Popular science Books
Penguin Putnam Inc Extra Life
Book Synopsis
£14.39
Penguin Random House Children's UK A Short History of Nearly Everything
Book SynopsisBill Bryson (Author, Reader) Bill Bryson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1951. His bestselling books include The Road to Little Dribbling, Notes from a Small Island, A Walk in the Woods, One Summer and The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. In a national poll, Notes from a Small Island was voted the book that best represents Britain. His acclaimed work of popular science, A Short History of Nearly Everything, won the Aventis Prize and the Descartes Prize, and was the biggest selling non-fiction book of its decade in the UK. His new book The Body: A Guide for Occupants is an extraordinary exploration of the human body which will have you marvelling at the form you occupy.Bill Bryson was Chancellor of Durham University 20052011. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society. He lives in England.Trade ReviewPossibly the best scientific primer ever published. * Economist *'A travelogue of science, with a witty, engaging, and well-informed guide who loves his patch and is desperate to share its delights with us' -- Peter Atkins * The Times *'A thoroughly enjoyable, as well as educational, experience. Nobody who reads it will ever look at the world around them in the same way again' -- William Hartston * Daily Express *'Brims with strange and amazing facts...destined to become a modern classic of science writing' -- Ed Regis * New York Times Book Review *'It deserves to sell as many copies as there are protons in the full stop that ends this review (at least 500,000,000,000).' -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *
£17.99
Transworld Publishers Ltd Trick or Treatment
Book SynopsisWelcome to the world of alternative medicine.Prince Charles is a staunch defender and millions of people swear by it; most UK doctors consider it to be little more than superstition and a waste of money. But how do you know which treatments really heal and which are potentially harmful?Now at last you can find out, thanks to the formidable partnership of Professor Edzard Ernst and Simon Singh. Edzard Ernst is the world''s first professor of complementary medicine, based at Exeter University, where he has spent over a decade analysing meticulously the evidence for and against alternative therapies.He is supported in his findings by Simon Singh, the well-known and highly respected science writer of several international bestsellers.Together they have written the definitive book on the subject. It is honest, impartial but hard-hitting, and provides a thorough examination and judgement of more than thirty of the most popular treatments, such as acupuncture, homeopathy, aromatherapy, reflexology, chiropractic and herbal medicine.In Trick or Treatment? the ultimate verdict on alternative medicine is delivered for the first time with clarity, scientific rigour and absolute authority.Trade ReviewFearless, intelligent and remorselessly rational * The Sunday Times *The authors' combined strengths shine through. The examination of the evidence is comprehensive [and] forensic... * Nature *A definitive - if controversial - guide to what works, and what doesn't. It makes indispensable, if sometimes alarming, reading * Daily Mail *
£11.39
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Marshmallow Test
Book SynopsisWalter Mischel holds the Robert Johnston Niven chair as professor of humane letters in psychology at Columbia University. He is the author of more than two hundred scientific papers as well as the coauthor of Introduction to Personality, now in its eighth edition. He has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and has won the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award of APA and the Grawemeyer Award for Psychology. He lives in New York.Trade ReviewThe Marshmallow Test is a tour de force. Despite its serious academic content, it wears its learning lightly ... this book will make [Mischel] as much of a household name as his marshmallows are. -- Natalie Gold * The Times *This is a complex book that explores human nature, neuroscience and genetics, enlivened by a sprinkling of anecdotes. It's also a book that can show you how to change your behaviour: whether it's finally setting up that pension, cutting your alcohol intake or shunning the marshmallows for good. -- Rosamund Urwin * Evening Standard *This is a genial, optimistic book and a rather soothing read ... it provides an important and largely painless insight into a profound transformation in psychology * The Sunday Times *Walter Mischel is one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century, and The Marshmallow Test will make him one of the most influential in this century, too. * Steven Pinker *A top five psychology title * Independent on Sunday *
£10.44
Transworld Publishers Ltd After
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewBOOK OF THE MONTH: forces you to consider the unknown and try to come to terms with the unexplained. * Independent *From a less authoritative source, these stories could seem mawkish or flaky. Told here with calm precision, and with a conversational flair, they are both absorbing and convincing. With so much evidence available for further investigation, the most vexing question now is not whether life continues in some form after we die, but why mainstream science is so resistant to the idea. -- Christopher Stevens * Daily Mail *After is that rare thing, a scientific book that is also a page-turner. Greyson's meticulous research leaves little doubt that the human mind somehow survives beyond the point of death. * Nick Evans, bestselling author of The Horsewhisper *This very captivating book by Dr. Bruce Greyson chronicles his personal, spiritual and professional quest to understand the meaning of near-death experiences. His long-awaited and amazing book is a major contribution to the study of what happens when we die, and will quickly prove to be a classic in near-death studies. * Raymond Moody, MD, PhD, Author of Life After Life *Bruce Greyson is the most influential medical doctor-investigator over the last 40 years of this world-changing analysis. His work has done much to organize the scientific investigation of these experiences, to take them from fascinating anecdotes to systematic and objective study that will truly enable the world to benefit from these deep lessons. His work has the potential to completely change our fractured and confused world, offering insights that may lead to an explanation of the nature of consciousness. It will also help to nudge the entire scientific community towards realizations that can alter human history — bringing far more peace, harmony, and comfort to uncountable millions of souls both now and in future generations. * Eben Alexander, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Proof of Heaven *
£10.44
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Violinists Thumb
Book SynopsisDid the human race almost go extinct? Can genetics explain a cat lady''s love for felines? How does DNA lead to people with no fingerprints or humans born with tails? And how did the right combination of genes create the exceptionally flexible thumbs and fingers of a truly singular violinist?Unravelling the genetic code hasn''t always been easy - from its earliest days, genetics has been rife with infighting, backstabbing and controversial theories - but scientists can now finally read the astounding stories inscribed in our DNA. As we make advances into DNA mapping and modification, genetics will continue to be the hottest topic in science, shaping the very make-up of our bodies and the world around us.With the same masterful combination of science, history and culture he brought to The Disappearing Spoon, Sam Kean untangles the secrets of our genetic code, explaining how genetics has shaped our past and how DNA will determine humankind''s future.Trade ReviewSummer’s must-read non-fiction book * Huffington Post *The Violinist's Thumb is one of the Ten Books to Look Out for in 2012 * New Scientist *A fast-paced, breezy romp through history using DNA as a unifying theme... it’s nerd-vana * New Scientist *Explored in his Bryson-esque style, [The Violinist's Thumb] provokes fascinating stuff, full of oddball stories and amazing facts. Kean's book is full of wonderfully weird anecdotes, but it's also an accessible history of the discovery and mapping of DNA... compellingly entertaining * Daily Mail *Sam Kean is the best science teacher you never had * Entertainment Weekly *
£18.04
Transworld Publishers Ltd Erwin Schrodinger and the Quantum Revolution
Book SynopsisErwin Schrödinger was an Austrian physicist famous for his contribution to quantum physics. He won the Nobel Prize in 1933 and is best known for his thought experiment of a cat in a box, both alive and dead at the same time, which revealed the seemingly paradoxical nature of quantum mechanics. Schrödinger was working at one of the most fertile and creative moments in the whole history of science. By the time he started university in 1906, Einstein had already published his revolutionary papers on relativity. Now the baton of scientific progress was being passed to a new generation: Werner Heisenberg, Paul Dirac, Niels Bohr, and of course, Schrödinger himself. In this riveting biography John Gribbin takes us into the heart of the quantum revolution. He tells the story of Schrödinger''s surprisingly colourful life (he arrived for a position at Oxford University with both his wife and mistress). And with his trademark accessible style and popular touch, he explains the Trade ReviewA fascinating tale of scientific endeavour . . . Gribbin expertly elucidates the relationships and discoveries that shaped Schrodinger's thoughts, including his lengthy correspondence with Albert Einstein, which led to the famous cat-in-the-box thought experiment . . . Anyone wishing to dip their feet in the muddy waters of quantum physics will enjoy this scientific soap opera. But it should be required reading for those eager to understand how the process of scientific discovery really works * New Scientist *Gribbin is an established master in the game of demystifying quantum mechanics * Jim Al-Khalili *The master of popular science writing * Sunday Times *Gribbin lucidly describes Schrödinger's Silver Surfer view of the universe, as well as revealing some of the more colourful details of Schrödinger's life... at its heart, this book is a fight for the soul of the quantum world * Daily Telegraph *
£11.69
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Magic of Reality
Book SynopsisRichard Dawkins has written a string of bestselling books, including the phenomenal The God Delusion. He is a fellow of the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Literature, and has won numerous awards. He was a professor at Oxford University until 2008 and he remains a fellow of New College.Trade ReviewDawkins has a gift for making science enjoyable ... [He is] one of the greatest scientific writers/explainers of all time. * Bill Gates *From the first sentence it reads with the force and fluency of a classic ... a luminous, authoritative prose that transcends age differences * The Times *Stunning in appearance ... the book is a triumph * New Scientist *The text is persuasive whatever one's age ... the chapter on rainbows has the clearest explanation of how they appear that I've ever seen * Financial Times *I wanted to write this book but I wasn't clever enough. Now I've read it, I am -- Ricky Gervais
£10.44
Transworld Publishers Ltd This Will Make You Smarter
Book SynopsisJohn Brockman is the founder and publisher of the influential science salon Edge.org. He is the CEO of the literary agency Brockman Inc., and lives in New York City.Trade ReviewThe world's smartest website... Edge is a salon for the world's finest minds * Guardian *Imagine inviting some of the world's top thinkers round to your place and asking them to tell you one thing that would make you smarter. No need to imagine: John Brockman has done it, by getting 150 of the planet's smartest minds to offer a neat insight each * BBC Focus magazine *
£13.49
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Body
Book SynopsisBill Bryson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1951. His bestselling books include The Road to Little Dribbling, Notes from a Small Island, A Walk in the Woods, One Summer and The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. In a national poll, Notes from a Small Island was voted the book that best represents Britain. His acclaimed work of popular science, A Short History of Nearly Everything, won the Aventis Prize and the Descartes Prize, and is the biggest selling non-fiction book of the 21st century. The Body: A Guide for Occupants was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize and is an international bestseller.Bill Bryson was Chancellor of Durham University 2005-2011. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society. He lives in England.Trade ReviewA directory of wonders. Extraordinary stories about the heart, lungs, genitals ... plus some anger and life advice – all delivered in the inimitable Bryson style -- Gavin Francis * Guardian *Remarkable ... Every page is dense with scientific facts written as vividly as a thriller, as well as answers to conundrums such as why we don’t fall out of bed when we are asleep ... It is woven through with the kind of human stories that Bryson has made his trademark. * Mail on Sunday *Readable and useful ... witty, jargon-free prose that glides you through 400 pages. It’s fun to read because it’s not just comprehensive, but quirky. -- Richard Morrison * The Times *SCIENCE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019: 'so packed with arresting facts (you eat 60 tons of food in a lifetime) and unlikely anecdotes (such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel's six weeks with a half-sovereign lodged in his throat) that you barely notice the sheer volume of anatomical knowledge you're digesting ... makes complex subjects simple and eminently entertaining.' * Sunday Times *It is a feat of narrative skill to bake so many facts into an entertaining and nutritious book..where Byrson really shines is in his imaginative glosses on the facts he has collected. * The Daily Telegraph *
£10.44
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Body
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA directory of wonders. Extraordinary stories about the heart, lungs, genitals ... plus some anger and life advice – all delivered in the inimitable Bryson style -- Gavin Francis * Guardian *Remarkable ... Every page is dense with scientific facts written as vividly as a thriller, as well as answers to conundrums such as why we don’t fall out of bed when we are asleep ... It is woven through with the kind of human stories that Bryson has made his trademark. * Mail on Sunday *Readable and useful ... witty, jargon-free prose that glides you through 400 pages. It’s fun to read because it’s not just comprehensive, but quirky. -- Richard Morrison * The Times *SCIENCE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019: 'so packed with arresting facts (you eat 60 tons of food in a lifetime) and unlikely anecdotes (such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel's six weeks with a half-sovereign lodged in his throat) that you barely notice the sheer volume of anatomical knowledge you're digesting ... makes complex subjects simple and eminently entertaining.' * Sunday Times *It is a feat of narrative skill to bake so many facts into an entertaining and nutritious book..where Byrson really shines is in his imaginative glosses on the facts he has collected. * The Daily Telegraph *
£8.99
Random House USA Inc A Brief History of Time
Book Synopsis
£24.00
Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc A Brief History of Time Updated and Expanded
Book Synopsis#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA landmark volume in science writing by one of the great minds of our time, Stephen Hawking’s book explores such profound questions as: How did the universe begin—and what made its start possible? Does time always flow forward? Is the universe unending—or are there boundaries? Are there other dimensions in space? What will happen when it all ends?Told in language we all can understand, A Brief History of Time plunges into the exotic realms of black holes and quarks, of antimatter and “arrows of time,” of the big bang and a bigger God—where the possibilities are wondrous and unexpected. With exciting images and profound imagination, Stephen Hawking brings us closer to the ultimate secrets at the very heart of creation.
£15.30
Broadway Books (A Division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc) Headstrong
Book SynopsisFifty-two inspiring and insightful profiles of history’s brightest female scientists. “Rachel Swaby’s no-nonsense and needed Headstrong dynamically profiles historically overlooked female visionaries in science, technology, engineering, and math.”—ElleIn 2013, the New York Times published an obituary for Yvonne Brill. It began: “She made a mean beef stroganoff, followed her husband from job to job, and took eight years off from work to raise three children.” It wasn’t until the second paragraph that readers discovered why the Times had devoted several hundred words to her life: Brill was a brilliant rocket scientist who invented a propulsion system to keep communications satellites in orbit, and had recently been awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Among the questions the obituary—and consequent outcry—prompted were, Who are the role models for today’s female scientists, and where can we find the stories that cast them in their true light? Headstrong delivers a powerful, global, and engaging response. Covering Nobel Prize winners and major innovators, as well as lesser-known but hugely significant scientists who influence our every day, Rachel Swaby’s vibrant profiles span centuries of courageous thinkers and illustrate how each one’s ideas developed, from their first moment of scientific engagement through the research and discovery for which they’re best known. This fascinating tour reveals 52 women at their best—while encouraging and inspiring a new generation of girls to put on their lab coats.
£12.59
Transworld Publishers Ltd Human Instinct
Book SynopsisRobert Winston is one of the country's best-known scientists. As Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College, University of London, and Director of NHS Research and Development and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Hammersmith Hospital, he has made advances in fertility medicine and been a leading voice in the debate on genetic engineering. His television series, including Your Life in Their Hands, Making Babies, The Human Body, Superhuman and A Child Against All Odds have made him a household name across Britain. He became a life peer in 1995.Trade ReviewWide-ranging and thoroughly entertaining * New Scientist *Devastaingly good...Every chapter bursts with clear logic, style, wit and imagination. * Brian May, Guitarist for Queen *
£11.69
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Female Brain
Book SynopsisDr Louanne Brizendine is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and director of the Women's Mood and Hormone Clinic at the University of California. She has more than three decades of experience as a physician, psychiatrist, psychopharmacologist and has studied the female brain for the past 20 years. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and son.Trade ReviewFinally, a satisfying answer to Freud's question: what does a woman want? Louann Brizendine has done a great favour for every man who wants to understand the puzzling women in his life. A breezy and enlightening guide to women - and a must-read for men -- Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional IntelligenceSassy, witty, reassuring and great fun. All women and the men who love them, should read this book -- Christiane Northrup, author of Women's Bodies, Women's WisdomTimely, insightful, readable and an altogether magnificent book -- Sarah Hardy, author of Mother NatureAn eye-opening account of the biological foundations of human behaviour. Destined to become a classic... -- Marilyn Yalom, author of A History of the WifeRanging from sex to breast-feeding, fights to teenage girls, Brizendine communicates in a fresh, engaging style, explaining the structure of the brain, which determines women's thoughts, values and communication skills. A fantastic guide from a heavyweight academic. * Good Book Guide *
£10.44
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Grand Design
Book SynopsisA succinct, startling and lavishly illustrated guide to discoveries that are altering our understanding and threatening some of our most cherished belief systems, The Grand Design is a book that will inform - and provoke - like no other.Trade ReviewThis is mind-blowing stuff * The Sunday Times *
£12.34
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Male Brain
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? *
£10.44
The Natural History Museum Fragile Web What Next for Nature
Book SynopsisPresents an exploration of the past, present and future of nature's remarkable diversity and how humans can impact upon its uncertain future. This title explains how species are formed, including the complex role of genetics, and how diversity hotspots such as the Amazonia region and Sahara desert have developed.Trade Review"Nearly every book about wildlife concentrates on species...Fragile Web is different, examining life on Earth as a whole and asking the big questions: what is it? How did it arise? How does it fit together? And what are we doing to it. Because the answers are detailed and very full they can sometimes seem complicated and a little challenging...But it is well worth the effort, not least because the book includes the very latest research...it is rendered a great deal more accessible by the wealth of illustrations, wildlife photographs, maps and diagrams, all of which are beautifully chosen." Michael McCarthy - BBC Knowledge Magazine "I'm not someone with a natural interest in science but have to say I absolutely loved this book...accessible and engaging...the photography is stunning...I'm sure it could help to provoke debates in science and geography classes." The Teacher: magazine of the National Union of Teachers
£12.74
The Natural History Museum Colour and Vision Through the Eyes of Nature 2016
Book SynopsisA highly readable guide to the evolution of colour and vision in the natural world.
£11.69
The Natural History Museum The Inside Out of Flies
Book SynopsisThe Inside Out of Flies is a look under the bonnet at the astonishing mechanics of fly anatomy. Erica McAlister reveals the engineering miracles embodied in different species of fly and some of the fascinating implications they hold for human technology.Trade Review''Flies are not filthy… they are always cleaning themselves,'' notes entomologist Erica McAlister's caption for a photo of a fly maintaining its antennae — one of many eye-popping images in her erudite, irresistible natural history of the insects. She agrees with naturalist Pliny, who wrote two millennia ago that insects display nature's ''exhaustless ingenuity''. - Nature; ‘Not only is her subject matter engrossing and outlandish, but McAlister is also enthusiastic and witty… McAlister is an inspired spokeswoman for dipterology and entomology more generally, combining a heartfelt sense of wonder at the small things around us with a knack for popularizing science. The Inside Out of Flies, together with its predecessor The Secret Life of Flies are must-read books for anyone interested in insects.’ - The Inquisitive Biologist; ‘Her adoration for flies is utterly infectious and her accessible accounts of cutting-edge research are interspersed with amusing anecdotes that will be sure to induce a giggle.’ BBC Wildlife
£12.74
The Natural History Museum The Inside Out of Flies
Book SynopsisNew in paperback, an engrossing guide to the anatomy of flies and the science behind their unique adaptations from the award-winning author of the acclaimed 'Secret Life of Flies'.
£8.99
Faber & Faber Going Inside
Book SynopsisGoing Inside is about something that happens in less than the blink of an eye: a single moment of consciousness. With great clarity and stunning detail, John McCrone takes the reader inside the brain itself, to discover how it literally ''grows awareness''. He introduces us to the latest ideas, the hottest researchers in the field, and new tools such as brain imaging machines which can film the actual thoughts and images in a person''s head.
£9.49
Faber & Faber The NeverEnding Days of Being Dead Dispatches
Book SynopsisIn Chown''s most ambitious book to date he sets out to answer some of the most provocative questions of today:- Is Elvis alive and kicking in another space domain?- Will we ever find ET?- What''s beyond the edge of the Universe?- Did aliens build the stars?- Can we live forever?Trade Review"'Marcus Chown has the happy knack of making abstruse subjects seem intelligible.' Sir Patrick Moore"
£11.69
Faber & Faber SevenTenths
Book SynopsisSeven-Tenths is James Hamilton-Paterson''s classic exploration of the sea. A beautifully-written blend of literature and science, it is here brought back into print in a revised and updated edition which includes the acclaimed essay Sea Burial.Trade Review"'Informative, arcane, sometimes poetic, and always articulate.' William Golding"
£10.44
Faber & Faber Constructions
Book SynopsisFirst published in 1974 and republished following the success of Frayn''s masterly work of philosophy, The Human Touch, Constructions is a dazzling, thought-provoking and fascinating book which explores some of the great problems in philosophy and of everyday life.
£8.54
Faber & Faber We Need to Talk About Kelvin What everyday things
Book SynopsisLook around you. The reflection of your face in a window tells you that the universe is orchestrated by chance. The iron in a spot of blood on your finger tells you that somewhere out in space there is furnace at a temperature of 4.5 billion degrees. Your TV tells you that the universe had a beginning. In fact, your very existence tells you that this may not be the only universe but merely one among an infinity of others, stacked like the pages of a never-ending book.Marcus Chown, author of Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You, What a Wonderful World and The Solar System, takes familiar features of the world we know and shows how they can be used to explain profound truths about the ultimate nature of reality. His new book will change the way you see the universe: with Chown as your guide, cutting-edge science is made clear and meaningful by a falling leaf, or a rose, or a starry night sky... We Need To Talk About Kelvin: What Everyday Things Tell
£10.44
Faber & Faber How Many Friends Does One Person Need
Book SynopsisWe are the product of our evolutionary history and this history colours our everyday lives - from why we kiss to how religious we are. In How Many Friends Does One Person Need? Robin Dunbar explains how the distant past underpins our current behaviour, through the groundbreaking experiments that have changed the thinking of evolutionary biologists forever. He explains phenomena such as why ''Dunbar''s Number'' (150) is the maximum number of acquaintances you can have, why all babies are born premature and the science behind lonely hearts columns. Stimulating, provocative and highly enjoyable, this fascinating book is essential for understanding why humans behave as they do - what it is to be human.
£11.39
Faber & Faber The Science of Love and Betrayal
Book SynopsisFalling in love is one of the strangest things we can do - and one of the things that makes us uniquely human. But what happens to our brains when our eyes meet across a crowded room? Why do we kiss each other, forget our friends, seek a ''good sense of humour'' in Lonely Hearts adverts and try (and fail) to be monogamous? How are our romantic relationships different from our relationships with friends, family or even God? Can science help us, or are we better off turning back to the poets?Basing his arguments on new and experimental scientific research, Robin Dunbar explores the psychology and ethology of romantic love and how our evolutionary programming still affects our behaviour. Fascinating and illuminating, witty and accessible, The Science of Love and Betrayal is essential reading for anyone who''s ever wondered why we fall in love and what on earth is going on when we do.
£10.44
Faber & Faber What a Wonderful World Life the Universe and
Book SynopsisWith wit, colour and clarity, What A Wonderful World quickly and painlessly brings us up to speed on how the world of the 21st century works. From economics to physics and biology to philosophy, Marcus Chown explains the complex forces that shape our universe. Why do we breathe? What is money? How does the brain work? Why did life invent sex? Does time really exist? How does capitalism work - or not, as the case may be? Where do mountains come from? How do computers work? How did humans get to dominate the Earth? Why is there something rather than nothing?In What a Wonderful World, Marcus Chown, bestselling author of Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You and the Solar System app, uses his vast scientific knowledge and deep understanding of extremely complex processes to answer simple questions about the workings of our everyday lives. Lucid, witty and hugely entertaining, it explains the basics of our essential existence, st
£11.69
Faber & Faber Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You
Book SynopsisThe two towering achievements of modern physics are quantum theory and Einstein''s general theory of relativity. Together, they explain virtually everything about the world we live in. But, almost a century after their advent, most people haven''t the slightest clue what either is about.Did you know that there''s so much empty space inside matter that the entire human race could be squeezed into the volume of a sugar cube? Or that you grow old more quickly on the top floor of a building than on the ground floor? And did you realize that 1% of the static on a TV tuned between stations is the relic of the Big Bang? Marcus Chown, the bestselling author of What A Wonderful World and the Solar System app, explains all with characteristic wit, colour and clarity, from the Big Bang and Einstein''s general theory of relativity to probability, gravity and quantum theory. ''Chown discusses special and general relativity, probablity waves, quantum entang
£10.44
Faber & Faber Sounds Wild and Broken
Book SynopsisAn awe-inspiring exploration of the sounds of the living Earth, and the joys and threats of human music, language and noise. 'A symphony, filled with the music of life . . . fascinating, heartbreaking, and beautifully written.'ELIZABETH KOLBERT, author of The Sixth Extinction'Sounds Wild and Broken affirms Haskell as a laureate for the earth, his finely tuned scientific observations made more potent by his deep love for the wild he hopes to save.'NEW YORK TIMES'Wonderful . . . a reminder that the narrow aural spectrum on which most of us operate, and the ways in which human life is led, blocks out the planet's great, orchestral richness.'GUARDIANWe live on a planet alive with song, music, and speech. David George Haskell explores how these wonders came to be. In rainforests shimmering with insect sounds and swamps pulsing with frog calls we learn about evolutio
£27.10
Faber & Faber Sounds Wild and Broken
Book SynopsisAn awe-inspiring exploration of the sounds of the living Earth, and the joys and threats of human music, language and noise. ''A symphony, filled with the music of life . . . fascinating, heartbreaking, and beautifully written.''ELIZABETH KOLBERT, author of The Sixth Extinction''Sounds Wild and Broken affirms Haskell as a laureate for the earth, his finely tuned scientific observations made more potent by his deep love for the wild he hopes to save.''NEW YORK TIMES''Wonderful . . . a reminder that the narrow aural spectrum on which most of us operate, and the ways in which human life is led, blocks out the planet's great, orchestral richness.''GUARDIANWe live on a planet alive with song, music, and speech. David George Haskell explores how these wonders came to be. In rainforests shimmering with insect sounds and swamps pulsing with frog calls we learn about evol
£11.69
Penguin Putnam Inc Phallacy
Book SynopsisA wry look at what the astonishing world of animal penises can tell us about how we use our own.
£17.84
Penguin Random House Group Booster Shots
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£22.50
Penguin Putnam Inc Optimal Illusions
Book Synopsis
£19.49
O'Reilly Media Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments
Book SynopsisExplains how to set up and use a home chemistry lab, with step-by-step instructions for conducting experiments in basic chemistry. This book shows how to do real lab work: purify alcohol by distillation; produce hydrogen and oxygen gas by electrolysis; smelt metallic copper from copper ore you make yourself; and much more.
£19.19
Cengage Learning, Inc Hottest Coldest Highest Deepest
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£10.79
WTM Publishing & Communications Pty Ltd Beyond the Human Condition
Book Synopsis
£13.49
£11.99
Simon & Schuster Three Hundred and Sixty Five Starry Nights
Book SynopsisTable of ContentsContentsINTRODUCTIONJANUARYFEBRUARYMARCHAPRILMAYJUNEJULYAUGUSTSEPTEMBEROCTOBERNOVEMBERDECEMBERSOURCES AND RESOURCESGLOSSARY
£15.58
Harvard University Press On Fertile Ground
Book SynopsisRanging from the latest achievements of modern fertility clinics to the lives of subsistence farmers in the rain forests of Africa, this book offers both a remarkably broad and a minutely detailed exploration of human reproduction. Ellison combines the perspectives of anthropology, ecology, and evolutionary biology.Trade ReviewEllison gives a clear, beautifully written account of human reproductive physiology in relation to human evolution and ecology. His very readable narrative--including his stands on some still controversial questions--will enlighten anyone interested in reproduction, population, and people's place on the planet. -- Joel E. Cohen, Professor of Populations at The Rockefeller University and Columbia University, New York and 1999 winner of the Tyler Prize for Environmental AchievementOn Fertile Ground is a fine overview of the role of hormones in human reproduction, and of the way hormones and behavior interact. Authoritative and lively, it is the best place to start. -- Melvin Konner, Emory UniversityA splendid synthesis by one of the pioneers in the study of the evolution of the human reproductive system. Ellison provides a readable, marvelously informative account of the physiology of reproduction as it relates to women's lives. -- Sara Blaffer Hrdy, author of Mother NatureBecause of the many subfields it covers, not to mention the contradictory claims made by its practitioners, human reproduction has been a difficult topic for non-specialists to master. Peter Ellison has now turned a fearsome set of data-rich puzzles into a single elegant story. On Fertile Ground shows readers where the intellectual problems lie, what's wrong with past solutions, and why his views are right. On Fertile Ground is a riveting tale of adaptation and a major contribution to mammalian evolutionary ecology. It shows science at its best. -- Richard Wrangham, author of Demonic MalesOn Fertile Ground provides the finest available integration of detailed information on human reproductive physiology with evolutionary explanations; it can serve as a model for other areas of human biology...A novel synthesis of a fast-growing field, On Fertile Ground will interest specialists and nonspecialists alike and can be used as an undergraduate text as well. It is an excellent read that significantly advances our understanding of human reproduction. -- Hillard S. Kaplan * Science *Peter Ellison grips your attention from his opening contrast between a difficult birth in central Africa that ended in the death of the baby and a successful delivery in the U.S. that mobilised up-to-date medical facilities. He isn't sensationalist. Fascination comes from following the progress from conception to maturity in minute detail...On Fertile Ground is enjoyable and Ellison has an individual voice. -- Roy Herbert * New Scientist *[This book] is truly extraordinary, state-of-the-art book on a topic that concerns all human beings as individuals and a host of others professionally. So many superlatives may seem inappropriate, but they are not. Ellison is a cutting-edge scientist: a leading researcher in the field of human reproductive physiology. He brings to bear an unparalleled perspective--derived from both anthropology and biology--that makes a diverse and conflicting field of research suddenly comprehensible by demanding that human reproduction be viewed as the product of evolution, responsive to ecological conditions, with its own unique evolutionary history. -- Jane B. Lancaster * Harvard Magazine *Given Peter Ellison's major contributions to reproductive ecology, it should come as no surprise that he has written a unique, readable book on what determines and influences reproductive success in humans...One of the hallmarks of this book is that, in his efforts to understand why human reproduction has evolved its own particular pattern, Ellison repeatedly asks questions that would never cross the minds of many of us, and in so doing stimulates new ways of thinking about old topics...This is an excellent and thoughtful discussion of the many interesting theories surrounding human reproductive physiology and its constraints. Written in accessible language, it should appeal to a non-academic audience as well as the specialist. It could also be assigned as a graduate and/or undergraduate supplementary text in courses on human reproductive ecology/behavioral biology or reproductive physiology. I can thoroughly recommend it to any and all of these readers! -- Gillian R. Bentley * Journal of Human Evolution *This is an splendid book that is so clearly written and yet so rigorously detailed that it can be recommended to teenage daughters and sons as well as specialists in reproductive ecology and life history theory. The book covers everything about the female reproductive system in intricate detail from conception and early fetal development through childhood, the onset of sexual maturation, female ovulatory cycling, pregnancy, birth and lactation and finally through menopause and the post reproductive lifespan. It also includes a fascinating chapter on male reproductive physiology that clearly explains how the sexes are similar and how and why males are different...Peter Ellison has been an outstanding leader of the field of reproductive ecology for more than 20 years. This book is the distillation of his ideas over that time period and a sparklingly transparent presentation of what sometimes seems to be a muddy pond of complicated details...It will undoubtedly be on the forefront of a new era in human reproductive studies, helping to lead those who study human reproductive patterns back down a pathway where questions and hypothesis about functional design are central, and firmly grounded in the realization that the whole system evolved by natural selection. -- Kim Hill * Journal of Anthropological Research *Ellison describes the evolution of human reproduction clearly and concisely, beginning with the forces that shaped the process of conception and proceeding to the reproductive process, birth, and the subsequent six months of development...Sure to delight anyone interested in the external forces that helped create humanity. -- Bonnie Johnston * Booklist *In clean, elegant prose, Ellison has crafted a synthesis of current knowledge in a range of disciplines...his exposition offers a superb overview. -- Bethany Torode * Books & Culture *Table of ContentsTwo Births Surviving the First Cut A Time to Be Born The Elixir of Life Why Grow Up? Balancing Act The Arc of Life The Body Builders The Journey and the Procession Notes Acknowledgments List of Illustrations Index
£26.31
Harvard University Press Desert Navigator
Book SynopsisCataglyphis ants can set out across vast expanses of desert terrain in search of prey, and then find the shortest way home. Rüdiger Wehner has devised elegant experiments to unmask how they do it. Through a lively and lucid narrative, he offers a firsthand look at the extraordinary navigational skills of these charismatic creatures.Trade ReviewRüdiger Wehner’s Desert Navigator is destined to be a classic in entomology and behavioral biology. It is through an extraordinary series of observations and experiments that we have the first effective look into the mind of ants. -- Edward O. Wilson, University Professor Emeritus, Harvard UniversityWehner’s research has been highly influential in human spatial cognition, and we are lucky to have this rich and fascinating account. -- Steven Pinker, author of How the Mind WorksThis book is a masterpiece par excellence! Superb science, eloquently and engagingly written, and beautifully illustrated. -- Bert Hölldobler, Foundation Professor of Life Sciences and Regent’s Professor, Arizona State UniversityThis sumptuously produced book is a triumph both of natural history and of science…Understanding how this wonderful eusocial insect can accomplish its apparently miraculous feats of navigation has required imagination, intelligence and decades of disciplined application. Here, in one place, we can at last savor the full glory of this remarkable achievement. -- William A. Foster * Nature *[A] grand book…You will end the book as a fan of Cataglyphis. -- Alun Anderson * New Scientist *Rarely do scientists write such broad and beautiful syntheses. The quality of the scholarship and the writing found in this book is truly outstanding. Indeed, it is a breathtaking piece of work. -- Thomas D. Seeley, Horace White Professor in Biology, Cornell UniversityThis is a marvelous book that no one could have written but Rüdiger Wehner. It is simply excellent. -- Alexander Borst, Director, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, MartinsriedBeautifully written and gorgeously illustrated…a sumptuous and highly personal account of how [Wehner] and his many collaborators unravelled the navigational ‘toolkit’ of his beloved ‘cataglyphs.’…A scientific tour de force, and a work of exceptional scholarship…Will certainly become a go-to bible for everyone in the field of animal navigation. -- Eric Warrant * Quarterly Review of Biology *This title joins what is becoming an illustrious line-up of in-depth books on ants published by Harvard University Press. I praise them unreservedly for the lavish production values they have heaped upon it. Desert Navigator is a myrmecological masterpiece and a fitting milestone in Wehner’s long and successful research career. If you have any interest in ants, insect behavior, or animal navigation you absolutely do not want to skip this astonishing book. * Inquisitive Biologist *Through a lively and lucid narrative, Desert Navigator offers a firsthand look at the extraordinary skills of these charismatic desert dwellers. * Southeastern Naturalist *I cannot find another book where the subject of insect navigation is so elegantly treated. -- Rudolf Alexander Steinbrecht * Arthropod Structure & Development *
£44.76
Harvard University Press Newtons Apple and Other Myths about Science
Book SynopsisTrade Review[A] provocative collection that tackles some of science’s most enduring misconceptions and dubious assumptions. -- Gemma Tarlach * Discover *In Newton’s Apple and Other Myths about Science 27 experts in the history of science and science education explore 27 ‘myths’ that are staples of classroom and popular science. Each short, readable and authoritative chapter is perfect commute-length reading. Better than just countering the myths, the book explains when they arose and why they stuck. -- Rebekah Higgitt * The Guardian *[A] delightful collection of short, thought-provoking essays…Every reader should find something to surprise them. -- Jim Endersby * Science *Newton’s Apple seeks to expose lingering misconceptions about the precursors of modern science, about how science is conducted, and about leading researchers who pushed their fields forward. -- Bob Grant * The Scientist *Myth busting is always great fun as well as being educational. Newton’s Apple and Other Myths about Science is a splendid sequel to Galileo Goes to Jail and Other Myths about Science and Religion. Here, twenty-eight experts punch holes in widely-held opinions about science. But it may be disconcerting to find a few of your own long-held beliefs in the ranks. So don’t read this book if you aren’t prepared to change your mind. -- Owen Gingerich, author of God’s PlanetTwenty-seven popular myths about science and its history bite the dust in this engaging and timely book. In these essays, Numbers, Kampourakis, and a host of eminent experts set the record straight and explore how and why these myths become part of our collective memory—whether right or wrong. Each chapter offers important lessons about history and the scientists involved in some of our most significant discoveries. -- Janet Browne, author of Charles Darwin: A BiographyNumbers and Kampourakis have assembled a splendid collection of essays challenging rampant misconceptions about science past and present. This book will be of interest to researchers, teachers, students, and anyone who cares about getting the history of science right. -- Angela N. H. Creager, author of Life AtomicMany of the facts we think we know about science—that Isaac Newton has an epiphany about gravity when an apple fell on his head, for example, are apocryphal. These essays by science and other historians challenge the idea that science is an endeavor that jumps forward because of the discoveries or inventions of individuals, explaining that it is instead advanced by the accretion of tiny breakthroughs made by multitudes over time. -- Henrietta Verma * Library Journal *Myths die hard no matter how often they are refuted, and this splendid essay collection, edited by Numbers and Kampourakis, tackles many of the most prevalent and destructive myths about science… The book’s real value lies in the way that each author not only refutes a myth, but traces its origins and points out why it has lasted so long; each brief, well-written essay—they average eight pages—gives the historical context and explains the relevant science. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *Myths about science, including its history and practice, abound among the general public, scientists, and science teachers…This book will be a surprising read for the general audience and even scientists; it is a must read for science educators. -- P. D. Skiff * Choice *
£16.16
Harvard University Press A Little Book about the Big Bang
Book SynopsisTony Rothman offers a primer on the science of the big bang and the questions we still can’t answer about the origins of the universe. Enlisting thoughtful analogies and a step-by-step approach, Rothman guides readers through dark matter, dark energy, quantum gravity, and other topics at—and beyond—the cutting edge of cosmology.Trade ReviewEverything a cosmos-curious reader could want: a clear, concise, yet comprehensive exploration of the biggest concepts in the universe. -- Richard Panek, author of The Trouble with GravityThe big bang is a big topic that Rothman handles with ease and elegance. For those craving an epic story, this is the book for you! -- Paul M. Sutter, host of Ask a Spaceman!A delightful romp through the exciting field of cosmology. Rothman’s book covers the topic in a clear and lucid way that any science enthusiast will enjoy. Five stars! -- Don Lincoln, senior scientist and YouTube host for FermilabWith humor and clarity, Tony Rothman elucidates the physics and philosophy behind the big bang theory, one of science’s crowning achievements. Though an expert in general relativity, Einstein’s masterful—and highly mathematical—theory of gravitation, Rothman has the gift of being able to explain his field and its application to the study of the universe, in an eminently understandable way without equations. A Little Book about the Big Bang is a must for anyone interested in a clear account of how the universe grew up into the starry wonder we witness today. -- Paul Halpern, author of Flashes of Creation: George Gamow, Fred Hoyle, and the Great Big Bang DebateModern cosmology tells the fascinating tale of the evolution of the universe. Tony Rothman is our thoughtful guide, always careful to distinguish established science from speculative theory as we explore the fundamental nature of the big bang. -- George Ellis, author of How Can Physics Underlie the Mind?Tony Rothman’s book beautifully explores some of the biggest questions that humanity has pondered for centuries. A Little Book about the Big Bang highlights the cutting-edge work being done by cosmologists, who in recent decades have made extraordinary progress toward revealing the secrets of our universe. Read this book—you will be inspired. -- Neta Bahcall, Eugene Higgins Professor of Astrophysics, Princeton UniversityA remarkably comprehensive account of modern cosmology. Rothman emphasizes what we confidently know about the big bang, but also provides insight into the important unanswered questions in the field, taking us to where the deep puzzles lie. -- Michael Strauss, coauthor of A Brief Welcome to the UniverseA concise examination of the origin of the universe…Lucid and informative. * Kirkus Reviews *Aims to guide both laymen and experts through the latest scientific thinking on the subject…Explains complex ideas clearly with useful analogies, some simple diagrams, and very little mathematics…This book may look small in size but, much like Doctor Who’s TARDIS, on the inside it is so much bigger. -- Jenny Winder * BBC Sky at Night *
£18.86
Harvard University Press Taxi from Another Planet
Book SynopsisTaxi drivers love to talk, and when astrobiologist Charles Cockell is their passenger, they love to talk about aliens. This humorous, insightful collection gathers essays inspired by conversations with cabbies, ranging over the possible nature of alien societies, the inevitability of life, and links between environmentalism and space exploration.Trade ReviewConversations with cab drivers lead to discussions about space exploration in this fun outing from astrobiologist Cockell…He does a great job blending cutting-edge science with philosophical considerations. This is a joy to read. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *Timely…Cockell makes us consider a gamut of new possibilities that boggle the mind. -- Bruce Dorminey * Forbes *The single most interesting space book I’ve seen this year…I remain very grateful for Taxi from Another Planet, a book I will be returning to and recommending to others. -- John Wilson * National Review *While Cockell gives an insider, science-based understanding of space and its exploration, he’s not shy in offering his opinions, such as there being no Planet B to flee to after we finish wreaking havoc on this one. Far from being at odds, he persuasively argues, environmentalism at home and exploration in space are natural allies working to understand and protect biological life. -- Adrienne Ross Scanlan * New York Journal of Books *Cockell gives readers a good, basic (and easy-to-understand) refresher course on life on Earth as he prepares to discuss life outside Earth…While this is surely a book for adults, older teens who study the skies and make plans for a home on the moon will appreciate it as well. -- Terri Schlichenmeyer * The Daily News *Takes the reader on an engaging tour of leading topics and questions in astrobiology through a series of imaginary conversations with taxi drivers. -- Ian Randall * Physics World *[Cockell] seeks to shed some light on such existential dilemmas from a refreshingly non-academic perspective…The book is both entertaining and informative in equal measure, always thought-provoking, and is an illustration of the value of interrogating seemingly simple questions from a completely different viewpoint, sometimes leading to surprising new insights. -- Morgan Hollis * Nature Astronomy *An interesting and humorous approach to questions about the universe with relatively in-depth subject exploration. * Library Journal *If you’re intrigued by the concept of life beyond Earth and space exploration, then Taxi from Another Planet will be an interesting read for you. Inspired by conversations with drivers around the world, Cockell spins them into engaging chapters that bring together observations and ruminations about human history and scientific knowledge. -- Michelle Gardner * Technical Communication *The power of this fascinating book is that it explains a lot of science in simple terms, and offers plenty of food for thought. I recommend this book to science teachers and students, to public libraries and to historians. -- Christiaan Sterken * Journal of Astronomical Data *From human societies on Mars to cosmic microbes and alien worlds, this superbly intelligent, erudite book offers an intoxicating look at how the cutting edge of scientific thought on life’s status in the universe connects to all of us. Faced with the fascinating questions of taxi drivers from around the world, Cockell is a convivial and inspiring passenger. -- Caleb Scharf, author of The Ascent of InformationMost astronomers find it hard to respond to questions from the public without lapsing into jargon or technicalities, but Charles Cockell is a natural communicator. Taxi from Another Planet conveys an array of ideas—all fascinating, and some profound—with a light touch and utter clarity. Accessible to anyone curious about the cosmos. -- Martin Rees, coauthor of The End of AstronautsIn this unique book, Cockell takes us on a journey through astrobiology—one taxi ride at a time. Combining scientific inquiries with personal stories, Taxi from Another Planet is a fascinating conversation starter. -- Lisa Kaltenegger, Director of the Carl Sagan Institute, Cornell UniversityCab drivers spend mere minutes with their passengers, which motivates them to ask riders only the interesting questions: Could Martians be dangerous? Will talking to aliens be more enlightening than talking to a dog? Cockell’s answers from the backseat are clear and delightfully phrased in this informative and thoroughly entertaining book. -- Seth Shostak, author of Confessions of an Alien HunterThe ever curious and creative mind of Charles Cockell takes us on a ride that is both whimsical and thoroughly insightful. Science, society, and history are woven together throughout this delightful book, resembling the many intertwining streets of Cockell’s journeys, and ours. -- Kevin Peter Hand, author of Alien Oceans: The Search for Life in the Depths of Space
£20.66
Harvard University Press The Elephant in the Universe
Book Synopsis
£16.10
Harvard University Press Rational Fog
Book SynopsisScientists have long been intimately connected with warfare, called upon to supply fighters with tools of killing. Some scientists have attempted to reorient the morality of their disciplines. Rational Fog takes stock of these efforts and explores the quandary of scientific productivity today, in an era of perpetual war.Trade ReviewRational Fog demonstrates that [scientists’] expertise is remarkably effective when combined with militaristic goals…One may doubt the ‘science’ of climate change or vaccines, but the power of science is displayed every time a drone carries out a remote strike, a jet breaks the sound barrier, or a nuclear warhead ‘explodes’ inside of a computer simulation. It may be inconvenient, but those truths are neither nebulous nor negligible. They are lethal. -- W. Patrick McCray * Los Angeles Review of Books *Lindee…begins her study of technoscientific warfare by observing that the eroticism of modern weaponry has mesmerized the public…Lindee’s plainest ambition in Rational Fog consists in what she calls an ‘audit’ of the key moments in history when science was regrettably appropriated for warfare. Her unflinching examination abrades a naïve picture of science…as ‘uniquely neutral, universalistic, and benevolent…a calling, not a profession.’ -- Trevor Quirk * Virginia Quarterly Review *Offers the reader a journey through some of the most prominent examples of the ambivalent achievements of human scientific and engineering ingenuity: machines and technical and organic systems of destruction…Casts the history of modern scientific expertise as a process of groping in the fog of war…Lindee goes on to offer a set of arguments to bolster her call for opposition to the militarization of technoscience. -- Egle Rindzeviciute * H-Diplo Reviews *Lindee has not written a typical monograph on the relationship between science and warfare. Rational Fog is a long essay on the systematic relation between the growth of scientific knowledge and violence and an insightful reflection on the ultimate consequences of this closeness…A book for all those intrigued—and let’s be honest, who is not, right now?—by the daily paradox of the achievements of science and technology, which simultaneously threaten and open possibilities for the Earth and humankind. -- Edna Suárez-Díaz * Isis *There is a voluminous literature on science, technology, and warfare, but most of it focuses on a particular science, a particular technology, or a particular war. In this ambitious, synthetic work, M. Susan Lindee explores the relationship between technical knowledge and violence across a wide historical expanse. A highly original and fascinating book. -- Naomi Oreskes, author of Why Trust Science?This book brilliantly illuminates how the ‘fog of war’ creeps beyond the battlefield, engulfing the collaborative and analytical systems of scientists and engineers in the production of weapon systems for the modern age. -- Robert Jacobs, Hiroshima Peace InstituteThis fascinating book compels us to reckon with how science has been developed and directed by the military—and how scientific knowledge and technology underlie the ghastly deadliness of modern warfare, from gunshot wounds to the atomic bomb. M. Susan Lindee presents the coupling of science to the defense state as integral and systemic, not a matter of a few bad actors or the corruption of research. Vital reading. -- Angela N. H. Creager, author of Life Atomic: A History of Radioisotopes in Science and Medicine
£33.96
