Science & Nature Books

Book SynopsisLearn about the Big Bang theory, astrophysics and gravity in The Physics Book.Part of the fascinating Big Ideas series, this book tackles tricky topics and themes in a simple and easy to follow format. Learn about Physics in this overview guide to the subject, brilliant for beginners looking to learn and experts wishing to refresh their knowledge alike! The Physics Book brings a fresh and vibrant take on the topic through eye-catching graphics and diagrams to immerse yourself in. This captivating book will broaden your understanding of physics, with:- More than 100 ground-breaking ideas in this field of science- Packed with facts, charts, timelines and graphs to help explain core concepts- A visual approach to big subjects with striking illustrations and graphics throughout- Easy to follow text makes topics accessible for people at any level of understandingThe Physics Book is the perfect introduction to the sci

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Book SynopsisSoccer is the most mathematical of sports--riddled with numbers, patterns, and shapes. How to make sense of them? The answer lies in mathematical modeling, a science with applications in a host of biological systems. Soccermatics brings the two together in a fascinating, mind-bending synthesis. What''s the connection between an ant colony and Total Football, Dutch-style? How is the Barcelona midfield linked geometrically? And how can we relate the mechanics of a Mexican Wave to the singing of cicadas in an Australian valley? Welcome to the world of mathematical modeling, expressed brilliantly by David Sumpter through the prism of soccer. Soccer is indeed more than a game and this book is packed with game theory. After reading it, you will forever watch the game with new eyes.Trade ReviewSumpter's deconstruction of formations proved why maths and football can't live without each other. It's every football nerd's dream. * FourFourTwo *A fascinating and entertaining dive into the mathematics of the beautiful game. * The Guardian *...Highly readable... * The Irish Times *...You will love this book. * The Tribune *This is football looked at in a very different way. David Sumpter is mining a rich and deep seam here in Soccermatics, one that will become an increasingly important part of the game. -- Pat Nevin, former Chelsea and Everton star and football media analystA fascinating study of the structures and patterns that underpin football matches, with revealing and surprising conclusions. -- Michael Cox, editor of Zonal Marking and Guardian SportsSoccermatics provides fresh insight into a game we've been watching all of our lives. But it's more than a book about football and is all the better for it. -- Adam Bate, football features writer for Sky SportsDavid Sumpter brings together his two passions, mathematics and football, in a highly original and entertaining way. The beautiful game illustrated through the beauty of mathematics. -- Philip Maini FRS, Professor of Mathematical Biology, University of OxfordTable of ContentsPreface: The Kick-off Part I: On the Pitch Chapter 1: I Never Predict Anything and I Never Will Chapter 2: How Slime Moulds Built Barcelona Chapter 3: Check My Flow Chapter 4: Statistical Brilliance Chapter 5: Zlatan Ibrah Rocket Science Part II: In the Dugout Chapter 6: Three Points for the Bird-brained Manager Chapter 7: The Tactical Map CHapter 8: Total Cyber Dynamo Chapter 9: The World in Motion Part III: From the Crowd Chapter 10: You'll Never Walk Alone Chapter 11: Bet Against the Masses Chapter 12: Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is Chapter 13: The Results Are In The Full-Time Whistle Notes Acknowledgements Index

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Book Synopsis''Maths at its most playful and multifarious'' Jordan EllenbergMatt Parker, author of the No.1 bestseller Humble Pi, takes us on a riotous journey through the possibilities of numbers Mathematician Matt Parker uses bizarre Klein Bottles, unimaginably small pizza slices, knots no one can untie and computers built from dominoes to reveal some of the most exotic and fascinating ideas in mathematics. Starting with simple numbers and algebra, this book goes on to deal with inconceivably big numbers in more dimensions than you ever knew existed. And always with something for you to make or do along the way. ''The book oozes with sheer joy'' New Scientist''Matt Parker is some sort of unholy fusion of a prankster, wizard and brilliant nerd - clever, funny and ever so slightly naughty'' Adam Rutherford, author of Creation''Matt Parker never got the memo about maths being boring ... he seeks to reconnect us to the numbers around us'' Simon Usborne, Independent''Essential reading'' ObserverTrade ReviewAn unusual, in-depth but highly accessible popular-maths book by a member of the London Mathematical Society who also has a sideline in stand-up comedy -- Books of the Year * Economist *Matt Parker is some sort of unholy fusion of a prankster, wizard and brilliant nerd - clever, funny and ever so slightly naughty -- Adam Rutherford, author of CREATIONEssential reading * Observer *Matt Parker is a lovely, funny, big, dork -- Ben GoldacreShows off maths at its most playful and multifarious, ranging from classics like knot theory and ruler-and-compass constructions to more whimsical topics like the topology of beer logos and error-correcting scarves -- Jordan Ellenberg, author of HOW NOT TO BE WRONGThis is the best book on recreational mathematics since Martin Gardner's My Best Mathematical and Logic Puzzles -- Harold D. Shane, Mathematics Emeritus, Baruch Coll., CUNY * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisUncover one of the most exciting frontiers of modern physics in this fascinating, insightful and accessible overview of Chaos theory.An exceedingly readable introduction to a new intellectual world' ObserverFrom the turbulence of the weather to the complicated rythmns of the human heart, chaos' is at the centre of our day to day lives. Cutting across several scientific disciplines, James Gleick explores and elucidates the science of the unpredicatable with an immensely readable narrative style and flair.An awe-inspiring book. Reading Chaos gave me the sensation that someone had just found the light-switch' Douglas AdamsTrade ReviewFascinating... Almost every paragraph contains a jolt * New York Times *Highly entertaining...a startling look at newly discovered universal laws * Chicago Tribune *

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Book SynopsisFollowing on from its successful launch in 2009, Collins Wild Flower Guide the ultimate reference book for wild flower enthusiasts now enters its second edition.Featuring all flowering plants, including trees and grasses, and ferns, this fully revised and updated field guide to the wild flowers of Britain and northern Europe is the most complete illustrated, single-volume guide ever published.Leading botanical artists have been specially commissioned to ensure accurate, detailed illustrations. Species are described and illustrated on the same page, with up-to-date authoritative text aiding identification. Plants are arranged by family, with their key features highlighted for quick and easy reference. The text offers a complete account of over 1,900 wild flowers of Britain and Ireland, along with a summary of their European distribution.Collins Wild Flower Guide is an indispensable guide for all those with an interest in the countryside, whether amateur or expert.Trade Review'This book is a great achievement that will be hard to match … a beautiful and well-judged illustrated flora.' British Wildlife

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Book SynopsisIn QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter Richard P. Feynman explains, in his lucid and witty style, the revolutionary scientific theory that won him the Nobel Prize. Quantum electrodynamics - or QED for short - is the theory that explains how light and electrons interact, and in doing so illuminates the deepest and most complex mysteries of the world around us. Thanks to Richard Feynman and his colleagues, who won the Nobel Prize for their groundbreaking work in this area, it is also one of the rare parts of physics that is known for sure - a theory that has stood the test of time. In these entertaining lectures Feynman uses clear everyday examples to provide the definitive introduction to QED. ''The perfect example of scientific genius''  Independent ''If you don''t believe Nature is absurd, let chatty Professor Feynman convince you in his series of exceedingly reader-friendly lectures ... Full of witty one-liners, with its learning lightly worn, it''s a book to enlighten''  Mail on Sunday ''Does a marvelous job of explaining one of twentieth-century physics'' few unqualified triumphs''  The New York Times Richard P. Feynman (1918-1988) was one of this century''s most brilliant theoretical physicists and original thinkers. Feynman''s other books, also available in Penguin, include QED, Six Easy Pieces, Six Not-so-Easy Pieces, Don''t You Have Time to Think, The Pleasure of Finding Things Out, What Do You Care What Other People Think? and The Meaning of it All.Table of ContentsPhotons - particles of light; electrons and their interactions; loose ends.

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Book SynopsisHow did life evolve on Earth? The answer to this question can help us understand our past and prepare for our future. This work explores the many inquiries being pursued that put the science of evolution to work in preventing and treating human disease, developing new agricultural products, and fostering industrial innovations.Table of Contents1 Front Matter; 2 1 Evolution and the Nature of Science; 3 2 The Evidence for Biological Evolution; 4 3 Creationist Perspectives; 5 4 Conclusion; 6 Frequently Asked Questions; 7 Additional Readings; 8 Committee Member Biographies; 9 Staff and Consultant Biographies; 10 Index; 11 Photo and Illustration Credits

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Book Synopsis''A joy to read ... mind-expanding'' Book of the Week, Guardian''A bold and brave paean to our planet''s ligneous, leafy kingdom'' Telegraph''An impressive exploration and dazzling insight into the lives of plants'' Reaction Book Digest What is it like to be a plant?It''s not a question we might think to contemplate, even though many of us live surrounded by plants. Science has long explored the wonderful ways in which plants communicate, behave and shape their environments: from chemical warfare to turning their predators to cannibalism. But they''re usually just the backdrop to our frenetic animal lives.While plants may not have brains or move around as we do, cutting-edge science is revealing that they have astonishing inner worlds of an alternate kind to ours. They can plan ahead, learn, recognise their relatives, assess risks and make decisions. They can even be put to sleep. Innovative new tools might allow us to actually see them do these things - from electrophysiological recordings to MRI and PET scans. If you can look in the right way, a world full of drama unfurls.In PLANTA SAPIENS, Professor Paco Calvo offers a bold new perspective on plant biology and cognitive science. Using the latest scientific findings, Calvo challenges us to make an imaginative leap into a world that is so close and yet so alien - one that will expand our understanding of our own minds.From their rich subjective experiences to how they are inspiring novel ways of approaching the ecological crisis, PLANTA SAPIENS is a dazzling exploration of the lives of plants and a call to approach how we think about the natural world in a new, maverick way.Trade ReviewCalvo has a wonderfully infectious enthusiasm for his subject that makes this book, for all its complex science, a joy to read. He challenges us to set aside our 'zoocentric' perspective and to change our view of plants radically: from mechanisms akin to robots to complex organisms with a range of behaviours, responding to and anticipating their environments. In doing so, he has written a genuinely mind-expanding book -- Book of the Day * Guardian *PLANTA SAPIENS is [a] bold and brave paean to our planet's ligneous, leafy kingdom. I mostly relished the intellectual interrogation, the maverick thinking, and add my voice to his call to think beyond our prejudices and our anthropocentric indoctrination * Daily Telegraph *Deeply thought-provoking. PLANTA SAPIENS is a mind-opening meditation about the inner lives of plants. Whether you come away convinced that plants are conscious, or not, this book will change - and enrich - the way you look at the green life all around you -- Anil Seth, author of BEING YOUA manifesto inviting us to think about plants and our attitudes to them in revolutionary ways -- Helen Bynum * TLS *PLANTA SAPIENS presents 'fertile possibilities' to the public and in doing so it has put science on notice ... We should be delighted with Professor Calvo's seeding of scientific curiosity for the hope that it offers -- Diana Beresford-Kroeger, author of TO SPEAK FOR THE TREESWe are unimaginable without plants, yet surprisingly blind to their powers and behaviours. PLANTA SAPIENS weaves science and history into an absorbing exploration of the many ways that plants rise to the challenge of living -- Merlin Sheldrake, author of ENTANGLED LIFEAn impressive exploration and dazzling insight into the lives of plants * Reaction Book Digest *Are plants conscious? Before you say no, read this fascinating new book * @michaelpollan via Twitter, author of THIS IS YOUR MIND ON PLANTS *An important book * Observer *PLANTA SAPIENS offers an exciting and detailed look into research on plant intelligence and sets the standard for future studies in this important and forward-looking area -- Marc Bekoff, University of Colorado[PLANTA SAPIENS] takes readers on a journey into a seemingly alien world ... Read this fascinating book and your view of nature will never be the same again * The Countryman Magazine *A fascinating description of how plants interact with the environment in myriad ways ... This book will make people think and help them to become more aware that plants have abilities that they may not know about. And, perhaps most significant, that it is important to truly see everything around us -- Temple Grandin * New York Times *

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Book Synopsis''A tour-de-force survey of how birds live their lives - with all the drama, surprise, humour, sadness and amazement of any human soap-opera'' - Stephen Moss, author of Ten Birds That Changed the World''Utterly fascinating . . . Strassmann is the perfect guide to this world: an author as much fascinated by the science and research as she is motivated by the sheer joy and wonder of the birds themselves'' - James Macdonald Lockhart, author of RaptorIn The Social Lives of Birds, evolutionary biologist Joan Strassmann examines what it means for birds of a feather to flock together. Some birds sleep together. Some join the foraging groups of other species. Some are only social during the breeding season, forming nesting colonies in trees, cliffs, and sandbanks. Some are altruistic, helping to rear young that are not their own. Some males perform mating dances together.Strassmann explains how flocks provide safety in numbers, roosts offer warmth and shelter, and colonies allow for protected breeding. But group behavior is not without its costs-including increased competition, infidelities, tick infestations, and more. Strassmann exposes the conflicts birds face and the many ways in which they resolve these conflicts. With stories of birds from around the world-from broad-winged hawks that migrate south together in the fall, tree swallows that roost together in the thousands, and tropical anis that nest in communes-The Social Lives of Birds explores the different kinds of bird groups and what to look for when watching them. Above all, it reveals that solitary life, it seems, is not for the birds.''Delightful and informative'' - Lee Dugatkin, author of How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog)

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Book SynopsisDiscover the wonders at the centre of our planet''s ecosystem.In ten short and accessible essays, science and nature writer Carolyn Fry takes us on an awe-inspiring journey of the Earth''s lungs. From what makes a plant a tree and the incredible impact of forests, to how trees are under attack and what we can do to save them, this book will enthral and inform on the monumental power of the humble tree.Trees: 10 things you should know is an essential introduction to why trees are so important, and why our lives depend on them!

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Book SynopsisDeveloped specifically to assist teachers and students to meet the requirements of the new CCEA GCE Life and Health Sciences A2 course. First resource to cover this new subject. Covers both the Single and Double Award courses. Contains numerous diagrams, exam tips, worked examples and questions, with answers supplied. Book contents covers the units of the specification subject to external written examination (Units A2 2, A2 3, A2 4 and A2 5). Authors Nora Henry and James Napier have written numerous books and will be well-known to teachers in Northern Ireland.Table of ContentsUnit A2 2: Organic Chemistry 1 Nomenclature and Structure in Organic Compounds 2 Alkanes 3 Alkenes 4 Polymers 5 Alcohols 6 Spectroscopic Techniques 7 Making and Purifying Organic Compounds – the Preparation of Aspirin Unit A2 3: Medical Physics 8 Physiological Measurements to Monitor Health 9 Diagnostic Imaging Techniques 10 Medical Uses of Radiation Unit A2 4: Sound and Light 11 Waves 12 The Ear and Hearing 13 Light in Communication and Radio Waves 14 The Eye Unit A2 5: Genetics, Gene Technology and Stem Cells 15 DNA and the Genetic Code 16 Meiosis and Genetics 17 The Application of Genetic Engineering and Gene Therapy 18 Gene Cloning, Genetic Fingerprinting and Stem Cell Technology Answers

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Book SynopsisRead the Sunday Times bestseller that reveals the Earth’s awesome impact on the shape of human civilisations.‘Stands comparison with Sapiens… Thrilling’ Sunday Times Human evolution in East Africa was driven by geological forces. Ancient Greece developed democracy because of its mountainous terrain. Voting behaviour in the United States today follows the bed of an ancient sea. Professor Lewis Dartnell takes us on an astonishing journey into our planet’s past to tell the ultimate origin story. Blending science and history, Origins reveals the Earth’s awesome impact on the shape of human civilisations – and helps us to see the challenges and opportunities of the future. ‘A sweeping, brilliant overview of the history not only of our species but of the world’ Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads ‘Absorbing… A first-class read – and an important one’ ObserverTrade ReviewA sweeping, brilliant overview of the history not only of our species but of the world. Whether discussing the formation of continents or the role that climate (and climate change) has had on human migration, Lewis Dartnell has a rare talent in being able to see the big picture – and explaining why it matters. -- Peter Frankopan, author of THE SILK ROADSOrigins by Lewis Dartnell stands comparison with Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens…A thrilling piece of Big History -- James McConnachie * Sunday Times *‘Extraordinary… Origins is one of those rare books that dissolves mystery through the steady application of sublime lucidity. While reading it, I kept thinking: “Oh, that makes sense…” … Dartnell understands geology, geography, anthropology, physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy and history. That’s quite an achievement, but what makes him special is the way he communicates the interconnectedness of these disciplines in a clear, logical and entertaining way…Superb. -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times *Dartnell has an easy, light touch that mixes well with his considerable knowledge. The result is a first-class read – and an important one -- Robin McKie * Observer *Dartnell has found the perfect blend of science and history. This is a book that will not only challenge our preconceptions about the past, but should make us think very carefully about humanity’s future -- Simon Griffith * Mail on Sunday *Origins, snappily written, is a fast read … fascinating -- David Sexton * Evening Standard, *Book of the week* *Dartnell’s story is beautifully written and organized. His infectious curiosity and enthusiasm tug the reader from page to page, synthesizing geology, oceanography, meteorology, geography, palaeontology, archaeology and political history in a manner that recalls Jared Diamond’s classic 1997 book Guns, Germs, and Steel * Nature *Dartnell is an eloquent, conversational guide to these daunting aeons of time -- Katy Guest * Guardian *What a treat to see history through the eyes of an astrobiologist! Our history was shaped profoundly by the laying down of iron beds two billion years ago, by the tectonic forces that ripped open the African rift valley, by the slow cooling of the earth that began 50 million years ago, and by the evolution of grasses! Lewis Dartnell’s absorbing new book shows, with many vivid examples, how deeply human history is embedded in the history of planet earth -- David Christian, author of ORIGIN STORYAn original and timely way of looking at human history through the materials and natural resources that our species has employed to such effect. It should be read by everyone who ponders how long exploitation can continue on a finite planet. -- Richard ForteyEndlessly enthralling, Lewis Dartnell explains why the history of humanity, and of human cultures, both take dictation from the deeper history of Earth herself - from broad generalities to surprisingly specific details. An entertaining and informative essay on contingency - and worthy successor to the writing of Stephen Jay Gould. -- Ted NieldOrigins’ strength lies in the way it manages to conjure a tight, linear narrative from what would otherwise be an overwhelming wealth of insights, a feat aided by Dartnell’s soothing, conversational writing style… a captivating and enriching read, with as much to recommend it to those with an interest in geophysics as to students of human history and civilization. -- Ian Randell * Psysicsworld *Origins is like a well-crafted jigsaw puzzle. Each piece fits together beautifully to build up a complete picture of the deep connections we have to the blue marble we call home… a thoroughly satisfying read for anyone interested in how our planet drove our history, and how everything is connected -- Jenny Winder * BBC Sky at Night, *Book of the Month* *Big history is back… Origins is a bravura survey that captures our global zeitgeist and emphasises the limits of short-term historical and political thinking -- Jerry Brotton * BBC History *A thrilling slice of big history and as good as Harari * Sunday Times, *Summer Read of 2019* *Enthusiastic and brimful of facts… Dartnell’s great achievement is that while he crams in a great deal, the reader doesn’t feel rushed. It moves from the dawn of agriculture, to ancient Mesopotamian merchants to the coal-fields of England without a bump -- Jon Wright * Geographical *Instead of looking at what we have done to the Earth, he examines what it has done to us, interweaving the physical and social sciences in a clear, logical and joyously entertaining way… [a] wonderful book -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times, *Books of the Year* *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2010 Royal Society Prize for science books Powerful new research methods are providing fresh and vivid insights into the makeup of life. Comparing gene sequences, examining the atomic structure of proteins and looking into the geochemistry of rocks have all helped to explain creation and evolution in more detail than ever before. Nick Lane uses the full extent of this new knowledge to describe the ten greatest inventions of life, based on their historical impact, role in living organisms today and relevance to current controversies. DNA, sex, sight and consciousnesses are just four examples. Lane also explains how these findings have come about, and the extent to which they can be relied upon. The result is a gripping and lucid account of the ingenuity of nature, and a book which is essential reading for anyone who has ever questioned the science behind the glories of everyday life.Trade ReviewThis is a science book that doesn't cheat: the structure is logical, the writing is witty, and the hard questions are tackled head on -- Tim Radford * Guardian *Original and awe-inspiring ... an exhilarating tour of some of the most profound and important ideas in biology -- Michael Le Page * New Scientist *Excellent and imaginative and, similar to life itself, the book is full of surprises ... a fascinating book for anyone interested in life and evolution, and how these discoveries were made * Nature *Life Ascending earns its place on the bookshelf of every biology teacher - and anyone else interested in how we all got here. -- James Kingsland * Guardian *an absolute joy...Dr Nick Lane employs a clarity of thought and an adroitness of expression that allows the reader to easily navigate his enviable breadth of knowledge. A breadth of knowledge that never scrimps on detail whilst delivering logic and inspiration in equal measure. The very definition of a 'must read' for anyone that has ever marvelled at the complexity of life * Laboratory News *If Charles Darwin sprang from his grave, I would give him this fine book to bring him up to speed. -- Matt RidleyLane brings science alive with the kind of beautiful prose that turns a book full of interesting information into a book you simply cannot put down. -- Amanda Gefter * New Scientist *Nick Lane is one of the most exciting science writers of our time. His book...reads like a smooth chronicle, has great subject matter and is well argued. -- Steve Connor * Independent *With its vast scope, page-turning revelations and elegant prose, Nick Lane's Life Ascending is everything one could hope for in a science book -- Robert Matthews * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisWe are in the midst of an obesity epidemic, but despite being inundated with diet advice we are only getting fatter. We count calories and exercise regularly, yet still the pounds won't budge. Why?In this highly readable and provocative book, Dr Jason Fung sets out a groundbreaking new theory: that obesity is caused by our hormones, rather than a lack of self-control. He reveals that overproduction of insulin in the body is the root cause of obesity and obesity-related illnesses including type 2 diabetes, and offers robust scientific evidence that reversing insulin resistance is the only way to lose weight in the long term. It turns out that when we eat is just as important as what we eat, so in addition to his five basic steps a set of life-long eating habits that will improve your health and control your insulin levels Dr Fung explains how to use intermittent fasting to break the cycle of insulin resistance and reach a healthy weight for good.

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Book SynopsisDespite your graduate education, brainpower, and technical prowess, your career in scientific research is far from assured. Permanent positions are scarce, science survival is rarely part of formal graduate training, and a good mentor is hard to find. In A Ph.D. Is Not Enough! , physicist Peter J. Feibelman lays out a rational path to a fulfilling long-term research career. He offers sound advice on selecting a thesis or postdoctoral adviser choosing among research jobs in academia, government labouratories, and industry preparing for an employment interview and defining a research program. The guidance offered in A Ph.D. Is Not Enough! will help you make your oral presentations more effective, your journal articles more compelling, and your grant proposals more successful. A classic guide for recent and soon-to-be graduates, A Ph.D. Is Not Enough! remains required reading for anyone on the threshold of a career in science. This new edition includes two new chapters and is revised and updated throughout to reflect how the revolution in electronic communication has transformed the field.

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Book SynopsisAS FEATURED IN SEASPIRACY An Observer Book of the Year 2017 A Sunday Times must read A New York Times Bestseller Endorsed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama – ‘Balcombe vividly shows that fish have feelings and deserve consideration and protection like other sentient beings’ What’s the truth behind the old adage that goldfish have a three-second memory? Do fishes think? Can they recognize the humans who peer back at them from above the surface of the water? Myth-busting biologist and animal behaviour expert Jonathan Balcombe takes us under the sea, through streams and estuaries to the other side of the aquarium glass to answer these questions and more. He upends our assumptions, revealing that fish are far from the unfeeling, dead-eyed feeding machines so many of us assume them to be. They are, in fact, sentient, aware, social and even Machiavellian – in other words, rather like us. What a Fish Knows draws on the latest science to present a fresh look at these remarkable creatures in all their breathtaking diversity and beauty. Teeming with insights and exciting discoveries, it offers a thoughtful appraisal of our relationships with fish and inspires us to take a more enlightened view of the planet’s increasingly imperilled marine life. What a Fish Knows will forever change how we see our aquatic cousins – the pet goldfish included.Trade Review‘Many of us have a soft spot for dolphins and whales, but Balcombe makes it embarrassingly clear how absolutely ignorant (and arrogant) we are when it comes to the vast world of our oceans and their inhabitants.’ * Observer, Books of the Year *‘As cogent, salutary and substantial a study of piscine behaviour as I have read in years…This is a book full of wonders.’ * Literary Review *‘Eye-opening…What a Fish Knows is far more than a mass of would-you-believe-it facts, marvellously entertaining though they are...passionate and persuasive.’ * Sunday Times *‘Surprisingly, this compelling book is the first ever published that is devoted to fish behaviour.’ * Forbes, 10 Best Popular Science Books of 2016 *‘Remarkable.’ * Spectator *‘An extended exploration of the world from a piscine perspective...Balcombe makes a persuasive case that what fish know is quite a lot.’ -- Elizabeth Kolbert, New York Review of Books‘...will leave you humbled, thrilled, and floored. Jonathan Balcombe delivers a revelation on every page, presenting jaw-dropping studies and stories that should reshape our understanding of, and compassion for, some of the most diverse and successful animals who have ever lived.’ -- Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus, a National Book Award finalist‘We Buddhists consider all animals, including fish, as sentient beings who have feelings of joy and pain just as we humans do. We also believe that they have all been kind to us as our mothers many times in the past, and are deserving of our compassion. Therefore, we try to help them in whatever way we can and at least avoid doing them harm. In What a Fish Knows, Jonathan Balcombe vividly shows that fish have feelings and deserve consideration and protection like other sentient beings. I hope reading it will help people become more aware of the benefits of vegetarianism and the need to treat animals with respect.’ -- The Dalai Lama‘[A] sparkling exposition on “our underwater cousins”…[and] a compelling pitch for greatly expanding fish conservation.’ * Booklist *‘As ethologist Jonathan Balcombe notes in this engrossing study, breakthroughs are revealing sophisticated piscine behaviours. Balcombe glides from perception and cognition to tool use, pausing at marvels such as ocular migration in flounders and the capacity of the frillfin goby (Bathygobius soporator) to memorize the topography of the intertidal zone.’ * Barbara Kiser, Nature *‘Balcombe covers the waterfront, so to speak, from fish cognition and perception to their social structures and breeding practices, all the while drawing on a dizzying array of experiments and studies. In the hands of a lesser writer, the sheer weight of material could have overburdened the reader. But Balcombe’s prose is lively and clear, showcasing his gift for pithy sentences.’ * Eugene Linden, American Scholar *‘With the vivacious energy of a cracking good storyteller, Balcombe draws deeply from scientific studies and his own experience with fish to introduce readers to them as sentient creatures that live full lives governed by cognition and perception…Balcombe makes a convincing case that fish possess minds and memories, are capable of planning and organizing, and cooperate with one another in webs of social relationships.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘[Balcombe] offers an enjoyable, surprising and sometimes gruesome exploration of the world of fish, written with clarity and humor and grounded in many scientific studies...The breadth and depth of his research and his enthusiastic storytelling may permanently alter how [readers] look at a pet goldfish or a can of sardines.’ * Shelf Awareness *‘I thought I knew a lot about fishes. Then I read What a Fish Knows. And now I know a lot about fishes! Stunning in the way it reveals so many astonishing things about the fishes who populate planet Earth in their trillions, this book is sure to ‘deepen’ your appreciation for our fin-bearing co-voyagers, the bright strangers whose world we share.’ -- Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words‘Our fishy ancestors emerged from the watery depths around 400 million years ago, and this beautiful book connects us back to that time.’ -- David Gruber, Ideas.TED.com, “What Should you read this summer?”‘Based on the latest scientific research, What a Fish Knows offers an eye-opening tour of the social, mental, and emotional lives of fishes. Who knew fishes use tools, appreciate music, fall for the same optical illusions we do, and engage in both cooperative hunting and some very kinky sex? Jonathan Balcombe’s book is popular science writing at its best. It will spin your head around.’ -- Hal Herzog, author of Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat‘Balcombe...wants people to care about fish as individuals, to think of them much as we would a pet cat or dog...This might sound like a fool’s errand. To most people, it probably seems doubtful that a fish has any sort of inner life, much less a rich one. But Mr. Balcombe builds a persuasive argument...through a compendium of fascinating anecdotes and scientific findings that illustrate the complexity and creativity of fish behavior. Dozens of startling revelations emerge, including playful marine fish riding bubbles to the top of an aquarium, elephantfish “singing” courtship duets using electric pulses, and parasite-picking cleaner fish engaging in convoluted “economic” interactions with their “clients.”’ * Alan de Quieroz, Wall Street Journal *‘What a Fish Knows is a delightful and fascinating book that should be read by all who have dismissed fishes, especially the smaller denizens of the ocean, as utterly simple, primitive creatures. Jonathan Balcombe’s lively descriptions of fish behavior are backed by solid science. What Carl Safina’s Beyond Words did for elephants, wolves, and orcas, Balcombe’s book does for fishes. It is a terrific read.’ -- Wendy Benchley, ocean conservationist and co-founder of the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards‘Fishes are greatly misunderstood and grievously maligned. Now, in What a Fish Knows, Jonathan Balcombe uses the latest science to provide a comprehensive picture of just who fishes are. You will learn that fishes have distinct personalities, experience a wide range of emotions, form intricate social relationships, and are wonderful parents. Indeed, this forward-looking and long-overdue book is an integral part of reconnecting with the fascinating animals with whom we share our magnificent planet.’ -- Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals and Rewilding Our Hearts‘What a Fish Knows is the best book on fishes I have ever read. Brimming with engrossing anecdotes and humor, Jonathan Balcombe’s inspiring treatise takes the reader on a fascinating and deeply moving journey into the lives of fishes. Balcombe’s eloquent, persuasive, highly readable tour de force has a single, luminous message: Fishes deserve more respect, care, and protection.’ -- Chris Palmer, author of Shooting in the Wild and Confessions of a Wildlife Filmmaker

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Book SynopsisFrom the world-famous expert on chimpanzees - the powerfully compelling sequel to the international bestseller IN THE SHADOW OF MAN: ''An instant animal classic'' TimeEquipped with little more than a notebook, binoculars, and her fascination with wildlife, Jane braved a realm of unknowns to give the world a remarkable window into humankind''s closest living relatives. On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Gombe is a community where the principal residents are chimpanzees. Through Goodall''s eyes we watch as the younger chimpanzees vie for power, and how the leaders must deal with this challenge. We learn how one mother successfully rears her children, whilst another appears to doom her offspring to failure. All life is here - glorious births and heart-breaking deaths, moments of brutality, alongside the most tender displays of affection.In THROUGH A WINDOW, as Jane Goodall reveals the story of this intimately intertwined community, we are shown the parallelTrade ReviewI can't imagine a more vivid or unexpectedly moving introduction to chimpanzees in the wild than Jane Goodall's * NEW YORK TIMES *A humbling and exalting book ... Ranks with the great scientific achievements of the twentieth century * WASHINGTON POST *An absolutely smashing account ... Thrilling, affectionate, intelligent - a classic * KIRKUS *

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Book SynopsisA TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR 'Engaging and visceral ... Reads like a thriller' Financial Times 'Riveting and often deeply disturbing ... A punch to the stomach' Sunday Times 'Ebner has done some gutsy, thought-provoking research' Sunday Telegraph 'Fascinating and important' Spectator By day, Julia Ebner works at a counter-extremism think tank, monitoring radical groups from the outside. But two years ago, she began to feel she was only seeing half the picture; she needed to get inside the groups to truly understand them. She decided to go undercover in her spare hours – late nights, holidays, weekends – adopting five different identities, and joining a dozen extremist groups from across the ideological spectrum. Her journey would take her from a Generation Identity global strategy meeting in a pub in Mayfair, to a Neo-Nazi Music Festival on the border of Germany and Poland. She would get relationship advice from ‘Trad Wives’ and Jihadi Brides and hacking lessons from ISIS. She was in the channels when the alt-right began planning the lethal Charlottesville rally, and spent time in the networks that would radicalise the Christchurch terrorist. In Going Dark, Ebner takes the reader on a deeply compulsive journey into the darkest recesses of extremist thinking, exposing how closely we are surrounded by their fanatical ideology every day, the changing nature and practice of these groups, and what is being done to counter them.Trade ReviewEbner has done some gutsy, thought-provoking research **** * Sunday Telegraph *Engaging and visceral ... At times, Ebner’s undercover work reads like a thriller ... Going Dark pulls back the facade of invulnerability and remorselessness that extremists promote with glossy propaganda, to understand those they recruit * Financial Times *Riveting and often deeply disturbing ... Her aim is to expose the way extremist groups manipulate their members in the hope that this will prevent others from being radicalised by them. Her book is a call, too, for policy-makers to rethink their response to extremism ... A punch to the stomach * The Sunday Times *Fascinating and important ... Going Dark shows how diverse groups feed off each other, using similar tactics to create social bubbles while exploiting the weakness — or reluctance — of social media firms to control their hate-filled content. It underlines the dangers of ignoring the threat of far-right terror, the normalisation of violence-inciting ideologies and the fearsome power of technology to inspire copycat attacks * Spectator *A chilling, compulsive investigation into online extremist groups * Standpoint *A thorough and shocking exploration of how the internet has facilitated the spread of extremism ... Ebner depicts the vast and rapid spread of online extremism, and the challenge we face in fighting it * City AM *Julia Ebner advises governments and organisations on online extremism and hate speech. To complete her investigations of online fanatics, she assumes a variety of identities and goes undercover in a dozen tech-savvy extremist groups ... Absorbing and intelligent ... Ebner doesn't just analyse these things, she takes real risks to witness them up close. The result is a work that is terrifying because it is non-fiction. * Irish News *Julia Ebner's description of infiltrating extremist groups – and her first hand account of how their ideology is turned into violent action – is chilling ... [she] deserves a medal * Lord Harris of Haringey, House Magazine *Julia Ebner has not only teased out and explained the common denominator in extremist movements, she has done so in a way that is humanising, engrossing and alarming. Going Dark is not just an overdue, almost exhaustive journey of research into the lives of extremists, it is a public service -- Nesrine Malik, author of We Need New StoriesA scintillating journey into a secret world that is impacting our everyday lives in ways we are only just starting to grasp. Simultaneously immersive and analytical, Ebner’s adventures in the dark crevasses of the internet shows how fascism works today – and what needs to be done to stop it -- Peter Pomerantsev, author of This is Not PropagandaGoing Dark makes for terrifying reading, but it’s all the more essential for that, exposing just how closely we’re surrounded by fanatical ideology every day of our lives, and how that ideology is being countered * Stylist *

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Book Synopsis''You''ll never look at people in quite the same way again. EMOTIONS REVEALED is a tour de force'' Malcolm Gladwell, bestselling author of BLINK''A fascinating and enormously helpful picture of our emotional lives'' John Cleese''A charming, sound, sane map to the world of emotions, the perfect guide'' Daniel Goleman, author of EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE.Using 40 years of groundbreaking research, Paul Ekman explores why and when we become emotional and what happens when we do - the external signs and facial expressions. So much of what we communicate is non-verbal. In this very practical book, Paul Ekman helps the reader to observe the underlying, concealed emotions that we can observe in those around us, and understand why our bodies react in the ways they do. EMOTIONS REVEALED also helps the reader to identify why they might feel ''overly'' emotional in some situations, and why some people wear their heart on their sleeve whilst otheTrade ReviewYou'll never look at people in quite the same way again. EMOTIONS REVEALED is a tour de force -- Malcolm Gladwell, author of BLINKA fascinating and enormously helpful picture of our emotional lives -- John CleeseA charming, sound, sane map to the world of emotions, the perfect guide -- Daniel Goleman, author of EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCEHere Paul Ekman, doyen of contemporary emotion researchers, turns to the practical management of emotion in everyday life * NEW SCIENTIST *There are some fascinating titbits along the way... Ekman can be riveting on the minutiae of facial expressions, especially the way that an expression can be observed even when an emotion is being half-felt or suppressed * DAILY TELEGRAPH *A brilliant and gripping read * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *

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Book SynopsisAn engrossing guide to the world of the flies now available in paperback.Trade Review`A short, rich book by turns informative and humorous... a hymn of praise to her favorite creatures and a gleeful attempt to give readers the willies.' New York Times `What really makes the book so engrossing is the weird and let's be frank occasionally horrifying behaviours that flies exhibit. The most compelling parts of McAlister's book are gruesome tales...after reading her book it is obvious: flies rock.' The Spectator `I would love to find antler flies sparring; or a bat fly `swimming' through the fur of its host; or a giant Texan robberfly feeding on a hummingbird. Instead, if I can keep up with Erica's infectious verve, I will vicariously drink down her rich enthusiasm.' Book of the Month - BBC Wildlife `Pure delight. McAlister tells fly stories with such affection and familiarity that it seems as if she is sharing secrets about her own raucous extended family full of bizarre, outrageous, and sometimes slightly evil characters.The Secret Life of Flies humorously and poetically illustrates that flies are far more than the pesky creatures we swat as they hover over our fruit bowls or bite our ankles.’ American Entomologist

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Book Synopsis**Winner of the 2023 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize**Discover the world as you've never seen it before - through the eyes of animals.'Immersive and mind-blowing' Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of TreesThe Earth teems with sights and textures, sounds and vibrations, smells and tastes, electric and magnetic fields. But every animal is enclosed within its own unique sensory bubble, perceiving only a tiny sliver of this world.In An Immense World, Ed Yong coaxes us beyond the confines of our own senses, welcoming us into previously unfathomable dimensions - the world as it is truly perceived by other animals. Showing us that in order to understand our world we don't need to travel to other places; we need to see through other eyes.A NEW YORK TIMES, GUARDIAN, ECONOMIST, SPECTATOR, TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT and NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR**Winner of 2023 Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction**'Suffused with magic' Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of The Song of the Cell'A book that prompts awe at the world around us' Sunday TimesSunday Times bestseller, July 2023Trade ReviewStanding out even during a recent golden age of nature writing, Ed Yong dazzles with a deeply considered exploration of the many modes of sensory perception that life has evolved to navigate the world, written with exhilarating freshness * Winner of 2023 Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction *[A] wondrous, lustrous, captivating book: Ed Yong's An Immense World... left me awed and stunned - and revolted by humanity's destructive pride and planetary abuse * Times Literary Supplement, *Books of the Year* *Full of extraordinary discoveries... an encyclopaedic, rigorously researched journey... recasts the world in breath-taking, bewildering immensity * Daily Telegraph *A hymn to the wonders of evolution... fascinating * Mail on Sunday *Yong succeeds in bringing a sense of grandeur to life on every scale * Financial Times *Not just a study of the myriad wonders of the natural world - though wondrous they are - but also a panoramic, complex portrait of the sensory capacities that underpin a multitude of life. ... In uncovering all this, Yong also shows why we should give more thought to our place in the world. * New Statesman, *Best Books of 2022* *An Immense World is an exploration of the ways in which our fellow creatures navigate, understand and interact with one another and their environment through senses. ... The result is so mind-boggling, it's tempting to say 'forget looking in deep space for astonishment'. But let's not do that. Let's continue searching there while also paying better attention to the miracles right under our noses. Yong's marvellous book shows us how. * Spectator, *Best Books of 2022* *This book lifts the shroud on previously invisible dimensions of the world itself * Economist, *Books of the Year* *A magic well of surprising, enlightening discoveries about the sensory worlds of other species... A brilliant book, marvellous and mesmerizing -- Jennifer Ackerman, author of The Genius of BirdsA stunning achievement - steeped in science but suffused with magic -- Siddhartha Mukherjee, author The Emperor of All MaladiesA delight... it prompts a radical rethink about the limits of what we know - what the world is, even. It is quite a book. And, I felt, putting it down, quite a world * Sunday Times *I love this book. Reading it is a delightful sensory experience... I truly enjoyed Yong's adventures in Wonderland! * Gaia Vince, author of Transcendence *A journal of discovery and animal magic, a sensory exploration that is a joy to read -- Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid ThiefMagnificent - an unbelievably immersive and mind-blowing account of how other animals experience our world -- Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees and The Inner Life of AnimalsLike stepping into a new kind of Alice in Wonderland. The perfect mixture of revelation, curiosity, science, beautiful prose and buckets full of wonders -- Andrea Wulf, author of The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New WorldA cornucopia of wonders... a fascinating reminder of the humbling truth that most of what happens among life forms on Earth is beyond our ken -- David Quammen, author of SpilloverAn expansive, constantly revelatory exploration of the biosphere's sensorium... Ed Yong is my favourite contemporary science writer -- William Gibson, author of Neuromancer and The PeripheralEvery page finds the reader mouthing quiet whoa's, as the world she thought she knew opens out into a hundred others, improbable, strange, and fabulous. -- Mary Roach, author of Fuzz and StiffAn Immense World took my hand and brought me on a journey I'll never forget. After reading this book, I'll never look at our planet the same way again -- Clint Smith, author of How the Word is PassedA whirlwind tour of animal perceptual abilities. A magnificent book * Frans de Waal, author of Different: Gender Through the Eyes of a Primatologist *

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Book Synopsis'I thought I knew quite a bit about earthworms – until I picked up this charming little book' Nick Baker 'Many wonderful wormy tales unearthed by Coulthard' BBC Countryfile Magazine 'A gem of a book' Country Smallholding Without these little engineers of the earth, the world's soils would be barren, and our gardens and fields wouldn't be able to grow the food we need to survive. Worms recycle decaying plants, putting nutrients back into the soil; they provide a food source for wildlife; and their constant burrowing helps heavy rain soak away. Sally Coulthard's fascianting guide offers a wealth of information and practical advice about the world's msot industrious but little understood creature.Trade ReviewI thought I knew quite a bit about earthworms – until I picked up this charming little book... This is an easily digestible compendium of everything earthworm' -- Nick BakerSally Coulthard profiles these misunderstood creatures, offering a feast of quirky facts to answer all your curiosities * Grow Your Own *A jaunt through the life of the earthworm... A gem of a book' * Country Smallholding *Many wonderful wormy tales unearthed by Coulthard... [A] smart little book' * BBC Countryfile Magazine *A complete profile of earthworms by answering 50 questions and including practical advice and quirky facts * Garden Answers *A brilliant and detailed book on the vital role earthworms play in our gardens and fields, with a wealth of information on these hard-working and misunderstood creatures * Gardens Illustrated *

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Book Synopsis______________ ‘A very appealing, beyond-the-basic reference.’– Booklist ‘Cute illustrations and fascinating facts’ – Guardian ‘A perfect gift for any cat lover’ Reader Review 5 STARS ______________ Cats are so mysterious. What makes them climb into tiny spaces? Why do they sleep that much? And, most of all, how can we give them a good life? Dr. Yuki Hattori is Japan's leading cat doctor, and to him cats are the most beautiful animals in the world. His advice comes with little illustrations showing exactly what to look for as a cat owner - including charts showing how to interpret their different meows, the direction of their whiskers and the way their tail is pointing! Cats may seem low-maintenance but thoughtfulness about where you put their water, how warm or cool they like to be, what name to choose and how to groom them properly will make a life-changing difference. With understanding, affection and respect, your cat will be more healthy and contented - and you'll feel happier too. ‘I bought this book for a friend, but after seeing it I might just buy a stack more’ Reader Review 5 STARS ‘Even my dog enjoyed looking at it’ Reader Review 5 STARS

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Book Synopsis''A new approach to mental disorder. Randolph Nesse''s insightful book suggests that conditions such as anxiety and depression have a clear evolutionary purpose ... This intriguing book turns some age-old questions about the human condition upside down'' Tim Adams, ObserverOne of the world''s most respected psychiatrists provides a much-needed new evolutionary framework for making sense of mental illnessWith his classic book Why We Get Sick, Randolph Nesse established the field of evolutionary medicine. Now he returns with a book that transforms our understanding of mental disorders by exploring a fundamentally new question. Instead of asking why certain people suffer from mental illness, Nesse asks why natural selection has left us with fragile minds at all.Drawing on revealing stories from his own clinical practice and insights from evolutionary biology, Nesse shows how negative emotions are useful in certain situations, yet can becoTrade ReviewNesse's book offers fresh thinking in a field that has come to feel stagnant * The Financial Times *A compelling case for locating mental illness within an evolutionary frame-work . . . an excellent and timely account of the history, development andimplications of evolutionary psychiatry. -- Frank Tallis * The Evening Standard *This is a wise, accessible, highly readable exploration of an issue that goes to the heart of human existence. -- Robert M. Sapolsky, author of BehaveThis intriguing book turns some age-old questions about the human condition upside down . . . In an engaging, storytelling voice that rests on 30 years of clinical practice, he offers a series of insights. * The Observer *Insights that radically reframe psychiatric conditions ... As Good Reasons for Bad Feelings boldly posits, many of the core dysfunctional components of mental illness ultimately help to make us human. -- Adrian Woolfson * Nature *Using [...] fascinating insights, Nesse suggests novel and revolutionary ways to treat mental illness. * The Daily Mail *[Nesse's] basic conception of the mind feels like good, common sense. * The Sunday Times *All psychiatrists and patients who find themselves having occasional "bad feelings" about our current understanding of mental illness will have many "good reasons" to consult this book. I do fully expect that someday nearly all psychiatry will be identified as evolutionary psychiatry. If so, Randolph Nesse's book should be seen as the field's founding document. -- David P. Barash * The Wall Street Journal *Highly accessible, scholarly and deeply illuminating . . . this will become a treasured classic; not just for clinicians but for all those interested in how to facilitate well-being and create more moral communities and societies. -- Professor Paul Gilbert OBE, author of Compassionate Mind, and Living like CrazyTwo sets of ideas inform this fine book: one, the cold-hearted logic of natural selection; the other, the practical wisdom of a compassionate psychiatrist. The tension is palpable. The result is riveting. -- Nicholas Humphrey, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, London School of Economics, author of Soul DustA personalized and lively but well documented treatise on how we humans function and on needed changes in the way psychiatry thinks about troublesome mental experiences and behavior. . . . Many readers will find it hard to put the book down. -- Eric Klinger, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, University of MinnesotaThose powerful feelings that fill our day, that give us the oomph to act one way or another are the guardrails to living and this wonderful books explains all of them. Randolph Nesse has done it again. -- Michael S. Gazzaniga, Director, Sage Center, UC Santa BarbaraA book as wise and illuminating as it is relevant to our daily lives. -- Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, Professor Emerita of Anthropology, University of California, Davis, author of The Woman that Never Evolved and Mother NatureIn this very accessible book, Nesse explains how an evolutionary framework can be to psychiatrywhat physiology is to the rest of medicine. Evolutionary science bridges the gap betweenneuroscience and the environment. * Royal College of Psychiatrists newsletter *A bold book that would have made Darwin proud. Cutting-edge and compassionate at the same time. -- Lee Dugatkin, Professor of Biology, University of Louisville, co-author of How to Tame a Fox and Build a DogIt is no exaggeration to say that Nesse opens the door to a new paradigm in thinking about human beings and their conflicted lives. A pathbreaking book by a man who is truly humane and caring. A privilege to share time with him. -- Michael Ruse, Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy, Florida State University, author of On PurposeRandolph Nesse, who trained psychiatrists for many years, has for a quarter century been a key leader of evolutionary medicine. Good Reasons for Bad Feelings integrates these two strands of his life and thought in a readable, insightful book, as much a philosophy of emotions as it is a new window on mental illness. All who want to know themselves should read it. -- Melvin Konner, Dobbs Professor of Anthropology, Emory University, author of The Tangled WingRandolph Nesse is one of the key architects of evolutionary medicine. He's been an inspiration to a generation of scientists, who explore evolution to understand why we get sick from diseases ranging from cancer to obesity to infectious diseases. Now Nesse has turned his attention from the body to the mind, in a provocative book full of intriguing explanations about human nature in all its strengths and weaknesses. -- Carl Zimmer, author of She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of HeredityA masterful, groundbreaking book that persuasively challenges standard clinical wisdom and provides a roadmap for the transformation of our conceptually confused psychiatric nosology . . . Anyone interested in mental health-laypeople, students, clinicians, and scholars-will be grateful for the novel insights to be gained from this important book. The distillation of decades of pathbreaking contributions to evolutionary psychiatry, this book will be an influential watershed in the mental health field, and a worthy successor to Nesse's earlier celebrated book on medical disease. If joy is indeed a biologically programmed emotional response motivating us to take advantage of unexpected bounty and opportunity, then every reader will experience joy in reading Randy Nesse's beautifully written, profound book. -- Jerome C. Wakefield, Professor of Psychiatry, New York University, co-author of The Loss of SadnessRandolph Nesse's book Why We Get Sick put evolutionary medicine on the map. His follow-up, Good Reasons for Bad Feelings, promises to transform our understanding of mental illnesses in the same way. * New Scientist *Randolph Nesse's new book ... is clear and engaging, and the narrative reflects a masterful blend of history, novel ideas, and clinical experience in an insightful and coherent manner. I hope it is widely read and discussed. -- Eric Charnov, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Evolutionary Ecology, University of Utah, MacArthur FellowWhat is the nature of suffering, its origin and its adaptive significance? Good Reasons for Bad Feelings may well become a legend, as it is a book about psychology, psychiatry, biology and philosophy that is also a good read, and it opens the door to deep questions in a manner that is tender, quizzical, and industrious. -- Judith Eve Lipton, MD, co-author of Strength Through PeaceGood Reasons for Bad Feelings by Randy Nesse is a delightful book. It is insightful about the human condition, sanguine and not over-stated. And it is written in a straight-forward and delightful manner, personal and professional, and with humor. Neese is one of the originators of the field of evolutionary medicine. This is a welcome book in evolutionary psychiatry and on the biological basis of the emotions and our cultural evolution. -- Jay Schulkin, Research Professor of Neuroscience, Georgetown UniversityIn Good Reasons for Bad Feelings, leading evolutionary theorist, psychiatrist Randolph Nesse, begs us to ask the right question: Why did natural selection make us so prone to mental disorders of so many kinds and intensities? It is no exaggeration to say that he opens the door to a new paradigm in thinking about human beings and their conflicted lives. A pathbreaking book by a man who is truly humane and caring. A privilege to share time with him. -- Matthew Ruse, Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy, Florida State University, author of On PurposeWhy I am I feeling bad?' This is the first burning question of everyone who suffers. This accessible new book will be an essential tool to help patients, their loved ones, and treating professionals arrive at more satisfying answers. -- Jonathan Rottenberg, Professor of Psychology, University of South Florida, author of The DepthsHow did we end up recognizing that every system in the body has a function shaped by evolutionary selection and yet thinking that systems in the mind do not? How did physical and mental health drift so far apart? Randolph Nesse explains, in this highly readable book, how 'symptoms' in psychiatry should be seen in their evolutionary context, and that anxiety and depression for example have functions, just as do inflammation, blood clotting, or a cough. Nesse is a pioneer of evolutionary psychiatry, which has the potential to revolutionize mental health care. -- Simon Baron-Cohen, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology, Cambridge UniversityThis book sets out to show how evolution underpins (or should underpin) psychiatry. In doing so, it will surely change the face of medicine -- and deservedly so. -- Robin Dunbar, Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary Psychology, University of OxfordRandy Nesse has brought a new and important synthesis to the study of illnesses that psychiatrists deal in. This engagingly accessible, pioneering book provides a wide range of answers for how something as maladaptive as bipolar disorders could have evolved. It provides a wide range of answers for why natural selection has left us vulnerable to so many mental disorders, and the "mystery of missing heredity" is identified as a key problem. Nesse shows that by taking into account complex pleiotropic effects, natural selection may push some useful trait close to a fitness peak near a "cliff edge" despite the disabling consequences for a few individuals who go over the edge. Thus a gene may be useful to many, but with bad luck contribute to victimizing the few. This complex problem surely will yield to further research. -- Christopher Boehm, Professor of Biological Sciences, USC DornsifeThe book is aimed at a wide audience including the general public. However, it is testament to Professor Nesse's command of the field of evolution and medicine as well as his extra-ordinary ability to explain enormously complex ideas in plain English with minimal use of jargon that the book is just as relevant to psychiatrists, psychologists of all levels as well as to academics interested in evolutionary science. -- Riadh Abed, FRCPsych, Founding Chair of the Evolutionary Psychiatry Special Interest Group, Royal College of Psychiatrists

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Book SynopsisDiscover and understand the key ideas that underpin the core science of chemistry and learn about the great minds who uncovered them Written in plain English, The Chemistry Book is packed with short, pithy explanations of some of the most historic moments in science, from the birth of atomic theory to the discovery of polyethylene and the development of new vaccine technologies to combat COVID-19. Simple graphics, such as flowcharts and mind maps, support the text and make the explanation of key concepts easy to follow.Arranged in chronological order, the book covers key themes in the physical and natural sciences, such as geochemistry and the elements. Within each chapter, a series of articles traces the history of scientific thought and introduces the work of the scientists who have shaped the subject such as John Dalton, Marie Curie, Dmitri Mendeleev, Kathleen Lonsdale, and Stephanie Kwolek. Along the way, the book addresses some of the most fund

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Book SynopsisOliver Sacks was born in 1933 in London and was educated at Queen's College, Oxford. He completed his medical training at San Francisco's Mount Zion Hospital and at UCLA before moving to New York, where he soon encountered the patients whom he would write about in his book Awakenings.Dr Sacks spent almost fifty years working as a neurologist and wrote many books, including The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Musicophilia, and Hallucinations, about the strange neurological predicaments and conditions of his patients. The New York Times referred to him as 'the poet laureate of medicine', and over the years he received many awards, including honours from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Royal College of Physicians. In 2008, he was appointed Commander of the British Empire. His memoir, On the Move, was published shortly before his death in August 2015.Trade ReviewThe Mind's Eye is about the possibility of recovery and the inexorable decline of the ageing individual. From this collision of incompatible truths, tragedy is made . . . making this Sacks's most powerful book to date. * Sunday Telegraph *Packed with wisdom, humour, extraordinary human stories and reflections on how we all perceive the world . . . He ends with a brilliant discussion of blindness and the ways in which blind people develop visual concepts. Heartily recommended’. * Reader’s Digest *

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Book SynopsisNever before has there been a greater need for deeper listening and more open communication to cope with the complex problems facing our organizations, businesses and societies. Renowned scientist David Bohm believed there was a better way for humanity to discover meaning and to achieve harmony. He identified creative dialogue, a sharing of assumptions and understanding, as a means by which the individual, and society as a whole, can learn more about themselves and others, and achieve a renewed sense of purpose.Trade Review"Finally, although not a book about education per se, the summer of 2017 is a fine time to read David Bohm’s 'On Dialogue' (1996). Bohm, a theoretical physicist, wrote this short, striking text in response to a ‘general feeling that communication is breaking down everywhere, on an unparalleled scale’. The book is a brilliantly penetrating analysis of the way that people habitually talk at cross purposes, blocking and distorting the meaning of what others are trying to say. ‘Assumptions or opinions are like computer programs in people’s minds’, he writes. ‘Those programs take over against the best of intentions - they produce their own intentions.’ Bohm’s reflections on how to ‘listen to the whole of what is said’ and how to ‘create something new’ in dialogue with others remain highly resonant." -Matt Lloyd-Rose, social researcher, NGO leader and writer.Table of ContentsChapter 1 ON COMMUNICATION; Chapter 2 ON DIALOGUE; Chapter 3 THE NATURE OF COLLECTIVE THOUGHT; Chapter 4 THE PROBLEM AND THE PARADOX; Chapter 5 THE OBSERVER AND THE OBSERVED; Chapter 6 SUSPENSION, THE BODY, AND PROPRIOCEPTION; Chapter 7 Part ICIPATORY THOUGHT AND THE UNLIMITED; BIBLIOGRAPHY; Index;

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Book SynopsisExplore the wonders of the underwater world and develop theoretical and practical marine science skills. Following extensive classroom research, this workbook has been revised by experienced teachers and examiners. The first section of the workbook includes exercises and exam-style questions for each topic to enable students to consolidate and assess their learning and apply their knowledge to novel situations. The second section includes 27 practical activities to develop students'' investigative skills. Support notes and sample data are provided in the teacher''s resource. Written in accessible language for the international learner this book helps students build confidence and develop essential skills.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Section 1; Chapter 1: Water; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Chapter 2: Earth processes; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Chapter 3: Interactions in marine ecosystems; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Chapter 4: Classification and biodiversity; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Chapter 5: Examples of marine ecosystems; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Chapter 6: Physiology of marine organisms; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Chapter 7: Energy; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Chapter 8: Fisheries for the future; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Chapter 9: Human impacts on marine ecosystems; Exercises; Exam-style questions; Section 2; Chapter 1: Water; Practical 1.1 Properties of water; Practical 1.2 pH; Practical 1.3 Salinity and temperature gradients; Chapter 2: Earth processes; Practical 2.1 Investigating the effect of temperature on the solubility of a salt; Practical 2.2 Modelling weathering and erosion; Practical 2.3 Interpreting tide tables; Chapter 3: Interactions in marine ecosystems; Practical 3.1 Pyramids of numbers and biomass; Practical 3.2 Planning an investigation to estimate the productivity of an aquatic producer; Practical 3.3 Investigating the carbon cycle; Chapter 4: Classification and biodiversity; Practical 4.1 Constructing a dichotomous key; Practical 4.2 Using quadrats to estimate abundance of organisms; Practical 4.3 Estimating a population size using the mark-release-recapture method; Chapter 5: Examples of marine ecosystems; Practical 5.1 Drawing an animal found on a sandy shore; Practical 5.2 Planning an investigation into the effect of light intensity on coral growth; Practical 5.3 Distribution of organisms on a Rocky Shore; Chapter 6: Physiology of marine organisms; Practical 6.1 Observing, drawing and comparing the structures of respiratory systems; Practical 6.2 Investigating the effect of salinity on brine shrimp; Practical 6.3 The effect of salt solution on eggs; Chapter 7: Energy; Practical 7.1 Identification and separation of photosynthetic pigments using paper chromatography; Practical 7.2 Data analysis into limiting factors for photosynthesis; Practical 7.3 Gas exchange in an aquatic producer; Chapter 8: Fisheries for the future; Practical 8.1 Determining of size of reproductive maturity to inform minimum catch size; Practical 8.2 Effect of temperature on growth of whelk; Practical 8.3 Planning an investigation into the effect of feeding rates on the growth rates of salmon; Chapter 9: Human impacts on marine ecosystems; Practical 9.1 Planning an investigation into marine plastics pollution; Practical 9.2 Modelling the greenhouse effect; Practical 9.3 Monitoring invasive species; Glossary; Index

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Book SynopsisA revolutionary way of understanding quantum physics frees us from a century of absurdities and illusions and returns us to a universe that makes sense

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Book Synopsis'Nobody bewitched by these mysteries can afford to ignore the solution proposed by Mark Solms' - Oliver Burkeman, Guardian 'A remarkable book. It changes everything' - Brian Eno How does the mind connect to the body? Why does it feel like something to be us? For one of the boldest thinkers in neuroscience, solving this puzzle has been a lifetime's quest. Now at last, the man who discovered the brain mechanism for dreaming appears to have made a breakthrough. The very idea that a solution is at hand may seem outrageous. Isn't consciousness intangible, beyond the reach of science? Yet Mark Solms shows how misguided fears and suppositions have concealed its true nature. Stick to the medical facts, pay close attention to the eerie testimony of hundreds of neurosurgery patients, and a way past our obstacles reveals itself. Join Solms on a voyage into the extraordinary realms beyond. More than just a philosophical argument, The Hidden Spring will forever alter how you understand your own experience. There is a secret buried in the brain's ancient foundations: bring it into the light and we fathom all the depths of our being.Trade ReviewNobody bewitched by these mysteries can afford to ignore the solution proposed by Mark Solms in The Hidden Spring ... fascinating, wide-ranging and heartfelt -- Oliver Burkeman * Guardian *Rather extraordinary ... The thing about these rebel types is that, so much of the time, they're the ones most capable of making the wildest leaps. Not the patient, incremental advances of everyday science, but the world-historical, paradigm-shifting transformations in global consciousness. Or, in Solms' case, a new theory of consciousness itself ... One of the worthiest efforts to come out of neuroscience in recent memory -- Jason Kehe * Wired *Truly pioneering. This unification is clearly the direction for the future -- Eric Kandel, Nobel laureate and author * The Disordered Mind *A remarkable book. It changes everything -- Brian EnoTo say this work is encyclopaedic is to diminish its poetic, psychological and theoretical achievement. This is required reading -- Susie Orbach, author * In Therapy *Convincing ... As with all returns of the repressed, Solms's exhumation of psychoanalysis is sure to be unnerving, especially for those who want to deny Freud's lessons about the workings of desire -- Jess Keiser * Washington Post *If The Hidden Spring did all that it claims then it would be the greatest book on psychology of the past 100 years ... Readers who find hubris off-putting should nonetheless recognize that there are ideas here deserving of serious consideration ... Persuasive and important -- Christopher Mole * TLS *Readers who stick with it will be rewarded with interesting ideas about what it means to feel, think and be -- Tali Sharot * New York Times *Important -- Carlos Montemayor * Psychology Today *Intriguing ... If he is correct, the implications are substantial -- Anil Seth * Times Higher Education *Fascinating and deeply affecting ... Solms argues that feelings, not cognition or perception, are the defining feature of consciousness * New Statesman *An extraordinarily ambitious undertaking ... Solms is successful, to my mind -- Joan Harvey * 3 Quarks Daily *It has come closer than anything else I have ever read to shining a light on a central facet of our humanity -- Terence Jagger * Shiny New Books *Mark Solms is a serious player in neuropsychology and has contributed serious insights into the mechanisms behind dreaming - returning, interestingly, a degree of lost credibility to Freud ... He posits that consciousness is a measure of our distance at any given point from homeostasis, and an index of the degree to which reality is failing at that instant to match our predictions. You are never more conscious, essentially, than when surveying the reality of life's hotel, with the brochure in one hand and a suitcase in the other -- Simon Evans * Spectator *Outstanding ... Solms has provided a valuable service with this bold, thorough, occasionally infuriating and always wildly ambitious book -- Charles Fernyhough * Literary Review *This treatment of consciousness and artificial sentience should be taken very seriously -- Karl Friston, scientific director, Wellcome Trust Centre for NeuroimagingTakes aim at the biggest question there is. Solms will challenge your most basic beliefs -- Matthew Cobb, author * The Idea of the Brain *Solms' vital work has never ignored the lived, felt experience of human beings. His ideas look a lot like the future to me -- Siri Hustvedt, author * The Blazing World *At last the emperor has found some clothes! For decades, consciousness has been perceived as little more than an illusion. Solms takes a thrilling new approach, grounded in modern neurobiology but finding meaning in a fascinating reconception of the self -- Nick Lane, author * Life Ascending *Solms and his colleagues are making a brilliant, determined, scrupulous, and (one wants to say) tactful endeavour to approach, in a new way, the oldest question of them all - the mysterious relation of body and mind -- Oliver SacksA scientific blockbuster -- Pat Kane * National *

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Book Synopsis“Interesting…useful for photographers as a reference book.” —Amateur Photographer Has pink always been feminine and blue a man’s colour? Why are we green with envy? Which colour is most expensive and who is the Goddess of Turquoise? Looking for answers, author Joanna Zoelzer has come across remarkable and entertaining facts about colours. In this beautiful coffee table book, we traverse the colour spectrum with 150 remarkable stories of our experience, understanding and theories of colour. With insights from art, nature, psychology and science, this is an amusing, entertaining, and vibrant journey through the cultural history of colour. Trade Review“Interesting…useful for photographers as a reference book.” - Amateur PhotographerTable of ContentsForeword White Yellow Orange Red Pink Purple Blue Turquoise Green Brown Gray Black Gold Silver Multicolor Appendix

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Book SynopsisThis is the most comprehensive guide to foraging for wild mushrooms in UK and Northern Europe, perfect for both beginners and experienced foragers. It describes the best tasting fungi, where & when to find them, how to distinguish the edible species from poisonous lookalikes & when to leave an edible mushroom alone. Trade ReviewWritten by a master of mycology who deeply loves fungus, its habitats and its quirks. * Tim Maddams, TV presenter, chef and cookery writer *Geoff knows his stuff and puts it across in an easily accessible manner. This will be coming on all my fungi forages! * Gary Johnston, co-founder and instructor at Jack Raven Bushcraft *Bursting with quality photos and great information, achieving the 'balance between caution and adventure that a forager needs', this book is an absolute must for foragers. * Fergus Drennan aka Fergus The Forager *A must-have guide for anyone who likes to try edible fungi and wants to extend their knowledge. * Penny Jones, Propagator at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum *A fascinating, wise companion on the journey into the extraordinary and delicious world of fungi. Come autumn, it will accompany every foray I make into the woods, and my life, and my frying pan, will be vastly richer because of it. * Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition movement *Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I: Fungi and foraging What are fungi? How to identify fungi Where and when to find fungi Safety and equipment Culture and laws Poisonous fungi Edible fungi Part II: The fungi How to use this guide Visual Index Species guide Glossary References Resources Index Photograph credits

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Book SynopsisThe gold standard of neuroscience textsâupdated with hundreds of brand-new images and fully revised content in every chapterA Doody's Core Titles for 2024 & 2023! For more than 40 years, Principles of Neural Science has helped readers understand the link between the human brain and behavior. As the renowned text has shown, all behavior is an expression of neural activity and the future of both clinical neurology and psychiatry is dependent on the progress of neural science. Fully updated, this sixth edition of the landmark reference reflects the latest research, clinical perspectives, and advances in the field. It offers an unparalleled perspective on the the current state and future of neural science. This new edition features: Unmatched coverage of how the nerves, brain, and mind function NEW chapters on: - The Computational Bases of Neural Circuits that Mediate BehTable of ContentsPart I: Overall PerspectiveChapter 1: The Brain and BehaviorChapter 2: Genes and BehaviorChapter 3: Nerve Cells, Neural Circuitry, and BehaviorChapter 4: The Neuroanatomical Bases by Which Neural Circuits Mediate BehaviorChapter 5: The Computational Bases of Neural Circuits That Mediate BehaviorChapter 6: Imaging and BehaviorPart II: Cell and Molecular Biology of Cells of the Nervous SystemChapter 7: The Cells of the Nervous SystemChapter 8: Ion ChannelsChapter 9: Membrane Potential and the Passive Electrical Properties of the NeuronChapter 10: Propagated Signaling: The Action PotentialPart III: Synaptic TransmissionChapter 11: Overview of Synaptic TransmissionChapter 12: Directly Gated Transmission: The Nerve-Muscle SynapseChapter 13: Synaptic Integration in the Central Nervous SystemChapter 14: Modulation of Synaptic Transmission and Neuronal Excitability: Second MessengersChapter 15: Transmitter ReleaseChapter 16: NeurotransmittersPart IV: PerceptionChapter 17: Sensory CodingChapter 18: Receptors of the Somatosensory SystemChapter 19: TouchChapter 20: PainChapter 21: The Constructive Nature of Visual ProcessingChapter 22: Low-Level Visual Processing: The RetinaChapter 23: Intermediate-Level Visual Processing and Visual PrimitivesChapter 24: High-Level Visual Processing: From Vision to CognitionChapter 25: Visual Processing for Attention and ActionChapter 26: Auditory Processing by the CochleaChapter 27: The Vestibular SystemChapter 28: Auditory Processing by the Central Nervous SystemChapter 29: Smell and Taste: The Chemical SensesPart V: MovementChapter 30: Principles of Sensorimotor ControlChapter 31: The Motor Unit and Muscle ActionChapter 32: Sensory-Motor Integration in the Spinal CordChapter 33: LocomotionChapter 34: Voluntary Movement: Motor CorticesChapter 35: The Control of GazeChapter 36: PostureChapter 37: The CerebellumChapter 38: The Basal GangliaChapter 39: Brain–Machine InterfacesPart VI: The Biology of Emotion, Motivation, and HomeostasisChapter 40: The Brain StemChapter 41: The Hypothalamus: Autonomic, Hormonal, and Behavioral Control of SurvivalChapter 42: EmotionChapter 43: Motivation, Reward, and Addictive StatesChapter 44: Sleep and WakefulnessPart VII: Development and the Emergence of BehaviorChapter 45: Patterning the Nervous SystemChapter 46: Differentiation and Survival of Nerve CellsChapter 47: The Growth and Guidance of AxonsChapter 48: Formation and Elimination of SynapsesChapter 49: Experience and the Refinement of Synaptic ConnectionsChapter 50: Repairing the Damaged BrainChapter 51: Sexual Differentiation of the Nervous SystemPart VIII: Learning, Memory, Language and CognitionChapter 52: Learning and MemoryChapter 53: Cellular Mechanisms of Implicit Memory Storage and the Biological Basis of IndividualityChapter 54: The Hippocampus and the Neural Basis of Explicit Memory StorageChapter 55: LanguageChapter 56: Decision-Making and ConsciousnessPart IX: Diseases of the Nervous SystemChapter 57: Diseases of the Peripheral Nerve and Motor UnitChapter 58: Seizures and EpilepsyChapter 59: Disorders of Conscious and Unconscious Mental ProcessesChapter 60: Disorders of Thought and Volition in SchizophreniaChapter 61: Disorders of Mood and AnxietyChapter 62: Disorders Affecting Social Cognition: Autism Spectrum DisorderChapter 63: Genetic Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Diseases of the Nervous SystemChapter 64: The Aging Brain

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Book SynopsisNick Cook is one of the UK's leading defence analysts. Formerly the Aviation Editor of Jane's Defence Weekly, the world's premier military affairs journal, he has also written for newspapers around the world.He is the author of The Hunt For Zero Point, a non-fiction bestseller on both sides of the Atlantic. He lives in London.Trade ReviewClassic sleuthing journalism - I couldn't put it down * New Scientist *Cook relates his investigations in splendid cloak-and-dagger style with low-lit X-files scenes of secret meetings and nervous witnesses * Guardian *An extraordinary investigation into avaition's greatest mystery * Mail on Sunday *

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Book Synopsis''A groundbreaking analysis of what used to be an impenetrable mystery: how and why do cultures differ? ... Anyone interested in our cultural divides will find tremendous insight in Rule Makers, Rule Breakers'' - Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of Enlightenment NowWhy are clocks in Germany always correct, while those in Brazil are frequently wrong? Why are Singaporeans jailed for selling gum? Why do women in New Zealand have three times the sex of females worldwide? Why was the Daimler-Chrysler merger ill-fated from the start? And why does each generation of Americans give their kids weirder and weirder names? Curious about the answers to these and other questions, award-winning social psychologist Michele Gelfand has spent two decades studying both tight societies (with clearly stated rules and codes of ethics) and loose societies (more informal communities with weak or ambiguous norms). PuTrade Review'A groundbreaking analysis of what used to be an impenetrable mystery: how and why do cultures differ? Gelfand shows that a wide range of divides of class, culture, and coalition are traceable to an intriguing source. Anyone interested in our cultural divides will find tremendous insight in Rule Makers, Rule Breakers' - Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of Enlightenment NowEndlessly impressive . . . In figuring out what causes various tribes and factions to clash and sometime come to blows - whether at the U.N. or in a stadium's upper deck - Gelfand has left no cultural stone unturned. To read this book is to see both yourself and your neighbour for the first time - guided by rules of which you've both been unaware - Susan Cain, bestselling author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking'Remarkable. Not just an enlightening book but a game-changing one. By uncovering the inner workings of tight and loose cultures, Rule Makers, Rule Breakers suddenly makes sense of the puzzling behavior we see all around us-in colleagues, family, and even ourselves' - Carol Dweck, bestselling author of Mindset'A brilliant and timely book . . . Michele Gelfand has exposed a universal fault line running beneath nations, states, organizations, and even families. Cultures that face threat and uncertainty seek order and precision. Cultures with firmer footings revel in ambiguity and risk taking. This idea, at once so simple and so powerful, will forever change how you see the world' - Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of When and Drive'Completely fascinating . . .[Gelfand] reveals how political divides, happiness and suicide rates, and the coexistence of crime and creativity can all be traced to a fundamental but neglected dimension of social norms. You'll never look at a workplace, a country, or a family the same way again' - Adam Grant, bestselling author of Originals, Give and Take and Option B with Sheryl Sandberg"This brilliant book is full of well-documented insights that will change the way you look at yourself and at the world around you. Gelfand presents a wealth of scientific evidence with a light touch that has the reader eager to know what comes next. I can't think of anyone who won't learn something important from this book." - Barry Schwartz, bestselling author of The Paradox of Choice, Practical Wisdom, and Why We Work'Despite their great importance, the hidden factors that influence whether people comply with what is expected of them or write their own script has long gone underappreciated. With this book, Michele Gelfand has done much to unravel the mysteries of human motivation. Anyone interested in how social norms-and, therefore, people-operate will be grateful for her compelling analysis' - Robert Cialdini, bestselling author of Influence and Pre-Suasion 'A fascinating and profound book by one of psychology's most creative researchers. The well-chosen facts and findings about different cultures will make you alternately laugh, nod, and moan-and make you eager to read more. Beautifully written, packed with scientific facts and findings, this important book celebrates and explains the diversity of human culture. It emphasizes a key dimension of cultural difference: Some cultures pressure everyone to follow the same rules, while almost anything goes in other cultures-and Gelfand carefully and impressively lays out the pluses and minuses of both types. Anyone interested in the deep mysteries of human life and cultural diversity will find this book a rich source of information and a thought-provoking challenge to common assumptions. It's quite possibly this year's best book on culture' - Roy F. Baumeister, bestselling co-author of Willpower and author of The Cultural Animal'A delightful, insightful and fascinating look at the remarkable diversity of human customs - where they come from and how they shape our lives' - Daniel Gilbert, bestselling author of Stumbling on Happiness'Lucid and fascinating ... achieved that clichéd goal of popular science books: truly changing the way a reader sees the world' - Will Storr, UnHerd'A fantastic book, academically anchored yet also fun to read and filled with practical implications. Its beauty derives from the breadth of its insight as Gelfand focuses in to illuminate, in succession, countries, states, corporations, groups and individuals. How many books pull off the feat of connecting clocks on city streets, to merger and acquisition outcomes, to groups that can both execute and explore? What an achievement!' - Michael L. Tushman, co-author of Winning Through Innovation and Lead and Disrupt'Why do some countries enjoy internal peace, effective governance, and productive economies, while others are dysfunctional and impoverished? In this dazzling book the cultural psychologist Michele Gelfand shows that a large part of the answer lies with social norms - rules of behavior that enable coordination and cooperation in large-scale societies. When people don't abide by socially expected rules, families, businesses, and whole societies splinter apart. But is there a downside to following the rules too closely? Read Rule Makers, Rule Breakers to find out' - Peter Turchin, author of Ultrasociety: How 10,000 Years of War Made Humans the Greatest Cooperators on Earth'Is your world tight, or is it loose? In this smart, provocative, and very entertaining book, Michele Gelfand argues that the tendency to devise and abide by rules, or, alternatively, push behavioral limits is the fundamental distinction between human societies, capturing what really matters in summing up the difference between Germany and Brazil, or Mississippi and California, or rich and poor. Whether the arena is large or small-a superpower summit, a boardroom meeting, or a backyard barbecue - this insightful and stimulating work will help you better understand yourself and those around you' - Paul Bloom, professor of psychology, Yale University, author of Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion'Every decade, it seems, someone identifies a pattern that makes sense of a range of disparate social phenomena. Rule Makers, Rule Breakers is that rare book that gives order to our troubled world, explaining the mystifying divides that increasingly inform politics, business, education, and society in general. If you're going to read one book this year to better understand the world's problems and what can be done to solve them, Gelfand's masterpiece should be it' - Alon Tal, author of The Land Is Full and founder of the Israeli Union for Environmental Defense'I devoured Michele Gelfand's new book. This is not just a lively page-turner about some of the most important and intractable issues of the day but a must-read book that will fundamentally change the way you look at the world, particularly at our bewildering cultural moment, moving you past the simplistic, media-driven binaries of globalist-nationalist, red state-blue state, and rural-urban. You will emerge a smarter, broader person, with a deeper, more informed perspective for thinking and talking about the issues that consume us all' - Todd Kliman, Winner of the MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award and author of The Wild Vine'A thought-provoking look at the contours of modern tribalism - one that uses a deceptively simple dividing line: the split between 'tight' and 'loose' cultures and personalities. By examining everything from communal norms to socio-economic differences, Rule Makers, Rule Breakers will make you see differently the people, places and organizations you think you know, including yourself' - Dante Chinni, co-author of The Patchwork Nation and Director of the American Communities Project at George Washington University'Gelfand shows through clever psychological experiments and sagacious readings of history that the world's societies have generally tended to cluster around tight norms that favor authority and frown on deviance (as with ancient Sparta, Pakistan and Germany) versus loose norms that allow and even encourage people to bend the rules (as with the Inuit of the Central Arctic, Brazil and the United States). She offers a particularly timely analysis for our current Age of Anxiety and uncertainty, where people and nations no longer feel confident in what the next generation and near future will bring (hence an increasing but impractical nostalgia for a mythic past as the guide for tomorrow)' - Scott Atran, co-founder of the Center for the Resolution of Intractable Conflicts at Oxford University, and Research Director in Anthropology at the French National Center for Scientific Research'Rule Makers, Rule Breakers is that wonderful combination of fascinating theory, well expounded with plenty of examples... a compelling, absorbing and timely read.' - The Psychologist'An extremely important book. Gelfand has identified and explored a hugely significant aspect of culture that accounts for why and when we fall into step with a group, or alternatively, set off on our own path-either to our advantage or our detriment. Moreover, she has accumulated fascinating evidence that explains why no subset of the human population, from the nation state to individual, exists outside the sway of this dynamic' - Richard Nisbett, author of The Geography of Thought: How Westerners and Asians Think Differently...and Why'In this brilliant book, Michele Gelfand unveils how cultures - of all sizes, down to small groups - are shaped by ecological and human threats. In particular, her findings, which are backed by massive empirical evidence, go far to explain why the people of different countries have different worldviews. After reading this, you won't see the world in the same way' - Ronald F. Inglehart, Director of the World Values Survey and author of Cultural Evolution'In an ever-shrinking world, understanding and negotiating cultural differences has become essential to daily life and the fate of nations alike. In Rule Makers, Rule Breakers, Gelfand presents a valuable lens for decoding the nature of our cultural conflicts and an intriguing new tool for solving them' - Colin Woodard, Winner of the George Polk Award, Pulitzer finalist, and author of American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America'In this tour-de-force, psychologist Michele Gelfand take us on a fascinating cross-cultural adventure. Human norms are as varied as bird plumage in the Galapagos, and Gelfand unveils one of the key phenomena accounting for the diversity. Tightness-looseness explains everything from how you cross the street to how you cross over from the living. Never a dull moment in this enthusiastic journey' - Susan T. Fiske, Professor of Psychology and Public Affairs, Princeton University and coauthor of The Human Brand'Offers a powerful new way of seeing the world. Gelfand's deceptively simple thesis becomes increasingly compelling as her research unfolds across politics, class and organizational behavior. Best of all, she provides a new toolkit for change' - Anne Marie Slaughter, President and CEO of New America, former director of Policy Planning for the State Department, and author of Unfinished Business: Women Men Work Family'Fascinating and illuminating . . . Rule Makers, Rule Breakers sheds light on everything from why we embrace new ideas to how culture makes us who we are. We all build order into our days, but as Gelfand shows, some of us like hewing to a line, and others enjoy crossing it' - Jonah Berger, bestselling author of Contagious and Invisible Influence'Visionary and wildly entertaining . . . Michele Gelfand pulls a very big rabbit out of a very small hat. The distinction between 'tight' and 'loose' cultures may sound familiar, but this way of carving up the social world is surprising powerful, delivering insights for educators, CEOs, politicians, revolutionaries, scientists and curious people-watchers. This brilliant book will sharpen your vision and broaden your horizons' - Joshua Greene, director of the Moral Cognition Laboratory at Harvard University and author Moral Tribes'Everyone should read this book! It is rare that one overarching principle can explain so much, but Michele Gelfand nails it with her brilliant analysis of how tightly or loosely people adhere to social norms. In a fascinating narrative full of entertaining examples, she illuminates and explains this distinction, and by so doing increases our understanding of cultural conflict, the partisan divide, organizational success, happiness, creativity and much more' - Timothy D. Wilson, author of Redirect: Changing the Stories We Live By

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