Popular science Books

Book SynopsisA deeply reported look at the rise of home genetic testing and the seismic shock it has had on individual lives You swab your cheek or spit into a vial, then send it away to a lab somewhere. Weeks later you get a report that might tell you where your ancestors came from or if you carry certain genetic risks. Or the report could reveal a long-buried family secret and upend your entire sense of identity. Soon a lark becomes an obsession, an incessant desire to find answers to questions at the core of your being, like Who am I? and Where did I come from? Welcome to the age of home genetic testing. In The Lost Family, journalist Libby Copeland investigates what happens when we embark on a vast social experiment with little understanding of the ramifications. Copeland explores the culture of genealogy buffs, the science of DNA, and the business of companies like Ancestry and 23andMe, all while tracing the story of one woman, her unusual results, and a relentless methodical drive for anTrade Review“So many families have been touched—and will continue to be touched—by the secrets unearthed by home genetic testing. We are in an epidemic with few signposts, little to guide us as we contend with the unintended consequences brought upon us by scientific advancement. The Lost Family is an urgently necessary, powerful book that addresses one of the most complex social and bioethical issues of our time.” -- Dani Shapiro * New York Times bestselling author of Inheritance *Not long ago, the idea of sequencing your DNA was as plausible as booking a trip to Jupiter. Now we give each other DNA tests as holiday gifts. As tens of millions of people look at their genes and link them to their ancestry, this science is having a profound impact on our society as a whole. It is reuniting relatives, breaking up families, and sending criminals to jail. The Lost Family is a deeply reported, deeply humane exploration of our ongoing redefinition of our identity and our kinships. -- Carl Zimmer * author of She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity *“The Lost Family is a fascinating exploration of the mysteries ignited by DNA genealogy testing—from the intensely personal and concrete to the existential and unsolvable. In the world Copeland's 'seekers' are exploring, 'Who am I?' becomes a mystery more intricate and more crucial than any novel's 'Whodunit?' Copeland deftly weaves together individual stories, technical explanations and sociological discussion to make a book that's both gripping and deeply thought-provoking.” -- Tana French * New York Times bestselling author of the Dublin Murder Squad series and The Witch Elm *A compellingly readable narrative that takes us down the rabbit hole of modern personal genomics. Libby Copeland brings a gripping story from the front lines of genealogy and genomics. -- Razib Khan * The Insitome Institute *“A riveting mystery combined with a beautiful meditation on family and identity. I read it in one sitting and immediately preordered copies for everyone I'm related to, both by blood and by love.” -- Monica Hesse * author of American Fire and Girl in the Blue Coat *“A fascinating account of consumer genetic testing’s ‘fundamental reshaping of the American family’ over the past two decades. … impeccably researched … up-to-the-minute science meets the philosophy of identity in a poignant, engaging debut.” -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Page-Turner.” -- Alison Stewart * WNYC’s All Of It *“Copeland takes readers inside America’s first DNA testing lab dedicated to genealogy, to Salt Lake City’s Family History Library—the largest genealogical research facility in the world—and into the living rooms of dozens of people whose lives have been turned upside down due to the results of a recreational DNA test. It is at once a hard look at the forces behind a historical mass reckoning that is happening all across America, and an intimate portrait of the people living it.“ -- Wired.com“Before You Spit in That Vial, Read This Book.” -- New York Times“[The Lost Family] wrestles with some of the biggest questions in life: Who are we? What is family? Are we defined by nature, nurture or both?” -- The Washington Post“A fascinating account of lives dramatically affected by genetic sleuthing.” -- The Wall Street Journal“A fascinating deep dive into the massively popular world of direct-to-consumer DNA testing.” -- Associated Press“Journalist Libby Copeland’s deep dive into the family secrets uncovered and privacy questions untested will blow your mind.” -- OZY.com“…well-researched, thorough and fascinating" -- The Columbus Dispatch

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis lucid and entertaining book presents compelling scientific evidence that proves what many of us have perhaps long suspected: nature is really good for us. I found it revelatory' Richard Deverell, Director of Kew A revolutionary, science-based look at the ways nature can help make us healthier.Fifteen years ago, University of Oxford Professor Kathy Willis read a study that radically changed her view of our relationship to the natural world. The study revealed that hospital patients recovering from surgery improved three times faster when they looked out of their windows at trees rather than seeing walls.Since then, she has dedicated her research to proving this link between the amount of green space in our lives and our better health, mood and longevity. For the first time ever, Good Nature brings together these recent scientific findings and shares the simple changes we can all make in our lives. The book is full of sur

Read more less

Book SynopsisAt a time of existential global challenges we need our best brainpower to solve them. We can no longer rely on the myth of the lone genius to create a breakthrough.As neuroscientist and bestselling author of The Science of Fate Hannah Critchlow shows, two heads have always been better than one. Almost everything we've ever achieved has been done by groups of people working together, sometimes across time and space. Like a hive of bees, or a flock of birds, our naturally social, interconnected brains are designed to function best collectively.New technology is helping us share our wisdom and knowledge much more diversely across race, class, gender and borders. And AI is sparking a revolution in our approach to intelligent thinking -linking us into fast-working brainnets for problem solving.Hannah Critchlow brings us an enlightening, invaluable guide to our future through the evolving new science of collective intelligence. She reveals what it says about us as human beings, shares compelling examples and stories, and shows us how best we can work collectively at work, in families, in any team situation to improve our outcomes, our wellbeing, and our prospects.Trade ReviewA lively examination of communal endeavour... important and correct -- Steven Poole * The Guardian *For tens of thousands of years we have tried to work out how we can best think. At last this genius work explains the past, the present and the future of our minds. Read - to be amazed. -- Bettany HughesHannah Critchlow has written a timely and engaging book about human intelligence and the challenges our brains face in the twenty-first century. It will make you think. It might even change for the better the way you think. -- Ian RankinA powerful manifesto for the strength of "we" thinking -- Marcus du SautoyHannah Critchlow's research into collective intelligence, team work, communication, performance, resilience, ethics etc from a neuroscience perspective is absolutely fascinating. -- Tatjana MarinkoFrom startling futuristic speculation to practical exercises in getting in touch with your own routine mental processes, Hannah Critchlow steers us with a sure hand and an unfailingly clear and engaging voice. This is a treasure of a book, exploding some damaging myths and encouraging us to re-imagine the values of relationality and receptivity in our thinking. -- Rowan WilliamsThis is absolutely wonderful, uplifting and soulful. I can't tell you how much we need joined-up thinking - this book and the thing itself. The future of humanity very much depends on how well we embrace these ground-breaking provocative ideas, to focus on the collective 'we' more than the individual 'me'. -- Daniel M. Davis

Read more less

Book Synopsis____________________What is AIQ? How does it work? Most importantly, how can it help us? Two leading data scientists offer an up-close and user-friendly look at artificial intelligence and how to harness its power for a better world. 'A positive and entertaining look at the great potential unlocked by marrying human creativity with powerful machines.' Steven D. Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics____________________Dozens of times per day, we all interact with intelligent machines that are constantly learning from the wealth of data now available to them. These machines, from smart phones to talking robots to self-driving cars, are remaking the world in the twenty first century in the same way that the Industrial Revolution remade the world in the nineteenth.AIQ is based on a simple premise: if you want to understand the modern world, then you have to know a little bit of the mathematical language spoken by intelligent machines. AIQ will teach you that language but in an unconventional way, anchored in stories rather than equations.Trade ReviewThere comes a time in the life of a subject when someone steps up and writes the book about it. AIQ explores the fascinating history of the ideas that drive this technology of the future and demystifies the core concepts behind it; the result is a positive and entertaining look at the great potential unlocked by marrying human creativity with powerful machines. -- Steven Levitt, bestselling co-author of FreakonomicsEntertaining and persuasive. The book’s goal is to explain how artificial intelligence delivers its incredible results, and Polson and Scott are like a pair of excitable mechanics lifting up the bonnet of a sports car. This is a passionate book, and it is a model of how to make data science accessible and exciting. -- James McConnachie * The Sunday Times *Grounding AI in tried-and-true methods makes it seem less alien: Computers are simply faster ways to solve familiar problems. Hence the book’s title, a portmanteau of AI and IQ—the point being that we need both. -- Sam Kean * Wall Street Journal *In an entertaining primer, two academic data scientists put the case for the defence on artificial intelligence, and show how we can harness its power for a better world. * The Times *At last, a book on the ideas behind AI and data science by people who really understand data. Cutting through the usual journalistic puff and myths, they clearly explain the underlying ideas behind the way that troughloads of data are being harnessed to build the algorithms that can carry out such extraordinary feats. But they are also clear about the limitations and potential risks of these algorithms, and the need for society to scrutinise and even regulate their use. A real page-turner, with fine stories and just enough detail: I learned a lot. -- David Spiegelhalter, Winton Professor of the Public Understanding of Risk, University of Cambridge

Read more less

Book SynopsisIs anything truly random? Does infinity actually exist? Could we ever see into other dimensions? In this delightful journey of discovery, David Darling and extraordinary child prodigy Agnijo Banerjee draw connections between the cutting edge of modern maths and life as we understand it, delving into the strange – would we like alien music? – and venturing out on quests to consider the existence of free will and the fantastical future of quantum computers. Packed with puzzles and paradoxes, mind-bending concepts and surprising solutions, this is for anyone who wants life’s questions answered – even those you never thought to ask.Trade Review‘Remarkable.’ * TLS *‘A glorious trip through some of the wilder regions of the mathematical landscape, explaining why they are important and useful, but mostly revelling in the sheer joy of the unexpected. Highly recommended!’ -- Ian Stewart, author of Significant Figures‘Darling and Banerjee take us on a captivating ride through a vast landscape of mathematics, touching on mesmerising topics that include randomness, higher dimensions, alien music, chess, chaos, prime numbers, cicadas, infinity, and more. Read this book and soar.’ -- Clifford A. Pickover, author of The Math Book: From Pythagoras to the 57th Dimension‘In this inspired collaboration, a young maths prodigy teams up with a popular science writer to present a fresh view of the world of mathematics. Together they fearlessly tackle some of the most weird and wonderful topics in mathematics today, rightly believing that “if you can’t explain something in plain language then you don’t properly understand it”. Clearly, they understand it.’ -- John Stillwell, Professor of Mathematics, University of San Francisco, and author of Elements of Mathematics

Read more less

Book SynopsisSince ancient times, we have tried to make sense of our universe by observing objects far beyond our abilities to see or touch – from the smallest atom to the farthest star.This book covers, in chronological order, all the key discoveries and remarkable minds in each scientific field, including Aristotle’s geocentric model of the cosmos, Darwin’s theory of evolution, Newton’s theory of gravity and Einstein’s theory of relativity. Also included are fascinating anecdotes about the lives of influential scientists: learn how Ptolemy fixed his results to match his theories; Freud used cocaine to expand his mind; and Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, was banned from using university computers after being caught hacking.Revealing how human curiosity knows no bounds, and how the field of science has evolved over the last 2,500 years, this book breaks everything down into easily digestible sections to give a broad overview of the fascinating history of science.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSince the earliest humans walked the earth, the vast mysteries and wonders of the night sky have fascinated and beguiled us, as we’ve struggled to understand our place in the cosmos.Even after the last century, which saw important and startling discoveries about our own planet, our solar system and the stars and galaxies beyond, there remain more questions than answers. But those questions – What is dark matter? Are we alone in the universe? Is time travel possible? – provide a fascinating insight into the vastness and infinite possibilities of space that we’re yet to determine. The sheer scale of the universe can be intimidating, but in this easily digestible book we embark on an incredible journey through all the essential astronomical discoveries, from the beliefs of ancient civilizations, through to the recent groundbreaking observations of the gravitational waves predicted by Einstein over 100 years ago. There’s never been a better time to get to grips with the universe and this essential guide to the cosmos is the perfect place to start!Trade ReviewIf you're new to the subject... or are trying to spark the astronomy bug in someone else, then this volume is an excellent place to begin your adventure * BBC Sky at Night Magazine *This book is a goldmine for anyone seeking to understand the present state of astronomical science, cosmology and how we arrived here from the earliest wonderings of our ancestors about the things they saw in the sky * Astronomy Now *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Nobel Laureate explains quantum entanglement and teleportation and why Einstein was wrong about the nature of realityWhat is the true nature of reality? To find out, Nobel Laureate Anton Zeilinger takes us (along with his fictional students Alice and Bob) on a voyage through a quantum wonderland, explaining entanglement, teleportation, time-travel paradoxes and why our view of the world must change.Originally published in America in 2012, a new Afterword in the light of the author's 2022 Nobel Prize means the book brings readers up-to-date with the most recent developments in quantum teleportation. This describes the author's collaboration to perform the first intercontinental video call encrypted using quantum cryptography, and how Chinese scientists teleported entangled quantum states to an orbiting satellite. Readers also learn how both volunteer humans and astronomical objects billions of light years away have been part of experiments to conclusively prove that quantum states cannot provide a full description of reality at a local level.Einstein had always refused to accept aspects of quantum theory, deriding the notion of instantaneous communication between faraway 'entangled' particles as 'spooky action at a distance'. However, this playful yet deep book takes readers through a series of ingenious experiments conducted in various locations that demonstrate entanglement is indeed real, and speculates that information is an essential part of reality.From a dank sewage tunnel under the River Danube to the balmy air between a pair of mountain peaks in the Canary Islands, with various time-travel paradoxes explained along the way, the author and his fictional physics students Alice and Bob demonstrate the true nature of quantum entanglement and teleportation using photons, or light quanta, created by laser beams. The ideas described have laid the foundations for a new era of quantum technology, including the development of quantum computers and much more.Trade ReviewUsing refined tools and long series of experiments, Anton Zeilinger ... has demonstrated a phenomenon called quantum teleportation, which makes it possible to move a quantum state from one particle to one at a distance ... A new kind of quantum technology is emerging -- The Nobel Prize JudgesDance of the Photons is a delight. The explanations of some of the most subtle and unexpected effects of quantum physics are provided in terms of beautifully simple and charming everyday settings. The true flavour of quantum mechanics is here made accessible, without pain but with considerable good humour -- Sir Roger Penrose, winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize in PhysicsAnton Zeilinger has done more than anyone to unfold the quantum world by fashioning amazing experiments that have allowed nature to speak to us in her own native quantum language. In this clearly and elegantly written book he takes the reader on the journey he and his colleagues have travelled in their interrogations of the quantum world. Along the way he introduces us to the new concept of quantum information and explains its promise to revolutionize how we communicate and compute -- Lee Smolin, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical PhysicsFrom the sewers under Vienna to a whirlwind tour of the great physicists of the twentieth century and their wild ideas, this is a marvellous introduction to the world of quantum physics by one of the most accomplished experimenters working in the field today. Zeilinger takes the reader on a very personal journey while providing a remarkably clear and cogent discussion of the mind-bending world of quantum mechanics and its potential to change the future of technology -- Lawrence M. Krauss, author of "Quantum Man: Richard Feynman's Life in Science"Those seeking an accessible popular account of this fascinating field will find their search over . . . Taking some of the most complex ideas from cutting-edge science, Zeilinger provides simple and clear explanations that in no way compromise the fundamental concepts -- Jeremy L. O'Brian * Science *For more than eighty years the bizarre features of the description of nature at the atomic level given by quantum mechanics have puzzled and fascinated the physics community, but it is only in recent years that many of these features have been verified by experiment. This delightful little book, by one of the world's leading practitioners in this area, explains these recent advances in a way that should be accessible even to readers with no physics background -- Anthony J. Leggett, winner of the 2003 Nobel Prize in PhysicsAn exciting new perspective. He is one of the leading investigators into the foundations and consequences of quantum theory. His long history of intense involvement in the concrete details of making quantum effects visible and measurable in fundamental experiments is reflected in the book, setting it apart from many other popularizations ... Zeilinger writes with wit and clarity, combining humorous dialogue with an admirably serious and thorough treatment of some of the most challenging and fundamental concepts in modern quantum physics. Dance of the Photons is a wonderful resource for general readers who want to delve more deeply into contemporary quantum experiments and their ramifications ... a tour de force of exposition -- Peter Pesic * American Scientist *Anton Zeilinger's exposition of this puzzling subject is clear and vivid, and backed by a voice of authority that could come only from his being a leading experimenter in the field. -- A. Zee, author of "Fearful Symmetry", "Einstein's Universe", and "Quantum Field Theory in a Nutshell"Light is the research focus of Zeilinger, a physicist in Austria who studies photons' ghostly quantum behaviour ... The faster-than-light talent of quantum particles bothered Einstein but excites Zeilinger, who describes the technologies that entanglement could in principle permit, such as quantum computers or quantum teleportation. An innovative presenter of a complicated topic, Zeilinger will appeal to the futurists of the science set -- Gilbert Taylor * Booklist *A rewarding exploration of the weird world of quantum physics ... the author introduces two college freshmen, Bob and Alice, eager for a taste of quantum physics ... Zeilinger uses simple diagrams and cheerful dialogues between Bob and Alice to make a difficult concept somewhat less difficult ... readers who pay close attention will grasp a strange but fascinating scientific principle * Kirkus Reviews *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe perfect companion to any flight - a guide to the science on view from your window seat. There are few times when science is so immediate as when you're in a plane. Your life is in the hands of the scientists and engineers who enable tons of metal and plastic to hurtle through the sky at hundreds of miles an hour. Inflight Science shows how you stay alive up there - but that's only the beginning. Brian Clegg explains the ever changing view, whether it's crop circles or clouds, mountains or river deltas, and describes simple experiments to show how a wing provides lift, or what happens if you try to open a door in midair (don't!). On a plane you'll experience the impact of relativity, the power of natural radiation and the effect of altitude on the boiling point of tea. Among the many things you'll learn is why the sky is blue, the cause of thunderstorms and the impact of volcanic ash in an enjoyable tour of mid-air science. Every moment of your journey is an opportunity to experience science in action: Inflight Science will be your guide.Trade ReviewWhat a lovely little book this is: the ultimate holiday read before the holiday's even begun.... Author Brian Clegg clearly understands that science is only as dry as the ivy-covered professors who make it so. -- Word MagazineThis is science simplified, surprising and entertaining. -- Choice MagazineEverything you were afraid (very afraid) to ask is explained in this brilliant guide to the science of getting into the air, staying there and landing. -- Iain Finlayson, Saga'Inflight Science,' by Brian Clegg, is essentially an eye-spy book for adults. After passing through the traumas and trials of security (where it is unlikely, you will be pleased to learn, to get enough of an X-ray dose to damage your DNA), and settling the kids to watch movies on their seatback screen (the LCD TV, by the way, relies on the same technology as sunglasses) this book will take you through the rest of your journey. Despite the odd alarming fact it is not, however, designed to scare one off flying. Quite the reverse: its intention is to inform - fitting into that publishing niche somewhere between hard science and Schott's Miscellany that was so successfully exploited by books such as 'The CloudSpotter's Guide.' The great strength of the book is its ability to pull out from the mundane experiences of modern air travel - the contrails and cumulonimbus, the security scanners and salted snacks - to explain a wider technical point. -- Times...we should be grateful for this book from Brian Clegg, an unabashed aircraft geek. Everything about aircraft seems to fascinate him: how much they weigh, how their lavatories work, how they affect our bodies. His curiosity extends to airports, which he turns into pleasure palaces full of little-known facts rather than the dull shopping malls we normally take them to be. His book is structured as a representative flight, from check-in to customs, in which at every turn he micro-analyses the technical and scientific aspects of the experience. I consider myself reasonably competent on matters aeronautical, but he still managed to surprise me with something new on every page. For example, he digresses on why there will never be electric aircraft. The reason is that to carry the same amount of energy as 10kg of jet fuel, you'd need one ton of batteries.... With this book in hand, we have all we need to set off on our next flight with our eyes open to the sheer wonder of what is involved. -- Alain de Botton, Mail on SundayClegg's foray into the science of air travel should be awarded some precious space in your hand luggage ... The beauty of the book ... lies in the way it makes you see the world afresh, learning about the way things work. -- Erika Burrows, Engineering & TechnologyEach paragraph makes the world of science easier. -- StatesmanThe perfect non-fiction equivalent of an airport novel. -- Sunday Star TimesLight but informative ... fun and accessible and the perfect book to read on your travels ... it'll leave you marvelling at the science and engineering that goes into flying. -- Laboratory News'Inflight Science' catches the current wave of Brian Cox-approved popular science ... for those who are interested in the way things work, and have seen the films on offer on board, it's a pleasant way of riding out the bumps. -- Rebecca Nicholson, Sunday TimesAn engaging guide for the unscientific to every aspect of your flight. -- Sunday Times['Inflight Science'] is a revelation ... In short, a whole new world of flying opens up. -- The Scientific and Medical NetworkImagine Leonardo da Vinci seated next to you on an airplane. . . . Brian Clegg attempts to restore something of the lost wonder of air travel . . . even as Leonardo, so fascinated by science, might have done . . . leav[ing] his readers improved for the journey and filled with a renewed sense of curiosity toward the wonders out their window. -- Wall Street JournalIf flying in an airplane has left you with questions, Clegg will have the answers you're looking for and then some. -- Publisher’s WeeklyIn other discussions of everything from jet engines to jet lag, Clegg both fascinates and informs. -- Science NewsThere's much to be learned in this book, for both young and old. -- British Airways Business Life

Read more less

Book SynopsisEverything we use started life in the earth, as a rock or a mineral vein, a layer of an ancient seabed, or the remains of a long-extinct volcano. Humanity’s ability to fashion nature to its own ends is by no means a new phenomenon. Silica-rich rocks have been flint-knapped by Stone Age people, transformed into stained glass in medieval times, and made into silicon chips for computers in the Digital Age. Our trick of turning rocks rich in malachite and chalcopyrite into copper has taken us from Bronze Age Minoan vases to the wiring that powers modern-day machinery. Today, we mine, quarry, pump, cut, blast and crush the Earth’s resources at an unprecedented rate. We shift many times more rock, soil and sediment each year than the world’s rivers and glaciers, wind and rain combined. Plastics alone now weigh twice as much as all the marine and terrestrial animals around the globe. We have become a dominant, even dangerous, force on the planet. In EXTRACTION TO EXTINCTION, David Howe traces our environmental impact through time to unearth how our obsession with endlessly producing and throwing away more and more stuff has pushed the planet to its limit. And he considers the question: what does the future look like for our depleted world?Trade Review“A lyrical and questing narrative of how humans have used and abused natural resources down the ages … long-brewed technical knowledge combined with an easy story-teller’s acumen, fluency and wisdom.” -- Michael Leeder, Professor Emeritus at UEA Norwich and author of the recent Measures for Measure: Geology and the Industrial Revolution (Dunedin)'A great book that does a fantastic job of weaving together geology, social science, and history into a really engaging read.' -- Geoscientist magazineTable of ContentsRocks and Resources; Concentrate; Bricks, Pots and Ceramics; Copper; Iron and Steel; Concrete; Glass; Aluminium; Plastics; Lithium, Rare Earths and the Information Age; Pollution and the Wounded Planet; Coal, Oil and Climate Change; The Anthropocene; References; Acknowledgements; Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe book thoroughly describes Iceland’s geological development and its current geological processes, taking into account both geographic and geo-ecological aspects. Furthermore, it includes suggested excursions especially for individual tours. The most popular tourist “highlights” (e.g. the Golden Circle with þingvellir, Gullfoss and Geyser) should certainly not be excluded. But there is so much more to explore apart from the main tourist routes - and sometimes only a few kilometers away. Examining various regions of the country, each proposed stop is sufficiently described so that it is easily accessible (especially for individual tourists). A wealth of maps, graphics and images illustrate and supplement the coverage. This invaluable guide is aimed in particular at individual tourists to Iceland. It provides those tourists wishing to explore Iceland on their own with a wide range of suggestions for their trip. In addition, numerous excursion suggestions for the west, southwest and south, including the Westman Islands, are described in detail.Table of ContentsIceland - a Worthwhile and Popular Island to Visit.- Iceland - an Island in the North Atlantic.- Geographical Subspaces of Iceland.- Geology of Iceland.- The Economy of Iceland.- Excursion Proposals.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn extraordinary range of infectious agents affect humans, from worms, arthopods, and fungi to bacteria, viruses, and prions. Looking at the curious nature of each, David I. Grove explores their life history, the people who discovered them, and how they were identified, in this fascinating exploration of infections around the globe.Trade ReviewAt £25.00, this book is a snip and should be on everyone's reading list * Dr Alan Pike, Biologist *This book will be a great read for biologists interested in the history of infectious disease. * Quarterly Review of Biology vol 91 no.3 *Fascinating. * Northern Echo *Table of ContentsINFECTION: THE SEARCH FOR ITS CAUSES; WORMS; ARTHROPODS; FUNGI; PROTOZOA; BACTERIA; VIRUSES; PRIONS; IX. UNDE VENIS ET QUO VADIS?; REFERENCES; GLOSSARY AND PRONUNCIATION; FURTHER READING; PERSON INDEX; SUBJECT INDEX

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow to win at life by harnessing the power of science.Trade Review"Full of tips and life hacks that are backed up by cold, hard science." - The Sun "Contains a staggering amount of common sense, scientifically solid advice, much of it new information to this particular reviewer, who will be adopting some of its principles immediately." - Robin Pierce, Starburst Magazine

Read more less

Book SynopsisA history of exploration beneath the surface of our planet, a remarkable voyage of scientific discovery over the past 150 years.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn accessible, authoritative book about the coronavirus pandemic by a leading journalist on the subjectTrade ReviewYou could not hope for a better guide to the pandemic world order than Debora MacKenzie, who's been on this story from the start. This is an authoritative yet readable explanation of how this catastrophe happened - and more important, how it will happen again if we don't change -- Tim Harford, author of THE UNDERCOVER ECONOMIST, ADAPT and MESSYThis definitely deserves a read - the first of the post mortems by a writer who knows what she's talking about -- Laura Spinney, Author of PALE RIDER: THE SPANISH FLU OF 1918 AND HOW IT CHANGED THE WORLDImpressively paced and comprehensive * New Statesman *Excellent . . . analyses clearly and authoritatively how the coronavirus pandemic played out, what governments should have done, and what we need to do when it happens again - as it undoubtedly will * Financial Times *I loved this book. Fast-paced, engaging, couldn't put it down. A heart-pounding telling of the misadventures that led to one of the worst pandemics in history. A story that we all think we know, but don't. And a story whose lessons, if unlearned, we will be condemned to repeat -- Dr Paul Offit, Author of PANDORA'S LAB and VACCINATED, Director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaA fascinating behind the scenes look ... If someone asks you why the COVID-19 epidemic happened and how we can prevent the next one, hand them this book -- Steffanie Strathdee, PhD, Associate Dean of Global Health Sciences, University of California San Diego, and co-author of THE PERFET PREDATOR: A SCIENTIST'S RACE TO SAVE HER HUSBAND FROM A DEADLY SUPERBUGA vivid account of the origins and fortunes of coronavirus, warning that worse may be yet to come ... Charting the etiology and course of the virus, MacKenzie observes that nearly everything about its origins and spread offers lessons on how not to act when the next pandemic comes ... Essential, enlightening reading in a time of panic and plague -- Starred review * Kirkus *MacKenzie wisely leaves the specifics of who got what wrong when for another day. Instead, she focuses on the scientists and philanthropists, such as Bill Gates, who tried to alert the world to the threat ... Until we repair our injured planet and address the linked issues of globalisation and the disruption of animal habitats, Sars-CoV-2 is unlikely to be the last pandemic virus; MacKenzie also cautions that "hindsight helps you win the next battle, not the last one" * Observer *Debora MacKenzie is a leading science journalist, with vast experience writing about pandemic threats and neglected diseases. She uses her background to hit the ground running on one of the first books written on the emergence of COVID-19. As politicians and elected leaders increasingly work to change the narrative on COVID-19 on their steps to first contain and mitigate the pandemic, Debora's efforts lay it all out in stark terms -- Dr Peter Hotez, Author of VACCINES DID NOT CAUSE RACHEL’S AUTISM, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of MedicineSo often, people look at the nature of disease in the midst of an outbreak when, really, it's the interaction between the disease and people that matters. That is at the heart of epidemiology, and it's what MacKenzie does beautifully in her book. Whether it's cultural practices with animals like bats, or the fear and delay in labeling it pandemic, to a woeful lack of funding for public health and vaccine research, or the misguided notion that disease will recognize boundaries just because people do-MacKenzie's fascinating book gives us the scope and scale to be able to put this pandemic in perspective and, it begs the question, will we learn from this in time to prevent to next one -- Molly Crosby, author of THE AMERICAN PLAGUE, ASLEEP and THE GREAT PEARL HEISTSome people write interesting autobiographical recollections of people, places, and events, while others offer an extensive and comprehensive anthology of a topic area. Deborah Mackenzie has not only succeeded in doing both in a single volume, but in a manner that is immensely engaging ... an excellent work for general consumption as well as for those already involved in communicable disease control, microbiology, epidemiology, and medical journalism. In our present climate of regrettable tweets, unverified facts, and deliberate misinformation, this timely book provides a delightful and important excursion into the world of outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics -- Tim Sly, epidemiologist and Professor Emeritus at Ryerson University's School of Public HealthQuickly spiralling from a local outbreak to a global crisis, Debora MacKenzie provides a down-to-earth account of how the COVID-19 pandemic has played out so far and, crucially, how the world can be better prepared for the ever-present risk of another epidemic -- Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineScience journalist MacKenzie delivers a wise and accurate account of the COVID-19 pandemic, supplying readers with an objective assessment of where we are, how we got here, and how to prepare for future emerging infections * Booklist *It's difficult for any fellow journalist not to feel a deep professional respect, tinged with awe, for the sheer depth of knowledge and expertise she brings to what is her first book, and for the fast-paced, well-structured and highly accessible style in which she tells the Covid-19 story * Scotsman *For deep understanding of the years of policy mistakes, the ignored warnings and the viruses lurking as we invade ever more ecosystems, turn to Debora MacKenzie's magnificent COVID-19. Read about the Nipah virus and see what a civilisation-threatening pandemic might be like. Be afraid. * New Scientist *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWidely considered the greatest genius of all time, Albert Einstein revolutionised our understanding of the cosmos with his general theory of relativity and helped to lead us into the atomic age. Yet in the final decades of his life he was also ignored by most working scientists, his ideas opposed by even his closest friends. This stunning downfall can be traced to Einstein''s earliest successes and to personal qualities that were at first his best assets. Einstein''s imagination and self-confidence served him well as he sought to reveal the universe''s structure, but when it came to newer revelations in the field of quantum mechanics, these same traits undermined his quest for the ultimate truth. David Bodanis traces the arc of Einstein''s intellectual development across his professional and personal life, showing how Einstein''s confidence in his own powers of intuition proved to be both his greatest strength and his ultimate undoing. He was a fallible genius. An intimate aTrade ReviewBodanis is a lot like Einstein . . . Both see the fun in physics, both love simplicity and brevity * The Times *A sympathetic appraisal of Einstein's intellectual development * Nature *Like Einstein, he finds fun in physics and understands how to communicate its mystery * The Times *This is a perceptive and lucid account of a brilliant but flawed physicist. -- PD Smith * the Guardian *

Read more less

Book SynopsisLliana Bird and Dr Jack Lewis tackle the strange and surreal phenomena from the depths of the oceans to the limits of the far flung universe; the dark corners of your laundry basket to the forgotten compartments of your fridge. Packed with unusual facts and stories of the absurd each of the fascinating insights is told with the Geek Chic team''s inimitable humour and wit.An hilarious exploration all things bizarre from the world of science, The Mice Who Sing for Sex takes on weighty issues including heavy metal loving sharks, life-threatening skinny jeans, our impending jellyfish apocalypse and of course, the singing mice of the title.Trade ReviewThis book is a wonderful wander down the more bizarre, surprising and sometimes shocking corridors of scientific research. My favourite must be the study which demonstrates that pre-trained goldfish can tell the difference between Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D minor" and Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring", I have academic colleagues who can't do that -- Brian CoxI met the Emerald Cockroach Wasp and the Grasshopper Hairworm and 28 days later I was still enjoying this fabulous book . . . More science packed into one book than grains of sand on an area the size of Wales - brilliant! -- Chris PackhamFrom the sharks who like AC/DC to the cockroaches steered by remote control, Lliana and Dr Jack's book is a fun romp through some of the curiouser corners of research - taking in some surprisingly cutting edge science along the way -- Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisA witty, accessible and entertaining journey through teh philosophies of time and space.Trade ReviewIf it's true that very few of the many thousands who bought Stephen Hawkins' A Brief History of Time actually read it, then Osborne's may be the book to catch up with. Certainly, this reviewer ended the book a good deal wiser * Financial Times *the perfect introduction for those who would like to understand the vast space that is our universe * The Good Book Guide *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSituated at the intersection of natural science and philosophy, Our Genes explores historical practices, investigates current trends, and imagines future work in genetic research to answer persistent, political questions about human diversity. Readers are guided through fascinating thought experiments, complex measures and metrics, fundamental evolutionary patterns, and in-depth treatment of exciting case studies. The work culminates in a philosophical rationale, based on scientific evidence, for a moderate position about the explanatory power of genes that is often left unarticulated. Simply put, human evolutionary genomics - our genes - can tell us much about who we are as individuals and as collectives. However, while they convey scientific certainty in the popular imagination, genes cannot answer some of our most important questions. Alternating between an up-close and a zoomed-out focus on genes and genomes, individuals and collectives, species and populations, Our Genes argues thTrade Review'Winther's book is a synthesis of philosophical perspectives on modern evolutionary genomics, written by one of the few people in the world who have a sufficiently deep understanding of both philosophy and biology to achieve such an undertaking. It is a remarkable tour de force of the philosophy of genomics that should be essential reading for students and scholars interested in the broader implications of human genomic research. But the book will also appeal to a more general audience interested in understanding genetics and in finding out what genetics and evolutionary biology can, and cannot, tell them about the fundamental question: Who am I?' Rasmus Nielsen, University of California, Berkeley, USA'Our Genes makes a significant and welcome contribution! Race theorists seeking to reconcile humanities training and impulses with the insights of contemporary genomics will find Winther's rigorous but accessible study particularly valuable. This is vital work.' Paul C. Taylor, Vanderbilt University, USA'It's a rare book indeed in which someone from another discipline examines the basic suppositions and habits of thought characteristic of one's own field with equal parts inspiration and care such that it gives you a whole new perspective on what you do and why. Rasmus Winther's Our Genes is one such book. It is a seamless alloy of evolution, genetics, and the philosophy of biology in which each topic is explained in a manner accessible to non-experts. It also subjects these ideas to deep examination and cogent criticism with pressing implications both for how philosophers should approach problems in population genetics and how population geneticists might sharpen their questions. It should be widely and closely read in philosophy and population genetics seminars alike and could well form the foundation for a new generation of fruitful collaborations between philosophers and population geneticists.' Charles S. Roseman, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA'Our Genes isn't the last word, it's the first words you should read on the population genetics, molecular genetics, and gene/environment interaction that shaped Homo sapiens over the last several hundred thousand years. Rasmus Winther has produced a tour de force of scientific synthesis, and philosophical analysis, and wisdom about the uses of both.' Alex Rosenberg, Duke University, USATable of ContentsPreface; 1. Introduction; 2. Origins and Histories; 3. The Mind, the Lab, and the Field: Three Kinds of Populations; 4. Metrics and Measures; 5. Models and Methodologies; 6. Six Patterns of Human Genomic Variation; 7. Natural Selection; 8. Intelligence, Female Orgasm, and Future Discovery; 9. Is Race Real?; 10. The Conscious Universe: Genes in Complex Systems; Bibliography; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRecent developments in artificial intelligence, especially neural network and deep learning technology, have led to rapidly improving performance in voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa. Over the next few years, capability will continue to improve and become increasingly personalised. Today''s voice assistants will evolve into virtual personal assistants firmly embedded within our everyday lives. Told through the view of a fictitious personal assistant called Cyba, this book provides an accessible but detailed overview of how a conversational voice assistant works, especially how it understands spoken language, manages conversations, answers questions and generates responses. Cyba explains through examples and diagrams the neural network technology underlying speech recognition and synthesis, natural language understanding, knowledge representation, conversation management, language translation and chatbot technology. Cyba also explores the implications of this rapidly evolving techTrade Review'Hey Cyba is based on the author's long history of research and his rich experiences of developing various voice assistant systems. With the current rapid progress and wide deployment of AI-based voice assistant systems all over the world, the publication is very timely, and the book has a very unique and interesting writing style. I strongly recommend it to anyone interested in this area.' Sadaoki Furui, Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago'Hey Cyba, written by one of the giants in the field of man machine interfaces, provides an in depth guide to the workings and future of conversational personal assistants. Written in the first person style of the computer itself this is a highly engaging, informative and authoritative read.' Hermann Hauser, Amadeus Capital Partners'The book to introduce the technology behind our voice assistants to everyone. Voice assistants are among the most complex AI/ML (artificial intelligence/machine learning) systems. Hey, Cyba manages to present this complex AI/ML system in one easy-to-read narrative covering each aspect of the voice assistant in just the right depth. I wonder whether there is anyone but Steve with the deep knowledge and academic and industry experience required to write such a book.' Björn Hoffmeister, Director of Machine Learning at Amazon/Alexa'This enjoyable text deftly illuminates the technology behind a common experience … Highly recommended.' M. Mounts, Choice ConnectTable of Contents1. May I introduce myself?; 2. My inner workings; 3. How my brain works; 4. Knowing what I know; 5. What did you say?; 6. What does that mean?; 7. What should I say next?; 8. Listen to me; 9. How do you say that in…?; 10. Let's chat; 11. Can you trust me?; 12. When all is quiet; 13. Future upgrades and beyond; Glossary; Notes; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisParis at the time of the French Revolution was the world capital of science. Its scholars laid the foundations of today''s physics, chemistry and biology. They were true revolutionaries: agents of an upheaval both of understanding and of politics. Many had an astonishing breadth of talents. The Minister of Finance just before the upheaval did research on crystals and the spread of animal disease. After it, Paris''s first mayor was an astronomer, the general who fought off invaders was a mathematician while Marat, a major figure in the Terror, saw himself as a leading physicist. Paris in the century around 1789 saw the first lightning conductor, the first flight, the first estimate of the speed of light and the invention of the tin can and the stethoscope. The metre replaced the yard and the theory of evolution came into being. The city was saturated in science and many of its monuments still are. The Eiffel Tower, built to celebrate the Revolution''s centennial, saw the worlTrade ReviewAn ingenious guidebook to the scientific past of Paris, written in lucid, erudite prose -- Ruth Scurr * New Statesman *Every section provides a richly informative guide to the history of a different scientific subject - from evolution to the rise of the potato * Daily Mail *A wonderful read * Guardian *Jones makes his mark as a popular science historian * New Scientist *[An] erudite mixture of science and history . . . a wide-ranging look at the discoveries of the era * Publishers Weekly *The outcomes are never what anyone could have guessed, and watching Jones unfurl them is spellbinding -- Peter Carey * Sunday Times *Jones is an excellent writer of popular science, but he is also able to cross over seamlessly into lucid discussions of culture and history * Mail on Sunday *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA fascinating and illuminating look at the sun and our relationships to it, from one of our greatest science writers.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis''A dazzling chronicle, a bracing challenge to modernity''s smug assumptions'' - Bryce Christensen, Booklist''O what a world of profit and delightOf power, of honour and omnipotenceIs promised to the studious artisan.''Christopher Marlowe, Dr FaustusBetween the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, Europe changed out of all recognition. Particularly transformative was the ardent quest for knowledge and the astounding discoveries and inventions which resulted from it. The movement of blood round the body; the movement of the earth round the sun; the velocity of falling objects (and, indeed, why objects fall) - these and numerous other mysteries had been solved by scholars in earnest pursuit of scientia. This fascinating account of the profound changes undergone by Europe between the Renaissance and the Enlightenment will cover ground including folk religion and its pagan past; Catholicism and its saintly dogma; alchemy, astTrade ReviewA dazzling chronicle, a bracing challenge to modernity's smug assumptions -- Bryce Christensen * Booklist *Covers a lot of ground without being superficial . . . a rich and interesting book -- Kostas Kampourakis * Springer Nature *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis Is Planet Earth is dedicated to the wonders of Planet Earth, the most amazing place in the known Universe.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBBC Radio 4''s celebrated THE LIFE SCIENTIFIC has featured some of the world''s most renowned experts in the field of deadly viruses. The interviews make sobering reading, a reminder of all the deadly viruses that have threatened global health, and why for the scientists working on the front line in the war against viruses, the arrival of Covid-19 came as no surprise. Among the contributors to this all-too-timely book are:Jeremy Farrar, before he became Director of the Wellcome Trust, worked in an Infectious Diseases Hospital in Vietnam. He was on the frontline tackling SARS and nine months later a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu, H5N1. Peter Piot was at the forefront of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. He was the first to identify HIV in Africa. It took him fifteen years to persuade the world that it was also a heterosexual disease. Later as Executive Director of UN AIDS he fought for years to get the UN to take the threat of HIV seriously.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat does it take to be an inventor?Judging by the ingenious individuals who have come into The Life Scientific studio in the last eight years, there is no simple answer. Mathematicians, electricians, molecular biologists and mechanics can all transform lives. Some think with their hands, others make things in their minds. Most have a vision of the future. All are driven by a passionate determination to solve problems.These intimate accounts, based on interviews recorded for the popular BBC Radio 4 programme The Life Scientific, chart the life journeys of scientists and engineers working in Britain today from childhood interests to innovation. Explaining what they did when and why, they make science seem straightforward and exciting, revealing moments of disappointment, creativity, frustration and joy. The result is an illuminating collection of biographical short stories that make scientists and the work they do accessible to us all.

Read more less

Book Synopsis_______________________________— Ever wanted to save the world? —It’s easy to feel like we can’t make a difference. But small, easy actions, if taken by enough people, can move mountains – and save planets.Written in collaboration with leading environmental experts from WWF, this short book provides simple changes we can all make to our everyday lives, from morning to night.These aren’t the only things you can do. Nor are they things you have to do. But these 12 small acts are basic steps anybody can take, and if even one of them sticks, our children will inherit a better world.Acts like:– Turning off devices instead of leaving them on standby– Buying less cotton clothing (a T-shirt needs 2,400 litres of water to make!)– Using reusable straws when possible– Turning off the tap while you brush your teethwill take only moments, but if enough people commit to them, we can make a real difference to our planet._______________________________'Now really is the time to act. You don’t have to be a superhero – everyone can make a difference by following this book’ – Ben Fogle

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Boldly ambitious, deeply affecting, and magisterial in scope'' Steve Silberman, author of Neurotribes''Expansive and thoughtful, it illuminates the complexity and elusiveness of his subject'' New Statesman''A rich and generous picture of research into depression to date'' Financial TimesWhat is depression? Is it a persistent low mood or a complex range of symptoms? Is it a single diagnosis or a range of mental disorders requiring different treatments? And is there a way of curing such a complex, and diverse, condition? A sufferer of depression himself, science writer Alex Riley has spent years thinking about these issues as he was prescribed antidepressants and underwent cognitive behavioural therapy. Throughout his treatment, he wondered-are antidepressants effective? Do short-term talking therapies actually work? And what is on the horizon for those who don''t respond to these first-line treatments?

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A wonderful book... Delightfully varied... As with all the best science writing, this book doesn't just give answers, it also asks interesting questions.' Daily Mail'Captivating and intelligent! Who knew death could be this much fun?' Richard OsmanAsteroids, killer sharks, nuclear bombs, viruses, deadly robots, climate change, the apocalypse - why is Hollywood so obsessed with death and the end of the world? And how seriously should we take the dystopian visions of our favourite films? With wit, intelligence and irreverence, Rick Edwards and Dr Michael Brooks explore the science of death and mass destruction through some of our best-loved Hollywood blockbusters. From Armageddon and Dr Strangelove to The Terminator and Contagion, they investigate everything from astrophysics to AI, with hilarious and captivating consequences. Packed with illustrations, fascinating facts and numerous spoilers, Hollywood Wants to Kill You is the perfect way into the science of our inevitable demise.Trade ReviewA wonderful book... Delightfully varied... As with all the best science writing, this book doesn't just give answers, it also asks interesting questions. * Daily Mail *A witty and informative look at how Hollywood kills us off. As a film buff and scientist I love this book. * Maggie Aderin-Pocock, space scientist and presenter of The Sky at Night *Great fun and makes you feel a hundred times cleverer. * Charlie Higson, actor, comedian, and bestselling author *Explores everything from the ins and outs of black holes (Interstellar) to artificial intelligence (Ex Machina)... Edwards and Brooks don't take themselves too seriously and their cartoon heads pop up throughout deconstructing the films wittily while explaining the underlying science simply. * Sunday Times on Science(ish) *Deeply funny, academically accomplished, and unfalteringly engaging. Entertaining as it may be, it's difficult to escape the fact that Edwards and Brooks have just made the world of popular science much harder work for the rest of us. * Ben Miller - comedian and author of It’s Not Rocket Science on Science(ish) *Chirpy [and] bantering. * Strong Words *Table of Contents1: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH A VIRUS! 2: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH ASTEROIDS! 3: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH PREDATORS! 4: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH ROBOTS! 5: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH INFERTILITY! 6: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH CLIMATE CHANGE! 7: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH INSOMNIA! 8: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH PLANTS! 9: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH OLD AGE! 10: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH NUCLEAR ARMAGEDDON! 11: Hollywood Wants to Kill You. WITH DEATH!

Read more less

Book SynopsisWithout interstellar dust, the Universe as we see it today would not exist. Yet at first we considered this vital ingredient merely an irritating fog that prevented a clear view of the stars and nebulae in the Milky Way and other galaxies. We now know that interstellar dust has essential roles in the physics and chemistry of the formation of stars and planetary systems, the creation of the building blocks of life, and in the movement of those molecules to new planets. This is the story in this book. After introducing the materials this interstellar dust is made of, the authors explain the range of sizes and shapes of the dust grains in the Milky Way galaxy and the life cycle of dust, starting from the origins of dust grains in stellar explosions through to their turbulent destruction. Later on we see the variety of processes in interstellar space involving dust and the events there that cause the dust to change in ways that astronomers and astrobiologists can use to indirectly observe those events. This book is written for a general audience, concentrating on ideas rather than detailed mathematics and chemical formulae, and is the first time interstellar dust has been discussed at an accessible level.Table of ContentsInterstellar Dust in Galaxies; What are Dust Grains made of? How to find their Chemical Composition; What is the Structure of Interstellar Dust Grains? How to find their Physical Composition; Some Old Stars are “Smoking Like Candles”: Is this where Interstellar Dust Grains Come from?; What happens to Stardust in Interstellar Space?; Doing Chemistry in the Dark: How Interstellar Dust leads to Molecular Complexity in the Interstellar Gas; Catalytic Chemistry in Space? Reactions on Bare Dust Grains; Chemistry in the Freezer: Making Complex Molecules from Simple Interstellar Ices; Making Stars and Planets from Interstellar Gas and Dust; Where and How does Life Begin?; What have we Learned About Dust in Space?

Read more less

Book Synopsis'TIMELY' David Mitchell 'MOVING ... REMARKABLE' SUNDAY TIMES 'ONE OF THOSE RARE BOOKS I HADN'T REASLISED I'D BEEN WAITING FOR UNTIL I READ IT.' Owen Sheers 'OPEN-MINDED, THOUGHTFUL AND WISE... A LIBERATING BOOK' Colm Toibin In an age of polished TED talks and overconfident political oratory, success seems to depend upon charismatic public speaking. But what if hyper-fluency is not only unachievable but undesirable? Jonty Claypole spent fifteen years of his life in and out of extreme speech therapy. From sessions with child psychologists to lengthy stuttering boot camps and exposure therapies, he tried everything until finally being told the words he'd always feared: 'We can't cure your stutter.' Those words started him on a journey towards not only making peace with his stammer but learning to use it to his advantage. Here, Jonty argues that our obsession with fluency could be hindering, rather than helping, our creativity, authenticity and persuasiveness. Exploring other speech conditions, such as aphasia and Tourette's, and telling the stories of the 'creatively disfluent' - from Lewis Carroll to Kendrick Lamar - Jonty explains why it's time for us to stop making sense, get tongue tied and embrace the life-changing power of inarticulacy.Trade ReviewA moving study of stuttering...remarkable -- Helen Davies * Sunday Times *Words Fail Us is a deep dive into disfluency, exploring its history, its science, its politics and its profile in a fluency-obsessed world. Jonty Claypole's book is timely, thoughtful, rich in fact and personal anecdote, and looks to a more enlightened, speech-diverse future. -- David MitchellComprehensive, open-minded, thoughtful and wise ... a liberating book. -- Colm ToibinWords Fail Us is one of those rare books - a piece of writing and thinking I hadn't realised I'd been waiting for until I read it. In this thoughtful and moving exploration of disfluency Jonty Claypole has written both a wonderfully engaging study on the history, causes and societal perceptions of speech disorders and an acutely argued call to arms, not just for the wider acceptance of communication diversity but also for an embracing of the creativity and originality of thought it can inspire. -- Owen SheersHumane, thought-provoking, and rich in experiential detail. * Guardian *I would recommend [Words Fail Us] to any fluent person trying to understand the tribulations of disfluency, and to any disfluent person who feels that he or she is enduring them alone ... Kendrick Lamar, Lewis Carroll, Somerset Maugham and Henry James are just a few of the writers whose stammers Claypole believes enriched their work. In Words Fail Us he has given us another instance of this fine tradition. * The Times *Claypole, who has a stutter, argues that pathological "disfluencies" should instead be understood and - the more radical claim - celebrated. Claypole thinks it is no coincidence that some of the greatest verbal artists - Henry James, Kendrick Lamar - have struggled with speech. The book doubles as a polemic against fluency: by unlearning our reflexive reverence for it, we can appreciate our disfluencies, and the "diversity and innovation they bring to human thought and language". * New Statesman *Incredibly valuable, and a noteworthy addition to the bookshelves of any speech-language pathologist, graduate student, researcher, or human being who would like to broaden their perspective of the power of the full spectrum of language. * Journal of Fluency Disorders *

Read more less

Book SynopsisEver wanted to know more about the Big Bang but didn’t have Brian Cox’s email address? Ever wanted to cry out, ‘What on Earth is a black hole?’ but been afraid you’d be shouting into the abyss? Ever wanted to find out how gravity works but never found the book to pull you in?Well, have no fear: DARK is an easily digestible beginner’s guide to the Universe in a handy A to Z format, with entries on everything from Dark Matter and Quantum Physics to NASA and the Zoo Hypothesis.What’s more, the book is beautifully presented, so you’ll want to keep it out on display, dipping in to check exactly when it is that we humans are likely to be engulfed by the furnace of the Sun. It boasts a number of stunning design elements throughout, including original artworks and bespoke lettering to accompany each of the twenty-six chapters, as well as inspiring, enlightening and amusing quotes about space rendered in exquisitely considered typography.So, if you want to brush up on your astronomical ABCs while simultaneously receiving a visual massage from some rather splendid art and design, then this may well be the cosmic coffee-table book for you.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Britannica Guide to Genetics is the ideal companion for students or general popular science readers who wish to know the facts behind the latest research and discoveries.After the Introduction from bestselling science writer and geneticist Steve Jones the book covers the entire history of genetics from Gregor Mendel's first experiments with peas at the end of the nineteenth century to the announcement of the Human Genome Project in 1998.Throughout the twentieth century new discoveries about the qualities of our genes have been heralded as essential leaps of progress in modern science forcing us to ask how much do our genes determine our personalities? What makes us different from other species? But as we enter the twenty-first century and we have begun to manipulate genes and the genome the questions have changed.

Read more less

Book SynopsisNeuropsychologist Andy Mitchell punctures the hype around psychedelic drugs while providing the fullest picture yet of their limitlessly fascinating possibilities.'An incisive, deeply personal and beautifully written account of the power, the uses and the modern misuses of psychedelics. Highly recommended' Anil Seth, author of Being You‘A collection of tales from the far frontiers of psychedelic experience . . . superb . . . brilliant’ Charles Foster, TLSPsychedelics have made a comeback but remain a mystery. They are now a 'breakthrough therapy' for mental illness but in truth we have only a vague idea how they work and there is a limit to what the science can reveal. To have any hope of understanding them, we must broaden our view - dramatically - of what they actually are.In this daring, perception-shifting odyssey, clinical neuropsychologist Andy Mitchell takes ten different drugs in ten different settings, journeying from a London neuroimaging lab to the Colombian Amazon via Silicon Valley and his friend's basement kitchen. His encounters with scientists and gangsters, venture capitalists and con men, psychonauts and shamans, as well as with the drugs themselves, reveal the reality of psychedelics in all their strangeness, hilarity, darkness and wonder.'Original and thrilling ... achieving profound insights' Mike Jay, author of Psychonauts'A hair-raising hurtle of a ride' Henry Shukman, author of One Blade of Grass'Utterly compelling ... like having an out of body experience' Mark Miodownik, author of Stuff Matters'The psychedelic world has been waiting for this book' Professor Erika DyckTrade ReviewAn incisive, deeply personal and beautifully written account of the power, the uses and the modern misuses of psychedelics. Highly recommended -- Anil Seth, author of Being YouAn original and thrilling investigation into psychedelics and the claims that currently surround them, achieving profound insights into their essential qualities -- Mike Jay, author of PsychonautsUtterly compelling. Some books are in a category of their own and this is one them. Reading it is like having an out of body experience -- Mark Miodownik, author of Stuff MattersA hair-raising hurtle of a ride into the belly of the psychedelic renaissance, fuelled by spectacular prose -- Henry Shukman, author of One Blade of GrassBeguiling, captivating, mind-expanding. It's impossible to read this book and not be tempted to replicate some of its wild, sanity-stretching forays into the peculiarities of human perception -- Stuart Ritchie, author of Science FictionsA dazzling, timely book, as deep and poignant as it is madcap and hilarious -- Professor Mark Lythgoe, Director of the Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, University College LondonCanny and somewhat sceptical ... rigorous and penetrating ... illuminating ... All the better for its gritty and earthbound aspects, this is a wonderful book, a journey into the nature and potential of consciousness itself, and of life on this troubled and monopolised planet * Literary Review *Philosophical and darkly humorous ... for all the mystical experiences [psychedelics] afford, divesting them of their shadow side does seekers a disservice, Mitchell holds * Spectator *A thoughtful guide ... Ten Trips is a powerful reminder that psychedelics can’t be made sense of entirely within a framework of chemical interactions in the brain. We need to view them as something potent, to be respected * New Scientist *In Ten Trips, Andy Mitchell captures psychedelics' gonzo spirit and speaks to the psychonaut in all of us -- Katherine MacLean, author Midnight Water: A Psychedelic MemoirEagle-eyed, poetic and always playful, Ten Trips is chock-full of profane illumination -- Tehseen Noorani, Honorary Senior Lecturer, School of Pharmacy, University of AucklandA gifted writer with a great ear for dialogue. Mitchell is not afraid to put himself in the telling, and it is this that makes Ten Trips true and real -- Michael Taussig, author of Mastery of Non-Mastery in the Age of MeltdownMitchell's decapod of delirious drug experiences is an antidote to the hype and a rallying cry to keep psychedelics . . . psychedelic -- Josh Hardman, Psychedelic AlphaThe psychedelic world has been waiting for this book: a sceptic's account of the allure of psychedelics -- Erika Dyck, Professor in History of Health & Social Justice, University of Saskatchewan

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is an account of the author's investigation, on behalf of the Canadian government, into the life and ideas of the eccentric genius Nikola Tesla. This is a completely revised and redesigned edition, with a new introduction by the former head of the Tesla Museum, a new chapter and a selection of photographs of Tesla and his work in search of the holy grail of electricity - the transmission of power without loss. As a student in Prague in the 1870s, Tesla "saw" the electric induction motor and patented his discovery, -the first of many inventions whose plans seem to have come to him fully fledged. He worked for the Edison company in Paris before emigrating to the US and battling with Thomas Edison himself to ensure that alternating, rather than direct current, became the standard. He sold his patent in the induction motor for $1 million dollars to George Westinghouse, who used this system for the Niagara Falls Power Project. Moving to Colorado Springs, Tesla worked on resonance, building enormous oscillating towers in experiments which still intrigue today. In later life Tesla became a recluse, bombarding newspapers with eccentric claims, including energy transmissions to other planets. Though he died alone and virtually forgotten, rumours gradually grew that Tesla had made further remarkable discoveries. In an attempt to replicate his experiments, people still build Tesla towers and puzzle over the possible link with low-frequency broadcasts which can supposedly disrupt the weather and affect the human mind.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat is Man? What is his nature? Where is he going? These are but some of the questions this book is trying to find answers to. They are questions that will take us on a fascinating intellectual journey encompassing politics, history, sociology, philosophy, religion, and science. Along the way you will encounter many great thinkers such as Aristotle and Nietzsche (to name but two) as well as be confronted by some of humanity's most sublime achievements and horrific failures. After reading this book, you will have a better understanding of humankind's potential for good and evil and our chances for survival and transcendence in the not too distant future.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less