Popular science Books

Book SynopsisIn this groundbreaking new book, one of the world''s greatest living scientists argues for the fundamental unity of all knowledge and the need to search for what he calls consilience, the composition of the principles governing every branch of learning. Edward O Wilson, the pioneer of sociobiology and biodiversity, once again breaks out of the conventions of current thinking. He shows how our explosive rise in intellectual mastery of the truths of our universe has its roots in the ancient Greek concept of an intrinsic orderliness that governs our cosmos. It is a vision that found its apogee in the Age of Enlightenment, then gradually was lost in the increasing fragmentation and specialisation of knowledge in the last two centuries. Professor Wilson shows why the goals of the original Enlightenment are surging back to life, why they are reappearing on the very frontiers of science and human scholarship, and how they are beginning to sketch themselves as the blueprint of our world.

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Book SynopsisFamed geologist Walter Alvarez expands our view of human history, revealing the cosmic, geologic and evolutionary forces that have shaped us.

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Book SynopsisIan Stewart's up-to-the-minute guide to the cosmos moves from the formation of the Earth and its Moon to the planets and asteroids of the solar system and from there out into the galaxy and the universe. He describes the architecture of space and time, dark matter and dark energy, how galaxies form, why stars implode, how everything began, and how it will end. He considers parallel universes, what forms extra-terrestrial life might take, and the likelihood of Earth being hit by an asteroid. Mathematics, Professor Stewart shows, has been the driving force in astronomy and cosmology since the ancient Babylonians. He describes how Kepler's work on planetary orbits led Newton to formulate his theory of gravity, and how two centuries later irregularities in the motion of Mars inspired Einstein's theory of general relativity. In crystal-clear terms he explains the fundamentals of gravity, spacetime, relativity and quantum theory, and shows how they all relate to each other. Eighty years ago the discovery that the universe is expanding led to the Big Bang theory of its origins. This in turn led cosmologists to posit features such as dark matter and dark energy. But does dark matter exist? Could another scientific revolution be on the way to challenge current scientific orthodoxy? These are among the questions Ian Stewart raises in his quest through the realms of astronomy and cosmology.Trade ReviewA fascinating tour, seamlessly spliced and historically contexualised * Nature *Ian Stewart elegantly reviews the uncanny effectiveness of mathematics in explaining the universe... Mr. Stewart beautifully describes how Newton's laws can still produce surprising results. * Wall Street Journal *The book does an excellent job of both explaining and entertaining. The author makes you think about familiar subjects in a new way and is very good at filling in any gaps in your knowledge, while also pointing out those areas that need further research * Sky at Night Magazine *With captivating stories and his signature clarity, Ian Stewart shows us how math makes the world - and the rest of the universe - go round -- Steven Strogatz, Professor of Mathematics, Cornell University, and author of The Joy of XStewart is Britain's most brilliant and prolific populariser of maths. -- Alex BellosStewart is sure to please math lovers, history buffs, and science enthusiasts alike by covering an array of eras, innovators, and disciplines. * Publishers Weekly *Praise for previous books: 'This is not pure maths. It is maths contaminated with wit, wisdom, and wonder. Ian really is unsurpassed as raconteur of the world of numbers. He guides us on a mind-boggling journey from the ultra trivial to the profound. Thoroughly entertaining * New Scientist *Stewart has served up the instructive equivalent of a Michelin-starred tasting menu, or perhaps a smorgasbord of appetisers. And of course, appetisers are designed to give you an appetite for more * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisA masterpiece of science reporting that tracks the animal origins of emerging human diseases, Spillover is “fascinating and terrifying … a real-life thriller with an outcome that affects us all” (Elizabeth Kolbert, author of The Sixth Extinction).Trade Review"David Quammen [is] one of that rare breed of science journalists who blend exploration with a talent for synthesis and storytelling." -- Nathan Wolfe - Nature"An adventure-filled page-turner…told from the front lines of pandemic prevention." -- Lizzie Wade - Wired"As page turning as Richard Preston’s The Hot Zone…[Quammen is] one of the best science writers." -- Seattle Times"David Quammen might be my favorite living science writer: amiable, erudite, understated, incredibly funny, profoundly humane." -- Kathryn Schulz - New York Magazine"Quammen balances the technical terms with gorily gripping description and scenes from his own fearless journeys…But his real gift is his writing, with its nice balance of reverence and whimsy." -- Chloë Schama - Smithsonian"Quammen’s more teacher than Jeremiah. So he calms when he can; but he’s blunt when he must be." -- Jeffrey Burke - Bloomberg"The scariest book you’ll read this year." -- The Daily Beast"[An] ambitious and encyclopedic voyage…Mr. Quammen does a beautiful job of showing how so much of scientific knowledge is provisional, with great unknowns about infectious diseases." -- Richard Preston, author of The Hot Zone"David Quammen has done it again. Fascinating and terrifying, Spillover is a real-life thriller with an outcome that affects us all." -- Elizabeth Kolbert, author of The Sixth Extinction"This is a frightening and fascinating masterpiece of science reporting that reads like a detective story. David Quammen takes us on a quest to understand AIDS, Ebola, and other diseases that share a frightening commonality: they all jumped from wild animals to humans. By explaining this growing trend, Quammen not only provides a warning about the diseases we will face in the future, he also causes us to reflect on our place as humans in the earth’s ecosystem." -- Walter Isaacson, author of Leonardo Da Vinci

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Book SynopsisA ground-breaking synthesis of the entire science of human behaviour by 'one of the best scientist-writers of our time' (Oliver Sacks) -- 'It's no exaggeration to say that Behave is one of the best nonfiction books I've ever read' Wall Street Journal Why do we do what we do? Behave is at once a dazzling tour and a majestic synthesis of the whole science of human behaviour. Brought to life through simple language, engaging stories and irreverent wit, it offers the fullest picture yet of the origins of tribalism and xenophobia, hierarchy and competition, morality and free will, war and peace. Robert Sapolsky's ingenious method is to move backwards in time from the moment at which a behaviour occurs, layer by layer through the myriad influences that led to it: - We begin with the split-second reactions of the brain and nervous system... - Then we consider our response to sight, sound and smell in the minutes and seconds beforehand... - Next he explains the interactions of hormones, which Trade ReviewAwe-inspiring … This is the best scientific book written for non-specialists that I have ever read. You will learn more about human nature than in any other book I can think of, and you will be inspired -- Henry Marsh, author of Do No HarmIt’s no exaggeration to say that Behave is one of the best nonfiction books I’ve ever read * Wall Street Journal *Behave is the best detective story ever written, and the most important. If you've ever wondered why someone did something – good or bad, vicious or generous – you need to read this book. If you think you already know why people behave as they do, you need to read this book. In other words, everybody needs to read it. It should be available on prescription (side effects: chronic laughter; highly addictive). They should put Behave in hotel rooms instead of the Bible: the world would be a much better, wiser place -- Kate Fox, author of Watching the EnglishMagisterial … This extraordinary survey of the science of human behaviour takes the reader on an epic journey … Sapolsky makes the book consistently entertaining, with an infectious excitement at the puzzles he explains … a miraculous synthesis of scholarly domains -- Steven Poole * Guardian *Truly all-encompassing … detailed, accessible, fascinating * Telegraph *Rarely does an almost 800-page book keep my attention from start to finish, but Behave is exceptional in its scale, scope, detail and writing style ... Sapolsky places what makes us special in the wider context of humans as animals with brains that are fundamentally similar to those of other species. It is the first book that does so comprehensively enough to qualify as a guide to human behaviour -- Frans de Waal * Science *A miraculous book, by far the best treatment of violence, aggression, and competition ever. Its depth and breadth of scholarship are amazing, building on Sapolsky’s own research and his vast knowledge of the neurobiology, genetic, and behavioral literature. All this is done brilliantly with a light and funny touch that shows why Sapolsky is recognized as one of the greatest teachers in science today -- Paul Ehrlich, author of Human NaturesA great writer and a superb guide to human nature, Sapolsky shows you how all the perspectives and systems connect, and he makes you laugh and marvel along the way. A beautifully crafted work about the biology of morality -- Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous MindOne of the best scientist-writers of our time -- Oliver SacksBehave is like a great historical novel, with excellent prose and encylopedic detail. It traces the most important story that can ever be told -- E O WilsonAs wide as it is deep, this book is colorful, electrifying, and moving. Sapolsky leverages his deep expertise to ask the most fundamental questions about being human -- David Eagleman, author of IncognitoMarvellous. Behave gives us the knowledge of how to manifest more of our best selves and less of our worst, individually and as a society -- Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of HabitOne of the finest natural history writers around * The New York Times *Robert Sapolsky's students must love him ... witty, erudite and passionate about clear communication ... the implications of fascinating scientific findings are illuminated through topical stories ... then Sapolsky reaches for the big, synthetic pay-offs, examining how, together, these insights can enhance our understanding of the forces that lead to tribalism, violence, dehumanization and war - as well as tolerance, empathy and peace ... The analysis is arresting and the writing is often moving ... It is impossible not to deeply admire a project bold enough to ask an entire field to work to create a more just and peaceful world * Nature *Sapolsky’s book shows in exquisite detail how culture, context and learning shape everything our genes, brains, hormones and neurons do * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book Synopsisor the Grandfather Paradox - if you travelled back in time and killed your grandfather you would not have been born and would not therefore have killed your grandfather.Trade ReviewThe wizardry of Jim Al-Khalili is irresistible. Marvel at the mind-bending Zeno’s paradox! The amazing ambiguity of Schrödinger’s Cat! The preposterous postulations of perpetual motion! The extraterrestrial extrapolations of Fermi’s paradox! and other wonders of physics, philosophy, even poetry. “I have had tremendous fun writing this book,” says Professor Jim. Reading it is the best fun you can have beyond a pop-science comic book and a home particle accelerator * The Times *A master of making the complex simple * Independent on Sunday *Al-Khalili leads into the harder science, but does so with such deceptive ease that before you know it you’re mulling over the expanding universe, staring down quantum theory and pondering Schrödinger’s Cat – and enjoying it * Financial Times *Al-Khalili is the ideal guide through these seeming mysteries of modern science * New Scientist *[A] field guide to some of the most important and fascinating conundrums in physics * Science *

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Book SynopsisIn this fully revised and updated edition of British Paleozoic Fossils 443 species from this time are described and classified and illustrated with accurate black-and-white line drawings. Reflecting advances in our understanding of the fossil record, it features those animal and plant species that are most commonly found in Britain.

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Book SynopsisSome 250 million years ago, the earth suffered the greatest biological crisis in its history. Around 95 percent of all living species died out--a global catastrophe far greater than the dinosaurs' demise 185 million years later. How this happened remains a mystery. But there are many competing theories. Some blame huge volcanic eruptions that coverTrade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2006 "Theories and mysteries can be dispelled with good data from the geologic record, and Erwin (a paleobiologist at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History) offers an authoritative account of the search for these data and for the cause of the extinction... Extinction provides a great reference for researchers and the interested lay reader alike."--Andrew M. Bush, Science "Extinction is a very enjoyable read... It provides a thoroughly up-to-date account of the causes of the end-Permian event and the developments in the field since 1993 as seen through the eyes of one of the key players... Extinction leaves the reader with the (accurate) picture that here is a scientist whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of the greatest extinction event known to science... [A] readable and scholarly account."--Richard J. Twitchett, American Scientist "Douglas Erwin's geological mystery story is engrossing. It contains a tribute to the scientific method--and also the collaborations of research. The book ends with Erwin warning that the Earth is arguably entering another mass extinction period, this time unnatural and man-made. And this time the destruction may well be total."--Lucy Sussex, The Age (Sunday edition) "Douglas H. Erwin, a Smithsonian paleobiologist and one of the leading experts on the Permian extinction has meticulously sifted through the evidence... His accessible new book, Extinction--written, it seems, both to persuade his colleagues and to educate a lay audience--is told from the perspective of a forensic scientist trying to piece together a quarter-billion-year-old crime scene."--Joshua Foer, Washington Post Book World "Douglas Erwin describes how life on Earth was nearly destroyed at the end of the Permian period, 250 million years ago... The author ... explain[s] what this paleontological, as well as geological, evidence can tell scientists about the dramatic and deadly shift in the Earth's environment."--Science News "No one can tell this story better than Douglas Erwin. His book is a superbly written account of what we know about the Permian extinctions... More than a geological story, this book is an excellent model of how science addresses complicated questions."--Choice "This book does not justify a single, accepted causal sequence of events ... to account for the end-Permian extinction. Instead, Erwin dissects the evidence for and against each hypothesis, impartially weighing their strengths and weaknesses. Although this book may frustrate readers expecting to learn how life nearly ended 250 million years ago, it will reward them with a fascinating case study in scientific inference, a case that remains very much open."--John P. Hunter, Quarterly Review of Biology "Erwin's book is science writing for the general public at its best and most lucid. Entertaining, informative, and thought provoking."--Northeastern Naturalist "Erwin offers a thorough overview of one of the most interesting problems in earth history... Erwin takes the readers on an insider's journey that includes adventures in the field, tedious hours in the laboratory, and stimulating but sometimes contentious exchanges among colleagues at scientific meetings. He gives rigorous consideration to every reasonable hypothesis... Erwin's short course is a professional service for geologists (like me) who have read only some of the primary literature on the end-Permian extinction."--Stephen O. Moshier, Books & Culture "For scientists as well as general educated readers, this book enlightens its readers to the complexity of the largest biological crisis the earth has yet seen."--H.J.M. Meijer, PalArch's Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology "I recommend Extinction: How Life on Earth Nearly Ended 250 Million Years Ago to scientists and nonscientists alike. It provides a clear, comprehensive, and compelling introduction to the greatest catastrophe in the history of animal life and proposes a reasonable hypothesis for the cause of the extinction that will undoubtedly be tested vigorously with new data in the coming decade."--Jonathan L. Payne, ComplexityTable of ContentsAcknowledgments vii Preface to the New Paperback Edition ix CHAPTER 1: Introduction 1 CHAPTER 2: A Cacophony of Causes 17 CHAPTER 3: South China Interlude 59 CHAPTER 4: It's a Matter of Time 77 CHAPTER 5: Filter Feeding Fails 98 CHAPTER 6: South African Eden 124 CHAPTER 7: The Perils of Permian Seas 161 CHAPTER 8: Denouement 187 CHAPTER 9: Resurrection and Recovery 218 CHAPTER 10: The Paradox of the Permo-Triassic 245 Notes 263 References 275 Index 293

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Book SynopsisA captivating journey through nature, this book explains why life is like it is

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Book SynopsisWhat will the world of tomorrow be like? How does progress happen? And why don't we have a lunar colony already? In this witty and entertaining book, Kelly and Zach Weinersmith give us a snapshot of the transformative technologies that are coming next - from robot swarms to nuclear fusion powered-toasters - and explain how they will change our world in astonishing ways. By weaving together their own research, interviews with pioneering scientists and Zach's trademark comics, the Weinersmiths investigate why these innovations are needed, how they would work, and what is standing in their way.Trade ReviewAn unabashed nerd-out of a book, zinging from outer space to DNA, hardly pausing for breath ... The gleeful geeking out makes for a great read - I couldn't help chuckling or outright cracking up a number of times - while surreptitiously teaching some really important science. It's a winning combination. The sheer breadth of topics covered is also amazing: Probably no other book in history has seriously described the science behind both tentacle construction robots and the human nasal cycle -- Science * Colin McCormick *Space elevators, gold asteroids, and fusion-powered toasters - who knew science could be so much fun? And who knew fun could be so scientific? Soonish is hilarious, provocative, and shamelessly informative -- Tim Harford, author of 'Messy' and 'The Undercover Economist'Playful, yet deep -- Dr. George Church, Harvard UniversityI love this book so much I 3D printed myself a second heart so I could love it more -- Dr. Phil Plait, astronomer, author, writer of the Bad Astronomy BlogKelly and Zach promised me a crystal ball, but what I got is both more insightful and far more entertaining than staring into a dumb glass orb. Soonish will make you laugh and - without you even realizing it - give you insight into the most ambitious technological feats of our time. You should read this book, sooner than soonish -- Alexis Ohanian, Cofounder of RedditBasically, I think this book is a masterpiece, and something I wish I'd written myself -- Scott Aaronson, David J. Bruton Centennial Professor of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin and author of 'Quantum Computing Since Democritus'Compelling, accessible, and wryly funny ... Popular-science writing has rarely been so whip-smart, captivating, or hilarious (albeit occasionally terrifying) -- Sarah Hunter * Booklist *A fascinating look at the most provocative and promising research going on today and how it could alter the way we work and live * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisOne bright February afternoon on a beach in Cornwall, GavinPretor-Pinney took a break from cloudspotting and started watching thewaves rolling into shore. Mesmerised, he wondered where they had comefrom, and decided to find out. He soon realised that waves don''t justappear on the ocean, they are everywhere around us, and our livesdepend on them.From the rippling beats of our hearts, to the movement of food throughour digestive tracts and of signals across our brains, waves are thetransport systems of our bodies. Everything we see and hear reaches usvia light and sound waves, and our information age is reliant on themicrowaves and infrared waves used by the telephone and internetinfrastructure. From shockwaves unleashed by explosions to torsionalwaves that cause suspension bridges to collapse, from sonar waves thatallow submarines to see'' with sound to Mexican waves that sweepthrough stadium crowds... there were waves, it seemed, wherever Gavinlooked. But what, he wondered, coTrade Review'Page after page is patient, open, rational and clear.... an eye opening experience' * Daily Mail *'Pretor-Pinney is clever, passionate, indomitable in his determination to share his knowledge.' * Daily Telegraph *‘He is an entertaining and informal teacher... a unique book' * Daily Mail *'Dotted with photos and diagrams, The Wavewatcher's Companion is a perfectly paced combination of whimsical, digressive wonder and in-depth knowledge that renders a potentially esoteric subject engaging to all' * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisYou can change your genes - and this revelatory, cutting-edge popular science book will explain how.Trade ReviewFascinating and Highly accessible. * Sunday Times *Sharon Moalem peels away at the complex discussion of nature and nurture. * Dan Ariely, bestselling author of Predictably Irrational *In his new book, Moalem describes riveting dramas emerging from both defective genes and reparative epigenetics...fascinating. * The New York Times Book Review *Dr. Moalem is an eloquent guide through the astonishing new world of genetic discovery - with all its implications for both personal health and public policy. If you've wondered about the impact of genetics on your life- read this book! * Kinney Zalesne, New York Times bestselling author of Microtrends *

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Book SynopsisThe Infinite Monkey Cage, the legendary BBC Radio 4 programme, brings you this irreverent celebration of scientific marvels. Join us on a hectic leap through the grand and bizarre ideas conjured up by human imagination, from dark matter to consciousness via neutrinos and earthworms.Professor Brian Cox and Robin Ince muse on multifaceted subjects involved in building a universe, with pearls of wisdom from leading scientists and comedians peppered throughout.Covering billions of concepts and conundrums, they tackle everything from the Big Bang to parallel universes, fierce creatures to extraterrestrial life, brain science to artificial intelligence. How to Build a Universe is an illuminating and inspirational celebration of science sometimes silly, sometimes astounding and very occasionally facetious.Trade ReviewPraise for the BBC Radio 4 programme The Infinite Monkey Cage: ‘A witty and irreverent look at the world according to science’ Independent Praise for Professor Brian Cox: ‘Cox’s romantic, lyrical approach to astrophysics all adds up to an experience that feels less like homework and more like having a story told to you. A really good story, too.’ Guardian ‘He bridges the gap between our childish sense of wonder and a rather more professional grasp of the scale of things.’ Independent ‘Engaging, ambitious and creative.’ Guardian ‘Professor Cox shows us the cosmos as we have never seen it before – a place full of the most bizarre and powerful natural phenomena.’ Sunday Express

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Book SynopsisCan horses feel shame? Do deer grieve? Why do roosters deceive hens? We tend to assume that we are the only living things able to experience feelings but have you ever wondered what’s going on in an animal’s head? From the leafy forest floor to the inside of a bee hive, The Inner Life of Animals opens up the animal kingdom like never before. We hear the stories of a grateful humpback whale, of a hedgehog who has nightmares, and of a magpie who commits adultery; we meet bees that plan for the future, pigs who learn their own names and crows that go tobogganing for fun. And at last we find out why wasps exist.Trade ReviewAlways fascinating… Wry, avuncular, careful and kind, Wohlleben guides us from one creature to the next -- Richard Kerridge * Guardian *Wohlleben presents short chapter in bite-sized portions, so the reader has a constant sense of learning something new almost with every page ... The formula is provably winning. I still felt I was on a robust learning curve as subjects as diverse as motherly love, gratitude, deception, desire, shame and knowledge of good and evil were explored one by one ... fascinating -- Katharine Norbury * Observer *Wohlleben is connecting with something big here… He truffles up some wonderful animal facts, too… Wohlleben’s empathy with animals can be touching and illuminating -- James McConnachie * Sunday Times *Entertaining and enthusiastic -- Tim Smith-Laing * Daily Telegraph *The Inner Life of Animals will rock your world. Surprising, humbling, and filled with delight, this book shows us that animals think, feel, and know in much the same way as we do -- and that their lives are, to them, as precious as ours are to us. -- Sy Montgomery, author of THE SOUL OF AN OCTOPUS

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Book SynopsisA Copernican revolution for the life sciences.—Medical TribuneUnlock the mysteries of biology, anthropology, and ancient civilizations in this thought-provoking read where science and spirituality intersect. Through Jeremy Narby′s travels and research in the Amazon, he discovered that shamans were able to use hallucinogens to tap into knowledge and insights that rival our discoveries using modern scientific methods, particularly with regards to DNA and molecular biology. Drawing on visionary experiences, indigenous knowledge, and pharmacology, Narby challenges conventional understanding, unraveling the connections between consciousness, serpent symbolism, and the origins of life itself. This enlightening book blends science, anthropology, and mysticism into a captivating narrative that will expand your mind.

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Book SynopsisYou''ll be firing on all cylinders with this science spectacular! The exciting exploration of biology, chemistry, and physics is vital reading for curious minds. ??Science becomes simple and straightforward, so you never get your wires crossed again. Hundreds of pages feature stunning images, simple graphics, and crystal-clear text. What makes a firework go bang? How do plants make food from sunlight? What makes a robot clever? Find the answers to all these questions and much, much more. Biology is all about you, living things, and the rest of the natural world. Learn all about your amazing body and more than 1,000 parts that keep it going. Chemistry presents an explosive look at the tiny atoms that build together to create all the brilliant things in the world today. Physics introduces the full force of everything, from electricity and energy to magnetism and machines. ??All three subjects are examined in extraordinary detail, making Science A ChilTrade ReviewThis fact-filled encyclopedia is the perfect guide for any budding scientists in the family. Principles are explained clearly with bite-sized chunks of text and easy-to-follow diagrams * How it Works *

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Book SynopsisAnimal science is bizarre and wonderful. At the extreme end of zoology, psychologists are designing personality tests for dogs and logic problems for pigeons. They're giving fish spatial reasoning problems and asking cockatoos to keep a beat. Now, through dozens of interactive puzzles, IQ tests and quizzes, Are You Smarter Than a Chimpanzee? lets you test yourself against the best nature has to offer. So: are you more than a match for a marmoset? Or a bit of a birdbrain? Based on real, cutting-edge science and debunking common myths about animals, Are You Smarter Than a Chimpanzee? will make you question your assumptions about our place in the animal kingdom - and, finally, explain the real difference between dog-people and cat-people.Trade ReviewHighly recommended! Enormously fun, full of fascinating oddities and genuinely thought-provoking -- Alex Boese, author of Elephants on AcidDelightful ... Ambridge uses a great deal of British wit to further our understanding of who we are by fleshing out our connections to other inhabitants of the animal kingdom -- Tom Gilovich, author of The Wisest One In The RoomAmbridge has a trickster's charm of "How did he do that?" presentation and a stage magician's "Hey presto!" delight in revelation * The Times *Insightful and humorous ... one of the most interesting books we've read all year * How It Works *

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Book SynopsisRyan North is the (New York Times bestselling, Eisner-award winning) creator of Dinosaur Comics, the co-editor of the Machine of Death series, and the author of To Be or Not To Be, the choose-your-own-path version of Hamlet! He has written the "Adventure Time" comic and writes "The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl" for Marvel Comics, who you might know from their movies about an iron man. He lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife Jenn and his dog Noam Chompsky.Trade ReviewHow to Invent Everything is such a cool book ... essential reading * Randall Munroe, xkcd creator and bestelling author of WHAT IF? and THING EXPLAINER *Ryan North is as funny as he is smart, and he is hilarious ... an almost essential primer on the story so far when it comes to science ... suitable for anyone with a sense of humour and some curiosity. Brilliant stuff * Starburst magazine *A dazzling piece of work that's also genuinely hilarious * Elan Mastai, author of ALL OUR WRONG TODAYS *An essential handbook for any hapless time-traveller * Prof Lewis Dartnell, author of THE KNOWLEDGE: How to Rebuild our World from Scratch *Technically, we are all time travelers and we are all trapped. So, even if you happen to be scanning this blurb in what you perceive to be a 'normal' timeline, I heartily recommend you read this book cover to cover. * Zach Weinersmith, creator of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal and author of SOONISH *A hilarious and practical guide * Atlas Obscura *Packed with cool, fun, and useful stuff... a friendly and thought-provoking reference, just the thing for the bright kid in the family, to say nothing of the neighbourhood time traveller * Kirkus Reviews *A brilliant conceit ... a slyly funny piece of popular science writing * Glen Weldon, NPR’s Great Reads of 2018 *North is incredibly funny, so you’ll be entertained while inventing fundamental technology for your fellow, albeit less-developed, man ... Avoid the pitfalls of our ancestors with this handy guide * BookPage *whip-smart and hilarious . . . Combine that humour, intelligence and style with the history of human technology and you’ve got How to Invent Everything * Winnipeg Free Press *

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Book SynopsisPart of the new Ladybird Expert series, Bubbles is a clear, surprising and entertaining introduction to the science of bubbles. Bubbles are beautiful, ephemeral, fun, fragile, jolly and slightly unpredictable. We''re all familiar with them, but we don''t often ask what they actually are. The great scientists of the Western world - Robert Hooke, Isaac Newton, Lord Rayleigh and more - studied bubbles seriously. They recognised that they had a lot to say about the nature of the physical world, and they poked, prodded and listened to find out what it was. In the years since, we''ve learned that this bulbous arrangement of liquid and gas does things that neither the gas or the liquid could do by itself. Written by the celebrated physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski, Bubbles explores how everything from the way drinks taste to the Earth''s temperature are influenced by bubbles. This book has a message: never underestimate a bubble!Written by the leading lights and most outstanding communicators in their fields, the Ladybird Expert books provide clear, accessible and authoritative introductions to subjects drawn from science, history and culture.For an adult readership, the Ladybird Expert series is produced in the same iconic small hardback format pioneered by the original Ladybirds. Each beautifully illustrated book features the first new illustrations produced in the original Ladybird style for nearly forty years.Trade ReviewThe artwork is gloriously retro, echoing the original Ladybird house style but containing completely up to date information. * Shiny New Books *

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Book SynopsisArranged in chronological order from the early Greek mathematicians, Euclid and Archimedes through to present-day Nobel Prize winners, 100 Science Discoveries That Changed the World charts the great breakthroughs in scientific understanding. Each entry describes the story of the research, the significance of the science and its impact on the scientific world. There is also a resume of each scientist’s career along with their other achievements, sometimes – in the case of Isaac Newton – in a completely unrelated field (laws of motion and the component parts of light). The book covers all branches of science: geometry, number theory, cosmology, the laws of motion, particle physics, electricity, magnetism, the laws of gasses, optical theory, cell biology, conservation of energy, natural selection, radiation, quantum theory, special relativity, superconductivity, thermodynamics, genomes, plate tectonics, and the uncertainty principal. Scientists include: Albert Einstein, Alessandro Volta, Alexander Fleming, Amedeo Avogrado, Andre Geim, Antoine Lavoisier, Antony van Leeuwenhoek, Archimedes, Benoit Mandelbrot, Carl Friedrich Gauss, Charles Darwin, Christian Doppler, Copernicus, Crick and Watson, Dmitri Mendeleev, Edwin Hubble, Enrico Fermi, Ernest Rutherford, Erwin Schrodinger, Euclid, Fermat, Frederick Sanger, Galileo Galilei, Georg Ohm, Georges Lemaitre, Heike Kamerlingh, Isaac Newton, Jacques Charles, James Clerk Maxwell, James Prescott Joule, Jean Buridan, Johanes Kepler, John Ambrose Fleming, John Dalton, John O’Keefe, Joseph Black, Josiah Gibbs, Lord Kelvin, Lord Rayleigh, Louis Pasteur, Marie Curie, Martinus Beijerinck, Michael Faraday, Murray Gell-Mann & George Zweig, Neils Bohr, Nicholas Steno, Peter Higgs, Pierre Curie, Ptolemy, Robert Boyle, Robert Brown, Robert Hooke, Roger Bacon, Rudolf Clausius, Seleucus, Shen Kuo, Stanley Miller, Tyco Brahe, Werner Heisenberg, William Gilbert, William Harvey, William Herschel, William Rontgen, Wolfgang Pauli.Trade ReviewPraise for Colin Salter’s 100 Posters that Changed the World: 'Showcase[s] an extensive collection of the images and slogans that have shaped society as we know it.’ – Country Life 'This journey through images that can inspire, shock or just leave the viewer laughing is never less than fascinating… A beautifully produced volume that will find a very broad readership.' – All About History 'This engaging book is a vivid tapestry of poster styles with diverse commercial, cultural and political applications supplemented by informative single-page essays that stimulate curiosity page after page.’ – Morning Star

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Book SynopsisWhat would happen if you fell into a Black Hole?Black holes are found throughout the universe. They can be microscopic. They can be billions of times larger than our Sun. They are dark on the outside but not on the inside. Anything that enters them can never escape, and yet they contain nothing at all.In Black Hole Survival Guide physicist and novelist Janna Levin takes you on a journey into a black hole, explaining what would happen to you and why. In the process you'll come to see how their mysteries contain answers to some of the most profound questions ever asked about the nature of our universe.'Astrophysics at its sexiest...hugely enjoyable' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewA superb storyteller * Financial Times *Just like its subject this book is a seemingly miraculous compression of a vast amount of material into an implausibly small space. It's packed with revelations ... hugely enjoyable * Sunday Times *Wonderful ... Janna Levin has a talent for explaining mind-boggling concepts ... the language is conversational and, in places, rather poetic ... Perhaps the book's greatest draw is the book's survival guide element ... This book will really get you thinking, scratching your head, and eventually understanding the nature of black holes * BBC Sky at Night Magazine *Gripping, heartbreaking, brilliant * Sunday Times (on Black Hole Blues) *Spectacular ... a near-perfect balance of science, storytelling and insight * New Statesman (on Black Hole Blues) *

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Book SynopsisIngrid S Clay is a Celebrity Fitness Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, Figure Bodybuilder, and Plant-Based Chef. She has over 10 years' experience in the Health and Wellness space. She has been featured on Fabletics Fitness App, Livestrong, and Popsugar. She has spent several years designing and teaching HIIT classes. Ingrid has a background in Physics & Electrical Engineering. Her science background influences the way she approaches creating HIIT based programs. Insta: @ingridsclay www.ingridsclay.com

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

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Book SynopsisBoldly go where no man has gone before and discover the real science behind the cyborgs, starships, aliens, and antimatter of the Star Trek galaxy.Star Trek is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time. It has changed our cultural landscape in so many ways since it first aired in 1966. The franchise has generated billions of dollars in revenue, leading to a wide range of spin-off games, novels, toys, and comics. Star Trek is noted for its social science, too, with its progressive civil rights stances and its celebration of future diversity that began with The Original Series, one of television's first multiracial casts. The Science of Star Trek explores one of the greatest science-fiction universes ever created and showcases the visionary tech that inspired and influenced the real-world science of today. The perfect Star Trek gift for fans of the franchise, this book addresses many unanswered, burning questions, including: What can Star Trek tell us about aliens in our Milky Way? How has Star Trek influenced space culture? What can Star Trek tell us about planet hunting? What Star Trek machines came true? When will we boldly go? Learn more about one of our favorite modern epics with The Science of Star Trek!

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Book SynopsisUnderstand how our immune system fights disease and enables the body to heal itself.'Thrilling... Reads like the best kind of adventure story' STEPHEN FRY'Excellent' TIM SPECTOR, Sunday Times bestselling author of Spoon-Fed Here, Professor Daniel Davis charts the groundbreaking scientific quest to understand how it fights disease and enables the body to heal itself. He explains how it is affected by stress, sleep, age and our state of mind, and reveals how all of this knowledge is now unlocking a revolutionary approach to medicine and well-being. The Beautiful Cure tells a dramatic story of detective work and discovery, of puzzles solved and of the mysteries that remain, and of lives sacrificed and saved. SHORTLISTED FOR THE ROYAL SOCIETY SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE 'Wonderful... recounts in exceptionally clear and sympathetic prose how research into the immune system has resulted in a health revolution' HENRY MARSH 'Thoroughly absorbing... Davis is a wonderful storyteller' BILL BRYSONTrade ReviewThrilling ... An eye-opening tour de force of scientific writing that reads like the best kind of adventure story -- Stephen FryOne of the best accounts I have yet come across of the nature of biological science … Daniel Davis’s wonderful book recounts in exceptionally clear and sympathetic prose how research into the immune system has resulted in a health revolution -- Henry Marsh * New Statesman *Thoroughly absorbing ... Davis is a wonderful storyteller -- Bill BrysonTerrific ... Davis relates the extraordinary modern developments in supercharging the body’s own immune system to fight disease, and one day maybe even eliminate cancer -- Steven Poole * *****Telegraph *Thrilling … Do not underestimate the importance of immunology. This field relates to you personally -- Adam Rutherford * Guardian *An inspirational book that not only reveals the secret joys of scientific discovery but is jam-packed full of revelations for non-scientists * Mail on Sunday *Forget AI, robotics, the internet of things. This is where the future feels strange and exciting: in the 'inner universe' of our immune system, and in the radically new therapies that are using it to conquer disease * Sunday Times *Highly readable, beautifully researched, backed up with notes, references and interviews by Davis himself, whose status as an immunology professor confers added credibility. He believes that we now know enough about the major components and interactions of the immune system to begin manipulating them to cure diseases such as cancer. We stand, he predicts, on the threshold of a medical revolution * New Scientist *A sweeping tour d’horizon … lucid and entertaining … Much as Siddhartha Mukherjee did in his book The Gene, Davis expertly weaves together human stories and scientific endeavour * The Times *New ways to treat cancer, diabetes, arthritis and other age-related diseases … Davis is a sure and engaging guide to these developments * Observer *

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

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Book Synopsis''A fascinating celebration of the impact that structural engineering has on all our lives[an] eye-opening book'' The Sunday Times In BUILT, structural engineer Roma Agrawal takes a unique look at how construction has evolved from the mud huts of our ancestors to skyscrapers of steel that reach hundreds of metres into the sky. She unearths how engineers have tunnelled through kilometres of solid mountains; how they''ve bridged across the widest and deepest of rivers, and tamed Nature's precious and elusive water resources. She tells vivid tales of the visionaries who created the groundbreaking materials in the Pantheon''s record-holding concrete dome and the frame of the record-breaking Eiffel Tower. Through the lens of an engineer, Roma examines tragedies like the collapse of the Quebec Bridge, highlighting the precarious task of ensuring people''s safety they hold at every step. With colourful stories of her life-long fascination with buildings and her own hand-draTrade Review[Agrawal] weaves accessible explanations of scientific principles together with engaging historical stories and personal anecdotes…[a] timely and impassioned book * Guardian *Agrawal has a gift for rendering complex phenomena in simple terms...a real treat * Financial Times *Agrawal is a rarity: a female structural engineer in an adamantly male profession … She will inspire young women who are considering a career in engineering … [S]he shines when explaining the sorts of things people might be too shy to admit they find inherently fascinating * New York Times Book Review *Agrawal has just launched her first book, Built, the latest salvo in her crusade to get us to see the world “through different eyes, the eyes of an engineer” * i newspaper *A fascinating celebration of the impact that structural engineering has on all our lives…[an] eye-opening book * The Sunday Times *Roma makes the complex principles of structural engineering accessible to everyone with clear explanations and engaging illustrations. It has made me suddenly look at every building I pass in a new way * Ellen Stofan, former Chief Scientist at NASA *Roma Agrawal makes engineering thrilling, accessible and thoroughly enjoyable. Built is another great example of how women can write beautifully about so-called male subjects. Bring on the female engineers! -- Andrea Wulf, historian and author of The Invention of NatureA wonderfully absorbing book about an engineer and her passion for construction * Professor Mark Miodownik, materials engineer, broadcaster and author of Stuff Matters *A charming tribute to one woman’s love of engineering. Full of fascinating facts and personal stories * Angela Saini, author of Geek Nation *A necessary reminder of the wonderful human ingenuity behind the world’s greatest engineering projects, from Roman aqueducts to London’s magnificent Shard. Built will inspire readers of every stripe * Erica Wagner, author of Chief Engineer *A book about real engineering written by a real engineer who can really write * Henry Petroski, author of The Road Taken *A passionate, often personal love letter to the science of structure. Whether exploring Pompeii or assembling pineapple upside-down cake, Agrawal’s journey will change the way you look at the structures you take for granted * Jennifer Ouellette, author of The Calculus Diaries *Roma Agrawal is a much-needed role model for the next generation of engineers. Most girls never give a thought to civil engineering as a career. The book will change that * Rob Eastaway, mathematician and author of Any Ideas? Tips and Techniques for Creative Problem Solving *Roma Agrawal makes engineering thrilling, accessible and thoroughly enjoyable. Built is another great example of how women can write brilliantly about so-called male subjects. Bring on the female engineers! * Andrea Wulf, historian and author of Chasing Venus: The Race to Measure the Heavens *How come we have skyscrapers, bricks, bridges and tunnels? It’s down to structural engineers, but who are these awesome makers? Men in hard hats? Not necessarily! Roma Agrawal has helped to design some iconic structures that grace our cities. Here she gives an insider’s captivating account, so rich in history and so full of verve that she is bound to make others want to follow in her footsteps. Built reveals how human ingenuity keeps us safe from the raw forces of nature, all in a style that is down-to-earth as well as funny and personal * Uta Frith, psychologist and author of Autism: Explaining the Enigma *This fascination is communicated with flair and passion in a highly engaging debut book that will appeal to the engineer and the inquisitive layperson alike * E&T Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe untold story of the heretical thinkers who challenged the establishment to rethink quantum physics and the nature of realityTrade ReviewA thorough, illuminating exploration of the most consequential controversy raging in modern science . . . Becker leads us through an impressive account of the rise of competing interpretations, grounding them in the human stories, which are naturally messy and full of contingencies. He makes a convincing case that it's wrong to imagine the Copenhagen interpretation as a single official or even coherent statement * New York Times *[A] fresh debut . . . Vivid biographical portraits enliven even dense theoretical explanations with wit and bite . . . With his crisp voice, Becker lucidly relates the complicated history of quantum foundations * Publishers Weekly, starred review *A useful introduction to the history of quantum theory for scientifically inclined readers * Kirkus *...an impressive account of the rise of competing interpretations, grounding them in the human stories, which are naturally messy and full of contingencies. He makes a convincing case that it's wrong to imagine the Copenhagen interpretation as a single official or even coherent statement. * The New York Times *Becker handles the physics with aplomb... The cast is colourful and expansive, and provides engaging drama... The subtext running through this hugely enjoyable book is that, if we still have a long way to go before we understand reality... The story so far is of dazzling insights, flawed male scientists - and very few female ones. It's a key acknowledgement that should help to ensure that writing the next chapters of the quantum tale is open to all. -- Michael Brooks * The New Scientist *Adam Becker has written an excellent, accessible account of an intricate story. * The Wall Street Journal *What Is Real? is an argument for keeping an open mind. Becker reminds us that we need humility as we investigate the myriad interpretations and narratives that explain the same data. * Nature *Becker has done a great service in putting this fascinating story together into a single easily-digestible volume that is gripping, authoritative, and true. * Quantum Times *[A] tremendously appealing new book ...Becker is a perfect choice to make sense of it all (or at least whatever sense is possible). He smoothly, easily dramatizes the great debates and the outsized personalities of quantum physics and fits it all into an enthusiastic, readable narrative, and along the way he digresses wonderfully on a wide variety of scientific phenomena. * Open Letters Review *Adam Becker sets out to explore why the physics community is still arguing today about quantum mechanics's true meaning...A riveting storyteller, Becker brings to life physicists who have too long remained in the shadow of Bohr and Einstein...an engaging and accessible overview of the debates. * Science Magazine *Spellbinding....This very book could prove to be a watershed moment for the physics community if it faces up to its own past and its present....If you have any interest in the implications of quantum theory, or in the suppression of scientific curiosity, What is Real? is required reading. There is no more reliable, careful, and readable account of the whole history of quantum theory in all its scandalous detail. * Boston Review *

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Book SynopsisThis concise, easy-to-read book outlines the basic principles needed to understand the chemical mechanisms of explosion. Written for students with no previous knowledge of explosives but some understanding of chemical reactions in mind, it takes the reader through the history of explosives and introduces the concepts of high explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics. Covering combustion, deflagration, and detonation; ignition, initiation, and thermal decomposition; thermochemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics, the text includes detailed formulations and reactions presented with thermochemical calculations to aid understanding. This edition includes environmental legislation and its impact on explosives, together with a section on safety hazard tests. It also contains the latest developments in synthesis and manufacturing of explosives. Covering all aspects of the properties of explosives, The Chemistry of Explosives is a unique text which introduces difficult subjects in a readable manner. Ideal for A-level students and new graduates with no previous knowledge of explosive materials, it will also be useful to anyone needing succinct information on the subject, such as the more experienced chemist in the explosives sector.Table of ContentsIntroduction to Explosives; Classification of Explosive Materials; Combustion, Deflagration and Detonation; Ignition, Initiation and Thermal Decomposition; Thermochemistry of Explosives; Equilibria and Kinetics of Explosive Reactions; Manufacture of Explosives; Introduction to Propellants and Pyrotechnics

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Book Synopsis***A Waterstones Best Books of 2022 pick***A New Scientist Book of the YearShortlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Conservation Writing 'Fascinating... There is something wondrous in Milman's revelation of our fragile dependency on insect life as well as its beauty and strangeness.' Guardian'Gripping and especially unnerving.' David Wallace-WellsWhen is the last time you were stung by a wasp? Or were followed by a cloud of midges? Or saw a butterfly? All these normal occurrences are becoming much rarer. A groundswell of research suggests insect numbers are in serious decline all over the world - in some places by over 90%.The Insect Crisis explores this hidden emergency, arguing that its consequences could even rival climate change. We rely on insect pollination for the bulk of our agriculture, they are a prime food source for birds and fish, and they are a key strut holding up life on Earth, especially our own. In a compelling and entertaining investigation spanning the globe, Milman speaks to the scientists and entomologists studying this catastrophe and asks why these extraordinary creatures are disappearing. Part warning, part celebration of the incredible variety of insects, this book highlights why we need to wake up to this impending environmental disaster.Trade ReviewA gripping and especially unnerving book: what happens when the bugs go? As Milman deftly illustrates, in the face of die-offs too widespread to closely track, we are rushing headlong into a precarious and uncertain future. * David Wallace-Wells, bestselling author of The Uninhabitable Earth *This beautifully written book captures the wonders of insects alongside sharing insights about the ways in which passionate and dedicated entomologists around the world gather the information to unravel the complex patterns of change in insect populations. This is both a story of insects and the inspiring people who tirelessly study and conserve them. * Professor Helen Roy, President of the Royal Entomological Society *Fascinating... If its visions are sometimes mournful, there is also something wondrous in Milman's revelation of our fragile dependency on insect life as well as its beauty and strangeness. * Guardian *Carefully researched and highly readable... [Milman's] book takes an unflinching look at the alarming decline in insect numbers and what this means for both biodiversity and humanity. * The Sunday Business Post *Gripping, sobering and important. * The New York Times *Table of Contents1: An Intricate Dance 2: Winners and Losers 3: "Zero Insect Days" 4: The Peak of the Pesticide 5: In the Teeth of the Climate Emergency 6: The Labor of Honeybees 7: A Monarch's Journey 8: The Inaction Plan 9: A Human Emergency

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

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Book Synopsis'The most important advance of our era. One of the pioneers of the field describes the exciting hunt for the key breakthrough and what it portends for our future' Walter IsaacsonWorld-famous scientist Jennifer Doudna - winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for creating the revolutionary gene-editing technique CRISPR - explains her discovery, describes its power to reshape the future of all life and warns of its use.A handful of discoveries have changed the course of human history. This book is about the most recent and potentially the most powerful and dangerous of them all. It is an invention that allows us to rewrite the genetic code that shapes and controls all living beings. As a result, dreams of genetic manipulation have become a stark reality: the power to cure disease and alleviate suffering, as well as to re-design any species, including humans, for our own ends. Jennifer Doudna is the co-inventor of this technology - known as CRISPR - and a scientist of worldwide renown. Writing with fellow researcher Samuel Sternberg, here she provides the definitive account of her discovery, explaining how this wondrous invention works and what it is capable of. She also asks us to consider what our new-found power means: how do we enjoy its unprecedented benefits while avoiding its equally unprecedented dangers? _________________PRAISE FOR A CRACK IN CREATION: 'The future is in our hands as never before, and this book explains the stakes like no other' George Lucas'One of the most PIONEERING women in science . . . Exhilarating' Arianna Huffington'Thrilling' Adam Rutherford'An instant classic' Siddhartha MukherjeeTrade ReviewThe most important advance of our era. One of the pioneers of the field describes the exciting hunt for the key breakthrough and what it portends for our future -- Walter IsaacsonToo important … What may happen thanks to Doudna’s [discovery] is dizzying … for her, this is the future of medicine. If she’s right, then Crispr is about to make our present healthcare concerns look surprisingly trivial -- Bryan Appleyard * Sunday Times *One of the architects of this miraculous biological technique … explains the science clearly and excitingly as a kind of globalist detective story * Telegraph *Probably the greatest biological breakthrough since that of Francis Crick, James Watson and Rosalind Franklin… We owe Doudna several times over – for her discovery, for her zeal to take it from the lab into the clinic, for her involvement in the ethical issues raised, for her public engagement work, and now for this book -- Peter Forbes * Guardian *An urgent plea from the celebrated biologist whose discovery enabled us to rewrite the code of life. The future is in our hands as never before, and this book explains the stakes like no other -- George LucasUrgent, riveting and endlessly fascinating, this book is destined to become an instant classic. Read it if you want to understand our biological future -- Siddhartha MukherjeeIn this wonderful book … Doudna’s and Sternberg’s simple but compelling exploration of this hugely important subject offers and excellent overview of this startling and unprecedented discovery * Literary Review *An exhilarating and frightening roadmap to our future by one of the most pioneering women in science -- Arianna HuffingtonJennifer Doudna is the true pioneer who built the bridge between the basic science of CRISPR and its diverse applications. Now is the time to read about the revolution that could change our world -- George ChurchA scientific thriller and a gripping read by a brilliant scientist -- Venki RamakrishnanOne of the most monumental discoveries in biology * New York Times *A detailed account of the story so far. It may well end up being compared with the book that inspired a 12-year-old Doudna in the first place: James Watson’s The Double Helix … Packed with amazing female scientists, it is thrilling, generous and no less personal … We need scientifically informed conversations about what we should do next with these powers, and Doudna’s book is a good place to begin -- Adam Rutherford * New Scientist *A welcome new contribution to the [gene editing] debate… She should be congratulated for being one of the very few scientists involved in a breakthrough to write a timely, popular personal account… Doudna’s style, more contemplative than Watson or Venter, is just as effective at describing the increasingly frantic pace of life in the lab, as researchers realise that epoch-making discoveries are in the offing. She tells the scientific back-story particularly well… The arguments are rehearsed with admirable clarity -- Clive Cookson * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisWhat makes an engaging presentation or a useful meeting? How can companies motivate and inspire people to do their best at work? Who are the most effective leaders? Bestselling author and scientist Dr John Medina uses peer-reviewed research to answer the most important questions about the workplace today, providing answers that will help you get ahead. The author of international bestseller Brain Rules, Medina here turns his expertise to the professional world, guiding the reader through what brain science and evolutionary biology have to say on topics ranging from office space and work—life balance to power dynamics and work interactions. He examines why taking breaks in nature during the workday improves productivity; how planning a meeting beforehand makes it more effective; why open plan isn’t a good office plan; how a more diverse team is a better team; why allowing for failure is vital to a company’s success; and much more. Breaking down the science to practical applications that every reader can understand and benefit from, Brain Rules for Work is the essential guide to modern office life.

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Book Synopsis'A rich feast of his essays, reviews, forewords, squibs and conversations, in which talent and passion are married to deep knowledge.' Matt Ridley'Enjoy the unfailing clarity of his thought and prose, as well as the grandeur of his vision of life on Earth.' - Mark Cocker, Spectator'Richard Dawkins is a thunderously gifted science writer.' Sunday TimesIncluding conversations with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Steven Pinker, Matt Ridley and more, this is an essential guide to the most exciting ideas of our time and their proponents from our most brilliant science communicator.Books Do Furnish a Life is divided by theme, including celebrating nature, exploring humanity, and interrogating faith. For the first time, it brings together Richard Dawkins' forewords, afterwords and introductions to the work of some of the leading thinkers of our age - Carl Sagan, Lawrence Krauss, Jacob Bronowski, Lewis Wolpert - with a selection of his reviews to provide an electrifying celebration of science writing, both fiction and non-fiction. It is also a sparkling addition to Dawkins' own remarkable canon of work.Plenty of other scientists write well, but no one writes like Dawkins... here is Dawkins the teacher, the scholar, the polemicist, the joker, the aesthete, the poet, the satirist, the man of compassion as well as indignation, the slayer of superstition and, above all, the scientist. - Areo MagazineTrade ReviewMuch more than just a collection of journalism, this has an overarching unity and presents a panoramic survey of his intellectual career. There are occasional moments of delicious savagery as Dawkins dismantles an opponent. Much more often he celebrates the work of fellow scientists and throughout the entire 460 pages, one can enjoy the unfailing clarity of his thought and prose, as well as the grandeur of his vision of life on Earth. -- Mark Cocker * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisChinese Communists have long embraced capitalism, for various reasons. In the 1930s Communists made deals with foreign capitalists to finance the revolution. Mao continued to promote trade after 1949. Jason Kelly shows how global deals kept China embedded in markets and their norms, laying the groundwork for the capitalist reforms of the 1980s.Trade ReviewA sober, detailed account of the way modern China came to see that global trade could be a way to ‘fortify socialism…rather than degrade it.’…Kelly conveys what a highwire act it must have been to conduct business on Mao’s watch. -- Tim Sifert * Asian Review of Books *Should appeal to scholars exploring the rise of neoliberalism and the transformation of global capitalism since the 1970s, in which the PRC played a leading role. The history of China’s capitalist ascent as sketched in Market Maoists is therefore critical to any history of the contemporary global economy. -- Philip Thai * Business History Review *A beautifully written book with compelling insights on the neglected interactions between Maoist China and global capitalist markets. It unquestionably enriches our understanding of how socialist China skillfully did business with Western traders to achieve its goal of state modernization, and sheds new light on the PRC history with a refreshingly global perspective. -- Shaofan An * China Review *Fascinating…Based on wide-ranging primary sources of evidence, this elegant book convincingly argues that long before its formal policy reorientation in 1978, the People’s Republic of China was actively present in marketplaces in the East and West…A truly valuable contribution and merits serious attention from us all. -- Lin Chun * Pacific Affairs *Provides unprecedented details of China’s foreign economic policies during the pre-1978 period and is an excellent example of scholarship based on field work in Mainland China…Makes an important new contribution to the existing literature. -- Lawrence C. Reardon * H-Diplo *Groundbreaking…Market Maoists is a fascinating economic and political history that is well written and accessible also to readers unfamiliar with the history of socialist China…It deserves to be widely read and discussed. -- Jennifer Altehenger * American Historical Review *Combining lively anecdotes with coherent historical analysis, Market Maoists makes for an engaging read for undergraduate and graduate courses on Chinese and world history. It is also a valuable addition to the work of PRC scholars interested in bridging the geographical divide between China and the world and the temporal divide between the socialist years and the economic reforms…[An] excellent monograph. -- Sarah Chang * PRC History Review *An excellent book, extremely well researched and very well written. Kelly provides a valuable overview of PRC trade policies and the significance of China’s trade inside global markets during the Mao era. His comprehensive treatment of the internal battles over how to proceed with international trade and the effects these political decisions had on China’s future adds a great deal to our understanding of China in the world. -- Odd Arne Westad, author of Empire and Righteous Nation: 600 Years of China–Korea RelationsKelly skillfully integrates the Chinese case into a new wave of scholarship transforming our understanding of post–World War II global economic integration. Behind the political confrontation between market-led and planned economies during the Cold War, as he persuasively demonstrates, China’s ongoing need to trade continually shaped its foreign and domestic policy, anticipating the country’s more high-profile engagement with market economies in the late twentieth century and since. -- Karl Gerth, author of Unending Capitalism: How Consumerism Negated China’s Communist RevolutionBy examining how the Chinese Communist Party leadership treated trade with the capitalist world, Kelly sheds new light on China’s commercial policies and activities and presents the Maoists as being much more economically well-informed and internationally vigorous than previously understood. An original contribution, as well as a joy to read. -- Shu Guang Zhang, author of Economic Cold War: America’s Embargo against China and the Sino–Soviet Alliance, 1949–1963An excellent history of China’s state-led international economic relations in the Maoist era. Kelly captures China’s necessary turn to trade with the West after 1973 as the precondition of the globalizing Chinese economy we know today. Most important, he reminds us, rightly, that for Mao and his successors, ‘trade always served politics.’ The Party would remain in control. This is a lesson taken to heart by Chinese leaders today. -- William C. Kirby, coauthor of Can China Lead? Reaching the Limits of Power and Growth

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Book SynopsisLearn the art of growing old from the supercentenarians living life to the fullest.It's said that life begins at 40 - but that number is constantly revised upwards as we live longer and longer. With the number of centenarians having quadrupled in the last thirty years, more of us can now hope to reach the 100-year mark than ever before. But how can we navigate this journey with grace, dignity and style? In this charming and informative book, Daniela Mari - the Italian doctor caring for some of the oldest people on the planet - draws on her experiences as a renowned gerontologist to reveal the science behind a healthy, happy old age. It turns out that the world's centenarians can teach us a thing or two about ageing well. And the secrets are not always what you'd think. Informed by the latest medical studies and incredible stories of individual longevity, Mari shows how our lifestyles can far surpass the influence of our genetics and why a daily glass of liquor isn't the end of the world. From our sleeping habits and diet to the crucial importance of our passions and interests, Breakfast with the Centenarians is the essential handbook for a fruitful and fulfilling old age.

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Book SynopsisFrom the world''s foremost neuroscientist of romantic love comes a personal story of connection and heartbreak that brings new understanding to an old truth: it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.At thirty-seven, Dr. Stephanie Cacioppo was content to be single. She was fulfilled by her work on the neuroscience of romantic love; how finding and growing with a partner literally reshapes our brains. That was, until she met the foremost neuroscientist of loneliness. A whirlwind romance led to marriage, to sharing an office at the University of Chicago. After seven years of being inseparable at work and home, she lost her beloved husband following a devastating battle with cancer.In Wired for Love, Dr. Stephanie Cacioppo tells not just a science story, but also a love story. She shares revelatory insights into how we fall in love, and why; what makes love last; and how we process love lost - all grounded in cutting-edge fTrade Review'This meditation on love is deep in every sense: in scientific richness, in human insight, and in moving personal involvement' Steven Pinker, author of How the Mind Works'When John and Steph met it was electric, consuming, forever. One might even say 'wacky' from the start. But then their love grew to be inseparable, collaborative, joyous and infinitely inventive. And while their scholarship and devotion to science hit new levels, it was their bond in love that was a joy to know. This book captures that joy' Michael Gazzaniga, author of The Consciousness Instinct'Anyone looking for love would be well advised to read her expert tips on how to spark romance and make it last. Don't offer anyone your heart. Offer them your brain and enjoy the fireworks' - Daily Mail'Cacioppo's writing becomes more intimate as her life story stitches closer to her research. Her conclusion is enchanting and uplifting ... A beautiful testament to romantic love, scientific passion and the endless possibility of connection' Kirkus'Filled with a little something for everyone, Wired for Love is a unique take on a memoir that will take you on a journey of grief and healing with a reminder to keep your heart open to all the beauty and pain that life might bring' Mindful'Cacioppo blends memoir and science in her debut, an enlightening testament to love's ability to enhance one's life ... Readers will be both fascinated and moved' Publishers Weekly'...an engaging guide through the scientific portions of the book, and her own experiences of connection and loss enrich the narrative. Together, these intertwined strands of science and personal narrative make for a sprightly, illuminating book' BookPage

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Book SynopsisIs your heart fluttering in anticipation? Is your stomach tight with nerves? Are you falling in love? Feeling a bit miffed? Are you curious (perhaps about this book)? Do you have the heebie-jeebies? Are you antsy with iktsuarpok? Or giddy with dépaysement? The Book of Human Emotions is a gleeful, thoughtful collection of 156 feelings, both rare and familiar. Each has its own story, and reveals the strange forces which shape our rich and varied internal worlds. In reading it, you'll discover feelings you never knew you had (like basorexia, the sudden urge to kiss someone), uncover the secret histories of boredom and confidence, and gain unexpected insights into why we feel the way we do. Published in partnership with the Wellcome Collection. Wellcome Collection is a free museum and library that aims to challenge how we think and feel about health. Inspired by the medical objects and curiosities collected by Henry Wellcome, it connects science, medicine, life and art. Wellcome Collection exhibitions, events and books explore a diverse range of subjects, including consciousness, forensic medicine, emotions, sexology, identity and death. Wellcome Collection is part of Wellcome, a global charitable foundation that exists to improve health for everyone by helping great ideas to thrive, funding over 14,000 researchers and projects in more than 70 countries. wellcomecollection.orgTrade Review[Watt Smith] treats each emotion with the expertise of a wine taster, showing how it is formed from a mixture of many other emotions -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *So riveting are these miniature essays exploring 156 emotions that if anyone interrupts your reading, you'll probably feel irritated ... Educative, entertaining. * Observer *Delightful * Prima *A brilliant book -- Róisín Ingle * Irish Times *Witty, informative, undogmatic and thought-provoking, this wonderful book should convince us that emotions are never just neural events. -- Jane O'Grady * Times Higher Education *

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Book SynopsisAt a community fire day in a northern California town several years ago, author Faith Kearns gave a talk on building fire-safe houses able to withstand increasingly common wildfires. Much to her surprise, Kearns was confronted by an audience member whose house had recently burned. What she thought was straightforward, helpful scientific information had instead retraumatised audience members, forcing Kearns to re-evaluate her approach. Like Kearns, scientists today working on controversial issues from climate change to drought to COVID-19 are finding themselves more often in the middle of deeply traumatising or polarized conflicts. It is no longer enough for scientists to communicate a scientific topic clearly. They must not only be experts in their fields of study, but also experts in navigating the thoughts, feelings, and opinions of members of the public they engage with, and with each other. And the conversations are growing more fraught. In Getting to the Heart of Science Communication, Faith Kearns has penned a succinct guide for navigating the human relationships critical to the success of practice-based science. Using interviews and personal anecdotes, as well as her own insights as a field scientist, Kearns walks readers through the evolution of science communication and how emotional and high-stakes issues have shaped communication. The meat of the book lies in the middle chapters, where Kearns offers key tools for communicators: listening, working with conflict, and understanding trauma, loss, and healing. She concludes the book with a substantive discussion on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sciences, and advice to readers for handling their own emotional needs in an unpredictable career landscape. This meticulously researched volume takes science communication to the next level, helping scientists see the value of listening as well as talking, understanding power dynamics in relationships, and addressing the roles of trauma, loss, grief, and healing. This book will particularly resonate with early to mid-career scientists, graduate students, and researchers, especially those in applied sciences who work closely with the public.Table of ContentsForeword Preface Acknowledgments Introduction PART I. The Evolution of Science Communication Chapter 1. Science Communication from the Ground Up Chapter 2. Science Communication Careers Today Chapter 3. Navigating Facts and Feelings in Science Communication PART II. The Tools of Science Communication Chapter 4. Relating Chapter 5. Listening Chapter 6. Working with Conflict Chapter 7. Understanding Trauma PART III. The Future of Science Communication Chapter 8. Equitable, Inclusive, and Just Science Communication Chapter 9. Self and Collective Care Chapter 10: What More Is Possible? Notes About the Author Index

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Book SynopsisThe spellbinding stories of the scientists whose eureka! breakthroughs in modern physics reveal science's astonishing predictive power.'An excellent popular science book.'DARA Ã? BRIAIN'A thoroughly informative and entertaining read.'ANNA BURNS, Booker Prize-winning author of Milkman'One of the best-written books about phsyics I have ever come across.'POPULAR SCIENCE'Highly entertaining and accessible.' IRISH TIMES'Fascinating, life enhancing entertainment.' PROSPECT'Thoroughly enjoyable . . . Chown has done it again.' BBC SKY AT NIGHTBreakthrough takes us on a breathtaking, mind-altering tour of the eureka! moments of modern physics. Charting the spellbinding stories of the scientists who predicted and discovered the existence of unknown planets, black holes, invisible force fields, ripples in the fabric of space-time,

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Book SynopsisRECOMMENDED AS ONE OF THE TIMES' BEST SCIENCE BOOKS OF 2021'With all the talk about testosterone in sex, sports and politics, we need a good explanation of the science and its implications, and this one is outstanding.' STEVEN PINKER, bestselling author of The Blank Slate'There are whole books written about the idea that behavioural sex differences are a societal construct and how a male hormone we know influences animal behaviour somehow doesn't influence us. Hooven's book is a riposte to that silliness - and also a defence of a hormone that isn't just about aggression.' TOM WHIPPLE, THE TIMES, BEST SCIENCE BOOKS OF 2021'Fascinating, vital, unputdownable.' JULIE BINDEL'The definitive book on testosterone . . . A brave and significant book . . . simply fascinating and filled with extraordinary facts.' EVENING STANDARD'Testosterone does what all superb popular science must do: it entertains as it educates.' THE WALL STREET JOURNALThrough riveting personal stories and the latest research, Harvard evolutionary biologist Carole Hooven shows how testosterone drives the behaviour of the sexes apart and how understanding the science behind this hormone is empowering for all.The biological source of masculinity has inspired fascination, investigation and controversy since antiquity. From the eunuchs in the royal courts of ancient China to the booming market for 'elixirs' of youth in nineteenth-century Europe, humans have been obsessed with identifying and manipulating what we now know as testosterone. And the trend shows no signs of slowing down. Thanks to this history and the methods of modern science, today we have a rich body of research about testosterone's effects in both men and women.The science is clear: testosterone is a major, invisible player in our relationships, sex lives, athletic abilities, childhood play, gender transitions, parenting roles, violent crime, and so much more. But there is still a lot of pushback to the idea that it does, in fact, contribute to sex differences and significantly influence behaviour.Hooven argues that acknowledging testosterone as a potent force in society doesn't reinforce stifling gender norms or patriarchal values. Testosterone and evolution work together to produce a huge variety of human behaviour, and that includes a multitude of ways to be masculine and feminine.Understanding the science sheds light on how we work and relate to one another, how we express anger and love, and how we fight bias and problematic behaviour to build a fairer society.'One of the most compelling books on human behaviour I've ever read. Testosterone is a scientific mystery story told with insight, intelligence and panache.' DANIEL GILBERT, Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of Stumbling on Happiness'Science writing at its best: intriguing, personal, bold, persuasive, and most importantly, transparent. Her gripping account will fascinate, whether you're a teenager in the throes of puberty or are just curious about the nature of sex and gender - one of the most important debates of our time.' RICHARD WRANGHAM, author of The Goodness Paradox'A fascinating, brave, and brilliant book - the best I've read on the topic.' STEVE STEWART-WILLIAMS, author of The Ape that Understood the Universe'A superb and engaging book that delivers the unfiltered truth about testosterone, sex and sex differences, told with clarity and compassion.' DANIEL E. LIEBERMAN, author of Exercised'With wit and warmth, Hooven lucidly lays out a formidable scientific case for how and why the sexes are different. Boldly confronting contemporary gender issues, Testosterone speaks directly to why getting human nature right matters for making the world a better place.' JOE HENRICH, professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and author of The Secret of Our Success'An approachable introduction to an often misunderstood aspect of human biology.' Publishers Weekly'Carole Hooven's account ... is subtle, nuanced, and written with the sure touch of a natural storyteller ...Her commitment to science - to good science - is resolute.' LUKE SLATTERY, WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN'It is a book I couldn't put down. Beautifully written and goes into excellent but largely understandable detail regarding scientific information.' Steph Richards, co-founder of Steph's Place UK, a trans-led human rights organisation

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Book Synopsis* Confidence makes your brain work better and boosts your performance* Confidence acts like a mini-antidepressant, lifting your mood* Confidence is contagious* Confidence is anxiety's greatest antidote* Confidence is a set of habits that feel fake at first but become real with practice* Confidence makes boys bullsh*t more than girls* Overconfidence can have disastrous consequences_________'Brilliant ... it will change how you think about confidence.' Johann Hari'Important for everyone but crucial for women.' Mary Robinson'Interesting and important.' Steven Pinker__________Imagine we could discover something that could make us richer, healthier, longer-living, smarter, kinder, happier, more motivated and more innovative. Ridiculous, you might say... What is this elixir?Confidence.If you have it, it can empower you to reach heights you never thought possible. But if you don't, it can have a devastating effect on your future. Confidence lies at the core of what makes things happen.Exploring the science and neuroscience behind confidence that has emerged over the last decade, clinical psychologist and neuroscientist Professor Ian Robertson tells us how confidence plays out in our minds, our brains and indeed our bodies. He explains where it comes from and how it spreads - with extraordinary economic and political consequences. And why it's not necessarily something you are born with, but something that can be learned.__________'Rich stories and change-inspiring examples for every kind of performer.' Pippa Grange'Appealing... ranges from neuroscience to politics.' NatureTrade ReviewAn inviting explanation of an interesting and important new topic in psychological science. * Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of HOW THE MIND WORKS and RATIONALLY *A revelatory and practical new exploration of the science of confidence, which is important for everyone but crucial for women. * Mary Robinson *A brilliant and thought-provoking book - it will change how you think about confidence. * Johann Hari *Rich stories and change-inspiring examples for every kind of performer. * Pippa Grange *A fascinating read. * RTE Radio One *

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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