Science & Nature Books
Dorling Kindersley Ltd How the Body Works
Book SynopsisHelps you to understand how our bodies keep us alive and thriving and get to the bottom of such niggling questions as why we get dizzy, why we get butterflies in our stomachs, and why we get jetlag! This title shows how the human body and brain works.Table of Contents 1: Under the microscope 1: Who’s in charge? 2: Organ to cell 3: How cells work 4: What is DNA? 5: How cells multiply 6: How genes work 7: How genes make different cells 8: Stem cells 9: When DNA goes wrong 2: Holding it together 1: Skin Deep 2: Outer defences 3: The extremities 4: Pillars of support 5: Growing bones 6: Flexibility 7: Biting and chewing 8: The grinder 9: Skin damage 10: Breaking and mending 11: Wearing thin 3: On the move 1: Pulling power 2: How do muscles pull? 3: Working, stretching, pulling, braking 4: Sensory input, action output 5: The control centre 6: Communication hub 7: Sparking into life 8: Act or relax? 9: Knocks, sprains, and tears 4: Sensitive types 1: Feeling the pressure 2: How do you feel? 3: Pain’s pathway 4: How the eye works 5: Forming an image 6: Vision in the brain 7: Eye problems 8: How the ear works 9: How the brain hears 10: Balancing act 11: Hearing problems 12: Catching a scent 13: On the tip of the tongue 14: Body position sense 15: Integrated senses 16: Using your voice 17: Reading faces 18: What you don’t say 5: The heart of the matter 1: Filling your lungs 2: From air to blood 3: Why do we breathe? 4: Coughs and sneezes 5: The many tasks of our blood 6: How the heart beats 7: How blood travels 8: Broken blood vessels 9: Heart problems 10: Exercising and its limits 11: Fitter and stronger 12: Maximizing your fitness 6: In and out 1: Feeding the body 2: How does eating work? 3: A mouth to feed 4: Gut reaction 5: Up, down, and out 6: Bacterial breakdown 7: Cleaning the blood 8: Water balance 9: How the liver works 10: What the liver does 11: Energy balance 12: The sugar trap 13: Feast or fast? 14: Digestive problems 7: Fit and healthy 1: Body battleground 2: Friend or foe? 3: Germs are us 4: Damage limitation 5: Infectious diseases 6: Looking for trouble 7: Assassination squad 8: Cold and flu 9: Vaccine action 10: Immune problems 8: Chemical balance 1: Hormone factories 2: How hormones work 3: Inner balance 4: Hormonal changes 5: Daily rhythms 6: Diabetes 9: The circle of life 1: Sexual reproduction 2: Monthly cycle 3: Tiny beginnings 4: The generation game 5: Growing life 6: Mother’s new body 7: The miracle of birth 8: Primed for life 9: Growing up 10: Hormonal teenagers 11: Getting older 12: The end of life 10: Mind matters 1: Learning skills 2: Making memories 3: Falling asleep 4: Entering your dreams 5: All emotional 6: Fight or flight? 7: Emotional problems 8: Feeling attraction 9: Extraordinary Minds 11: Index 12: Acknowledgements
£17.09
John Murray Press We Have No Idea
Book SynopsisIn our small corner of the universe, we know how some matter behaves most of the time and what even less of it looks like, and we have some good guesses about where it all came from. But we really have no clue what''s going on. In fact, we don''t know what about 95% of the universe is made of. So what happens when a cartoonist and a physicist walk into this strange, mostly unknown universe? Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson gleefully explore the biggest unknowns, why these things are still mysteries, and what a lot of smart people are doing to figure out the answers (or at least ask the right questions). While they''re at it, they helpfully demystify many complicated things we do know about, from quarks and neutrinos to gravitational waves and exploding black holes. With equal doses of humour and delight, they invite us to see the universe as a vast expanse of mostly uncharted territory that''s still ours to explore. This is a book for fans of Brian Cox and Trade ReviewPacked with witty infographics, cartoons, and lucid explanations * BBC Focus Magazine *
£10.44
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Should We Colonize Other Planets?
Book SynopsisAs humans continue to degrade and destroy our planet’s resources, leading to predictions of total ecological collapse, some (such as the entrepreneur Elon Musk) now suggest that a human colony elsewhere may be our species’ best hope for survival. Adam Morton examines extra-terrestrial colonization plans with a critical eye. He makes a strong case for colonization – just not by human beings. Humans live relatively short lives and, to survive, require large amounts of food and water, very specific climatic conditions and an oxygen-rich atmosphere. We can create colonists that have none of these shortcomings. Reflecting compassionately on the nature of existence, Morton argues that we should treat the end of the human race in the same way that we treat our own deaths: as something sad but ultimately inevitable. The earth will perish one day, and, in the end, we should be concerned more with securing the future of intelligent beings than with the preservation of our species, which represents but a nanosecond in the history of our solar system.Trade Review"Why should we value the survival of our species? Adam Morton confronts this fateful yet rarely-asked question. This is a fascinating, instructive work of scientifically-informed philosophy."—John Broome, University of Oxford "Adam Morton is known for turning a penetrating intellect on one after another subject that philosophers have made the mistake of neglecting."—Elijah Millgram, University of Utah
£9.99
Hodder & Stoughton Drink?: The New Science of Alcohol and Your
Book SynopsisTHE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO ALCOHOL AND YOUR HEALTHAlcohol - a simple molecule that can induce so much pleasure and pain at the same time... As the most harmful drug in the UK, it has a profound and wide-reaching impact on our health and on society at large. Drink? is the first book of its kind, written by a scientist and rooted in 40 years of medical research and hands-on experience treating patients. Professor David Nutt cuts through the noise to explain the long- and short-term effects of alcohol, makes complex science digestible and takes readers through its journey inside the body and brain from the very first sip.Drink? holds the key to all the questions you want to know the answers to, covering mental health, sleep, hormones, fertility and addiction. It sheds light on what 'responsible drinking' truly means and equips us with the essential knowledge we all need to make rational, informed decisions about our consumption now and in the future.
£10.44
Profile Books Ltd The Idea of the Brain: A History: SHORTLISTED FOR
Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2020 Baillie Gifford Prize A New Statesman Book of the Year This is the story of our quest to understand the most mysterious object in the universe: the human brain. Today we tend to picture it as a computer. Earlier scientists thought about it in their own technological terms: as a telephone switchboard, or a clock, or all manner of fantastic mechanical or hydraulic devices. Could the right metaphor unlock the its deepest secrets once and for all? Galloping through centuries of wild speculation and ingenious, sometimes macabre anatomical investigations, scientist and historian Matthew Cobb reveals how we came to our present state of knowledge. Our latest theories allow us to create artificial memories in the brain of a mouse, and to build AI programmes capable of extraordinary cognitive feats. A complete understanding seems within our grasp. But to make that final breakthrough, we may need a radical new approach. At every step of our quest, Cobb shows that it was new ideas that brought illumination. Where, he asks, might the next one come from? What will it be?Trade ReviewAn intellectual tour de force, and a brilliant demonstration of how a historical approach is often the best way of explaining difficult scientific problems ... For anybody who wants to understand the depths of our understanding of our brains, and our even deeper ignorance, I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. -- Henry Marsh * New Statesman *Sweeping and electrifyingly sceptical -- James McConnachie * The Times *Cobb is a rare jewel. [The Idea of the Brain] is a typically erudite, thrilling and thorough exploration of the most complex thing in the known universe. -- Adam Rutherford * The Week *The best book produced in my lifetime on the brain. -- Richard C Atkinson, President Emeritus, University of California
£11.69
Coordination Group Publications Ltd (CGP) A-Level Chemistry: OCR A Year 1 & 2 Exam Practice
Book SynopsisRealistic exam prep is the key to mastering OCR A A-Level Chemistry and CGP has both years covered with this brilliant Exam Practice Workbook! It’s bursting with questions covering every topic students need to know, including a section of mixed (synoptic) questions. We’ve also added in tips throughout to make sure there are no unpleasant surprises in their exams! To round things off there are fully worked answers and mark schemes for every question. For study notes and even more practice don’t miss the CGP OCR A A-Level Chemistry Complete Revision & Practice guide (9781782943020).
£11.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC A Crack in Everything
Book SynopsisA Crack in Everything explores the fascinating breakthroughs that led to the discovery of black holes, the scientific enigma that could unlock the answers to mankind's most profound questions about the universe.
£11.69
Wooden Books Numbers: To Infinity and Beyond
Book SynopsisWhat are numbers? Where do they come from? Are there different kings of number? Why was Pythagoras fascinated by triangular and square numbers? Is there a link between perfect numbers and primes? In this enlightening illustrated pocket book, mathemagician Oliver Linton reveals the wonderful world of numbers, visiting the questions and answers of great number theorists along the way, from Euclid to Euler, Fibonacci to Fermat, and Archimedes to Gauss. No calculator needed! WOODEN BOOKS are small but packed with information. "Fascinating" FINANCIAL TIMES. "Beautiful" LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS. "Rich and Artful" THE LANCET. "Genuinely mind-expanding" FORTEAN TIMES. "Excellent" NEW SCIENTIST. "Stunning" NEW YORK TIMES. Small books, big ideas.
£8.18
Scribe Publications The Re-Origin of Species: a second chance for
Book SynopsisA Telegraph Book of the Year. What does a mammoth smell like? Do dinosaurs bob their heads as they walk, like today’s birds? Do aurochs moo like cows? You may soon find out. From the Siberian permafrost to balmy California, scientists across the globe are working to resurrect all kinds of extinct animals, from ones that just left us to those that have been gone for many thousands of years. Their tools in this hunt are both fossils and cutting-edge genetic technologies. Some of these scientists are driven by sheer curiosity; others view the lost species as a powerful weapon in the fight to save rapidly disappearing ecosystems. Science journalist Torill Kornfeldt travelled the world to meet the men and women working to bring extinct animals back from the dead. Along the way, she saw a mammoth that has been frozen for 20,000 years, and visited the places where these furry giants once walked. It seems certain that they and other lost species will walk the earth again, but what world will that give us? And is any of this a good idea?Trade Review‘[T]his excellent book, written with a deceptively light touch (in Fiona Graham’s translation) … raises a number of deep questions and paradoxes about our relationship with nature.’ * The Guardian *‘It’s a beautifully written and perceptive book, that also poses sharp questions about environmental nostalgia and the true value of species.’ -- Number 4 of the ‘Best Books of The Year 2018’, Steven Poole * The Daily Telegraph *‘Kornfeldt does an excellent job of exposing the ethical dilemmas of bringing extinct creatures back to life.’ -- Kathryn Hughes * The Mail on Sunday *‘The Re-Origin of Species is an engrossing exploration of a controversial area, written with a light touch and a journalist’s eye for detail.’ * Irish Examiner *‘The author's careful synthesis of accomplishment versus aspiration is also spot-on—even world-class scientists will be dreamers, and there is much more research to be conducted before mammoths once again lumber across the tundra. Wondrous tales of futuristic science experiments that happen to be true.’ * Kirkus Reviews *‘Extinction might not be forever! ... Free of most scientific jargon, Kornfeldt’s book is an eye-opening introduction to an important new field of study that”s well fit for public library audiences.’ * Booklist *‘Pick up this book and you’ll be glued to its pages, and soon convinced that bioengineering will continue to change the world in ways difficult to imagine.’ 4.5 STARS * Good Reading *‘Kornfeldt interviews researchers intent on recreating mammoths and passenger pigeons, saving the northern white rhino, and reintroducing chestnut trees to North America.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Reading The Re-Origin of Species was a delightful adventure. Torill Kornfeldt took me by the hand and led me all around the world, and back through history, teaching me about how extinction works and how the restoration of all kinds of species, from the woolly mammoth to feathered dinosaurs, just may be a part of our future.’ -- Tim Urban, Wait But Why?‘Any number of terms apply to Torill Kornfeldt's fascinating overview of this profoundly important subject: clear-eyed. Skeptical. Open-minded. But the word that sticks with me is one I haven't had cause to use in a very long time: hopeful. The Re-Origin of Species gives me hope.’ -- Peter Watts, author of Blindsight and Starfish‘[E]xpresses the full complexity of this topic in a lighthearted, masterful way, raising critical questions … which guide the reader to develop informed opinions about how humankind can limit the ongoing destruction of nature.’ * Adelaide Advertiser *‘It’s less like reading a college text book and more like reading about a famous explorer digging into cultures not seen since the dawn of time. It’s like Indiana Jones light, for the scientist.’ * Adventures in Poor Taste *‘This thought-provoking and deeply engaging book throws into the question the very meanings of life and death as we understand them.’ STARRED REVIEW * Shelf Awareness *‘[T]he projects Kornfeldt writes about are incredibly compelling, given that we are living through a mass-extinction event that threatens the stability of the world’s ecosystems.’ * The New Yorker *‘In her cleverly titled book, The Re-origin of the Species, Swedish science journalist Torill Kornfeldt examines the world’s most famous (or perhaps most infamous) attempts to resurrect extinct species ... Crisscrossing the globe to interview the world’s leading experts on de-extinction, she offers her personal impressions of their laboratories, their research, and even their motivations ... The Re-Origin of the Species is a welcome addition to the growing corpus on de-extinction, and a strong debut by a gifted writer.’ -- Abraham H. Gibson * The Quarterly Review of Biology, Stony Brook University *
£13.49
Basic Books Six Notsoeasy Pieces
Book SynopsisLearn about Einstein's theory of relativity from a physics Nobel laureate and "one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century" (New York Review of Books) in six memorable lessons
£12.59
Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH Scent and Chemistry: The Molecular World of Odors
Book SynopsisScent and Chemistry Odor impressions have cast a spell over mankind since the dim and distant past. But even today, we are –consciously or subconsciously– guided by our sense of smell and the chemistry behind it. The prominent fragrance chemists Günther Ohloff, Wilhelm Pickenhagen and Philip Kraft convey the scientist, the perfumer, and the interested layman with a vivid and up-to-date picture of the chemistry of odorants and the research in odor perception. In this second thoroughly revised and updated edition they are joined by creative perfumer Fanny Grau, a rising master in this métier, who complements the scientific treatise by a concise introduction to the art of perfumery and its composition techniques. Besides this new chapter on the creative aspects of perfumery, the book details on the molecular basis of olfaction, olfactory characterization of perfumery materials, structure–odor relationships, the chemical synthesis of odorants, and the chemistry of essential oils and odorants from the animal kingdom, backed up by many perfume examples and historical aspects. It will serve as a thorough introductory text for everyone interested in the molecular world of odors.Table of ContentsHistorical Aspects The Chemical Senses Structure-Odor Relationships Odorants from Natural Sources Odorants from Petrochemical Sources Ionones, Damascones, and Iso E Super Essential Oils Odorants of Animal Origin Fragrance Creation
£63.75
Princeton University Press Father Time How Nurturing Is Natural for Men
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£15.29
Princeton University Press Tambora
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£14.24
Macmillan Learning Biology for the AP Course
Book Synopsis
£57.99
Octopus Publishing Group The Art & Science of Foodpairing: 10,000 flavour
Book Synopsis'Just the sort of creative prompts any cook could use right now' - The Wall Street Journal'A fascinating, thought provoking, palette-teasing read for anyone interested in food' - New York Journal of Books'We build tools to create culinary happiness' - Foodpairing.com 'There is a world of exciting flavour combinations out there and when they work it's incredibly exciting' - Heston BlumenthalFoodpairing is a method for identifying which foods go well together, based on groundbreaking scientific research that combines neurogastronomy (how the brain perceives flavour) with the analysis of aroma profiles derived from the chemical components of food.This groundbreaking new book explains why the food combinations we know and love work so well together (strawberries + chocolate, for example) and opens up a whole new world of delicious pairings (strawberries + parmesan, say) that will transform the way we eat. With ten times more pairings than any other book on flavour, plus the science behind flavours explained, Foodpairing will become THE go-to reference for flavour and an instant classic for anyone interested in how to eat well.Contributors:Astrid Gutsche and Gaston Acurio - Astrid y Gaston - PeruAndoni Luiz Aduriz - Mugaritz - SpainHeston Blumenthal - The Fat Duck - UKTony Conigliaro - DrinksFactory - UKSang Hoon Degeimbre - L'Air du Temps - BelgiumJason Howard - #50YearsBim - UK/CaribbeanMingoo Kang - Mingles - KoreaJane Lopes & Ben Shewry - Attica - AustraliaVirgilio Martinez - Central - PeruDominique Persoone - The Chocolate Line - BelgiumKarlos Ponte - Taller - Venezuela/DenmarkJoan Roce - El Celler de Can Roca - SpainDan Barber - Blue Hill at Stone Barns - USAKobus van der Merwe - Wolfgat - South AfricaDarren Purchese - Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio - MelbourneAlex Atala - D.O.M - BrazilMaría José San Román - Monastrell - SpainKeiko Nagae - Arôme conseil en patisserie - ParisPeter Coucquyt - Chef and co-founder of Foodpairing™Bernard Lahousse - Bio-engineer and co-founder of Foodpairing™Johan Langenbick - Entrepreneur and co-founder of Foodpairing™
£31.50
Yale University Press Against the Grain
Book SynopsisTrade Review“Written with great enthusiasm and characteristic flair. . . . Scott hits the nail squarely on the head by exposing the staggering price our ancestors paid for civilisation and political order.”—Walter Scheidel, Financial Times“[Scott’s work] has focussed on a skeptical, peasant’s-eye view of state formation. . . . His best-known book, Seeing Like a State, has become a touchstone for political scientists, and amounts to a blistering critique of central planning and ‘high modernism.’ . . . Scott’s new book extends these ideas into the deep past, and draws on existing research to argue that ours is not a story of linear progress, that the time line is much more complicated, and that the causal sequences of the standard version are wrong.”—John Lanchester, New Yorker“Against the Grain delivers not only a darker story but also a broad understanding of the forces that shaped the formation of states and why they collapsed — right up to the industrial age . . . an excellent book.”—Ben Collyer, New Scientist“Scott offers an alternative to the conventional narrative that is altogether more fascinating, not least in the way it omits any self-congratulation about human achievement. His account of the deep past doesn’t purport to be definitive, but it is surely more accurate than the one we are used to.”—Steven Mithen, London Review of Books“Forget the Paleo Diet: Scott goes all the way in showing how early nomadic peoples in the Fertile Crescent were fitter, happier and more productive than the semi-enslaved ziggurat-builders of the ancient Mesopotamian cities.”—James Whipple (M.E.S.H), Frieze“This is an important book, which should be read by every educated person. The story it tells is so different, so opposed, to the received narrative it deserves to be everywhere known. Scott’s presentation of evidence is so complete that the received narrative simply can no longer stand. Additionally, Scott writes extremely well: a clear, unambiguous, approachable style, with occasional sparkles of gentle humour to ease the way. The book is an intellectual delight.”—George Gale, Metascience“Scott’s original book is history as it should be written.”— Barry Cunliffe, Guardian“James C. Scott’s oeuvre is among the most important in contemporary political theory. Against the Grain is a significant addition to it, as Scott issues the challenge of an anti-authoritarian approach to our political origins.”—Crispin Sartwell, Times Literary Supplement“Scott’s research is extraordinarily meticulous and detailed, and the lives of his imagined first citizens are unlike anything existing today. . . . Against the Grain deserves a wide readership. It has made me look afresh at the urban world.”—Tim Flannery, New York Review of Books“Fascinating.”—George Monbiot, Guardian“History as it should be written—an analysis of the deep forces exposed to the eternal conflict between humans and their environment. What makes it even more welcome is that it has been written with the enthusiasm of discovery.”—Barry Cunliffe, GuardianAn Economist Best History Book 2017“Against the Grain is likely bound to shape how we think about this topic for years to come.”—Johann Strube, Agriculture and Human Values“Against the Grain delivers what is says on the tin and is a fine piece of historical counter-narrative, with elements of environmental history woven throughout. . .This results in a book that is fascinating, readable, but above all thought-provoking. It certainly made me ponder the ‘civil’ part in civilization.”—Leon Vlieger, Natural History Book Service“The value of the book . . . is precisely in the sorts of provocative questions it raises and the debates it will spark. Scott brings archaeology into one of the most important insights of his wider project, that states are neither inevitable nor neutral. In doing so, he has created a space in which archaeology becomes relevant for current political concerns, and for this reason alone his book should be widely read.”—Antiquity“James C. Scott is one of the historians of our times who delights in compelling us to rethink received wisdom and chart out fresh trajectories through the past, even as he constantly reminds us of our present locations. In reading his works, we anticipate challenges, irreverence and insights. This slim volume does, to some extent, live up to these expectations.”—Kumkum Roy, Studies in History“James Scott’s latest volume is a wide-ranging yet incisive synthesis of the origins of civilization within the context of early sedentism, agro-ecology and the fragility of the archaic state.”—Vernon L. Scarborough, Human Ecology“This is an important book, which should be read by every educated person. The story it tells is so different, so opposed, to the received narrative it deserves to be everywhere known. Scott’s presentation of evidence is so complete that the received narrative simply can no longer stand. Additionally, Scott writes extremely well: a clear, unambiguous, approachable style, with occasional sparkles of gentle humor to ease the way. The book is an intellectual delight.”—George Gale, Metascience“In an authoritative and gripping re-imagining of human history, Scott dives deep into the initial development of farming several thousand years ago. This book led me to revisit my ideas about the past and to ponder anew about life in the present.”—Alison Richard, The WeekFinalist for the 2018 CT Book AwardWinner of the A.SK Social Science Award, one of the most prestigious distinctions in the social sciences, sponsored by the WZB Berlin Social Science Center. “I admire Against the Grain very much. It is the most confirming and clarifying book about agriculture that I have read in a long time.”—Wendell Berry, as written in a letter to James C. Scott“This is a brilliant, accessible, and highly original account of the origins of sedentism, farming, states, and the relations between agrarian and nomadic communities. It should attract a wider audience than any of Scott’s earlier books.”—J. R. McNeill, co-author of The Great Acceleration: An Environmental History of the Anthropocene since 1945“A sweeping and provocative look at the 'rise of civilization,' focusing particularly on those parts, peoples, and issues that are normally overlooked in conventional historical narratives.”—Alison Betts, The University of Sydney“Brilliant, sparkling, dissident scholarship. In Scott’s hands, agriculture looks like a terrible choice, states and empires look fragile, ephemeral, and predatory, and the ‘barbarians’ beyond their borders lived in relative freedom and affluence.”—David Christian, Macquarie University, Sydney“This book is fascinating and original, containing a lesson on every page. Brilliant. James Scott is a legend."—Tim Harford, author of Messy and The Undercover Economist
£14.99
Oneworld Publications Most Delicious Poison
Book SynopsisEverything you've always wanted to know about poisons but have been too afraid to ask
£10.44
Pan Macmillan Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain
Book Synopsis'Highly accessible, content-rich and eminently readable . . . Fascinating and informative . . . popular science at its best.' - The Observer'Subtly radical . . . It presents a revelatory model of consciousness that will be completely new to most readers' - The Guardian 'Best Reads For Summer'Have you ever wondered why you have a brain? Let renowned neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, bestselling author of How Emotions Are Made, demystify that big grey blob between your ears . . .In seven short chapters (plus a brief history of how brains evolved), this slim, entertaining, and accessible book reveals mind-expanding lessons from the front lines of neuroscience research. You’ll learn where brains came from, how they’re structured (and why it matters), and how yours works in tandem with other brains to create everything you experience. Along the way, you’ll also learn to dismiss popular myths such as the idea of a 'lizard brain' and the alleged battle between thoughts and emotions, or even between nature and nurture, to determine your behaviour.Sure to intrigue casual readers and scientific veterans alike, Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain is full of surprises, humour, and important implications for human nature - a gift of a book about our most complex and crucial organ.Trade ReviewBeautiful writing and sublime insights that will blow your mind like a string of firecrackers. If you want a rundown of the brain and its magic, start here. -- David Eagleman, New York Times bestselling author of IncognitoSeven and a Half Lessons About the Brain reads like a novel – and its main character is all of us. In fresh and lively prose, Barrett provides deep insight into what brains are for, how they operate and are programmed, how they create the 'reality' we experience, and how they ultimately produce our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Read this book! It will make you smarter about yourself, and your species. -- Leonard Mlodinow, New York Times bestselling author of The Drunkard's WalkA smart and delightfully breezy look at the things most of us think we know about the brain, but don't. -- Daniel Gilbert, New York Times bestselling author of Stumbling on Happiness
£9.49
Arcturus Publishing Ltd A Degree in a Book: Electrical And Mechanical
Book SynopsisA concise introduction to all the key tenets of electrical and mechanical engineering degree course, written by former NASA engineer Dr David Baker. A Degree in a Book: Electrical and Mechanical Engineering is presented in an attractive landscape format in full-color. With flow charts, infographics, timelines, feature spreads and information boxes, this highly visual guide will help readers quickly get to grips with the fundamentals of electrical and mechanical engineering and their practical applications.Covering Newtonian mechanics, nuclear engineering, artificial intelligence, 3D printing and more, this essential guide brings clarity to complex ideas. David Baker delves into the history and development of this far-reaching subject as well as the challenges of the future such as environmental responsibility. Complete with a useful glossary of key terms, this holistic introduction will equip students and laypeople alike with the knowledge of an engineering graduate. ABOUT THE SERIES: Get the knowledge of a degree for the price of a book with Arcturus Publishing''s A Degree in a Book series. Written by experts in their fields, these highly visual guides feature flow charts, infographics, handy timelines, information boxes, feature spreads and margin annotations, allowing readers to get to grips with complex subjects in no time.
£16.19
Canongate Books How to Be Animal: What it Means to Be Human
Book SynopsisHumans are the most inquisitive, emotional, imaginative, aggressive and baffling animals on the planet. But how well do we really know ourselves?How to Be Animal offers a radical take on what it means to be human and argues that at the heart of our psychology is a profound struggle with being animal. Tracing the history of this thinking through to its far-reaching effects on our lives, and drawing on a range of disciplines, Challenger proposes that being an animal is a process, beautiful and unpredictable, and that we have a chance to tell ourselves a new story; to realise that if we matter, so does everything else.Trade ReviewThe best critique of the myth of human exceptionalism I have read. Clearly and beautifully written, compellingly argued and packed with powerful and moving stories, it shows how the fact that we humans are animals has been denied and repressed, with profoundly damaging consequences for the way we live and for the planet. But this brilliant book is not only a critique. By showing that being human means being animal, it reveals how much joy in life we can gain if we recognise and accept the truth about ourselves. Read and digest this book, and you will not only be wiser but also happier -- JOHN GRAY * * author of Feline Philosophy * *Melanie Challenger's wonderful book teaches me this: our blazing continuity with the depth of time and the whole of life. It is a huge, complex and triumphant thing: challenging, but also celebratory, courageous, mournful and apprehensive. Her language is lovely: exact and lyrical and sparklingly full of suggestion and implication. It is a hymn to generosity. I know it will be something I will return to again and again -- ADAM NICOLSON * * author of The Seabird's Cry * *This is a brilliant book that, like many brilliant books, explores what it means to be human. The difference here is that the author answers this by highlighting one central human dilemma: we are an animal in denial that we are actually an animal -- MATT HAIG * * Observer * *What an interesting book! The recognition that we are animals should come less as a slap in the face than as a welcome reminder of the great resources that can come from paying attention to the ways we and our various cousins handle our journeys on this difficult but beautiful planet -- BILL McKIBBEN * * author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out? * *With this book, Melanie Challenger fearlessly plunges into the biggest question of our time: how can we rediscover our animal selves, before it is too late? How can we discover our true place in the wider world we are destroying? Each of us has to answer this question for ourselves. This book is a guide for you on the journey -- PAUL KINGSNORTHErudite, lyrical, delightfully troubling and full of unexpected convergences. A wonderful exploration of the tensions that beset the human animal trying to find our way. I was entranced by this beautiful weave of history, biology and philosophy -- DAVID GEORGE HASKELL * * author of The Forest Unseen * *Deepened my understanding of the world . . . An illuminating, beautifully written and unique philosophical inquiry by a wide-ranging and original thinker and a powerful call for a new ethic for our relationship with the rest of the living world . . . Quite simply, a rare and important marvel -- LUCY JONES * * author of Losing Eden * *A provocative, incisive and worried book, carried off with no small degree of élan . . . an excellent primer to the problems we have caused and that we face * * Scotsman * *Provocative . . . Challenger [writes] with the logic of a researcher and the lyricism of a poet * * Herald * *Blending personal experience with scientific observation, Challenger has a talent for making the known seem unexpected or unsettling * * Irish Times * *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co Why We Love
Book SynopsisIn this entertaining and accessible exploration of love, Oxford anthropologist Dr Anna Machin dives into the science behind the myriad types of love that exist in the world, including romantic love, parental love, friendships, love for pets, football teams, religious love and even love for our smartphones. Through original research brought to life by interviews and case studies, and encompassing such fascinating areas as polyamorous relationships, parasocial (love for a celebrity) and sacred loves, this book argues that it is time to stop putting romantic love on a pedestal. By exploring the science that illuminates the benefits of all our different close relationships, Dr Anna Machin encourages us to reconsider the importance of love in our own lives, to interrogate our own experiences, and to reconnect with the heart of what it really means to be human.Trade ReviewLove is surely the single most all-encompassing emotion we experience. It binds us together as couples, as parents and offspring, as members of an extended family, even as a community. It defines what it is to be human. This book opens the Pandora's Box on this most complex and puzzling aspect of what it is to be human. * Robin Dunbar, author of Friends: Understanding the Power of our Most Important Relationships *Even though it is what makes the world go around, we have trouble describing love except as a warm feeling. Anna Machin offers a lively guide to the many kinds of human love that exist, and the biology and psychology that explain why we love the way we do. * Frans de Waal, author of Mama’s Last Hug - Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves *Love sits at the center of human existence, according to this sharp survey from anthropologist Machin... Machin draws from plenty of studies of both the human and animal worlds, and her personal interjections are energizing... this provocative account is a fitting tribute to its subject. * Publishers Weekly *Love is surely the single most all-encompassing emotion we experience. It binds us together as couples, as parents and offspring, as members of an extended family, even as a community. It defines what it is to be human. This book opens the Pandora's Box on this most complex and puzzling aspect of what it is to be human. * Robin Dunbar, author of Friends: Understanding the Power of our Most Important Relationships *Even though it is what makes the world go around, we have trouble describing love except as a warm feeling. Anna Machin offers a lively guide to the many kinds of human love that exist, and the biology and psychology that explain why we love the way we do. * Frans de Waal, author of Mama’s Last Hug - Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves *Love sits at the center of human existence, according to this sharp survey from anthropologist Machin... Machin draws from plenty of studies of both the human and animal worlds, and her personal interjections are energizing... this provocative account is a fitting tribute to its subject. * Publishers Weekly *
£9.49
Octopus Publishing Group The Spirit of the Rainforest
Book SynopsisBefore you step into the jungle, there are a few things you need to know...Join scientist Dr Rosa Vasquez Espinoza as she uncovers one of the most unexplored regions on the planet. Growing up amid the landscape of Peru and the rainforest of the Amazon, Rosa''s childhood was marked by the teachings of her grandmother. There, she was introduced to the world of traditional medicine and the rich biodiversity of the ''natural pharmacy'' right outside her window. After training as a scientist, Rosa returned to the Amazon rainforest to explore its rich landscapes, and the waters teeming with life. As a leading biologist in her field, Rosa continues to explore the region through a unique blend of scientific inquiry and ancient insight from indigenous communities.In this debut, Rosa uncovers hidden insights of the Amazon through fascinating stories from her expeditions in the jungle. Each chapter opens with a natural remedy from her pharmacopeia - situating the reader in a specific region of the Amazon. Through her personal and engaging narrative, Rosa recounts stories from her and her team''s journeys, and the many lessons they have learnt along the way. From the boiling river to the stingless bee, Rosa also shares fascinating discoveries of the unknown wonders of the Amazon - some of which will stretch beyond the realm of science to uncover the spirits of the rainforest.In this book, Rosa celebrates the richness of Amazonian culture, the wonders of biodiversity, and the enduring spiritual connections between humanity and the natural world.
£18.70
HarperCollins Publishers British Birds A photographic guide to every
Book SynopsisA complete photoguide to all the birds of Britain from the best nature publisher in the UKCollins Complete Guide to British Birds makes bird identification easier than ever before. It is the most complete photographic guide to British birds ever published and the only one to be designed to give everything that you need on each spread in a simple-to-use format. Every text entry covers identification of adults and juveniles, songs and calls, and where they are most likely to be found.Illustrated with specially commissioned photography and maps to show where in Britain the birds are found and at what time of year, this accessible guide also features cross-references to similar-looking species, containing everything a birdwatcher needs to know in one, easy-to-use, portable volume. It is the perfect photographic field guide for the birdwatching beginner.
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd In Defence of Dogs
Book SynopsisWhat would dogs ask for, if they knew how? In the Sunday Times bestseller In Defence of Dogs John Bradshaw, an anthropologist at Bristol University who has been at the centre of the latest research into what makes dogs tick, gives us the answers.Overturning the most common myths about dogs'' emotions and behaviour, this book shows how we should really treat our pets, and stands up for dogdom: not the wolf in canine clothes, not the small furry child, not the trophy-winner, but the real dog, who wants to be part of the family and enjoy life - mankind''s closest friend. This is the real science that every dog lover needs to know.Trade ReviewA revelation - a major rethink about the way we understand our dogs ... there is no doubt about it - Professor John Bradshaw is a dog's best friend -- Kate Kellaway * Observer *Every dog lover, dog owner or prospective dog buyer should read this book. It will change how you feel about dogs and, likely enough, how you treat them, too -- James McConnachie * Sunday Times *A must-read for dog lovers everywhere * Independent *Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the complicated psychology behind the growl, the rising hackles and the wagging tail -- Roy Hattersley * Daily Telegraph *Scholarly yet passionate ... nothing less than a manifesto for a new understanding of our canine friends ... fascinating -- Chris Cox * Guardian *A lovely and clear-headed book on all things dog-emotion, mind, and breed. John Bradshaw's authority and experience are matched by the thoughtfulness and humanity of his writing. Read this before you bring a dog into your life. -- Alexandra Horowitz * author of 'Inside of a Dog' *[A] wonderful, reassuring, and encouraging book ... distinguishes canine science from canine folklore -- Jonathan Mirsky * Literary Review *Truly fascinating ... rich in ideas and counter-ideas, and will reward anyone who respects animals ... enlightening ... Bradshaw's years of knowledge and his clear passion for dogs both shine through * The Sunday Business Post *Authoritative, wise and, in its sharp appreciation of the cost of dogs of living with us, rather moving -- Robert Hanks * Independent *The most fantastic book ... required reading for dog lovers everywhere * Observer *A well-grounded overview of the Canis family's evolutionary journey...this is what makes the book so appealing. He does more than simply lay out interesting theories; he uses science to advocate for a better life for companion dogs. * The Bark *A wonderfully informative, quietly passionate book that will benefit every dog whose owner reads it * Economist *Wonderfully humane, calmly-written and curiously moving ... [a] lovely book, illuminating for everyone who has or is thinking of having a dog -- Michael Bywater * The First Post *By giving the reader an overview of mankind's relationship with both dogs and wolves, [Bradshaw] also shows us ourselves -- Bella Bathurst * Observer *One may feel fully confident when reading [this] ... Bradshaw makes deft work of summarising important and novel insights on dog evolution * Times Higher Education *An alternative to conventional, dominance-based approaches to understanding dogs (Cesar Millan's methods, for example) in an informative...guide to how canine biology and psychology determine behavior.... Bradshaw's book is useful to those looking to further their understanding of dog behavior and clarify common misconceptions * Publisher's Weekly *Both an interesting armchair read and an important primer for any dog owner * Science Focus *In Defence of Dogs provides an extensive insight into the minds of man's best friend - a must for all owners. John Bradshaw [is] a pioneer * Big Issue *
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Helgoland
Book SynopsisThe instant Sunday Times bestseller -- a beautiful story of rebellion and science''A triumph. . . We are left in a world that is not disenchanted by science, but even more magical'' Financial TimesIn June 1925, twenty-three-year-old Werner Heisenberg, suffering from hay fever, had retreated to the treeless, wind-battered island of Helgoland in the North Sea in order to think. Walking all night, by dawn he had wrestled with an idea that would transform the whole of science and our very conception of the world.In Helgoland Carlo Rovelli tells the story of the birth of quantum physics and its bright young founders who were to become some of the most famous Nobel winners in science. It is a celebration of youthful rebellion and intellectual revolution. An invitation to a magical place.Here Rovelli illuminates competing interpretations of this science and offers his own original view, describing the world we touch as a fabric woven by relations. Where we, as every other thing around us, exist in our interactions with one another, in a never-ending game of mirrors.A dazzling work from a celebrated scientist and master storyteller, Helgoland transports us to dizzying heights, reminding us of the many pleasures of the life of the mind.Translated by Erica Segre and Simon CarnellChosen as a Book of the Year by The Times, Financial Times, Sunday Times, Guardian and ProspectShortlisted for the Nayef Al-Rodhan PrizeTrade ReviewPopular science has rarely been so good * Prospect *The greatest populariser of physics today. . . We are left in a world that is not disenchanted by science, but even more magical. A triumph -- Julian Baggini * Financial Times *Theoretical physics often feels rather mystical. This mind-bending, lively book by the bestselling physicist Carlo Rovelli reinforces that other-wordly feeling. . . unforgettable * The Times *Rovelli is often called the poet of physics. He writes elegant, wondering, enlarging books on time and quantum theory, much in the spirit of a priest bringing the word of God to his congregation, and I've found it good for my soul to be confronted with how little I understand the world and everything in it -- Sarah Perry * Guardian *One of the warmest, most elegant and most lucid interpreters of the dazzling enigmas of his discipline. . . A momentous book -- John Banville * Wall Street Journal *His most beautiful book yet. . . leaves an unforgettable impression of its author as a man struggling at the furthest limits of human comprehension -- James Marriot * The Times *A deep-thinking, restlessly inquiring spirit. . . His books continue a tradition of popular scientific writing from Galileo to Darwin that disappeared in the academic specialisations of the past century -- Ian Thomson * Observer *Another brilliant book by Rovelli. . . You'll have fun -- Clive Cookson * Financial Times *If anyone can make sense of the topsy-turvy, counterintuitive world of quantum physics, it is Carlo Rovelli, the most poetically minded of today's science communicators * The Times *A remarkably wide-ranging new meditation on quantum theory. . . With the light touch of a skilled storyteller. . . Rovelli is not afraid to mix quantum physics and eastern philosophy -- Manjit Kumar * Guardian *A great tonic for long-isolated minds . . . a thrilling story, written with Rovelli's accustomed wit and panache. After reading him, you'll look at the grains of beach sand between your toes with an entirely new eye * Irish Independent *Inspiring. . . Without mathematics or experiment, by page 81 your thoughts are at the frontier of quantum theory -- Alexander Masters * Spectator *A delight . . . it is a pleasure to travel in Rovelli's company * New Statesman *Travelogue meets biography meets a masterful explanation of quantum theory in this warm and fascinating account * Guardian *Explained with uncanny insight and lyrical grace * Time *A new vision, one with a remarkable power in delivering new answers to old quantum riddles. . . original and graceful -- Jenann T. Ismael * TLS *Bracing and refreshing. . . Rovelli is offering a new way to understand not just the world but our place in it, too * NPR *Carlo Rovelli is a genius and an amazing communicator. . . What I love about his writing is that it always comes back to people -- people interacting with other people, who are interacting with their world. This is the place where science comes to life -- Neil GaimanWhen life feels strange, Rovelli's books remind me that there is beauty in the strangeness -- Johny PittsRovelli is a brilliant and lucid teacher who uses his understanding of theoretical physics and the quantum world to talk about the complexity of our everyday reality -- Russell BrandCarlo Rovelli's imaginative rigour, his lively humour and his beautiful writing are inspiring -- Erica WagnerRovelli opens windows onto the imagination for all of us -- Antony GormleyI always find with Carlo Rovelli's books that there are moments when you get a real hit of understanding -- a jigsaw in your mind that just falls into place -- Robin InceHelgoland is a wonderful guide to the most extraordinary story in physics. It will reset your view of the universe -- Marcus du SautoyHooked me so hard I read the entire book in one sitting. And then twice more -- Lisa Feldman Barrett * Chronicle of Higher Education *The old, solid world, if you believed in it at all, breaks into a glorious shimmer of limitless potential -- Brian Morton * Tablet *Rovelli has an uncanny knack for instilling wonder and explaining complex theories in plain, entertaining ways * Irish Times *I'm keen for everyone to read Helgoland: a wonderfully lucid and poetic account of the foundations of quantum physics. It combines a compelling history with Rovelli's own intriguing - and for me very appealing - views about the basis of all things -- Anil Seth, author of Being You
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd How Religion Evolved
Book SynopsisA fascinating analysis of the evolution of religion from the internationally renowned evolutionary psychologistWhen did humans develop spiritual thought? What is religion''s evolutionary purpose? And in our increasingly secular world, why has it endured?Every society in the history of humanity has lived with religion. In How Religion Evolved, evolutionary psychologist Professor Robin Dunbar tracks its origins back to what he terms the ''mystical stance'' - the aspect of human psychology that predisposes us to believe in a transcendent world, and which makes an encounter with the spiritual possible. As he explores world religions and their many derivatives, as well as religions of experience practised by hunter-gatherer societies since time immemorial, Dunbar argues that this instinct is not a peculiar human quirk, an aberration on our otherwise efficient evolutionary journey. Rather, religion confers an advantage: it can benefit our individual health anTrade ReviewStimulating and hugely ambitious... A compelling intellectual workout. Dunbar offers a powerful central argument, an excellent survey of alternative theories and a wide range of vivid and illuminating examples... The story he tells is important to us all -- Matthew Reisz * Observer *Dunbar's intellectual interests are far-ranging, and he is as sure-footed talking about human cognition as congregation sizes... How Religion Evolved is learned, readable and sweeping (in the best sense of that word)... Hard to argue with -- Nick Spencer * Financial Times *When one of the most creative, insightful, and versatile evolutionary thinkers of our time turns his scientific gaze toward religion, it is no surprise that he delivers a landmark book that completely reshapes our understanding of religious belief, experience, and practice. In How Religion Evolved, Dunbar not only raises fundamental questions that previous scholars of religion have ignored, he offers novel solutions in a comprehensive narrative that is as engaging as it is informative. A gifted scientist and writer has given anyone interested in religion a genuine gift -- Richard Sosis, James Barnett Professor of Humanistic Anthropology, University of ConnecticutA book with impressive intellectual sweep -- Clive Cookson * Financial Times *
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd The Quantum Universe
Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling authors of Why does E=mc2? comes The Quantum Universe, in which Brian Cox, presenter of the BBC''s Wonders of the Solar System and Wonders of the Universe, and Jeff Forshaw go on a brilliantly ambitious mission to show that everyone can understand the deepest questions of science. But just what is quantum physics? How does it help us understand our amazing world? Where does it leave Newton and Einstein? And why, above all, can we be sure that the theory is good?Here, Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw give us the real science behind the bizarre behaviour of the atoms and energy that make up the universe, and reveal exactly how everything that can happen, does happen.Trade ReviewA scientific match made in heaven...as breezily a written accessible account of the theory of quantum mechanics as you could wish for - from the Planck constant to the Higgs particle and everything theoretically in between * Observer *Mindblowing ... what is novel about this attempt is that the writers take an intellectual rather than a historical approach ... it is a surprisingly rich idea that allows the authors to avoid using too much mathematics -- Christopher Potter * Sunday Times *[Cox and Forshaw] stand together at the cutting edge of their discipline ... despite their elevated status, both men remain tiggerishly excitable about their subject ... Cox and Forshaw's book is a carefully guided tour through this quantum world ... popularize[s] without dumbing down -- Christopher Cook * Financial Times *A thrilling voyage into the subatomic world * The Economist Books of the Year *With brightness and gusto, the opening chapters deal with the culture shock that thinking about the sub-atomic world entails ...They are good at drawing connections between seemingly esoteric theory and everyday practicalities -- Doug Johnstone * Independent on Sunday *The rock star of science... In Quantum Universe they do a great job of bringing a difficult subject to life -- Hannah Devlin * The Times *Breaks the rules of popular science writing...admirably shies away from dumbing down...the authors' love for their subject-matter shines through the book * The Economist *Admirably, Cox and Forshaw...treat topics that do not usually show up in popular books...readers will enjoy this engaging, ambitious and creative tour of our quantum universe -- David Kaiser * The Guardian *By explaining theories about the world, Cox and Forshaw show that the workings of the universe can be understood by us all -- Fanny Blake * Woman & Home *
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group Blue Mind How Water Makes You Happier More
Book SynopsisWhy are we drawn to the ocean each summer? Why does being near water set our minds and bodies at ease? In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols revolutionizes how we think about these questions, revealing the remarkable truth about the benefits of being in, on, under, or simply near water. Grounded in cutting-edge studies in neurobiology, cognitive psychology, economics, and medicine, and made real by stories of innovative scientists, doctors, athletes, artists, environmentalists, businesspeople and lovers of nature - stories that fascinate the mind and touch the heart - Blue Mind will awaken readers to the vital importance of water to the health and happiness of us all.Trade ReviewThe tone is that of an extended Ted talk . . . at the heart of Nichols's book are real revelations -- Philip Hoare * Guardian *A fascinating study of the emotional, behavioral, psychological and physical connections that keep humans so enchanted with water . . . You'll read it once and then come back to it time and again * Washington Post *
£11.69
Faber & Faber The Faber Book of Science
Book SynopsisThe Faber Book of Science introduces hunting spiders and black holes, gorillas and stardust, protons, photons and neutrinos. In his acclaimed anthology, John Carey plots the development of modern science from Leonardo da Vinci to Chaos Theory. The emphasis is on the scientists themselves and their own accounts of their breakthroughs and achievements. The classic science-writers are included - Darwin, T.H. Huxley and Jean Henri Fabre tracking insects through the Provencal countryside. So too are today''s experts - Steve Jones on the Human Genome Project, Richard Dawkins on DNA and many other representatives of the contemporary genre of popular science-writing which, John Carey argues, challenges modern poetry and fiction in its imaginative power.
£15.29
Prometheus Books Decoding the Language of God: Can a Scientist
Book SynopsisIn his bestselling book, The Language of God, Francis Collins-the director of the National Institutes of Health and the scientist who led the Human Genome Project-attempted to harmonize the findings of scientific research with Christian belief. In this response to Collins's work, fellow geneticist George C. Cunningham presents a point-by-point rebuttal of The Language of God, arguing that there is no scientifically acceptable evidence to support belief in a personal God and much that discredits it. Written with admirable clarity for the nonscientist, Decoding the Language of God covers much of the same ground addressed by Collins in his book: the origins of moral behavior, the difficulty of reconciling belief in a good God with the existence of evil.and anthropic coincidences as evidence of God as creator. Cunningham also devotes chapters to the unreliability of the Bible as a basis for belief; the conflict between naturalistic explanations of reality, which are anchored in scientific research, and supernatural interpretations, which are not; and the many difficulties in conceptualizing the origins of the universe in terms of a personal God. Unlike recent hostile attacks on religious belief, Cunningham's respectful, well-reasoned discussion will appeal to open-minded people across the whole spectrum of belief and unbelief.
£13.29
Mango Media Starry Wonders
Book SynopsisExplore the Brightest Stars in the Night SkyExplore the 25 brightest stars in the night sky and discover their unique characteristics, life cycles, and star categories, offering readers an in-depth understanding of astronomy objects and the universe.Delve into the captivating world of stars. This star gazing book takes you on a cosmic journey, unveiling the secrets of the brightest star in the sky and the fascinating star systems that have intrigued humanity for millennia. Dive deep into the fascinating details of each star system, including their size, color, temperature, distance from Earth, and the presence of exoplanets. Explore the universe like never before. Thanks to advanced observational astronomy, we can look further and more clearly than ever before. You''ll discover unique and exceptional stars, from the largest star in the universe to variable stars that change brightness, and even a star composed of diamonds. From the majestic Sirius star system to distant constellations like Ursa Major, this book offers a detailed journey through these celestial wonders, making it an ideal astronomy gift or star gazing gift for kids.Inside, you’ll find: A deep dive into the characteristics of the 25 brightest stars in the night sky. Fundamental stargazing principles, teaching you how to identify constellations, locate celestial objects, and appreciate the night sky. Insights into the life cycle and classification of stars, alongside fascinating examples of unique stars, such as the largest star in the universe and a star composed of diamonds, capturing the diverse nature of star categories. If you liked Star Finder!, National Geographic Stargazer''s Atlas, or Space Explorers, you’ll love 25 Brightest Stars.
£17.99
Coordination Group Publications Ltd (CGP) A-Level Chemistry: Essential Maths Skills
Book SynopsisThis brilliant CGP book covers all the maths skills needed in AS and A-Level Chemistry (the use of maths is required for 20% of the marks in the final exams and assessments). It explains Calculations, Units, Handling Data, Graph Skills and Geometry, with clear study notes and step-by-step examples in the context of Chemistry. And to make sure you’ve really got to grips with it all, there are practice questions for each topic - with answers included at the back of the book.
£10.13
Coordination Group Publications Ltd (CGP) A-Level Physics: AQA Year 1 & 2 Exam Practice
Book SynopsisPractice makes perfect which is why CGP has created this superb Exam Practice Workbook for Year 1 & 2 of AQA A-Level Physics. It’s packed with ultra-realistic exam questions covering every topic students need to know, including a section of mixed (synoptic) questions. We’ve added in exam tips throughout to make sure there are no unpleasant surprises in their exams! To round things off there are fully worked answers and mark schemes for every question. For study notes and even more practice don’t miss the CGP AQA A-Level Physics Complete Revision & Practice guide (9781789080322).
£11.99
Penguin Books Ltd The Future Loves You
£10.44
Octopus Publishing Group The Hidden Life of Garden Birds: The unseen drama
Book SynopsisA glimpse into the secret lives of over 50 garden birds, with beautiful illustrations and intriguing factsDid you know that woodpeckers are capable of learning simple codes? Hooded crows can form connections with humans? A jay's call affects the behaviour of surrounding squirrels?All these fascinating bird activities and more are revealed in The Hidden Life of Garden Birds. Unusual feeding behaviour is just the tip of the iceberg. From territorial conflict and strange relationships with man, to breeding and nesting oddities, this book exposes all the drama behind garden birds' everyday survival - making it the perfect gift for birdwatchers.The Hidden Life of Garden Birds will enlighten you to the secret going-ons of the common creatures you can spot from the comfort of your back doorstep.
£17.09
Princeton University Press Bats of the World
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£25.20
HarperCollins Publishers Lifespan Why We Age and Why We Dont Have To
Book SynopsisIn this paradigm-shifting book from acclaimed Harvard Medical School doctor and one of TIME magazine's 100 most influential people on earth, Dr. David Sinclair reveals that everything we think we know about ageing is wrong, and shares the surprising, scientifically-proven methods that can help readers live younger, longer.For decades, the medical community has looked to a variety of reasons for why we age, and the consensus is that no one dies of old age; they die of age-related diseases. That''s because ageing is not a disease it is inevitable.But what if everything you think you know about ageing is wrong?What if ageing is a disease? And that disease is curable.In LIFESPAN, Dr. David Sinclair, one of the world's foremost authorities on genetics and ageing, argues just that. He has dedicated his life's work to chasing more than a longer lifespan he wants to enable people to live longer, healthier, and disease-free well into our hundreds. In this book, he reveals a bold new theory ofTrade Review‘If you ever wondered how we age, if we can slow or even reverse aging, and if we can live a healthy 100 plus years, then David Sinclair’s new book Lifespan, which reads like a detective novel, will guide you through the science and the practical strategies to make your health span equal your lifespan, and make your lifespan long and vibrant.’– Mark Hyman, MD Director, Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine and #1 New York Times bestselling author ‘This is the most visionary book about aging I have ever read. Seize the day–and seize this book!’– Dean Ornish, MD, founder & president, Preventive Medicine Research Institute, and New York Times bestselling author of UnDo It! "In this insightful and provocative book that asks questions about how we age, and whether humans can overcome decay and degeneration, Sinclair grapples with some of the most fundamental questions around the science of aging. The result is an elegant and exciting book that deserves to be read broadly and deeply." Author: Siddhartha Mukherjee, Pulitzer Prize–winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author “There are few books that have ever made me think about science in a fundamentally new way. David Sinclair’s book did that for me on aging. This is a book that anyone who ages must read.” Author: Leroy Hood, PhD, professor at the California Institute of Technology, inventor, entrepreneur, member of all three US National Academies, and co-author of Code of Codes
£18.70
HarperCollins Publishers Earth
Book SynopsisCombines the natural history of programmes such as David Attenborough's Planet Earth with the planetary focus of Brian Cox's Universe' GuardianA beautiful, full colour book to accompany the 5 part BBC TV series telling the most important story of all, the deep history of our own planet.With the trademark dramatic storytelling techniques of The Planets and The Universe, Andrew Cohen and Chris Packham narrate the biography of the Earth, revealing the most epic moments from its history, from the first seconds of its existence to the arrival of its most incredible inhabitants, us.But humans take a back seat for this story as the Earth takes centre stage. We'll witness those moments where our planet's future hung in the balance in the face of massive bombardments from space, extreme changes in climate, the collision of whole continents and more, and we'll tell the story of how Earth's most incredible creations life and intelligence are set to have the same lasting impact on Earth's story Trade Review‘Combines the natural history of programmes such as David Attenborough’s Planet Earth with the planetary focus of Brian Cox’s Universe to show how their interconnectivity has created and sometimes almost obliterated life on Earth’ Guardian ‘Enlightenment has always been at the heart of Packham’s activism. His new series, Earth, is nothing less than the biography of our planet … Earth selects five cataclysms from history where our planet’s future hung in the balance, condensing over 4.5 billion years … No mean feat … Earth wouldn’t be a Packham project without the moments of unalloyed wonder’ Radio Times ‘The most epic moments from the Earth’s history … Crammed with loads of interesting trivia’ Closer ‘Traces some of the greatest eruptions, freezes and moments of sheer destruction in Earth’s history … A reminder that the planet is more indifferent to us than we care to admit’ IFL Science ‘This is what the end of the world could look like’ Country and Town House ‘Impassioned’ Mirror
£18.75
Simon & Schuster Diffusion of Innovations 5th Edition
Book SynopsisNow in its fifth edition, Diffusion of Innovations is a classic work on the spread of new ideas. In this renowned book, Everett M. Rogers, professor and chair of the Department of Communication & Journalism at the University of New Mexico, explains how new ideas spread via communication channels over time. Such innovations are initially perceived as uncertain and even risky. To overcome this uncertainty, most people seek out others like themselves who have already adopted the new idea. Thus the diffusion process consists of a few individuals who first adopt an innovation, then spread the word among their circle of acquaintances—a process which typically takes months or years. But there are exceptions: use of the Internet in the 1990's, for example, may have spread more rapidly than any other innovation in the history of humankind. Furthermore, the Internet is changing the very nature of diffusion by decreasing the importance of physical distance between people. The fifth edition addresses the spread of the Internet, and how it has transformed the way human beings communicate and adopt new ideas.Trade ReviewChoice The name of Everett Rogers...is virtually synonymous with the study of the diffusion of innovations....His coverage is comprehensive, ranging from the elements of diffusion and the history of diffusion research to generators of innovation, change agents, and the consequences of innovations. Among the many features that make this an exemplary interdisciplinary effort are Rogers's clear, literate style and his ability to stay in touch with social realities. He sets a high standard for social theorists.Technology and Culture A classic work....Full of interesting insights, solid examples, and good common sense.Journal of Communication Incorporates important advances...presented in the usual clear, didactic, and often light-spirited style of the author, who also offers choice examples of his wide cross-cultural experiences. The result is a highly readable and discussion-provoking text.Engineering Management Society Holds several important lessons for anyone planning the introduction of new ideas in a firm....Introduces the latest and probably some of the best thinking in that area.Table of ContentsContentsPrefaceCHAPTER 1. ELEMENTS OF DIFFUSIONCHAPTER 2. A HISTORY OF DIFFUSION RESEARCHCHAPTER 3. CONTRIBUTIONS AND CRITICISMS OF DIFFUSION RESEARCHCHAPTER 4. THE GENERATION OF INNOVATIONSCHAPTER 5. THE INNOVATION-DECISION PROCESSCHAPTER 6. ATTRIBUTES OF INNOVATIONS AND THEIR RATE OF ADOPTIONCHAPTER 7. INNOVATIVENESS AND ADOPTER CATEGORIESCHAPTER 8. DIFFUSION NETWORKSCHAPTER 9. THE CHANGE AGENTCHAPTER 10. INNOVATION IN ORGANIZATIONSCHAPTER 11. CONSEQUENCES OF INNOVATIONSGlossaryBibliographyName IndexSubject Index
£21.25
Oxford University Press Who We Are and How We Got Here
Book SynopsisThe past few years have seen a revolution in our ability to map whole genome DNA from ancient humans. With the ancient DNA revolution, combined with rapid genome mapping of present human populations, has come remarkable insights into our past. This important new data has clarified and added to our knowledge from archaeology and anthropology, helped resolve long-existing controversies, challenged long-held views, and thrown up some remarkable surprises.The emerging picture is one of many waves of ancient human migrations, so that all populations existing today are mixes of ancient ones, as well as in many cases carrying a genetic component from Neanderthals, and, in some populations, Denisovans. David Reich, whose team has been at the forefront of these discoveries, explains what the genetics is telling us about ourselves and our complex and often surprising ancestry. Gone are old ideas of any kind of racial ''purity'', or even deep and ancient divides between peoples. Instead, we are finding a rich variety of mixtures. Reich describes the cutting-edge findings from the past few years, and also considers the sensitivities involved in tracing ancestry, with science sometimes jostling with politics and tradition. He brings an important wider message: that we should celebrate our rich diversity, and recognize that every one of us is the result of a long history of migration and intermixing of ancient peoples, which we carry as ghosts in our DNA.What will we discover next?Trade ReviewA wonderfully illuminating exposition of how advances in reading ancient DNA have upended our ideas about past population movements and human interaction. * Paul Collier, Books of the Year 2018, The Times Literary Supplement *Hugely impressive. * Robin McKie, Books of the Year 2018: Science, The Observer *Remarkable ... Spectacular ... In making constant new discoveries about humanity, Reich and his Harvard team are now plunging into uncharted academic waters ... Reich's influence in this field has been immense and the output of his department monumental ... Thrilling in its clarity and its scope. * Peter Forbes, The Guardian *This is a compendious book ... its importance cannot be overstated and neither can some of its best stories. * Bryan Appleyard, The Sunday Times *A thrilling account of mapping humans through time and place ... Reich gives us a window into what ancient DNA can tell us about human evolution, the peopling of the world, continent by continent, and the population mixing that makes us who we are today. * Turi King, Nature *Few subjects fascinate us as much as human origins ... If you want to understand our origins over the course of the last 100,000 years, this book will be the best up-to-date account for you. * Jared Diamond, New York Times Book Review *The conclusions of this book are reassuringly complex and nuanced. But they are no less approachable, no less captivating for that. Indeed, the result is to bring prehistory almost disarmingly close. He brings whole societies from that past vividly to life. * Harry de Quetteville, The Daily Telegraph *Gives the first comprehensive account of this newly revealed prehistory ... an astonishing book. * Juliet Sam, The Daily Telegraph *Reich has produced an invaluable resource that is likely to become an enduring intellectual touchstone. * Tom Booth, British Archaeology *Who We Are and How We Got Here provides a marvellous synthesis of the field. * Clive Cookson, The Financial Times *Geneticists such as Reich have shown [...] that the human world has been made by people who move. This is an important lesson in a time when migration and mobility, in both reality and perception, play such a significant role. * Robert Foley, The Times Literary Supplement *In this comprehensive and provocative book, David Reich exhumes and examines fundamental questions about our origin and future using powerful evidence from human genetics. What does "race" mean in 2018? How alike and how unlike are we? What does identity mean? Reich's book is sobering and clear-eyed, and, in equal part, thrilling and thought provoking. There were times that I had to stand up and clear my thoughts to continue reading this astonishing and important book. * Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of The Emperor of All Maladies *The breakthrough that all archaeologists have been waiting for; a truly exciting account of the way in which ancient DNA is making us rethink prehistory. Essential reading for everyone interested in the past. * Barry Cunliffe, author of The Ancient Celts^ *David Reich uses the power of modern genome analysis to show the fascinating complexity of human migration and history. By letting the data lead him, he treads a narrow path between racists and xenophobes on one side and left-wing ideologues on the other. Although many of his conclusions will be controversial, he starts a necessary conversation about what modern genome analysis can tell us about the variability of human populations. * Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, Nobel Laureate and President of the Royal Society, London *This riveting book will blow you away with its rich and astounding account of where we came from and why that matters. Reich tells the surprising story of how humans got to every corner of the planet, which was revealed only after he and other scientists unlocked the secrets of ancient DNA. The courageous, compassionate and highly personal climax will transform how you think about the meaning of ancestry and race. * Daniel E. Lieberman, Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and author of The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health and Disease *Who We Are and How We Got Here dramatically revises our understanding of the deep history of our species in our African homeland and beyond. Reich's beautifully written book reads like a detective novel and demonstrates a hard truth that often makes many of us uncomfortable: not only are all human beings mixed, but our intuitive understanding of the evolution of the population structure of the world around us is not to be trusted. * Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Professor of Literature at Harvard University and Executive Producer of "Finding Your Roots" *In just five years the study of ancient DNA has transformed our understanding of world prehistory. The geneticist David Reich, one of the pioneers in this field, here gives the brilliantly lucid first account of the resulting new view of human origins and of the later dispersals which went on to shape the modern world. * Colin Renfrew, Emeritus Disney Professor of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge *This book will revolutionize our understanding of human prehistory. David Reich sheds new light on our past from the vantage of a sparkling new discipline-the analysis of ancient DNA. He places migration in the limelight, demonstrating that humans did not just evolve, they spread, often on dramatic scales. * Peter Bellwood, Professor of Archaeology at Australian National University *Reich's book isn't just a collection of stories about the histories of human populations. It is a fascinating case study of scientific revolution ... Reich also has interesting things to say about the way his discipline has over the years been caught up in politics. * Steven Mithen, The London Review of Books *Whole genome mapping hasn't just revolutionised our world, it has helped us rethink our past. * Simon Ings & Liz Else, New Scientist *A hugely important book and essential reading. * Edward Biddulph, Current Archaeology *The Harvard professor [Reich], who is 43, was recently highlighted by the journal Nature as one of 10 people who mattered in all of science for his role in transforming the field of ancient DNA from "niche pursuit to industrial process". * Paul Rincon, BBC News *The work in [Reich's] lab has reshaped our understanding of human prehistory ... He and his colleagues have shed light on the peopling of the planet and the spread of agriculture, among other momentous events. * Carl Zimmer, The New York Times *Reich's intellectual curiosity and passion for research shine through every page of his book ... This book is required reading for everyone interested in an up-to-date account of the spellbinding story of human prehistory. * Debbie Kennett, Who Do You Think You Are? *I learned a good deal from this book, and I encourage others to do the same. * Bernard Wood, Current Biology *It is an incredibly exciting overview of a revolution in the making. * Leon Vlieger, The Inquisitive Biologist *Who We Are and How We Got Here is both comprehensive and exceptionally well-written ... [a] vast global scope as well as its myriad of fascinating details. * Richard Milner, Minerva *Introduces us to the 21st-century Rosetta Stone: ancient DNA, which will do more for our understanding of prehistory than radiocarbon dating did ... Who We Are and How We Got Here is less than 300 pages of text, but it is packed with startling facts and novel revelations that overturn the conventional expectations of both science and common sense. * The National Review *Professor David Reich of Harvard Medical School [...] is not a disinterested observer of a fast-developing field; he is a participant and, in fact, a driver, of the ancient DNA revolution and it is his and his team's research that has accomplished much of the reshaping of human history. So this book has the feel of a first-hand account from the trenches that also carries with it a high-level perspective of what is going on where and why. * Tony Joseph, The Hindu *David Reich's magisterial book is a riveting account of human pre-history and history, through the new lens provided by ancient DNA data. The story of human populations, as he shows, is ever one of widespread, repeated mixing, debunking the fiction of a "pure" population. * Molly Przeworski, Professor of Biological Sciences at Columbia University *Powerful writing and extraordinary insights animate this endlessly fascinating account, by a world scientific leader, of who we modern humans are and how our ancestors arrived in the diverse corners of the world. I could not put the book down. * Robert Weinberg, Professor of Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology *Reich's book reads like notes from the frontline of the 'Ancient DNA Revolution' with all the spellbinding drama and intrigue that comes with such a huge transformation in our understanding of human history. * Anne Wojcicki, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of 23andMe *Table of ContentsIntroductionPart I - The Deep History of Our Species1: How the Genome Explains Who We Are2: Interbreeding with Neanderthals3: Ancient DNA Opens the FloodgatesPart II - How We Got to Where We Are Today4: Humanity's Ghosts5: The Making of Modern Europe6: The Collision that Formed India7: In Search of American Ancestors8: The Genomic Origins of East Asians9: Rejoining Africa to the Human StoryPart III -The Disruptive Genome10: The Genomics of Inequality11: The Genomics of Race and Identity12: The Future of Ancient DNA
£12.34
Pearson Education Limited Edexcel ASA level Chemistry Lab Book
Book Synopsis
£7.52
Cambridge University Press Quantum Field Theory
Book SynopsisThis modern text combines fundamental principles with advanced topics and recent techniques in a rigorous and self-contained treatment of quantum field theory.Beginning with a review of basic principles, starting with quantum mechanics and special relativity, students can refresh their knowledge of elementary aspects of quantum field theory and perturbative calculations in the Standard Model. Results and tools relevant to many applications are covered, including canonical quantization, path integrals, non-Abelian gauge theories, and the renormalization group. Advanced topics are explored, with detail given on effective field theories, quantum anomalies, stable extended field configurations, lattice field theory, and field theory at a finite temperature or in the strong field regime. Two chapters are dedicated to new methods for calculating scattering amplitudes (spinor-helicity, on-shell recursion, and generalized unitarity), equipping students with practical skills for research. AccesTrade Review'Quantum Field Theory: From Basics to Modern Topics, by François Gelis, is a very welcome addition to the canon of literature on quantum field theory, impressive both in its breadth and depth. It covers, in a succinct fashion, foundational material in the subject and then treats many more modern developments: effective field theories, anomaly matching, recursion relations for gauge and gravitational amplitudes, strong fields, and more.' Laurence Yaffe, University of Washington'Though there are many books on quantum field theory, I have found this book valuable for its readable treatment of a diverse selection of modern topics from a uniform viewpoint. Subjects introduced well in this book that are hard to find elsewhere include Schwinger-Keldysh and finite-temperature field theory, modern tools for scattering amplitudes, worldline methods, as well as effective field theory. The discussion is illustrated with a rich set of examples, mainly from high energy physics.' John McGreevy, University of California, San DiegoTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Basics of quantum field theory; 2. Peturbation theory; 3. Quantum electrodynamics; 4. Spontaneous symmetry breaking; 5. Functional quantization; 6. Path integrals for fermions and photons; 7. Non-Abelian gauge symmetry; 8. Quantization of Yang–Mills theory; 9. Renormalization of gauge theories; 10. Renormalization group; 11. Effective field theories; 12. Quantum anomalies; 13. Localized field configurations; 14. Modern tools for tree amplitudes; 15. Wordline formalism; 16. Lattice field theory; 17. Quantum field theory at finite temperature; 18. Strong fields and semi-classical methods; 19. From trees to loops; Further reading; Index.
£47.49
Orion Publishing Co Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs
Book SynopsisCan we give Grandma a Viking funeral?Why don''t animals dig up all the graves?Will my hair keep growing in my coffin after I''m buried?Every day, funeral director Caitlin Doughty receives dozens of questions about death. Here she offers her factual, hilarious and candid answers to thirty-five of the most interesting, sharing the lore and science of what happens to, and inside, our bodies after we die. Why do corpses groan? What causes bodies to turn strange colours during decomposition? and why do hair and nails appear longer after death? The answers are all within . . .Trade ReviewNobody likes to think about mortality, but if you're going to, there are far worse places to start than Doughty. WILL MY CAT EAT MY EYEBALLS? is funny, dark, and at times stunningly existential. As to whether or not your cat will eat your eyeballs? You'll just have to read the book to find out * Guardian *Fascinating. Taking a no-holds-barred approach, Doughty writes in visceral and engaging detail about an often taboo subject * OBSERVER *Consistently good fun * SPECTATOR *There's serious science here, but also cultural lessons in death and dying, a little history, and a touch of gruesomeness wrapped in that shroud of sharp, witty humour * Philadelphia Tribune *[A] delightful mixture of science and humour * Library Journal *Doughty's answers are as delightful and distinctive as the questions. She blends humour with respect for the dead . . . Her investigations of ritual, custom, law and science are thorough, and she doesn't shy from naming the parts of Grandma's body that might leak after she is gone * Shelf Awareness *
£8.99
Dorling Kindersley Ltd The Science of Animals
Book SynopsisSee the animal kingdom in all its glory, from jellyfish to polar bears, with up-close details of their unique features from head to toe. Filled with magnificent photographs that were specially commissioned for this book and cannot be seen anywhere else. Written in association with the Natural History Museum.This visual reference book starts with the question what is an animal? and takes you through the animal kingdom - mammals, reptiles, birds, and sea creatures. It uses a unique head to toe approach that showcases in spectacular detail special features such as the flight feathers of a parrot, the antenna of a moth, or the tentacles of coral.This visual encyclopedia is filled with clear and fascinating information on everything about the social lives of animals. Read exciting stories, like how animals communicate, defend their territories, and attract mates.Learn how evolution has helped wildlife to adapt to their unique environments, whether
£25.50
Vintage Publishing The Knowledge
Book SynopsisIf the world as we know it ended tomorrow, how would you survive?A nuclear war, viral pandemic or asteroid strike. The world as we know it has ended. You and the other survivors must start again. What knowledge would you need to start rebuilding civilisation from scratch?How do you grow food, generate power, prepare medicines, or get metal out of rocks? Could you avert another Dark Ages, or take shortcuts to accelerate redevelopment? Living in the modern world, we have become disconnected from the basic processes and key fundamentals of science that sustain our lives.Ingenious and groundbreaking, The Knowledge explains everything you need to know about everything, revolutionising your understanding of the world. A glorious compendium of the knowledge we have lost in the livingthe most inspiring book I've read in a long time' Independent A terrifically engrossing history of science and technology' Guardian<Trade ReviewAs the scouts say – be prepared! Say your prayers that you never need this book -- Bear GryllsA glorious compendium of the knowledge we have lost in the living… This is the most inspiring book I’ve read in a long time -- Peter Forbes * Independent *An extraordinary achievement... It is a great read even if civilisation does not collapse. If it does, it will be the sacred text of the new world — Dartnell that world’s first great prophet * The Times *The ultimate do-it-yourself guide to ‘rebooting’ human civilization * Nature *A terrifically engrossing history of science and technology -- Steven Poole * Guardian *
£10.44
Quercus Publishing How to Hold Animals
Book SynopsisA delightful treasure trove of tips on how to hold animals without hurting them.Should you hold a mouse by its tail? A grasshopper by its leg? A butterfly by its wing?How do you pick up a prickly hedgehog? A slithering snake? A hissing cat?Most of us don't have nearly enough experience of being around animals. We feel a bit apprehensive when it comes to touching them. Maybe we're scared we'll hurt them, or that they'll hurt us. That is a huge shame, because connecting with animals is a magical life skill that can make you feel at peace and aligned with nature.Luckily, animal photographer and former zookeeper Toshimitsu Matsuhashi is here to give you advice and show you the very best way to care for the animals in our lives, from beetles to hamsters and from chickens to dogs. Fully illustrated with fascinating information (did you know that you should go for the smaller rather than the bigger horn when you pick up a stag beetle?), How To Hold Animals leaves no stone unturned and teaches us all how to be kind to the animals around us.
£17.00
Oneworld Publications Little Eyes: LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER
Book SynopsisA visionary novel about our interconnected world, about the collision of horror and humanity, from the Man Booker-shortlisted master of the spine-tingling tale A Guardian & Observer Best Fiction Book of 2020 * A Sunday Times Best Science Fiction Book of the Year * The Times Best Science Fiction Books of the Year * NPR Best Books of the Year World Literature Today's 75 Notable Translations of 2020 * Ebook Travel Guides Best 5 Books of 2020 * A New York Times Notable Book of 2020 They’re not pets. Not ghosts or robots. These are kentukis, and they are in your home. You can trust them. They care about you... They've infiltrated apartments in Hong Kong, shops in Vancouver, the streets of Sierra Leone, town squares of Oaxaca, schools in Tel Aviv, bedrooms in Indiana. Anonymous and untraceable, these seemingly cute cuddly toys reveal the beauty of connection between far-flung souls – but they also expose the ugly truth of our interconnected society. Samanta Schweblin's wildly imaginative new novel pulls us into a dark and complex world of unexpected love, playful encounters and marvellous adventures. But beneath the cuddly exterior, kentukis conceal a truth that is unsettlingly familiar and exhilaratingly real. This is our present and we’re living it – we just don’t know it yet. *Little Eyes comes with two different covers, and the cover you receive will be chosen at random*Trade Review'Ingenious... An artful exploration of solitude and empathy in a globalised world… In a nimble, fast-moving narrative, what’s most impressive is the way she foregrounds her characters’ inner hopes and fears.' * Guardian *'Disturbing... Schweblin enjoys hovering just above the normal. Inspired by Samuel Beckett, she is interested in exposing absurdities.' * Financial Times *‘Little Eyes makes for masterfully uneasy reading; it’s a book that burrows under your skin.’ * Telegraph *'I cannot remember a book so efficient in establishing character and propelling narrative; there’s material for a hundred novels in these deft, rich 242 pages... The writing, ably translated from the Spanish by Megan McDowell, is superb, fully living up to the promise of Schweblin's stunning previous novel, Fever Dream... A slim volume as expansive and ambitious as an epic.' * New York Times *'A timely meditation on humanity and technology.' * Harper's Bazaar *'Little Eyes provides us with a powerful examination of the underlining disparities that persist. It is a fable for a society in which we are all made to feel simultaneously exposed and anonymous, connected and alone.' * Times Literary Supplement *‘Little Eyes acts as a clear warning that every digital decision we make has consequences... It does feel alarmingly real.’ * i *'This dazzling inquiry into loneliness and connection...has been given added resonance by the atomisation of lockdown.' * Guardian, '50 Brilliant Books to Transport You This Summer' *'A dark story, beautifully translated by Megan McDowell, it leaves the reader in a world from which there is no escape, as it questions our growing complicity in social media and neocapitalist technologies.' * Morning Star *'Creepy as hell.' * Weekend Sport *‘Enjoyable reading… riffing on everyday human foibles – jealousy, capriciousness, existential restlessness…the understatedly arch tone is well served by Megan McDowell’s translation, which is so slick that one hardly seems to be reading a translated work.’ * Literary Review *'Daring and original... Schweblin deftly explores both the loneliness and casual cruelty that can inform our attempts to connect in this modern world.' * Booklist *'If you want a spookily prescient vision of human isolation both assuaged and deepened by inscrutable, glitch-prone tech, then Little Eyes more than fits the brief... Adroitly served by Megan McDowell’s winningly deadpan translation, these stories deal not in 'truly brutal plots' but 'desperately human and quotidian' urges, fears and scams... In the middle of our stay-at-home, broadband-enabled apocalypse, that feels right.' * Spectator *'The 'toys' Schweblin has created are the perfect hybrid between a pet and a social network, enabling her to dissect problems that touch all of our lives: the dark side of the internet; the global epidemic of loneliness; the dumb inertia that leads us to jump on board with the latest trend… As always in the worlds Schweblin creates, the real monsters are to be found not in the outside world, but inside each of us.' * New York Times (Spanish edition) *'A dystopian novel that is necessary, hypnotic, irresistible.' * Elle Italia *'This brilliant and disturbing book resembles Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale in how it speculates…Schweblin unspools a disquieting portrait of the dark sides of connectivity and the kinds of animalistic cyborgs it can make of us, as we walk through barriers that even spirits cannot cross.' * Literary Hub *'The finest novel of the past five years. Quite exceptional. Little Eyes will certainly feature in future lists of the ten best novels of this century.' * Luisgé Martín, author of The Same City *'A nuanced exploration of anonymous connection and distant intimacy in our heavily accessible yet increasingly isolated lives...Capacious, touching, and disquieting, this is not-so-speculative fiction for an overnetworked and underconnected age.' * Kirkus Reviews *'Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin, translated by Megan McDowell, is a chilling and often hilarious book on the pitfalls of living in a highly interconnected world. Schweblin has a true talent for getting to the centre of our fears and drawing them out. An intensely clever title that will have you examining your own relationship to the internet.' -- Daisy Johnson, author of Sisters'This has a propulsive, Dave Eggers-ish readability.' * Daily Mail *'Little Eyes is a short, powerful, disquieting novel. The story explores the grey area that constitutes an invasion of privacy, and the line between intimacy and exhibitionism. Samanta Schweblin guides the narrative with a skilful hand reminiscent of her very finest short stories. An excellent storyteller, but above all, a true writer.' * La Razón *'Readers will be fascinated by the kentuki-human interactions, which smartly reveal how hungry we are for connection in a technology-bent world. Of a piece with Schweblin’s elliptical Fever Dream and the disturbing story collection Mouthful of Birds...this jittery eye-opener will appeal to a wide range of readers.' * Library Journal *'Schweblin’s handling of tension and her viscously instantaneous ironic twists, familiar from her short story collection Mouthful of Birds, are delicious... An eerie sense of disjuncture characterises the entire reading experience...an indicator of the deep, discomforting place it has made itself under my skin.' * 3:AM magazine *'Schweblin unfurls an eerie, uncanny story… Daring, bold, and devious.' * Publishers Weekly *'Her most unsettling work yet – and her most realistic.' * New York Times *‘A master of the unsettling… the imaginary technology at the heart of Little Eyes feels all too real, and Schweblin persuasively elaborates its operations and implications… the novel’s breadth provides much of its pleasure, allowing an inventiveness that balances the bleakness of its characters’ lives.’ -- Hannah Rosefield * The New Statesman *'In Samanta Schweblin's fiendishly readable Little Eyes, the new must-have tech gadget allows users to leapfrog into the lives of strangers – a sharp idea that became even more pertinent with the isolation and atomisation of lockdown.' -- Guardian, Best Fiction of 2020'Schweblin's clear and brisk language, aided by a seemingly effortless translation from Spanish by Megan McDowell, drives home the accessibility of this outlandish story. Little Eyes is strange and addictive, an experience made even more frightening by how familiar this feels.' * Salon *‘Alluring and unsettling in equal measure… A subtle and scathing parody of modern communications technology and social media… Colourful and near-hypnotic prose… A rare, yet powerful, indictment of a society that tolerates and even encourages violations of one of our most precious moral commodities – privacy.’ * E&T *'She has a gift for fiction that is pure, original, revelatory.' * El País *'Little Eyes calls to mind the world of Black Mirror. The result is suffocating and addictive in equal measure; combining the minutiae of domestic life with a picture of the dark side of technology in a disconcertingly natural style. A story about voyeurism, and the pleasure of looking at the world through someone else’s eyes.' * El Mundo *'An insightful reflection on solitude and privacy.' * ABC *'[Schweblin is] a literary explorer of 21st century fears.' * La Vanguardia *'Schweblin plunges herself once again into the disturbing limits of what we think of as 'normal'.' * Letras Libres *'This isn’t science fiction; this is the here and now.' * El Diario *'Drawn in quotidian elegance, the novel is a string of nonstop, colorful vignettes… If Schweblin’s sci-fi thriller Fever Dream made sleep difficult, Little Eyes raises the unease quotient. The book seems to watch viewers creepily as it unfolds.' * BookPage *'Like a true master, Schweblin manages to lure us in with a story that leaves us both bruised and fascinated.' * Culturas *'The undisputed star of Latin American fiction.' * ABC Sevilla *'The fantastic and strange worlds of Samanta Schweblin’s work are described with wisdom and ferocity.' * La Repubblica *'[Little Eyes is] yet another unsettling glimpse of life...providing us with the disturbing psychological insights which we associate with her work... Once again Schweblin has produced a novel which is prescient and frightening in equal measure.’ * 1streading *'Embedded within this novel of international interconnectivity are questions of the exhibitionism and voyeurism tied up in our use of technology. Expect echoes of the Wachowskis' Sense8, except told with what has been characterized as Schweblin's "neurotic unease."' * The Millions, Most Anticipated Titles of 2020 *'Samanta Schweblin will injure you, however safe you may feel.' * Jesse Ball, author of Census *'Samanta Schweblin is one of the most promising voices in modern literature.' * Mario Vargas Llosa, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature *'Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin was pure sorcery. Hands down, one of the best books of 2020 (so far)... I was intoxicated.' * The Book Satchel *'In accentuating so many of the dangers of online communities, as well as [the] advantages, Schweblin takes you on a psychological journey that feels like a Black Mirror episode and has you questioning actions that seemed mundane before.' * The Book Slut *'Brilliantly creepy.' -- New York Times, Notable Books of 2020'Little Eyes supposes a world that is our world, 5 minutes from now... It then introduces one small thing — one little change, one product, one tweaked application of a totally familiar technology — and tracks the ripples of chaos that it creates... Think for just a moment the kind of joy and the kind of horror something like that would create. Then read Little Eyes and see how whatever it was that you imagined was just the beginning of how awful it could be.' -- NPR, Best Books of the Year'A smart and timely meditation on what the internet is doing to the human soul... Funny, frightening and bound to make you turn off your mobile.' -- Tablet, Summer reads
£9.49
Cornerstone The Ten Types of Human
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewDexter Dias is on the side of the angels, who turn out to be us, the people. He writes like an angel too. Uplifting and indispensable. -- Howard Cunnell, author of Fathers and SonsIn defining and describing his human types, he draws on lab experiments, the animal kingdom, and all the literature you might expect from a modern behaviourist. Yet the main body of the book, the bits that transfixed and stayed with me, stopped me sleeping but got me up in the morning, were the human stories that Dias has travelled the world to find. His interviewees are always people, the most vivid flesh and blood, never case studies. And yet that’s not what’s so extraordinary about it: storytellers are rare, but not vanishingly so... Dias’s work as a human rights lawyer gives him this instinctive, urgent belief that all injustices, all catastrophes, exploitations, acts of violence, all human misery can be taken on and overcome, somehow, if the right people try and there are enough of them. His combination of rigour, idealism and pragmatism makes fertile terrain out of the most appalling battlefields... I emerged from this book feeling better about almost everything. The ideas in The Ten Types of Human are a layperson’s opening into a fascinating academic field: but more than that, a mosaic of faces building into this extraordinary portrait of our species. -- Zoe Williams * Guardian *The Ten Types of Human is a fantastic piece of non-fiction, mixing astonishing real-life cases with the latest scientific research to provide a guide to who we really are. It’s inspiring and essential. -- Charles DuhiggThis book is the one. Dexter Dias has written a game changer. Think Sapiens and triple it. -- Julia Hobsbawm, author of Fully Connected
£10.44