has some form of swearing existed since the earliest humans began to communicate, but it has been shown to reduce physical pain, help stroke victims recover their language, and encourage people to work together as a team. Swearing Is Good For You is a spirited and hilarious defence of our most cherished dirty words, backed by historical case studies and cutting-edge research. From chimpanzees creating their own curse words to a man who lost half his brain in a mining accident experiencing a new-found compulsion to swear, Dr Emma Byrne outlines the fascinating science behind swearing: how it affects us both physically and emotionally, and how it is more natural and beneficial than we are led to believe.Trade ReviewA good book about bad language by a trash-talking woman? Sign me up! Swearing Is Good for You makes science feel downright celebratory. -- Mary Norris, bestselling author of Between You & MeAn impressive catalogue of research showing how effing and blinding helps us deal with pain, bond with others, is associated with intelligence and makes us more inclined to trust each other... a glorious uplifting read. -- Lucy Kellaway * Financial Times *Swearing has been the subject of considerable scientific analysis, it turns out, which Byrne's book deftly reviews...Swearing is stinky cheese and malbec in a world of clean eating. -- India Knight * The Sunday Times *A chatty, humorously informative narrative that rummages through the science of bad language, grabbing at sociology, psychology, neuroscience and anthropology. -- Hephzibah Anderson * The Mail on Sunday *This excellent book backs up my long-held theory that people who swear are generally less uptight or anxious than those who don't...I think the most joyous bit about this book is learning that swearing is a powerful and acceptable weapon in a woman's armoury, a strong signal that we don't have to adhere to old-fashioned, traditional views of what is "ladylike", a phrase I often hear when swearing is discussed in mixed-gender debates. -- Lorraine Candy * The Sunday Times Style *Byrne is a science writer with a PhD in robotics and a gleefully robust attitude to language... Swearing Is Good For You is a lively defence of its subject. -- James McConnachie * The Sunday Times *Entertaining and informative ... reminds you of the mysterious pleasure of using words that are not meant to be said. -- Andrew Anthony * Observer *A lively examination of a neglected subject. * The Week *The next time someone tells you off for swearing, give them a copy of this book. Byrne explains all the ways in which swearing is good for us, from pain relief to team bonding, and reveals what cursing chimpanzees can tell us about the origin of dirty words. * BBC Science Focus *

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER FROM THE WINNER OF THE 2021 PULITZER PRIZE Your body is teeming with tens of trillions of microbes. It's an entire world, a colony full of life. In other words, you contain multitudes. They sculpt our organs, protect us from diseases, guide our behaviour, and bombard us with their genes. They also hold the key to understanding all life on earth. In I Contain Multitudes, Ed Yong opens our eyes and invites us to marvel at ourselves and other animals in a new light, less as individuals and more as thriving ecosystems. You'll never think about your mind, body or preferences in the same way again. 'Super-interesting... He just keeps imparting one surprising, fascinating insight after the next. I Contain Multitudes is science journalism at its best' Bill GatesSHORTLISTED FOR THE WELLCOME BOOK PRIZE 2017 SHORTLISTED FOR THE ROYAL SOCIETY SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE 2017Trade ReviewSuper-interesting... He just keeps imparting one surprising, fascinating insight after the next. I Contain Multitudes is science journalism at its best -- Bill Gates[A] marvellous, thrilling and richly annotated book… I call it marvellous: everything about the microbial world is to be marvelled at. And it is a page-turner in a very old-fashioned sense. All life is here, and death too, and sex and violence, including deviations of which you had never dreamed ... We have an inner life, in every sense, and are the richer for it: richer still for this witty and compelling book. -- Tim Radford * Guardian *Beyond fascinating. An amazing book. It'll change the way you think about the world. It'll change who you think you are. -- Helen Macdonald, author of H is for HawkMomentous ... an essential read -- Bryan Appleyard * Sunday Times *I Contain Multitudes makes the importance of popularising science…sparklingly clear... From his vibrant introduction to his witty endnotes, Yong’s expertise and narration hold no less wonder than a sacred text. -- Kate Womersley * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisThe only scientist to ever appear on the British twenty pound note, Michael Faraday is one of the most recognisable names in the history of science.Faraday's forte was electricity, a revolutionary force in nineteenth-century society. The electric telegraph had made mass-communication possible and inventors looked forward to the day when electricity would control all aspects of life. By the end of the century, this dream was well on its way to being realised. But what was Faraday's role in all this? How did his science come to have such an impact on the lives of the Victorians (and ultimately on us)?Iwan Morus tells the story of Faraday's upbringing in London and his apprenticeship at the Royal Institution under the supervision of the flamboyant chemist, Sir Humphry Davy, all set against the backdrop of a vibrant scientific culture and an empire near the peak of its power.

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Book Synopsis'Terrific and enthralling' New Scientist'An authoritative account of Apollo 11 and the end of the space race, shedding light on the true drama behind the mission.' ObserverFifty years ago, in July 1969, Apollo 11 became the first manned mission to land on the Moon, and Neil Armstrong the first man to step on to its surface. He and his crewmates, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, were the latest men to risk their lives in this extraordinary scientific, engineering and human venture that would come to define the era.In Apollo 11: The Inside Story, David Whitehouse reveals the true drama behind the mission, putting it in the context of the wider space race and telling the story in the words of those who took part - based around exclusive interviews with the key players.This enthralling book takes us from the early rocket pioneers to the shock America received from the Soviets' launch of the first satellite, Sputnik; from the race to put the first person into space to the iconic Apollo 11 landing and beyond, to the agonising drama of the Apollo 13 disaster and the eventual winding-up of the Apollo program.Here is the story as told by the crew of Apollo 11 and the many others who shared in their monumental endeavour. Astronauts, engineers, politicians, NASA officials, Soviet rivals - all tell their own story of a great moment of human achievement.Trade ReviewTerrific and enthralling -- New ScientistAn authoritative account of Apollo 11 and the end of the space race, shedding light on the true drama behind the mission. -- The ObserverFascinating * The Herald *'Fast-paced and tremendously readable ... What makes this book really stand out from other Apollo based books is the inclusion of long quotes from interviews with astronauts such as John Glenn (the first American to orbit Earth), Eugene Cernan (the last man to walk on the Moon) and, of course, Neil Armstrong himself.' ***** Book of the Month * BBC Sky at Night magazine *[T]he book is at its most successful when Whitehouse gets out of the way of its protagonists, letting the astronauts and cosmonauts offer their own verbatim accounts of their often perilous - and occasionally fatal - missions. The real strength of this book is its tribute to the human qualities of these men -and they are all men, with the exception of the brief but gripping story of one female cosmonaut - who were willing to sacrifice so much. * The Irish News *In the most authoritative book ever written about Apollo, David Whitehouse reveals the true drama behind the mission, telling the story in the words of those who took part based around exclusive interviews with the key players ... [An] enthralling book * All About Space *David Whitehouse's masterly narration of what he calls 'the inside story' is profoundly gratifying. -- The SpectatorWhitehouse has a reporter's gift for uncomplicated storytelling -- Financial TimesOne of the best books ever written about the lunar landing ... absolutely brilliant -- Engineering and Technology Magazine

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Book SynopsisTime travel is a familiar theme of science fiction, but is it really possible?Surprisingly, time travel is not forbidden by the laws of physics - and John Gribbin argues that if it is not impossible then it must be possible.Gribbin brilliantly illustrates the possibilities of time travel by comparing familiar themes from science fiction with their real-world scientific counterparts, including Einstein's theories of relativity, black holes, quantum physics, and the multiverse, illuminated by examples from the fictional tales of Robert Heinlein, Larry Niven, Carl Sagan and others.The result is an entertaining guide to some deep mysteries of the Universe which may leave you wondering whether time actually passes at all, and if it does, whether we are moving forwards or backwards. A must-read for science fiction fans and anyone intrigued by deep science.Trade ReviewThe yarn of time ravels into a rich tapestry of both science and speculation, under John Gribbin's deft hand. * David Brin, Hugo Award-winning science fiction writer, author of The Postman, the book that inspired the Kevin Costner movie *

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Book SynopsisTaking an amusing and digestible look at the usually dry world of probability and statistics, this is the ultimate guide to how you can incorporate them into everyday life, from one of the world's most sought-after experts in game theory.

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Book SynopsisLove is one of the most complex and confusing emotions in the human experience. It consumes so much of our lives and yet we don’t truly understand it – what it is on a biological, chemical and evolutionary level. This book takes you on a fascinating journey to explore the science of love, looking closely at the interplay between genes, hormones, emotions and relationships. Discover everything you need to know about why you are attracted to certain people, the brain’s role in your emotions, how to pick “the one” and how to preserve that love over time. Learn how to have better, healthier and more loving relationships by understanding the inner workings of love in your body.

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Book SynopsisWild Weather is a fun, easy-to-read guide to understanding the wonders of weather – from why it rains to cloud formations, from extreme weather events to the benefits of sunlight.Wild Weather is a beautifully illustrated book that explores the science of weather events and how they happen, but also the myth and folklore associated with weather patterns.Chapters include: sunshine and rainbows, wind, rain, thunder and lightning, snow and ice. The book also includes a cloud spotting guide and is packed with exercises on how to make the most of even the rainiest of days.This perfect gift for weather enthusiast everywhere and those who want to reconnect with the weather and embrace what is happening on the other side of the window.

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Book SynopsisAs heard on BBC Radio 4 Start The Week 'Felix Flicker brilliantly reveals the secrets behind the modern-day magic we call physics' Marcus du Sautoy Imagine you had a crystal that lit upon your command: magic must be at work, and you must surely be a wizard. But what if you discovered that you routinely cast such spells? Are the spells no longer magic ... or are you a wizard? The modern term for wizardry is condensed matter physics. It is the study of the world around us - the states of matter and how they emerge from the quantum realm. Thanks to its practical magic we can make lasers which cut through solid metal, trains which hover in mid-air, and crystals which light our homes. It is one of the best-kept secrets in science; a third of all physicists work on it, yet its story has never been told. Join Felix Flicker as he introduces the magic of condensed matter physics. It will be a journey that reveals the subtle spells that conjure crystals from chaos and create new particles that have never before existed. The Magick of Matter will revolutionise what you know about physics and reality; you'll never see the world in the same way again.Trade ReviewThe Magick of Matter explicitly sets out to stop us taking ordinary, everyday stuff for granted, and to restore our sense of wonder at the wizardry of the world -- Tom Sutcliffe, BBC Radio 4 * Start the Week *Conversational and lively ... the author's wonder and sense of excitement shine through ... a fascinating tale of an often-overlooked pillar of modern science * Nature Physics *Well-handled and consistently engaging. It combines fascinating facts with real insights into what are in some cases relatively unfamiliar aspects of physics. -- Peter Forbes * Popular Science *First-rate ... commendable * Fortean Times *Felix Flicker brilliantly reveals the secrets behind the modern-day magic we call physics. A beautifully crafted book to inspire the next generation of scientific wizards and to help the current generation to understand the bizarre universe we inhabit -- Marcus du Sautoy, author * Thinking Better *Playful, profound and penetrating: an exhilarating gallop through the mystical world of matter -- Charles Foster, author * Being a Human *The Magick of Matter is a fascinating, enlightening, and altogether delightful book. Once you fall under its spell, you will find it hard to put it down. -- Fritjof Capra, author * The Tao of Physics *A must-read for anyone wanting to understand how the spells of physics have transformed our world. Felix Flicker not only sees the magic in the ordinary but can explain the extraordinariness of magic too -- Femi Fadugba, author * The Upper World *

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Book SynopsisA fierce, honest, elegant and often hilarious debunking of the great fallacies that drive modern medicine. By the award-winning author of The Way We Die Now. Seamus O'Mahony writes about the illusion of progress, the notion that more and more diseases can be 'conquered' ad infinitum. He punctures the idiocy of consumerism, the idea that healthcare can be endlessly adapted to the wishes of individuals. He excoriates the claims of Big Science, the spending of vast sums on research follies like the Human Genome Project. And he highlights one of the most dangerous errors of industrialized medicine: an over-reliance on metrics, and a neglect of things that can't easily be measured, like compassion. 'A deeply fascinating and rousing book' Mail on Sunday. 'What makes this book a delightful, if unsettling read, is not just O'Mahony's scholarly and witty prose, but also his brutal honesty' The Times.Trade ReviewA deeply fascinating and rousing book * Mail on Sunday *What makes this book a delightful, if unsettling read, is not just O'Mahony's scholarly and witty prose, but also his brutal honesty... [He] is a wise consultant towards the end of his career telling us what he wished he had known at the beginning' * The Times *An exceptionally strong polemic – one that might even persuade Miley Cyrus to start eating wheat again * Sunday Business Post *This systemic perversion of science and its method might the most obvious instance of the corruption O'Mahoney describes, but he casts his net much wider. He also considers, inter alia, the invention of pseudo-diseases, the connivance of the editors of medical journals in increasing the volume of papers, an uncritical deference to the simplifications of statistically-derived knowledge, and the dishonesty of failing to acknowledge the limits of what medicine can reasonably be expected to achieve * Literary Review *[A] humane, knowledgeable and scathing book [...] about the dislocation of medical priorities from the basics of human need * The Tablet *[A] grounded and readable work... Very amusing in parts and identifies real problems. Each chapter stands on its own, and the book can be taken up at will, without losing the thread' * Irish Independent *Prof Seamus O'Mahony is highly critical of the medical system, particularly when it comes to spending huge amounts of money on drugs that do little to prolong life * Irish Examiner *A good book challenges the reader, this book certainly challenged me but I feel better for engaging with this plausible and readable criticism of contemporary medicine * British Journal of General Practice *A very interesting book... [O'Mahony] does make some very interesting points about the limits to medicine and the ability of medicine to cure every ailment' * Northern Standard. *A book on health that everyone should read this year... A fascinating read for patients, medics and anyone who cares... If there is a cure for the travails of our health service, and I remain doubter-in-chief, it must begin with these odorous and painful truths, unearthed and so skilfully dissected out in very readable prose by Professor O'Mahony' * Sunday Independent (Dublin). *

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Book Synopsis'Strap in and enjoy the ride!' JOHN GRIBBIN'A window seat on a flight to our galaxy's sites of outstanding beauty' MARCUS CHOWN, AUTHOR OF THE ONE THING YOU NEED TO KNOW'His best yet!' HENRY GEE, WINNER OF THE 2022 ROYAL SOCIETY TRIVEDI SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE'Buckle up for the ride of a lifetime' PHILIP BALL, AUTHOR OF THE BOOK OF MINDS AND BEYOND WEIRDTake a voyage into space to explore the wonders of the galaxy and beyond. With award-winning science writer Brian Clegg as your deep space guide, step on board the starship Endurance and marvel at the fascinating sights of deepest, darkest space. Although our vessel is fictional, the phenomena you will visit, from the vast nebulae that are birthplaces of stars to stellar explosions in vast supernovas, creating the elements necessary for life - or from the planets of other solar systems to the unbelievably supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way - all reflect the best picture current science has to offer. Accompanying Inte

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Book SynopsisWhat is the material basis of the thoughts that occur inside our heads?Where do imaginative, creative, or spiritual thoughts come from - can these really be the product of nerve impulses in the brain? And is the human mind radically different from that of other species, or is our uniqueness more superficial than real? In this book, Oxford biologist John Parrington proposes a radical new theory of human consciousness, arguing that a qualitative leap in consciousness occurred during human evolution as language and the use of tools transformed our brains. Rejecting outdated views of the brain as a hard-wired circuit diagram, he draws on the latest insights from neuroscience to show that meaning is created within our heads through a dynamic interaction of oscillating brain waves. This new model of consciousness not only provides a material basis of our innermost thoughts but also explains why the mind can sometimes go wrong, causing deep mental distress.Trade ReviewAn interesting and thought-provoking exploration of consciousness * Popular Science *

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