Science & Nature Books

Book SynopsisPeach is a highly valuable temperate fruit crop with significant consumer demand and nutraceutical benefits. This book provides comprehensive and up-to-date coverage on sustainable production processes for peach and nectarine. The latter is a natural mutation of peach that lacks fuzzy skin. It includes fundamental information to help reduce production risks for growers, improve fruit quality, and increase potential market returns, whilst addressing current emerging issues such as climate change and shifting global and regional production practices.Written by an international team of expert authors and highly illustrated in full colour throughout, Peach presents information in an organized and easy-to-follow manner, with content including:Peach tree architecture.Rootstocks.Cultivars.In-field operations (irrigation, fertilization, thinning, harvest)Fruit quality, composition and nutritional benefits.Peach fruit growth, development and ripening physiology.Postharvest technology, including supply chain management protocols.Preharvest and postharvest diseases.Biology and management of insect pests.The peach canning industry.This is an essential resource for students and researchers in horticulture, as well as professionals in pomology including fruit growers, consultants and extension specialists, and cold storage and transportation managers.

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Book SynopsisExplore the world of extraordinary marine creatures in this beautifully illustrated guide to thirty species of octopuses, cuttlefish, and squids.

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Book SynopsisPlant-parasitic nematodes are a major threat to crop production in all countries, and identification of nematodes and knowledge of their biology is of paramount importance. Providing a broad introduction to nematodes as plant parasites, this book begins by describing nematodes by genera, and then builds on this foundation to detail nematode biology and pest management, including resistance, and biological and chemical control.This 3rd edition is updated to address advances in our knowledge of plant-parasitic nematodes, particularly concerning the molecular aspects of host-parasite relationships, including the application of genomics to nematode biology. Changes in control and management strategies are also covered. The influence of climate change on plant-parasitic nematodes is addressed in a new chapter on ecology.Primarily aimed at students (MSc and PhD), this book is also invaluable for researchers and lecturers in nematology, plant pathology and parasitology, adv

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Book SynopsisHeritage is a social construction rooted in modern and contemporary societies. It is commonly a positive assessment of many elements of the physical and human environment (e.g. ecosystems and landscapes, monuments, customs, gender norms, religious practices, gastronomy, and livelihoods). Heritage and tourism are strongly related to each other in that heritage gives rise to tourist attractions and activities, and tourism enhances the designation of heritage sites. Non-human animals (hereafter 'animals') are present as implicit or explicit heritage elements through multiple tourist environments: animals may be themselves the heritage focus of tourist interest (visual arts, gastronomy, as charismatic and distinguished beings, as part of festivities or rituals), or it may be that animals are agents involved in heritage tourist environments such as working animals or in recreational activities. A post-humanist perspective the moral valuation of equality between humans and other animals demands that both are sentient beings and self-aware of their pain and pleasure. Thus, the involvement of animals as heritage elements by themselves or as an element of tourist consumption in heritage sites implies their commodification and lack of agency. As such, these practices are usually unethical, since they threaten the animals' primary interests: not to suffer, not to feel pain and to be able to live their freedom. This book contains chapters that reveal both the unethical interactions between humans and animals within heritage tourism, and those that show experiences in which efforts are made to minimize damage within the commercialization of animals involved as heritage themselves. It will be of interest to postgraduate students, academics, NGOs and tourism planners.Table of ContentsSection 1: Humanist benefits and animal exploitation exploitation Chapter 1: Introduction. Muted torment: Speciesism, tourism, and animal commodification by David A. López Varela Chapter 2: Heritage and commodification of non-human animals in tourism: a posthumanist reflection by Álvaro López López, Gino Jafet Quintero Venegas and Carol Kline Chapter 3: The legacy of zoos? Moral reasons against considering zoos as heritage by Gustavo Ortiz-Millán Chapter 4: Fill Your Cup: a multi-species exploration of Balinese kopi luwak agrotourism by Jes Hooper Chapter 5: Animal trade and dark tourism in the Sonora market by Jean Azcatl Pineda and Alicia Mariana Penélope Castro Pérez. Chapter 6: Jallikattu: Walking the tightrope between culture and animal welfare by Javed Salim and Nusrat Yasmeen Chapter 7: Bullfights, tourism and intangible cultural heritage in Mexico: A dissonant heritage by Georgina Flores Mercado Chapter 8: Bullfighting at the San Marcos National Fair: animal cruelty behind tourism and heritage by Alejandro Morales Pérez and Brenda Martínez Velasco Section 2: Navigating animal-human relationships: tension in minmizing damage Chapter 9: Restoring relationships of respect with eagle relatives: Tribal-led Eagle Aviary Tours in Oklahoma Indian Country by Bobbie Chew Bigby Chapter 10: A posthumanist view on theming the axolotl for a Pueblo Mágico by Gino Jafet Quintero Venegas, Álvaro López López and Carol Kline Chapter 11: Feline saviours: Nekonomics, stray agency, and the kawaiification of heritage tourism in Japan by Émilie Crossley and Johan R. Edelheim Chapter 12: The heritage of the cute: Commodifying pandas in urban and rural China by Yulei Guo Chapter 13: Contested boundaries: Towards a posthumanist political ecology approach to recognize human-deer relationship as an intangible cultural heritage by Rie Usui and Carolin Funck Chapter 14: Conclusion. Shifting animal abuse in heritage tourism to the paradigm of building multispecies communities by Leonardo Garavito-González, Jorge Iván Ruiz Barrera, Estephania Sepúlveda Perdomo, Tomás Arias Roncancio and Mateo Nicolás Rico Medina

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Book SynopsisAs seen on ITV's This Morning'You really can learn to talk to your pet' - Daily MailWe all want what's best for our pets, but what if we simply don't understand what that is?With this easy introductory guide to animal communication, you can leave out the guesswork and open yourself to a deeper, richer relationship with your pet.In this book, you will: • Learn exactly what animal communication is, how it differs from being a pet psychic and the different types of ways you can psychically communicate with your pet, including Beth's unique PACT method • Receive important messages from your pet, learn to communicate with other people's pets, as well as read messages via photographs • Understand how to solve behavioural issues in your pet and help them with their wellbeing • Be able to learn how to use animal communication to help cope with the loss of a beloved pet as well as learn how to use your new skills to locate a missing animal.Your pet is part of your family, they know what you are feeling, and now you can really understand what they are feeling too.Trade Review'You really can learn to talk to your pet' * Daily Mail *

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisWhen the world stopped, all hopes rested on finding a vaccine. An unlikely team answered the call. Before Covid-19 was even given its name, a select group of scientists in Germany, assembled by married couple and decades-long research partners Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci, began building 20 potential vaccines.As the deadly disease spread from country to country, what followed was a desperate race against time to conduct rigorous tests and clinical trials, whilst navigating political interference and seeking the support of the pharmaceutical industry.Shedding a light on the science behind the breakthrough, The Vaccine tells the story of the trailblazers who led the fightback against Covid-19, whose discoveries could now help the world tackle cancer, along with many other pervasive diseases. It draws back the curtain on one of the most important medical achievements of our age, containing contributions from the fascinating couple themselves, as well as more than 60 scientists, politicians, public health officials, and BioNTech staff.More suspenseful than a novel, this is a real-life story of an extraordinary race against time to save the world.Trade Review'I have now read the book by Joe Miller about the development of the vaccine at Biontech. Uğur Şahin had already understood the dimension of the pandemic on 24 January. I wasn't that quick' -- Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany'Özlem Türeci and Uğur Şahin are rapidly becoming the most celebrated marriage in science since Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radioactivity' * The Times *'They are the symbol of a remarkable scientific and business success story' * Financial Times (FT People of the Year) *'The story of their quest to use a novel scientific method to defeat that disease, as well as cancer and others, would suffice to make them heroes of our time' * Bloomberg *

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Book SynopsisPtolemyâs The Almagest brought together the ideas of Greek Antiquity, that the sun and planets revolved around the earth, the geocentric view which was used by European, Byzantine and Islamic scholars for 1400 years until Copernicus placed the sun as the focus of the solar system. This new book offers an accessible version of Ptolemyâs great work.

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Book SynopsisA unique perspective on the contemporary UFO disclosure process, that will change the way we see ourselves and our history on this planet.

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Book SynopsisKindness can be your super-power. It feels good to be kind to others. And it feels good to receive kindness. Making the world better, in however small a way, feels good and does good. Did you know kinder bosses are more successful bosses? That paying it forward can help build a purpose-driven life? Being kind strengthens relationships. Acts of kindness, whether given or received, improve our mental and physical health.Drawing on the latest research from psychology and neuroscience, and her work in collaboration with the University of Sussex and the BBC, Claudia Hammond sets out a prescription for a kinder life that you can adapt to your own circumstances, and explains how to use this guidance for ourselves, others and the world.It's time for a kindness revolution.Trade ReviewClaudia Hammond's books are a solace in troubled times -- FEARNE COTTON[Hammond] doesn't want to make kindness cool, she simply wants to prove - by hook, crook, her book and hard data - its value to society * * Sunday Times * *Hammond's book is a firm reminder of how important kindness really is - and why being kinder to yourself, others and the world around you is valuable for everyone * * Stylist * *Praise for The Art of Rest: Fascinating, entertaining and lucidly written * * Observer * *Superb -- DR RANGAN CHATTERJEE, bestselling author of THE 4 PILLAR PLANA clarion call * * Sunday Telegraph * *A soothing balm for a frazzled generation -- ADAM RUTHERFORDThe Art of Rest equips us with fresh research and information on how to rest more, and rest better, to get the most out of life. Reading it is a rest itself -- MATT HAIGAn enjoyable read, touching on scientific evidence in a light, accessible manner * * New Scientist * *Hammond valiantly unearths some great nuggets . . . quirky humour and sunny enthusiasm kept me reading * * Sunday Times * *

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Book SynopsisMushrooms are one of our planet's most amazing and unusual organisms. Used for millennia as a source of food, medicine, and occasionally poison, mushrooms and toadstools have become part of our cultural histories: for example, a ring of mushrooms was believed to be a magnet for fairies to come out to dance, while in Greek mythology, mushrooms were said to originate from Zeus's lightning because they appeared after rainstorms. Mushrooms is a photographic guide to the world's major species of fungi, from the familiar porcini mushroom, prized for its meaty texture and nutty taste, to the vivid hues of the red-and-white spotted fly agaric, known to cause psychotic reactions if eaten, and the well-named Jelly Ears, its large tan-brown fleshiness found growing on tree branches. Illustrated with 300 photographs and including dimensions and characteristics for each entry, Mushrooms offers a vivid pictorial introduction to fungi for foragers, cooks and all those interested in mycology.

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Book Synopsis'A work of sheer brilliance, beauty and bravery' Andrew Sean Greer, author of Less'Masterly... Her essays have a clarity and prescience that imply a sort of distant, retrospective view, like postcards sent from the near future' New York TimesWe stare at our phones. We keep multiple tabs open. Our chats and conversations are full of the phrase "Did you see?" The feeling that we're living in the worst of times seems to be intensifying, alongside a desire to know precisely how bad things have gotten.Poet and essayist Elisa Gabbert's The Unreality of Memory consists of a series of lyrical and deeply researched meditations on what our culture of catastrophe has done to public discourse and our own inner lives. In these tender and prophetic essays, she focuses in on our daily preoccupation and favorite pasttime: desperate distraction from disaster by way of a desperate obsession with the disastrous.Moving from public trauma to personal tragedy, from the Titanic and Chernobyl to illness and loss, The Unreality of Memory alternately rips away the facade of our fascination with destruction and gently identifies itself with the age of rubbernecking. A balm, not a burr, Gabbert's essays are a hauntingly perceptive analysis of the anxiety intrinsic in our new, digital ways of being, and also a means of reconciling ourselves to this new world.'One of those joyful books that send you to your notebook every page or so, desperate not to lose either the thought the author has deftly placed in your mind or the title of a work she has now compelled you to read.' Paris ReviewTrade ReviewA work of sheer brilliance, beauty and bravery. * Andrew Sean Greer, author of Less *Moves fluidly from disaster to dislocation to political upheaval, offering a kind of literary road map to our tumultuous era. * Kirkus, starred review *With poetic precision, The Unreality of Memory lays bare the truth, beauty, and pain of living in our era. Examining disasters both manmade and natural, Gabbert's essays perform a beautiful autopsy of our fears, showing us what it means to exist in a time of eternal apocalypse. Breathtaking in its scope and thought and captivating prose, Unreality is a necessary and vital handbook for anyone experiencing the existential dread of everyday modern life. * Lyz Lenz, author of Belabored *Wildly fun and casually brilliant, this book will make you feel happier while you're reading it and smarter once you finish. * Sandra Newman, author of The Heavens *Amid impending disasters too vast even to be perceived, what can we do-cognitively, morally, and practically? Gabbert, a tenacious researcher and a ruthless self-examiner, probes this ultimate abstraction in her essays, goes past wordless dread and comes up with enough reasoned consideration to lead us through. Do you feel-and how can you not-as if your emotional endurance is exhausted by horrors already well underway? Then you should read this book. * Sarah Manguso, author of 300 Arguments *Elisa Gabbert is one of my favorite writers, but how I wish her new book wasn't so timely! I mean this as the highest praise: I had to go lie down in between essays. * Austin Kleon, bestselling author of Steal Like an Artist *Whatever the chosen topic, Gabbert's essays manage to be by turns poetic, philosophical, and exhaustively researched. This is a superb collection. * Publishers Weekly *Elisa Gabbert's essays are always worth reading ... Not necessarily uplifting, but personally, I find reading the meditations of a brilliant writer, particularly meditations about the dread I can't shake, both soothing and invigorating. * Lit Hub *Elisa Gabbert's The Unreality of Memory is one of those joyful books that send you to your notebook every page or so, desperate not to lose either the thought the author has deftly placed in your mind or the title of a work she has now compelled you to read. The essays encompass sickness and trauma, anesthesia and memory, politics and political apathy, but owing to the force of Gabbert's attention, the book remains determinedly cohesive. Written before COVID-19 altered all our lives so irretrievably, it is also a work of uncanny prescience. * Paris Review *[A] searing essay collection that takes place at the intersection of devastation, technology, and memory. In shattering essays, Gabbert explores if and how and why certain threats register more than others, and how even seemingly immutable facts are subject to spin from our imprecise recollections. * Vulture *The true mark of a timeless book is that it feels timely no matter when you read it; Elisa Gabbert's new essay collection - full of provocative, prescient meditations about politics and illness and memory and identity- has just that kind of exquisite urgency. Gabbert looks at both the past and present to contemplate and probe at what may become our future. Unafraid to explore the darkest reaches of our minds and behaviors, Gabbert still offers a glimmer of hope amid all the anxiety and terror of our age. After all, if there's writing like this to keep us company, maybe things aren't so bad after all? * Refinery 29 *Absolutely stunning... a book for our times. * BookPage *Masterly... Her essays have a clarity and prescience that imply a sort of distant, retrospective view, like postcards sent from the near future * New York Times *The worst thing about neverending eschatological dread is how lonely it makes you feel. This book by Elisa Gabbert is like having a calm, brilliant, clear-eyed companion to talk you through your end-times horror. (I needed it.) * Lauren Groff, via Twitter *Poet and essayist Elisa Gabbert's voice is calm, playfully engaging and clear - a voice for our anxious, wired times, if ever there was one. This second book of nonfiction functions as a field guide to digital anxiety, its subjects ranging from computer-animated recreations of the sinking of the Titanic to "mirror delusions" and a history of psychosomatic disorders. Each diligently researched essay seems to evolve organically and if she doomscrolls her way down a rabbit hole, you know it will lead somewhere not just pertinent, but poetic and philosophical too. * Observer *Table of Contents1: MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION 2: DOOMSDAY PATTERN 3: THREATS 4: BIG AND SLOW 5: THE GREAT MORTALITY 6: THE LITTLE ROOM (OR, THE UNREALITY OF MEMORY) 7: VANITY PROJECT 8: WITCHES AND WHIPLASH 9: SLEEP NO MORE 10: TRUE CRIME 11: I'M SO TIRED 12: IN OUR MIDST 13: EPILOGUE: THE UNREALITY OF TIME

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Book SynopsisAcclaimed author Matt Ridley's thrilling follow-up to his bestseller Genome. Armed with the extraordinary new discoveries about our genes, Ridley turns his attention to the nature versus nurture debate to bring the first popular account of the roots of human behaviour. What makes us who we are? In February 2001 it was announced that the genome contains not 100,000 genes as originally expected but only 30,000. This startling revision led some scientists to conclude that there are simply not enough human genes to account for all the different ways people behave: we must be made by nurture, not nature. Matt Ridley argues that the emerging truth is far more interesting than this myth. Nurture depends on genes, too, and genes need nurture. Genes not only predetermine the broad structure of the brain; they also absorb formative experiences, react to social cues and even run memory. They are consequences as well as causes of the will. Published fifty years after the discovery of the double helix of DNA, Nature via Nurture chronicles a new revolution in our understanding of genes. Ridley recounts the hundred years' war between the partisans of nature and nurture to explain how this paradoxical creature, the human being, can be simultaneously free-willed and motivated by instinct and culture. Nature via Nurture is an enthralling, up-to-the-minute account of how genes build brains to absorb experience.Trade Review‘This clever and ambitious book is full of novel insights and reflections.’ James Le Fanu, Sunday Telegraph ‘Ridley belongs to the coterie that truly pushes science forward and brings it within the broader purlieus of “culture”. Nature via Nurture is another fine contribution to an already outstanding oeuvre.’ Colin Tudge, Independent Magazine ‘An unrivalled view of cutting-edge research into the roots of human behaviour.’ Clive Cookson, Financial Times ‘A balanced, entertaining gallop through the world of environmental influences and genetic impulses.’ Robin McKie, Observer ‘Eminently readable.’ Dylan Evans, Evening Standard ‘Profoundly intelligent and persuasive.’ John Cornwell, Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisEvery year, air pollution prematurely kills seven million people around the world, in rich countries and poor ones. It is strongly linked to strokes, heart attacks, many kinds of cancer, premature birth and dementia, among other ailments. In Choked, Beth Gardiner travels the world to meet the scientists who have transformed our understanding of pollution's effects on the human body, and to trace the economic forces and political decisions that have allowed it to remain at life-threatening levels. But she also focuses on real-world solutions, and on inspiring stories of people fighting for a healthier future. Compellingly written, and alive with the personalities of the people who study, breathe and fight bad air, Choked is a vital contribution on one of the most important - but too often ignored - issues of our time.

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Book SynopsisFrom ancient Babylon to the last great unsolved problems, Ian Stewart brings us his definitive history of mathematics. In his famous straightforward style, Professor Stewart explains each major development - from the first number systems to chaos theory - and considers how each affected society and changed everyday life forever. Maintaining a personal touch, he introduces all of the outstanding mathematicians of history, from the key Babylonians, Greeks and Egyptians, via Newton and Descartes, to Fermat, Babbage and Godel, and demystifies maths' key concepts without recourse to complicated formulae. Written to provide a captivating historic narrative for the non-mathematician, Taming the Infinite: The Story of Mathematics is packed with fascinating nuggets and quirky asides, and contains 100 illustrations and diagrams to illuminate and aid understanding of a subject many dread, but which has made our world what it is today.Trade Review'An engaging history of maths, guaranteed to illuminate even the most number-shy' Waterstone's Books Quarterly. * Waterstone's Books Quarterly *Table of ContentsPreface. Tokens, Tallies and Tablets. The Logic of Shape. Notations and Numbers. Lure of the Unknown. Eternal Triangles. Curves and Coordinates. Patterns in Numbers. The System of the World. Patterns in Nature. Impossible Quantities. Firm Foundations. Impossible Triangles. The Rise of Symmetry. Algebra Comes of Age. Rubber Sheet Geometry. The Fourth Dimension. The Shape of Logic. How Likely is That? Number Crunching. Chaos and Complexity. Further Reading. Index.

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Book SynopsisInitially composed by Poe as a public lecture towards the end of his career and considered by him the culmination of all his life’s work, Eureka is an extended treatise about the creation, existence and the ultimate end of the world. An idiosyncratic blend of creative writing and scientific discourse, with unexpected forays into comedy and wordplay, this self-styled “prose poem” is a genre-defying masterpiece. Although it baffled the reading public of its time, Eureka found many prominent admirers, from Charles Baudelaire to W.H. Auden, and has since assembled an audience receptive to its unique appeal as a compendium of European thought that anticipated many current theories and discoveries while also pioneering many elements of science-fiction aesthetics.Trade ReviewEureka is a fascinating work. Read this essay carefully; there is much more to it than meets the eye -- Sir Patrick Moore

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Book SynopsisDoes the light just go out and that's that - the million-year nap? Or will some part of my personality, my me-ness, persist? What will that feel like? What will I do all day? Is there a place to plug in my laptop?"Mary Roach trains her considerable humour and curiosity on the human soul, seeking answers from a varied and fascinating crew of contemporary and historical soul-searchers: scientists, schemers, engineers, mediums, all trying to prove (or disprove) that life goes on after we die.Along the way she encounters electromagnetic hauntings, out-of-body experiences, ghosts and lawsuits: Mary Roach sifts and weighs the evidence in her hilarious, inimitable style.Trade ReviewSurprising and highly enjoyable. Mary Roach is a wonderfully dry, funny, trustworthy tour guide. * * Jon Ronson * *Very funny, and the dottier examples of human resistance to the idea of terminal mortality make fascinating reading. -- Salley Vickers * * The Times * *A perfect balance of objectivity and cynicism * * Herald * *Those who subscribe to the lazy cliché that Americans have no sense of irony should read Six Feet Over and think again . . . this book is full of fascinating nuggets . . . a funny and informative read. * * Independent on Sunday * *There is something irresistible about the cheerfully scatological, cheekily skeptical Mary Roach . . . she delivers precisely what she promises: an informative, diverting romp through a subject that cannot help but captivate. -- Emily Stokes * * Observer Review * *

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Book SynopsisBeyond The Survival of the Fittest: Why Cooperation, not Competition, is the Key to LifeIf life is about survival of the fittest, then why would we risk our own life to jump into a river to save a stranger? Some people argue that issues such as charity, fairness, forgiveness and cooperation are evolutionary loose ends, side issues that are of little consequence. But as Harvard's celebrated evolutionary biologist Martin Nowak explains in this groundbreaking and controversial book, cooperation is central to the four-billion-year-old puzzle of life. Indeed, it is cooperation not competition that is the defining human trait.Trade ReviewGroundbreaking . . . SuperCooperators is part autobiography, part textbook, and reads like a best-selling novel. -- Manfred Milinski * * Nature * *A fantastic journey into the science of cooperation, with important implications for both individuals and society alike. -- Richard Wiseman, bestselling author of 59 SECONDSSupercooperators looks beyond The Selfish Gene and invites us to think afresh about evolution. Contrary to the simplistic idea that selfishness is the only strategy for survival, the brilliant Martin Nowak proves that cooperation is also vitally important. This rich and rewarding book teems with new ideas and insights, which co-author Roger Highfield makes wonderfully lucid and entertaining. -- Graham Farmelo, winner of the Costa Biography AwardMartin has a passion for taking informal ideas that people like me find theoretically important and framing them as mathematical models. He allows our intuitions about what leads to what to be put to the test. -- Steven Pinker * * The New York Times * *An absorbing, accessible book about the power of mathematics... Nowak is one of the most exciting modelers working in the field of mathematical biology today. * * New York Times Book Review * *In a sea of bad books about psychology, behaviour and business, Supercooperators stands out for its robust scientific base and cheerful message. * * Financial Times * *

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Book SynopsisIn his international bestseller The Power of Habit, Pulitzer Prize-winner Charles Duhigg explained why we do what we do. Now he applies the same relentless curiosity and masterful analysis to the question: how can each of us achieve more?Drawing on the very latest findings in neuroscience, psychology and behavioural economics, he demonstrates the eight simple principles that govern productivity. He demonstrates how the most dynamic and effective people – from CEOs to film-makers to software entrepreneurs – deploy them. And he shows how you can, too.‘Charles has some wonderful advice for increasing productivity . . . the tips he highlights have most definitely played a huge part in helping me to build the Virgin brand.’ Richard Branson‘In Smarter Faster Better Duhigg finds provocative answers to a riddle of our age: how to become more productive (by two times, or even ten times) and less busy.’ Jim Collins‘There are valuable lessons in Smarter Faster Better . . . I never felt like putting it down.’ Financial TimesTrade ReviewAs he did in The Power of Habit, Duhigg melds cutting-edge science, deep reporting, and wide-ranging stories to give us a fuller, more human way of thinking about how productivity actually happens. -- Susan Cain, author of QUIETDuhigg uses engaging storytelling to highlight fascinating research and core principles that we can all learn and use in our daily lives. A masterful must-read for anyone who wants to get more (and more creative) stuff done. -- David Allen, author of GETTING THINGS DONEDuhigg has a gift for asking just the right question, and then igniting the same curiosity in the rest of us. In Smarter Faster Better he finds provocative answers to a riddle of our age. -- Jim Collins, author of GOOD TO GREATThere are valuable lessons in Smarter Faster Better . . . I never felt like putting it down. * Financial Times *Duhigg brings impressive reportorial and narrative skills to the project. * Spectator *Charles has some wonderful advice for increasing productivity … the tips he highlights have most definitely played a huge part in helping me to build the Virgin brand. -- Richard BransonOffers readers a glimpse into how the most productive people function … [Duhigg] distills all his research into eight key takeaways that anyone can use, at work and at home. -- Business Books You Should Be Reading This Summer, World Economic Forum blogSlick. * i *Very slick. * Evening Standard *Duhigg knows his stuff — the book is packed with an intimidating amount of knowledge and research … Duhigg takes our most subtle habits and breaks them down in a way that’s obvious and digestible * Life Hacker *

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Book SynopsisA superlative, fascinating graphic account of Albert Einstein's strange world and how his legacy has been built upon since. It is now more than a century since Einstein's theories of Special and General Relativity began to revolutionise our view of the universe. Beginning near the speed of light and proceeding to explorations of space-time and curved spaces, Introducing Relativity plots a visually accessible course through the thought experiments that have given shape to contemporary physics. Scientists from Isaac Newton to Stephen Hawking add their unique contributions to this story, as we encounter Einstein's astounding vision of gravity as the curvature of space-time and arrive at the breathtakingly beautiful field equations. Einstein's legacy is reviewed in the most advanced frontiers of physics today - black holes, gravitational waves, the accelerating universe and string theory.

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Book SynopsisFrom the Large Hadron Collider rap to the sins of Isaac Newton, The Science Magpie is a compelling collection of scientific curiosities.Expand your knowledge as you view the history of the Earth on the face of a clock, tremble at the power of the Richter scale and learn how to measure the speed of light in your kitchen.Skip through time with Darwin's note on the pros and cons of marriage, take part in an 1858 Cambridge exam, meet the African schoolboy with a scientific puzzle named after him and much more.Trade ReviewSimon Flynn's cornucopia of curious facts, anecdotes and quotations ... is sure to entertain and surprise. -- New ScientistFor anyone who likes science and is a fan of Schott's original miscellany, this book is a must. It is full of quirky, interesting scientific facts and anecdotes from across science and its history ... Quite frankly, I loved it. It's great fun and doesn't take itself too seriously. -- Chemistry World[A] lighthearted dash through science ... offering lots of curiosities that you will be itching to tell those around you. -- The BiologistSimon Flynn's grab-bag of stories from all branches of science exudes enthusiasm, breathing fresh life into a venerable format. -- Physics WorldThis book is a cabinet of scientific curiosities ... [The Science Magpie] will stimulate good topics of conversation for the pub. -- BBC Focus

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Book SynopsisThe stone age, the iron age, the steam and electrical ages all saw the reach of humankind transformed by new technology. Now we are living in the quantum age, a revolution in everyday life led by our understanding of the very, very small.Quantum physics lies at the heart of every electronic device from smartphones to lasers; quantum superconductors allow levitating trains and MRI scanners, while superfast, ultra-secure quantum computers may soon be a reality. Yet quantum particles such as atoms, electrons and photons remain mysterious, acting totally unlike the objects we experience directly.With his trademark clarity and enthusiasm, acclaimed popular science author Brian Clegg reveals the amazing world of the quantum that lies all around us.Trade ReviewIf you are looking for an enjoyable read into all things quantum physics and how it is applied to everyday life, look no further. * BBC Focus *Brian Clegg does a superb job of explaining complicated scientific concepts in easily understood language. The Quantum Age is his best book yet, because the concepts he explains are central to our everyday lives in the 21st century, even though most people think they are incomprehensible and abstruse. From how the Sun keeps shining to the quantum computer revolution there is plenty here to enthral and entertain, as well as to inform. -- John GribbinWhat sets this book apart is the way it focuses on the applications of quantum physics - the things that have changed our lives and brought us to what Clegg calls the "quantum age". Truly fascinating. * Times Higher Education *I challenge anyone not to find it spellbinding. -- Nick Smith * E&T Magazine *Clegg's enthusiasm is catching, his science immaculate. * The Good Book Guide *

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Book SynopsisMcCance and Widdowsons's The Composition of Foods, Seventh Summary Edition provides a timely, authoritative and comprehensive update of the nutrient data for the most commonly consumed foods in the UK. Foods that are less commonly consumed but are important in the diets of sub-groups of the population are also included. This Seventh Summary Edition contains data which has been reviewed and updated since the last edition was published in 2002 and incorporates data from previously published supplements plus new analytical data and additional data from manufacturers. New data includes updates on key foods in the UK diet including flours and grains, bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, biscuits, cakes, eggs, fat spreads, fruits, vegetables, fish and fish products. Values for a wide range of nutrients (e.g. proximates, inorganics, vitamins, fibre and fatty acids) are provided and additional tables provide data for carotenoid fractions, vitamin E fractions and vitamin K for selected foods. Values for specific nutrients, including sodium, sugars, saturated and trans fatty acids in processed foods have been updated to reflect changes resulting from health policy and recent industry initiatives on reformulations. AOAC fibre values have been included for a wide range of foods to enable energy calculations, including fibre for food labelling purposes. Aimed at students and professionals in all food and health disciplines, this essential handbook should be on the bookshelf of everyone who needs to know the nutritional value of foods consumed in the UK.Trade Review"I find this book hypnotically wonderful." "...it is hugely valuable if you have a professional interest in nutrition. The nutritionist's bible..." -- Brian Clegg * Popular Science *Table of ContentsForeword; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Tables; Additional tables; Appendices

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Book SynopsisWhy, with absolutely no idea what Brexit actually meant, did the UK vote for Brexit?Why, rather than vote for the best-qualified candidate ever to stand as US President, did voters opt for a reality TV star with no political experience?In both cases, the winning side promised change and offered hope. They told a story voters longed to hear. And in the absence of greater, more unifying narratives, then true or not, voters plumped for the best story available.Once upon a time our society was rich in stories. They brought us together and helped us to understand the world and ourselves. We called them myths. Today, we have a myth gap – a vacuum that Alex Evans argues powerfully and persuasively is both dangerous and an opportunity. In this time of global crisis and transition– mass migration, inequality, resource scarcity, and climate change - It is stories, rather than facts and pie-charts,that will animate us and bring us together. It is by finding new myths, those that speak to us of renewal and restoration, that we will navigate our way to a better future. Drawing on his first-hand experience as a political adviser within British government and at the United Nations, and examining the history of climate change campaigning and recent contests such as Brexit and the US presidential election, Alex Evans explores: *how tomorrow’s activists are using narratives for change, * how modern stories have been used and abused, * where we might find the right myths that will take us forwardTrade ReviewVery short, very sharp -- Bruce Clark * Economist *Pertinent… Evans is an attractive and persuasive writer … his book will strike many chords’ -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *An important book about the need to bring inspiring narratives back to the heart of progressive politics ... This has traction because it has truth, literally as well as metaphorically. * New Scientist *A really fascinating contribution to answering the question: how do we find new myths to live by. -- Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of CanterburyEveryone should read this. * Tim Smit *

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author Charles Graeber tells the astonishing story of the group of scientists working on a code that can enable the human immune system to fight — and perhaps even cure — cancer. For decades, scientists have puzzled over one of medicine’s greatest mysteries: why doesn’t our immune system fight cancer the way it does other diseases? The answer is a series of tricks that cancer has developed to turn off normal immune responses — tricks that scientists have only recently discovered, and now are learning to defeat. We are in the midst of a revolution in our understanding of cancer and how to beat it. Groundbreaking, riveting, and expertly told, The Breakthrough is the story of the game-changing and Nobel Prize-winning scientific discoveries that unleash our natural ability to recognise and defeat cancer, as told through the experiences of the patients, physicians, and immunotherapy researchers who are on the front lines. This is the incredible true story of the race to find a cure, and the definitive account of a historic moment in medical science.Trade Review‘Only Graeber, one of America's greatest non-fiction writers, could take a subject so complex, dense and sprawling and turn it into a rollicking high-tension medical thriller. Masterful.’ -- Douglas Rogers, award-winning journalist and author of The Last Resort‘A gripping chronicle of the 100-year overnight success of immunotherapy. For myself and millions of other cancer survivors, The Breakthrough is a book of immense and essential hope.’ -- Michael Fitzgerald, co-founder and CEO of Submittable and author of Radiant Days‘There is no villain more ruthless than cancer, which has robbed us all of loved ones who had to endure untold suffering before they succumbed. But after decades of frustration and toil, scientists finally understand how to vanquish the disease by activating the human body's natural defences. The intimate stories behind this triumph lie at the heart of Charles Graeber's The Breakthrough, an expertly crafted and exhilarating account of life-saving ingenuity at its most dazzling. You will never encounter another book so incisive about the art of medical sleuthing, or so poetic about our innate drive to hold on to all that's beautiful in this world for as long as we can.’ -- Brendan I. Koerner, Wired contributing editor and author of The Skies Belong to Us‘Lucid and informed … Graeber gives readers a basis for both understanding the challenges involved and for cautious optimism that a cure can be found.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Graeber concisely reviews the science of cancer … The risks of tinkering with an intricate immune system are obviously high, even perilous. But the potential reward is a cure. Exciting reading.’ * Booklist *‘Imagine a vaccine that could cure cancer. As this book reports, that possibility may not be far off … [T]he book offers hope for more effective treatments in the near future. A readable survey of the emerging field of immunotherapy in cancer treatment.’ * Kirkus *‘In Mr Graeber’s hands, the evolution of immuno-oncology is both captivating and heartbreaking.’ -- David A. Shaywitz * The Wall Street Journal *‘Graeber’s writing is swift and clear, as if he can barely contain his enthusiasm for the subject — and, in fact, he can’t contain it ... One or two chapters are weighted down by talk of cell division and the like but, for the most part, Graeber paints vivid portraits of people who have cancer or are trying to conquer it ... a rare and thrilling thing: a hopeful, even inspiring, book about cancer.’ -- Chris Hewitt * Minneapolis Star Tribune *‘The extraordinary story of how medical research may finally have made the ultimate breakthrough – a cure for cancer.’ -- Bianca Nogrady * Sydney Morning Herald *‘The new book by Charles Graeber, The Breakthrough: Immunotherapy and the Race to Cure Cancer, artfully traces the history of old and new developments that may have — finally — resulted in an actual cure for the most dreaded of all diseases.’ -- Mimi Swartz * The New York Times *‘Fascinating and engaging … Written with the verve and tension of a medical thriller, Graeber vividly brings to life the scientists and physicians on the front-line battle with cancer and details in simple terms their efforts and breakthroughs.’ * Canberra Weekly *‘The Breakthrough not only provides good background and good understanding for patients, but is also a wonderful read, a book easily picked up but not easily put down — I'd recommend it for any patient interested in immunology of cancer.’ -- Dr. James L. Gulley MD, PhD, Director of Medical Oncology, Chief of Immunology, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH)‘Crisp and suspenseful ... an inspiring medical narrative.’ * BBC *‘Graeber does it again. He takes a complex topic — this time advances in cancer treatment — and weaves an engaging narrative that engages you to the end. With cancer as a leading cause of illness and death, this book is a timely and important account of the challenges and possibilities for new horizons in cancer treatment.’ -- Diana J. Mason, PhD, Senior Policy Service Professor (George Washington University School of Nursing), Professor Emerita (Hunter College, City University of New York)‘[A] deft, detailed study of cancer immunotherapy ... From the once-discredited pioneer William Coley to immunologist and Nobel laureate James P. Allison, they form a brilliant, driven, admirably stubborn group that Graeber brings vividly to life.’ * Nature *‘Fascinating ... [Graeber] weaves human stories with accounts of scientific progress, looking beyond the “cut, burn, and poison techniques” — surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy — to focus on the myriad ways the immune system can attack cancer, and provides hope that a cure might not be beyond imagination.’ * The National Book Review *‘The Breakthrough, reads like a crime thriller because that's what it is — the true story of a dedicated, persistent group of doctors and scientists stalking a killer: cancer … Brilliant.’ * Australian Financial Review *‘An entertaining and moving portrait of [Charles Graeber’s] trade ... As skilled a wordsmith as a surgeon.’ -- Robin Osborne * GPSpeak *Praise for The Good Nurse: ‘A stunning book … that should and does bring to mind In Cold Blood … the story appeals to prurient interests, as does any graphic tale of true crime. But The Good Nurse succeeds in being about much more than Mr. Cullen's murderous kinks. The causes of his pathology are not interesting. But the eagerness of ambitious hospital administrators to cover up his misdeeds is revelatory. And the police investigation that brought him down is a thriller in every sense of that word.’ * New York Times *Praise for The Good Nurse: ‘The most terrifying book published this year. It is also one of the most thoughtful … From a long series of conversations with Cullen, the detectives who solved the case and Amy, a nurse who once was Cullen's best friend and eventually got him to confess, among many other sources, Graeber has crafted a book that is a revelation. The Good Nurse is gripping, sad, suspenseful, rhythmic and beautifully documented (the endnotes to this book are impressive).’ * Kirkus Reviews *Praise for The Good Nurse: ‘Graeber doesn't pull punches … A deeply unsettling addition to the true crime genre.’ * Publishers Weekly *Praise for The Good Nurse: ‘Engrossing … hard-to-put-down … On one level, The Good Nurse is an absorbing story of a serial killer operating within the walls of what most view as a trusted institution. On another, it's an intriguing detective story. And on another it's an indictment of the hospital industry.’ * The New Jersey Star-Ledger *Praise for The Good Nurse: ‘A remarkable new book … gripping and brilliantly written.’ * Healthcare Risk Management *

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Book SynopsisA gripping and emotionally eloquent memoir about a family secret revealed by a DNA test, the lessons learned in its aftermath, and the transformative possibilities of growing plants

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Book SynopsisAt a time of increasing volatility in healthcare provision, we are all having to become more responsible for our own well-being. This book - an imaginative, practical and accessible guide to our inner organs - is written for anyone who wants to improve their health and develop resiliency against illness. Although trained as a medical doctor, Olaf Koob has the vision and experience of a holistic physician. He has surveyed diverse medical systems - orthodox medicine, naturopathy, homeopathy, Chinese, ayurvedic and anthroposophic medicine - and found their common substance. Using this knowledge, he relates the essence of each human organ: its position, colour, form, embryonic development, function and characteristic attributes. Thus, the organs begin to tell their own stories, revealing their `biography', physiognomy and the illnesses they are prone to. Inspired by esoteric wisdom, Koob creates living images of the pancreas and the hormone system and shows how the spleen, liver, gall bladder, heart, kidneys, lungs and reproductive organs relate to the wider cosmos. He describes the nature of poison and detoxification, good and bad nutrition and the importance of secretion and elimination. If the Organs Could Speak is a unique work that enables us to think more creatively about our bodies and how they function, and to help us cope with crises, suffering and pain.Trade Review`This book can help us trace the secrets of our own body, to see it as a wonder of creation, and to marvel at it time and again with reverence and gratitude...' - Prof. Dr Volker FintelmannTable of ContentsPreface by Volker Fintelmann - Foreword - The Human Enigma - The Cosmic Language of the Human Form - The human being as constituted by the zodiac - The Planetary Order in the Organs - The spleen as the Saturn organ - The liver as the Jupiter organ - The gall bladder as the Mars organ - The heart as the Sun organ - The kidneys as the Venus organ - The lungs as the Mercury organ - The reproductive organs and silver - The Pancreas - The Hormone System - The Lungs, Liver, Kidneys and Heart as the Four Meteorological Organs - The lungs as the earth organ - The liver as the water organ - The kidneys and bladder as the air organs - The heart as the warmth organ - Poisoning and Detoxifying - Mineral poisoning - Plant poisoning - Animal poisoning -The Importance of Secretion and Elimination - Perspiration as the 'mummy' of life processes - Urine as the 'mummy' of soul activity - Intestinal excretion as the 'mummy' of I activity - Nutrition and Healing - Naturopathic and Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy, Chinese and Anthroposophic Medicine - Gleaned on the Journey - Notes and references

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Book SynopsisWhat do people with a particularly long life-span eat? How can you lose weight efficiently? Are illnesses in old age avoidable? Can you ‘eat yourself young’? Discover the answers to these questions and more in this practical, science-based guide to eating well and living longer, which has sold over a million copies worldwide. When science journalist Bas Kast collapsed with chest pains, he feared he had ruined his health forever with a diet of junk food. So he set off on a journey to uncover the essentials of diet and longevity. Here, filtered from thousands of sometimes conflicting research findings, Kast presents the key scientific insights that reveal the most beneficial diet possible. From analysing how much sugar you should consume to looking at the impact of supplements, fasting, and even whether you should drink tea or coffee, Kast breaks down diet myths to present the key facts you need to know in clear, accessible language. Trade Review‘In The Diet Compass Kast sorts the wheat from the chaff.’ * The Times *‘Kast is one of the new breed of nutritional experts who are not interested in keeping waists trim, but helping us live longer.’ * The Herald *‘The most important non-fiction book of the year.’ * Der Spiegel *‘Science journalist Bas Kast is at the cutting edge of research on nutrition … Here he fascinatingly and clearly explains the essence of the latest findings.’ * Woman *‘Kast’s book provides exactly what it promises: a summary of the most recent nutritional findings in easily digestible morsels.’ * Berliner Morgenpost *

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Book SynopsisA fully comprehensive field guide to Malaysia's 829 bird species, including Sabah and Sarawak. The species are clearly illustrated in over 170 plates, with many variants. The main identifying features of each species are described and key facts cover size, voice, range and status, habitat, specific country and breeding.

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Book SynopsisAlmost half of adults in the UK suffer from chronic pain. Yet this is often unrelated to any physical injury. So why does it still hurt? Research over the last few decades shows that many of us are victims of a devilish trick of the nervous system: our brains prolong pain long after our bodies have healed from injury. This leads to hundreds of billions of pounds being spent each year on treatments that sometimes do nothing and sometimes make matters worse. Paul Biegler, a science journalist and former doctor who has been on his own pain journey, investigates the true source of chronic pain — our brain’s so-called neuroplasticity — and emerging therapies that can rewire the brain and end suffering. As he knows only too well, this doesn’t mean pain is all in a person’s head. Pain is real, but its meaning is often misunderstood. Through conversations with scientists, doctors, and people who have overcome chronic pain, Biegler shines a light on the rigorous new studies — and emotional personal stories — that are changing the way we understand and treat pain. Most importantly, he shows how to take control over persistent pain and truly heal.Trade Review‘As someone who lived with chronic pain for decades, I can’t recommend this book highly enough.’ -- Fiona Capp * The Sydney Morning Herald *‘Why Does It Still Hurt? convincingly asks us to look beyond the usual offerings for pain — painkillers, surgeries, even replacement body parts — to psychological methods that challenge how we usually respond to physical suffering. By book’s end, Biegler says it’s up to us what we do with this new arsenal of knowledge. Profound possibilities are out there for treating pain that are now impossible to ignore.’ -- Nathan Smith * The Saturday Paper *‘Paul Biegler shines a light on the way we understand and treat chronic pain. Most importantly, he shows how to take control over persistent pain and truly heal.’ * Good Reading *‘Through research and conversations with scientists, Biegler shines new light on our understanding of pain and discusses how to take control over pain and truly heal. A fascinating and important book.’ -- Jeff Popple * Canberra Weekly *‘Biegler’s book is for those who want to understand the history of pain as well as the most recent breakthroughs in treatment … This is an inherently optimistic book: the author delves deep into the positive effect that mental strategies such as hypnosis can have on pain and quality of life. Accordingly, it will be an invaluable resource for people suffering with chronic pain, and will hopefully open up alternative strategies and ultimately give readers hope. People who appreciated Karra Eloff’s The Chronic Pain Couple might find value in Why Does it Still Hurt?.’ -- Rebecca Whitehead * Books+Publishing *‘Science journalist and former doctor Paul Biegler investigates the true source of chronic pain. Having suffered himself, he needs to know why pain persists well after an injury is healed. He interviews scientists, doctors and people who have overcome chronic pain, sharing the latest studies and personal stories. Ultimately, he asks whether the brain really can change the nervous system. If the answer to that is “yes” and the result is pain, can thinking change it back again? An interesting read for anyone with chronic, ongoing pain, or anyone interested in the power of the mind.’ -- Cheryl Akle * The Weekend Australian *‘Paul Biegler does a magnificent job of drawing together science and personal stories. Biegler is a beautiful writer with a keen interest in the humans behind the statistics, but he’s also clearly deeply researched. Particular high points for me were a clear description of gate control theory − perhaps the pivotal theory for understanding pain − and a fascinating chapter on the problematic power of placebo surgery. Highly recommended for anyone interested in pain − or science in general.’ -- Liam Mannix * The Age: Examine Newsletter *‘The main takeaway from Biegler’s book is clear from its subtitle: “How the power of knowledge can overcome chronic pain”. Understanding how pain works can reduce its severity and information can empower patients to seek out treatment options. Knowledge can lead to better-quality conversations with health professionals … The pain paradigm might be shifting, but it’s up to us to accelerate it. We can only do that fully armed with facts and evidence.’ -- Peter Quarry * Australian Financial Review *Praise for The Ethical Treatment of Depression: ‘Biegler’s wonderful book sheds new light on autonomy, depression, and the moral purposes of medicine, making a strong case for preferring psychotherapeutic over drug treatments for depression. His clearly written, scientifically well-informed book is essential reading for all interested in medical ethics or mental disorders.’ -- Richard Ashcroft, professor of bioethics at University of LondonPraise for The Ethical Treatment of Depression: ‘No other book combines philosophy with so much empirical information to critique overreliance on drugs in the treatment of a mental illness. Biegler’s message is both sobering and clear. His book is a significant contribution to the philosophy of psychiatry as well as to the key role that maximising patient autonomy should play in the choice of therapies for depression.’ -- George Graham, professor of philosophy and neuroscience at Georgia State UniversityPraise for The Ethical Treatment of Depression: ‘This book is long overdue. Biegler gives a compelling analysis of the impact depression has on autonomous decision making — a factor which, he argues, has important implications for its treatment. Given how many people suffer from this debilitating disease worldwide, his insight has the potential to transform the medical, moral, and social wellbeing of a substantial portion of the world’s population. The Ethical Treatment of Depression is essential for clinicians, bioethicists, lawyers, and policy practitioners. -- Patricia Illingworth, department of philosophy and religion at College of Business Adminstration, and School of Law, Northeastern University

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Book SynopsisThe epic, page-turning history of how a group of physicists toppled the Newtonian universe in the early decades of the twentieth century. Marie Curie, Max Planck, Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, Erwin Schrödinger, and Albert Einstein didn’t only revolutionise physics; they redefined our world and the reality we live in. In The Age of Uncertainty, Tobias Hürter brings to life the golden age of physics and its dazzling, flawed, and unforgettable heroes and heroines. The work of the twentieth century’s most important physicists produced scientific breakthroughs that led to an entirely new view of physics — and a view of the universe that is still not fully understood today, even as evidence for its accuracy is all around us. The men and women who made these discoveries were intellectual adventurers, renegades, dandies, and nerds, some bound together by deep friendship; others, by bitter enmity. But the age of relativity theory and quantum mechanics was also the age of wars and revolutions. The discovery of radioactivity transformed science, but also led to the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Throughout The Age of Uncertainty, Hürter reminds us about the entanglement of science and world events, for we cannot observe the world without changing it.Trade Review‘Intriguing and well-written … The Age of Uncertainty cleverly interweaves the stories of the leading early 20th-century physicists with the political and personal events that shaped their lives … Hürter’s formidable grasp of the great period of quantum discovery represents a new, exciting approach to the literature about this momentous era.’ * The Wall Street Journal *‘Remarkable … Hürter treats his subjects like the cast in a nail-bitingly enthralling drama … A stark reminder that epic thrillers aren’t always found in the fiction section.’ -- Jane Graham * Big Issue *‘Highlights the work of Marie Curie, Max Planck, Wolfgang Pauli, Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, Erwin Schrödinger, Albert Einstein, and others did together to shake up physics and introduce quantum mechanics, arguing that the field’s discovery was a collaborative effort.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Hürter guides us through the time when physicists developed their fundamental theories.’ * Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung *‘[The Age of Uncertainty's] great strength lies in the way Tobias Hürter brings together the cast of driven, gifted and all-too-human scientists who upended Newtonian physics, showing how the dynamics between them spurred their discoveries. Quantum mechanics is made accessible to the general reader through key moments in the scientists’ careers, such as Marie Curie’s discovery of radium, Einstein’s theory of relativity and Niels Bohr’s model of the atom, culminating in the race to produce an atomic bomb.’ -- Cameron Woodhead and Fiona Capp * The Sydney Morning Herald *‘Hürter makes the history of this important period in science and beyond highly readable … It is also an extremely interesting history on the personal and political level … Highly recommended for those with an interest in science and the people who did it.’ -- Tim Mendham * The Skeptic *

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Book SynopsisA stimulating account of interest to all students of neuroscience, psychiatry, psychology or biology — and of immense value to ‘first timers’ including undergraduates and A-level students. Written by one of the UK’s leading brain science experts, it traces the relationship between the ions, membranes and pumps of the brain and our thoughts, senses, feelings, impulses and consciousness. The book deals with such tantalising questions as: What are the ‘locks and keys’ of the brain? How does memory work and why do we forget? Why do we sleep, dream, and hopefully wake-up ready to go? How do fears, threats and nightmares penetrate our mental defences, or drugs, alcohol, psychedelics and medicines improve or hinder our thoughts, actions or behaviour? Are our eyes connected to the brain and why do we sometimes see things that aren’t there? Or hear ‘voices’? The book also explains how we can ‘see inside’ the brain, why we sometimes make a fool of ourselves, may have near death experiences and whether epilepsy is an ‘affliction of the Gods.’ Similarly what scientists know about the differences between delusion and schizophrenia; or the links between worry, anxiety, depression, mania and euphoria. It also covers obsession, stress and repetitive behaviour — just some of many topics dealt with within its revealing pages. An expert, scientific but simple guide.Table of ContentsThe Origins of Our Brains — Ions, Membranes and Pumps; Neurotransmitters and their Receptors — The Locks and Keys of Brain Function; The Tower of Complexity — How the Brain is Organized; The Vital Role of Subconscious Processing; How the Cortex Works — Seeing is Believing; Taking Control — From Urges to Self-discipline; Thinking, Feeling and Consciousness; The Emotional Brain; Getting Inside the Head — Surgery to Imaging Techniques; Sleep and Dreams; In Extremis — Near Death Experiences and Vegetative States; Affliction of the Gods? — Epilepsy; Darkness Visible? Depression; Why Worry? Fear and Anxiety Disorders; Delusional? Schizophrenia and Mania; Repetition, Obsession and Compulsion; From Pleasure to Pain? Addiction; Brain and Mind or Brain-v-Mind?; Selected Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisHow did time begin? What conditions led to humans evolving on Earth? Will we survive the Anthropocene? And is it really true that we’re all made from stars? Combining knowledge from chemistry, biology, and physics, with insights from the social sciences and humanities, A Brief History of the Last 13.8 Billion Years follows the continuum of historical change in the cosmos — from the Big Bang, through the evolution of life, to human history. In this compelling and revealing book, David Baker traces the rise of complexity in the cosmos, from the first atoms to the first life and then to humans and the things we have made. He shows us how simple clumps of hydrogen gas transformed into complex human societies. This approach — Big History — allows us to see beyond the chaos of human affairs to the overall trajectory. Finally, Baker looks at the dramatic and sudden changes we’re making to our planet and its biosphere and how history hints at what might come next.Trade Review‘This writing is brilliant.’ -- John Green‘A Brief History of the Last 13.8 Billion Years operates at such a vast scale that it cannot help but brush up against the eternal and the profound.’ -- Kurt Johnson * The Sydney Morning Herald *‘It’s quite a feat to then fit this Big History into a “shortest history” … It is helpful to see through the perspective of Big History, to cultivate some humility. At the same time, Big History can also point to our uniqueness, perhaps leading to a similar conclusion: our tenure is fragile, and we shouldn’t squander our time under the sun.’ -- Nick Mattiske * Insights *‘A Brief History of the Last 13.8 Billion Years is a captivating exploration — through life, the universe and everything.’ -- Rama Gaind * PS News *

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Book SynopsisIf climate action remains marginal at this late hour, it will fail. In dismay at the inaction of governments, citizen groups are showing how people can use their real power and authentic voice to drive change. In the workplace, in politics and in local communities, people are stepping forward both to demand transformation and to make it happen.Table of ContentsIf climate action remains marginal at this late hour, it will fail. The rapid, system-level change that we need to escape catastrophe will take unprecedented public mobilization. A 'silent majority' of citizens is now concerned about human-made climate change - and as ever more people wake up to the crisis and ask 'What can I do?', the climate movement must answer them without insisting on conformity. In dismay at the inaction of governments on climate, emerging citizen groups are showing how people can use their real power and authentic voice to drive change. In the workplace, in politics and in local communities, people are stepping forward both to demand transformation and to make it happen. At the same time, they're regenerating community and directing the wasted energy of us-and-them polarization back towards solidarity and resilience. This wave will grow if concerned individuals recognize that they're part of a climate majority: a formidable collective force for change. All proceeds from the sale of this book will support work by the Climate Majority Project to catalyse urgent citizen climate action.

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Book SynopsisStars are the building blocks of galaxies. Astoundingly, there are 4,000 million stars in our own Milky Way, and there are two million million galaxies in our visible universe. Stars are simply luminous spheres of plasma held together by gravity, but their age, location and composition are the ciphers that can explain the evolution and dynamics of the galaxy within which they exist. Forty Ways to Know a Star offers forty distinct ways of encountering, explaining and knowing a star. You might know it by its birth, by its death, by its galaxy, from a distance, from its matter, or up close and personal. Each meeting is illuminated by bespoke illustrations, and they combine to create a broader canvas of the many forms and incarnations that stars take. Elegant writing turns the complexity of the physics into irresistible storytelling, and beautiful photographic imagery of the heavens is scattered throughout.

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Book Synopsis*How I Rescued My Brain* tells the story of David's neurological difficulties, and of his emotional and cognitive recovery. This is an amazing story of a man's resilience, and his determination to overcome one of the most frightening situations imaginable - the fear that he had lost his mind, and may not get it back.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThis book, the second in a two-volume set, provides an introduction to the basics of (mainly) non-relativistic quantum mechanics. While the first volume addresses the basic principles, this second volume discusses applications and extensions to more complex problems. In addition to topics dealt with in traditional quantum mechanics texts, such as symmetries or many-body problems, it also treats issues of current interest such as entanglement, Bell’s inequality, decoherence and various aspects of quantum information in detail. Furthermore, questions concerning the basis of quantum mechanics and epistemological issues which are relevant e.g. to the realism debate are discussed explicitly. A chapter on the interpretations of quantum mechanics rounds out the book. Readers are introduced to the requisite mathematical tools step by step. In the appendix, the most relevant mathematics is compiled in compact form, and more advanced topics such as the Lenz vector, Hardy’s experiment and Shor’s algorithm are treated in more detail. As an essential aid to learning and teaching, 130 exercises are included, most of them with solutions. This revised second edition is expanded by an introduction into some ideas and problems of relativistic quantum mechanics. In this second volume, an overview of quantum field theory is given and basic conceptions of quantum electrodynamics are treated in some detail. Originally written as a course for students of science education, the book addresses all those science students and others who are looking for a reasonably simple, fresh and modern introduction to the field.Trade Review“This book continues the excellent introduction to quantum mechanics of the first volume ... suited for beginners to get first insights which may be deepened reading the appendices. The two volumes can be best recommended generally and especially for self studies.” (K.-E. Hellwig, zbMATH 1445.81002, 2020)Table of ContentsOne-Dimensional Piecewise-Constant Potentials.- Angular Momentum.- The Hydrogen Atom.- The Harmonic Oscillator.- Perturbation Theory.- Entanglement, EPR, Bell.- Symmetries and Conservation Laws.- The Density Operator.- Identical Particles.- Decoherence.- Scattering.- Quantum Information.- Is Quantum Mechanics Complete?.- Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics.

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Book SynopsisSince ancient times, humans have been engaged in a continual quest to find meaning in and make sense of sights and events in the night sky. Cultures spread around the world recorded their earliest efforts in artwork made directly on the natural landscapes around them, and from there they developed more and more sophisticated techniques for observing and documenting astronomy.This book brings readers on an astronomical journey through the ages, offering a history of how our species has recorded and interpreted the night sky over time. From cave art to parchment scribe to modern X-ray mapping of the sky, it chronicles the ever-quickening development of tools that informed and at times entirely toppled our understanding of the natural world.Our documentation and recording techniques formed the bedrock for increasingly complex forays into astronomy and celestial mechanics, which are addressed within these chapters. Additionally, the book explores how nature itself has recorded the skies in its own way, which can be unraveled through ongoing geological and archaeological studies. This tale of human discovery and ingenuity over the ages will appeal to anybody interested in the field of astronomy and its rich cultural history.Trade Review“The book is a must-read that enables readers to explore both where we have come from and the possibilities that lie ahead.” (Bernie Taylor, Physics Today, June, 2020)Table of ContentsChapter One – Introduction.- Chapter Two – Cave Paintings – Part I.- Chapter Three – Cave Paintings - Part II.- Chapter Four – The Astrolabe.- Chapter Five – Supernovae.- Chapter Six – Mercury Transitions.- Chapter Seven – Shi Shen to Charles Messier.- Chapter Eight – The 1639 Transit of Venus.- Chapter Nine – Comets.- Chapter Ten – Astronomical Observatories.- Chapter Eleven – Fossils, Tree Rings, and Ice.- Index.

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Book SynopsisEminent physicist and economist, Robert Ayres, examines the history of technology as a change agent in society, focusing on societal roots rather than technology as an autonomous, self-perpetuating phenomenon. With rare exceptions, technology is developed in response to societal needs that have evolutionary roots and causes. In our genus Homo, language evolved in response to a need for our ancestors to communicate, both in the moment, and to posterity. A band of hunters had no chance in competition with predators that were larger and faster without this type of organization, which eventually gave birth to writing and music. The steam engine did not leap fully formed from the brain of James Watt. It evolved from a need to pump water out of coal mines, driven by a need to burn coal instead of firewood, in turn due to deforestation. Later, the steam engine made machines and mechanization possible. Even quite simple machines increased human productivity by a factor of hundreds, if not thousands. That was the Industrial Revolution. If we count electricity and the automobile as a second industrial revolution, and the digital computer as the beginning of a third, the world is now on the cusp of a fourth revolution led by microbiology. These industrial revolutions have benefited many in the short term, but devastated the Earth’s ecosystems. Can technology save the human race from the catastrophic consequences of its past success? That is the question this book will try to answer.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Fire and water: technologies extending nature.- Chapter 3. Extensions of the body.- Chapter 4. Words and music.- Chapter 5. Printing, movable type and books.- Chapter 6. The Enlightenment: the rise of science.- Chapter 7. The first stage of industrialization: coking and canals (1712- 1820).- Chapter 8. Machine tools and mechanization.- Chapter 9. The triumph of steam and steel (1820-1876).- Chapter 10. Petroleum and petrochemicals.- Chapter 11. Anesthesia, surgery, and modern medicine.- Chapter 12. Mobility: From rails to roads to space travel.- Chapter 13. Electricity and electrification of factories and homes.- Chapter 14. Communications: From carrier pigeons to telephones and radio (1876-1976).- Chapter 15. The history of artifiicial light.- Chapter 16. Electronic broadcast media: radio and TV.- Chapter 17. Photography and movies.- Chapter 18. The transistor transition: 1945-1969.- Chapter 19. Machine computation and digitization.- Chapter 20. The Internet and the Worldwide Web.- Chapter 21. The Eco-footprint of material wealth: pollution, climate change and epidemics.- Chapter 22. Nuclear power.- Chapter 23. Solar Power and renewables.- Chapter 24. Scarce elements and scarce metals.- Chapter 25. Food and agriculture.- Chapter 26. Biotechnology and Human Health.- Chapter 27. Can technology save Homo Sapiens from Extinction? Utopia 2120.

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