Science & Nature Books

Book SynopsisWinner of the 2015 Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-FictionShortlisted for the Wellcome Book PrizeA Sunday Times and New York Times bestsellerForeword by Oliver SacksWhat is autism: a devastating developmental condition, a lifelong disability, or a naturally occurring form of cognitive difference akin to certain forms of genius? In truth, it is all of these things and more - and the future of our society depends on our understanding it. Following on from his groundbreaking article 'The Geek Syndrome', Wired reporter Steve Silberman unearths the secret history of autism, long suppressed by the same clinicians who became famous for discovering it, and finds surprising answers to the crucial question of why the number of diagnoses has soared in recent years.Going back to the earliest autism research and chronicling the brave and lonely journey of autistic people and their families through the decades, Silberman provides long-sought solutions to the autism puzzle while casting light on the growing movement of 'neurodiversity' and mapping out a path towards a more humane world for people with learning differences.Trade ReviewStunning... Highly original... Outstanding. * Spectator, Best Books of 2015 *A sprawling and fascinating dissection of the role autism has played in shaping human history. * Daily Telegraph, Best Books of 2015 *Whatever the future of autism...Mr Silberman has surely written the definitive book about its past. * The Economist, Best Books of 2015 *A rich amalgam of social history and contemporary reportage. * Financial Times, Best Books of 2015 *[An] epic history of autism. * Sunday Telegraph *Ambitious, meticulous and largehearted... Beautifully told, humanizing, important. * New York Times, Best Books of 2015 *Silberman's phenomenal book goes a long way to uncovering some of the myths about this particular "tribe" and is all for recognising their incredible talents and contributions to society. * The Sun *Brilliant and sparklingly humane. * Guardian, Best Books of 2015 *NeuroTribes is deeply felt. * The Times, Best Books of 2015 *Powerful, authoritative... This is a significant book. * The Sunday Times, Best Books of 2015 *It's not just a book about autism but a journey through the history of cognitive difference and our evolving attitudes towards it. * Metro, Best Books of 2015 *Silberman sheds a sage and humane light on a much-misrepresented aspect of human nature. * Independent, Best Books of the Year *Steve Silberman explores in fascinating, near-encyclopaedic depth how autism has evolved. It's a gripping narrative written with journalistic verve. * Observer *Silberman is a skilled storyteller... [He] researches with scientific rigour... A powerful voice: NeuroTribes offers keen insight. * New Statesman *Silberman's sweeping history is always sensitive and builds a persuasive argument that the ability to think differently is useful, necessary even, for the success of the modern world. * New Scientist *This excellent book is the result of fifteen years of work. As the late Oliver Sacks put it, "I know of no one else who has spent so much time simply listening, trying to understand what it is like to be autistic." -- William Leith * Evening Standard, Best Books of 2015 *A tome that beautifully, compassionately and brutally traces the history of autism from centuries past into the present and possible future... Everyone needs to read this book. Everyone. * Forbes *NeuroTribes is remarkable. Silberman has done something unique: he's taken the dense and detailed history of autism and turned the story into a genuine page-turner. The book is sure to stir considerable discussion. -- John Elder Robison, author of Look Me in the EyeA lively, readable book... To read NeuroTribes is to realize how much autistic people have enriched the scope of human knowledge and diversity, and how impoverished the world would be without them. * San Francisco Chronicle, Best Books of 2015 *A comprehensive history of the science and culture surrounding autism studies... An essential resource. * Nature magazine *Breathtaking... As emotionally resonant as any [book] this year. * The Boston Globe, Best Books of 2015 *It's a readable, engaging story. But it's also a serious political and sociological critique, couched in a 500-page-long piece of original historical scholarship. * Salon *Nothing short of a revelation... Sweeping and lovingly detailed. * Parent.co *The monks who inscribed beautiful manuscripts during the Middle Ages, Cavendish an 18th century scientist who explained electricity, and many of the geeks in Silicon Valley are all on the autism spectrum. Silberman reviews the history of autism treatments from horrible blaming of parents to the modern positive neurodiversity movement. Essential reading for anyone interested in psychology. -- Temple Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures and The Autistic BrainIt is a beautifully written and thoughtfully crafted book, a historical tour of autism, richly populated with fascinating and engaging characters, and a rallying call to respect difference. * Science magazine *Epic and often shocking... Everyone with an interest in the history of science and medicine - how it has failed us, surprised us and benefited us - should read this book. * Chicago Tribune *The best book you can read to understand autism. * Gizmodo *This is perhaps the most significant history of the discovery, changing conception and public reaction to autism we will see in a generation. * TASH.org *A well-researched, readable report on the treatment of autism that explores its history and proposes significant changes for its future... In the foreword, Oliver Sacks writes that this "sweeping and penetrating history...is fascinating reading" that "will change how you think of autism." No argument with that assessment. * Kirkus Reviews *Stunning...a remarkable narrative...one of the most fascinating accounts of autism I have ever read. -- Simon Baron-Cohen * The Lancet *Essential reading if you have an autistic child; highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the workings of the mind. * The Tablet *The story of autism reads more like a novel, with a vivid cast of characters, power struggles, obsessions - and heroic efforts of insight. * The Psychologist *

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Book Synopsis''Endlessly fascinating and full of surprises. Easily one of my books of the year'' BILL BRYSONThe myth-busting science behind our modern attitudes to exercise: what our bodies really need, why it matters, and its effects on health and wellbeing. In industrialized nations, our sedentary lifestyles have contributed to skyrocketing rates of obesity and diseases like diabetes. A key remedy, we are told, is exercise - voluntary physical activity for the sake of health. However, most of us struggle to stay fit, and our attitudes to exercise are plagued by misconceptions, finger-pointing and anxiety.But, as Daniel Lieberman shows in Exercised, the first book of its kind by a leading scientific expert, we never evolved to exercise. We are hardwired for moderate exertion throughout each day, not triathlons or treadmills. Drawing on over a decade of high-level scientific research and eye-opening insights from evolutionary biology and anthropology, Lieberman explains precisely how exercise can promote health; debunks persistent myths about sitting, speed, strength and endurance; and points the way towards more enjoyable and physically active living in the modern world.''Myth-busting, illuminating, brilliant - Lieberman will completely change the way you think about your body'' Professor ALICE ROBERTS, presenter of Our Incredible Human JourneyTrade ReviewEndlessly fascinating and full of surprises. Lieberman strikes a perfect balance of scholarship, wit and enthusiasm for his subject. This is easily one of my books of the year -- Bill Bryson * bestselling author of The Body *Myth-busting, illuminating, brilliant - Lieberman will completely change the way you think about your body -- Professor Alice Roberts * presenter of Our Incredible Human Journey *Entertaining and informative... The book is full of helpful tips - you'll build muscle faster by extending muscles under load rather than contracting them; the kind of chair you sit on doesn't matter as long as you strengthen your back muscles and move regularly - conveyed in a humorous and sympathetic style -- Steven Poole * Guardian *Part user manual for the human body and part detective story exploring our evolution, Exercised will change the way you think about exercise, diet and your own wellbeing -- Neil Shubin * author of Your Inner Fish *A surprising, erudite and revelatory look at the natural history of physical activity and why exercise is both so necessary for us and so unnatural. A must-read for anyone with a working body and mind -- Gretchen Reynolds * New York Times-bestselling author of The First 20 Minutes *A fascinating read, and one that could nudge you toward a healthier (and longer) life -- Amby Burfoot * editor of Runner's World *Excellent - well written, amusing and touching on the lives of all who read it -- Richard Leakey * FRS *Eye-opening, mind-expanding and potentially body-shaping -- Paul Wilson * Men's Health *Daniel Lieberman’s work is so incredibly impressive -- Steven Bartlett * Diary of a CEO *

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Book SynopsisA behind-the-scenes tour through the world''s greatest natural history museums, revealing how their hidden secrets can help us in the fight against climate changeZoologist Jack Ashby spends his life working in Britain''s natural history museums, and in Nature''s Memory he guides us through a series of extraordinary collections, from marvellous mounted whale skeletons and impossibly tiny insect cabinets to buried treasures in vast museum storehouses.But look more closely at these displays: all is not as it seems. While most exhibits succeed in communicating feelings of wonder and awe - a vital function when less people than ever before have access to the outdoors - Ashby argues that the version of nature natural history museums present does not always reflect reality, with specimens revealing more about the biases of curators than they do about the species they represent. Likewise, the ways in which museums have traditionally told the story of their own

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE FORTNUM & MASON FOOD AND DRINK AWARDS 2022 WINNER OF THE GUILD OF FOOD WRITERS SPECIALIST SUBJECT AWARD 2022 FINALIST IN THE IACP AWARDS 2022 _________ 'I have nothing against gluten, but this book is just full of recipes I long to make' Nigella Lawson The only gluten-free baking book you'll ever need, with delicious recipes that work perfectly every single time. From proper crusty bread, pillowy soft cinnamon rolls and glorious layered cakes to fudgy brownies, incredibly flaky rough puff pastry and delicate patisserie – everything that once seemed impossible to make gluten-free can now be baked by you. Baked to Perfection begins with a thorough look at the gluten-free baking basics: how different gluten-free flours behave, which store-bought blends work best, and how to mix your own to suit your needs. Covering cakes, brownies, cookies, pastry and bread in turn, Katarina shares the best techniques for the recipes in that chapter, and each recipe is accompanied by expert tips, useful scientific explanations and occasional step-by-step photography to help you achieve gluten-free perfection. Recipes include classic bakes like super-moist chocolate cake, caramel apple pie and chocolate chip cookies, the softest, chewiest bread, including crusty artisan loaves, baguettes, brioche burger buns and soda bread, and mouth-watering showstoppers like toasted marshmallow brownies, coffee cream puffs and strawberries + cream tart.Trade ReviewI have nothing against gluten, but this book is just full of recipes I long to make -- Nigella LawsonGluten-free baking just got a whole lot easier! The knowledge that Katarina shares is indispensable -- Julie Jones, author of The Pastry SchoolBaked to Perfection contains all the recipes and scientific understanding you need to bake anything gluten-free, and for it to work perfectly every time. Katarina has produced a beautiful and inspiring book that makes me want to head for the kitchen and switch on the oven! A magnificent achievement -- Juliet Sear, author of The Cake Decorating BiblePart science lesson (the fun kind, honest) and part home economics, making the process of getting to grips with baking sans gluten approachable to home cooks who don’t have a science degree in their back pockets * independent.co.uk *Katarina Cermelj effortlessly combines her knowledge of both science and baking to demystify gluten-free baking once and for all -- Erin Jeanne McDowell, author of The Fearless Baker Put what you know about wheat-based baking aside, and let Katarina teach you the wonders of decadent cookies, flaky tartlets, and tender cakes that all happen to be baked without gluten -- Tessa Huff, author of LayeredA winning guide . . . Bakers who want to expand their gluten-free baking repertoire and really get into what's happening in the baking process won't want to miss this. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisPlease note that this Floris Books edition has been revised for UK and European notation, language and metric systems.From the early peoples who marvelled at the geometry of nature -- the beehive and bird's nest -- to ancient civilisations who questioned beautiful geometric forms and asked 'why?', the story of geometry spans thousands of years. Using only three simple tools -- the string, the straight-edge and the shadow -- human beings revealed the basic principles and constructions of elementary geometry. Weaving history and legend, this fascinating book reconstructs the discoveries of mathematics's most famous figures. Through illustrations and diagrams, readers are able to follow the reasoning that lead to an ingenious proof of the Pythagorean theorem, an appreciation of the significance of the Golden Mean in art and architecture, or the construction of the five regular solids.This insightful and engaging book makes geometry accessible to everyone. Readers will be fascinated with how the knowledge and wisdom of so many cultures helped shape our civilisation today.String, Straight-edge and Shadow is also a useful and inspiring book for those teaching geometry in Steiner-Waldorf classrooms.Trade Review'Shows us what we don't realise we know, what civilisations before us learnt and passed down to us. It brings an awe and magic back to our learning… Those that advanced knowledge of geometry had a grounded and practical understanding of where it came from. This book helps us to do that.'-- The Smart Happy Project'This was an enjoyable read for the everyday person of curious mind.' - Amazon.com'Fantastic, accurate, readable, teachable and Classical.' -- Amazon.com'The well constructed narrative brings these people and their excitement over these discoveries to life. I learned about the patterns in math from a new perspective and it made me wonder why math is always taught in the abstract format. These people understood it in a completely different way and I would think that some people would learn it better if it were explained this way.' -- Goodreads'This gem is about ancient Geometry that has definite application today. Knowing the stories behind many great discoveries make them so much more interesting and really helps math to come alive.' -- Goodreads'Whether you are learning geometry for the first time, teaching it to students at home or in the classroom, or are parents helping your children through their first geometry course, this is a must-read for everyone! You will be fascinated with the graphic illustrations and written depiction of how the knowledge and wisdom of so many cultures helped shape our civilization today.' -- Waldorf Books‘String, Straight-edge and Shadow (is) an interesting and informative book and its numerous diagrams and illustrations are part of its appeal. Anyone interested in learning how discoveries made thousands of years ago still underpin much of our modern day science and mathematics will find this a useful and engaging read.’-- New View

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Book SynopsisRebeca Skloot is the author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and an award-winning science writer whose articles have appeared in the New York Times Magazine and O, the Oprah Magazine, among others. She has worked as a correspondent for NPR's RadioLab and PBS's Nova ScienceNOW, and blogs about science, life, and writing at Culture Dish, hosted by Seed magazine. She also teaches creative nonfiction at the University of Memphis.

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Book Synopsis'Boldly reactionary... What looks like feast, Carr argues, may be closer to famine' Sunday Times'Chilling' The EconomistIn this ground-breaking and compelling book, Nicholas Carr argues that not since Gutenberg invented printing has humanity been exposed to such a mind-altering technology. The Shallows draws on the latest research to show that the Net is literally re-wiring our brains inducing only superficial understanding. As a consequence there are profound changes in the way we live and communicate, remember and socialise - even in our very conception of ourselves. By moving from the depths of thought to the shallows of distraction, the web, it seems, is actually fostering ignorance. The Shallows is not a manifesto for luddites, nor does it seek to turn back the clock. Rather it is a revelatory reminder of how far the Internet has become enmeshed in our daily existence and is affecting the way we think. This landmark book compels us all to look anew at our dependence on this all-pervasive technology.This 10th-anniversary edition includes a new afterword that brings the story up to date, with a deep examination of the cognitive and behavioural effects of smartphones and social media.Trade ReviewA boldly reactionary book... Its thesis is simple and persuasive. The things that we do have a physical effect on our brains... What looks like feast, Carr argues, may be closer to famine... The internet is a distraction machine. -- Sam Leith * Sunday Times *Essential reading about our internet age. * New York Times Book Review *The most readable overview of the science and history of human cognition to date... Carr draws some chilling inferences. * The Economist *An elegantly written cry of anguish... Hair-raising. -- John Harris * Guardian *Carr straddles the book-dominated and web-dominated worlds and is at home in both... Mild-mannered, never polemical, with nothing of the Luddite about him, Carr makes his points with wide-ranging erudition. -- Christopher Caldwell * Financial Times *Unhurried... even-handed... Carr constantly emphasises the fact that screen technologies are neither evil nor miraculous in their effects on the human mind... What is certain, however, is that our minds will change... A worthy illustration that books do indeed enable deep reflection. -- Susan Greenfield * Literary Review *Absorbing [and] disturbing * Wall Street Journal *I have not only given this book to numerous friends, I actually changed my life in response to it. -- Jonathan Safran FoerAn important and timely book. See if you can stay off the Web long enough to read it! -- Elizabeth KolbertThis is a book to shake up the world. -- Ann PatchettTable of Contents0: THE WATCHDOG AND THE THIEF 1: HAL AND ME 2: THE VITAL PATHS 3: TOOLS OF THE MIND 4: THE DEEPENING PAGE 5: A MEDIUM OF THE MOST GENERAL NATURE 6: THE VERY IMAGE OF A BOOK 7: THE JUGGLER'S BRAIN 8: THE CHURCH OF GOOGLE 9: SEARCH, MEMORY 10: A THING LIKE ME 11: HUMAN ELEMENTS

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Book SynopsisThe deep sea is the last, vast wilderness on the planet. This is the story of how we imagine, explore and exploit it. For centuries, myth-makers and storytellers have concocted imaginary monsters of the deep, and now scientists are looking there to find bizarre, unknown species, chemicals to make new medicines, and to gain a greater understanding of how this world of ours works. With an average depth of 12,000 feet and chasms that plunge much deeper, it forms a frontier for new discoveries. The Brilliant Abyss tells the story of our relationship with the deep sea how we imagine, explore and exploit it. It captures the golden age of discovery we are currently in and looks back at the history of how we got here, while also looking forward to the unfolding new environmental disasters that are taking place miles beneath the waves, far beyond the public gaze. Throughout history, there have been two distinct groups of deep-sea explorers. Both have sought knowledge but with difTrade ReviewSo comprehensive and insightful that it will be a long time before it’s surpassed … It is hard to imagine a more timely or important book than The Brilliant Abyss. Carefully conceived and luminously written, it is certain to be a bestseller, which gives me hope that its urgent message might help save the world. * New Statesman *Scales’s approach is enthralling and richly expressed and highlights how closely our lives depend on the deep. * Observer *Scales’s great gift is for transmuting our awe at the wonders of the deep sea into a kind of quiet rage that they could soon be no more … The deep, she argues, is too vulnerable, and too crucial to the working of the planet to blindly ransack. * New York Times Book Review *Accessible, enjoyable and written with infectious passion, this book is a compelling guide to a fascinating and often overlooked part of our planet. * The Week *Fascinating … The Brilliant Abyss is a manifesto for change as much as it is a description of an ecological crisis. Its overall effect – to insist that what’s already down there matters, even or especially when it is hidden from our view. * New Republic *Helen Scales is one of those rare scientists who can capture the excitement of science. The Brilliant Abyss has a thrill on every page as she explores the deep and little known ocean. But this comes with a warning. Man’s destruction is now reaching the remotest corners of the planet and our survival depends on stopping it. * Mark Kurlansky, author of Cod *Helen Scales explains why leaving the deep alone is so important – play your part by arming yourself with the facts. * Coast magazine *Helen Scales’ beautiful account reveals the astonishing complexity and importance of the creatures of the abyss, to the planet and to us. * Callum Roberts, Professor of Marine Conservation and scientific advisor, BBC Blue Planet II *Table of ContentsPrelude PART ONE: EXPLORE 1: Here is the Deep 2: The Whale and the Worm 3: Caught in a Jelly Web 4: In a Chemical World 5: Highs and Lows PART TWO: DEPEND 6: Deep Matters 7: Deep Cures PART THREE: EXPLOIT 8: Fishing Deep 9: The Eternal Junkyard 10: What's Mine is Yours PART FOUR: PRESERVE 11: Green vs Blue 12: A Sanctuary in the Deep Epilogue Acknowledgements Notes Additional Resources Index Plates

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Book SynopsisThe third and final updated edition of David Attenborough's classic Life trilogy. Life on Earth covered evolution, Living Planet , ecology, and now The Trials of Life tackles ethology, the study of how animals behave.Trade ReviewPraise for the New Edition of Life on Earth: ‘It does not disappoint. The new Life on Earth is as glorious as the first’ Guardian ‘A beautiful and wide ranging work. The breadth of natural history covered is extraordinary and mesmerising. Life on Earth is still breathtakingly rich, and we would know far less about it were it not for Attenborough’s wonderful skills of communication over the years: our cultural and scientific lives would be poorer without him’ New Scientist ‘This natural history masterpiece offers a spectacular snapshot of a once-wild planet’ New Scientist Praise for David Attenborough: ‘A marvellous book … unputdownable … utterly engaging’ Telegraph ‘An elegant and gently funny writer’ The Times ‘His writing is as impressive and as enjoyable as his TV programmes and there can be no higher praise’ Daily Express ‘A great educator as well as a great naturalist’ Barack Obama ‘Sir David is a wizard of television, and, like Gandalf or Dumbledore, he has a near-magical gift for combining warmth and gravitas . . . the man who, for me, exemplifies the best in British broadcasting’ Louis Theroux ‘When I was a young boy I used to love turning on the television and watching David's programmes and really feeling like I was either back out in Africa or I was learning about something magical and almost out of this planet’ HRH Prince William

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Book Synopsis'This is an epic journey by a man who’s not only obsessed with birds but who has a deep spiritual connection with the planet.' David Lindo, author of How to be an Urban Birder The (Big) Year Flew By is the tale of one avid birder’s epic, record-breaking adventure through 40 countries over 6 continents – in just 365 days – to see 6,852 bird species, many on the precipice of extinction. Would Arjan Dwarshuis be able to break the coveted ‘Big Year’ record, travelling around the world, navigating shifting climate emergencies and geopolitical challenges? His incredible and perilous journey took him over uninhabited islands, through dense, unforgiving rainforests, across snowy mountain peaks and into unrelenting deserts in a single year – pursuing a single goal. The (Big) Year that Flew By is an unforgettable, personal exploration of the limits of human potential when engaging with the natural world. It is a book about birds and birding and Arjan’s attempts to raise awareness for critically endangered species, but it is also a book about overcoming mental challenges, extreme physical danger and human competition and fully realising your passions through nature, adventure and conservation. Trade Review“Dutch birders take their pursuit to a higher plane of skill and intensity, as exemplified in this global trek by Arjan Dwarshuis. A fast-paced page-turner and a unique adventure story, The (Big) Year that Flew By is also filled with insights about landscapes, people, and a world of wonderful birds.” —Kenn Kaufman, author of Kingbird Highway“Arjan artistically weaves together the beauty of the birds, the importance of conservation, and the complex logistics of non-stop travel. The roller coaster highs of seeing a target bird, paired with the lows of absolute fatigue and exhaustion, are an innate undertone of any birder’s big year.” —Tiffany Kersten, birding guide and continental U.S. Big Year record holder“The (Big) Year that Flew By is not simply a celebration of a broken record but a global call to action to protect the habitats that birds rely on for survival. A Big Year of birding is a massive undertaking, requiring a Herculean effort to successfully plan and execute. While this quest involves daunting logistics and emotional hurdles, the most notable achievement is distilling so much lived experience into a single book. Arjan has conquered both, beautifully capturing remote wild places and conveying the intensity endured to find and observe nearly three-quarters of the world’s bird species. Arjan’s contagious passion for birds infuses his account of a global avian scavenger hunt like no other.” —Christian Hagenlocher, author of the Falcon Freeway“An astonishing achievement! Arjan Dwarshuis’s year was so big it covered an entire planet. His eagle eyes took in almost 7,000 species of bird and brought into sharp focus their often-fragile existence. Dwarshuis’s heartfelt prose reminds us that many of these species are living on the edge—just a generation or two away from extinction. Yet this is a story of hope—Dwarshuis shines a light on the many communities around the world banding together to save their local birdlife. This book is a glorious tribute to the wealth of beauty and diversity found in birds, and a clarion call for us all to care about the future of birds everywhere. “ —Neil Hayward, author of Lost Among the Birds“The (Big) Year that Flew By is somehow both a fast-paced race through and an in-depth immersion in an amazing birding big year. Arjan Dwarshuis does an excellent job of portraying the excitement, stress, and exertion that are part of any Big Year, but that was even more so in his record-breaking worldwide Big Year. I very much enjoyed reading his account, sometimes with my heart pounding, as I lived his journey with him, feeling joy when he managed to find another rarity, concern with his bird-seeking struggles, and sorrow in his very rare misses. As I read, I continued to be impressed by the logistics required for all his travels, and by the excellent people who helped him find all these bird species. His interspersing of tales of his early birding years helped me better understand the how and why he was able to pull off his remarkable feat as well as his passion for birding. Throughout this book, he also explained conservation concerns and advances as they relate to the birds he sought, providing words of wisdom and words of hope. In his conclusion, he admits that while flying all over the world does use much energy, ecotourism in many far-flung places has been and continues to be of great importance in saving birds and habitats. I especially appreciate his conclusion in which he asks his readers to adopt a positive attitude and do their part—'enjoy nature and look up to the sky.’” —Lynn Barber, author of Extreme Birder“Arjan’s story is brilliantly told. I was with him every step of the way. It is much more than just a story about one man’s bid to see as most of the world’s bird species in one year as humanly possible. No, this is an epic journey by a man who’s not only obsessed with birds but who has a deep spiritual connection with the planet as he observes the environments and habitats he encounters. It is clear that we have to do more to take care of our world and all its inhabitants, including us.” —David Lindo, author of How to be an Urban Birder"[An] entertaining debut . . . . [that] offers colorful glimpses into the locales the author visits. . . . Part birding journal, part travelogue, this will appeal to backyard birders." —Publisher's Weekly"Dwarshius’ exhilarating race against time across 40 countries and 6 continents in his attempt to break the world record will thrill armchair readers and bird enthusiasts alike." —Booklist"I sped through [this] book, trying to ignore feelings of jealousy as Dwarshuis described moments with species I’ve dreamed of seeing.” —The Washington Post

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Book SynopsisChris Lintott is a Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Oxford, where his research ranges from understanding how galaxies form and evolve, to predicting the properties of visiting interstellar asteroids. He is Principal Investigator of the Zooniverse citizen science platform, which provides opportunities for anyone to contribute to scientific research, and which was the topic of his first book, 'The Crowd and the Cosmos'. Lintott is best known as presenter of the BBC's long-running Sky at Night program, and as an accomplished lecturer and performer in venues from music festivals to planetaria. In 2023, he was appointed the 39th Gresham Professor of Astronomy, a post that dates back to the 16th century. Away from work, he cooks, plays real tennis and spends time with a rescued lurcher, Mr Max, with whom he presents the Dog Stars podcast.

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE BEST MIXED MEDIA BOOK AWARD AT THE CREATIVE BOOK AWARDS 2024A gorgeous guide to foraging, pressing and using seaweeds for a wealth of home creative projects. Both aspirational and inspirational, this guide to bringing the outdoors inside is quite unlike anything on the market and will inspire all readers to begin their beach foraging journey.A beautifully packaged, comprehensive visual guide to seaweed by design company Molesworth & Bird. Seaweed will inspire readers to look beyond the tangled piles of seaweed washed up at high tide, to discover its exceptional beauty and appreciate its many uses. The book celebrates the unique appeal of the plants and showcases the myriad ways to bring their beauty indoors, with the authors providing step-by-step activities so you can create your own prints at home. Whether pressing a deep khaki green Peacock's Tail seaweed or creating a stunning cyanotype with Eelgrass, the possibilities are endless with this seashore bounty.The book is packed with glorious photography of the UK coastlines where the seaweeds can be foraged, alongside stylish interiors, and scenes of beach cook-outs and wild swimming spots. It also includes a library of pressed seaweeds presented in colour categories, with notes for identification and use. There is expert guidance on collecting seaweeds, and it will show how foraged seaweeds can be used at home for cooking, dyeing and printing fabrics, and as part of your skincare routine. It explores the fascinating history of seaweed collecting and investigates its potential as a healthy food source and sustainable material, whether foraged or farmed.Trade Review‘Framed foraged seaweed is the wholesome homeware trend you need to know now […] these days the interiors cognoscenti are adorning walls in seaweed art in chic palettes of plum, moss and rhubarb’ – Sunday Times Style, 30th Oct 2022

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Book SynopsisThe latest volume in The New York Times bestselling physics series explains Einstein''s masterpiece: the general theory of relativityHe taught us classical mechanics, quantum mechanics and special relativity. Now, physicist Leonard Susskind, assisted by a new collaborator, André Cabannes, returns to tackle Einstein''s general theory of relativity. Starting from the equivalence principle and covering the necessary mathematics of Riemannian spaces and tensor calculus, Susskind and Cabannes explain the link between gravity and geometry. They delve into black holes, establish Einstein field equations and solve them to describe gravity waves. The authors provide vivid explanations that, to borrow a phrase from Einstein himself, are as simple as possible (but no simpler).An approachable yet rigorous introduction to one of the most important topics in physics, General Relativity is a must-read for anyone who wants a deeper knowledge of the universe''s real structure.

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Book SynopsisJohn Lewis-Stempel is a farmer and 'Britain's finest living nature writer' (The Times). His books include the Sunday Times bestsellers Woodston, The Running Hare and The Wood. He is the only person to have won the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing twice, with Meadowland and Where Poppies Blow. In 2016 he was named Magazine Columnist of the Year for his column in Country Life. He farms cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry. Traditionally.Trade ReviewA charming essay...packed with facts and literary asides...Lewis-Stempel has a wonderful way with words...he also packs the book with the singing, ringing words of others. -- Robbie Millen * The Times *Best of the year's Natural History: one of our finest nature writers with an essay length portrait of a bird that has fascinated humans for millennia. * Mail on Sunday *John Lewis-Stempel is the hottest nature writer around. -- John McEwen * Spectator *In this short, beautiful little book, the farmer and nature writer introduces us to the wisdom of owls.. every question you might ask ... is answered with economy and insight and the cultural references and quotations are as rich as you would expect from this brilliant writer. -- Bel Mooney * Daily Mail *John is one of this country's greatest nature writers...this is a unique look at the Owl's of Britain in both word and verse...some incredible facts... a wonderful little book for anyone who wants to know a little more of some of our most secret of birds and ones that should be celebrated. * The Last Word *

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Book SynopsisTHE IRISH TIMES TOP FIVE BESTSELLER 'A beautifully reasoned book about our own unreasonableness' Robin Ince In 1983, the reasoning of one unsung Russian narrowly averted nuclear war, proving that critical thinking can save the world. Today, facing unprecedented tides of disinformation, we’re frequently misled, to our detriment. The Irrational Ape explores the reasons why we get things so wrong, illustrated with incredible stories from the comical to the catastrophic.   With a cast including murderous popes, conspiracy theorists, snake-oil salesmen, dubious celebrities and superstitious pigeons, The Irrational Ape delves into how reasoning errors, skewed perceptions and even our own psychology render us so susceptible to falsehood – and how we can improve our reasoning to ensure we avoid being taken in.    Trade Review'From anti-vaxxers to Dunning-Kruger, from homeopathy and astrology to “false balance” (what I call the BBC Fallacy), from misused statistics to nuclear brinkmanship, our irrationality could be our undoing. A book exposing the irrational ape and teaching us to mend our ways might so easily have become all preachy and teachy. Instead, such is David Robert Grimes’s storytelling skill, his book is an unstoppable page-turner. If our leaders were forced to read this book, the world would be a safer place’ -- Richard Dawkins'Grimes’s book addresses an all-too-urgent contemporary political question: how do we protect our societies and ourselves from charlatans and fools?...It brings a fresh perspective, and has been painstakingly researched. This spirited cocktail of data leavened with anecdotes is served up in Grimes’s trademark provocative, combative style...a highly creditable debut from a skilled communicator' -- John Gibbons * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisDr Michelle Wong is a chemist with over 20 years' experience as a science educator. As Lab Muffin Beauty Science, she debunks beauty myths and the science behind the biggest skincare and haircare trends to her 450K Instagram and 420K YouTube followers. Michelle has collaborated with L'Oreal, P&G, and Johnson & Johnson as part of her science education work, and has been profiled by The New York Times, Vogue Business, and Harper's Bazaar.

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Book SynopsisA revealing exploration of mosses and lichens, unsung heroes of the natural world.

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Book SynopsisExam board: AQALevel & Subject: GCSE PhysicsFirst teaching: September 2016 Next exams: June 2023To support students in their completion of the required practicals on their GCSE Science (9-1) course, the Collins AQA lab book is the only resource that they need.This lab book will: provide students with all the information they need to perform their required practicals; including the method, apparatus needed, common mistakes and safety tips be the one place to record the outcomes of practicals, providing and easy reference for revision challenge students with extra questions designed to improve analysis, evaluation and maths skills prepare students for their examinations, with exam-style questions directly linked to the required practicals and apparatus use.

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Book SynopsisNAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE ECONOMIST, OBSERVER, NEW SCIENTIST, BBC FOCUS, INDEPENDENT AND WASHINGTON POST ''A rollicking tour of the wildest physics. . . Like an animated discussion with your favourite quirky and brilliant professor'' Leah Crane, New Scientist''Weird science, explained beautifully'' - John ScalziWe know the universe had a beginning. But what happens at the end of the story?With lively wit and wry humour, astrophysicist Katie Mack takes us on a mind-bending tour through each of the cosmos'' possible finales: the Big Crunch, Heat Death, Vacuum Decay, the Big Rip and the Bounce. Guiding us through major concepts in quantum mechanics, cosmology, string theory and much more, she describes how small tweaks to our incomplete understanding of reality can result in starkly different futures. Our universe could collapse in upon itself, or rip itself apart, or even - in the next five minutes - succumb to an inescapable expanding bubble of doom.This captivating story of cosmic escapism examines a mesmerizing yet unfamiliar physics landscape while sharing the excitement a leading astrophysicist feels when thinking about the universe and our place in it. Amid stellar explosions and bouncing universes, Mack shows that even though we puny humans have no chance of changing how it all ends, we can at least begin to understand it.The End of Everything is a wildly fun, surprisingly upbeat ride to the farthest reaches of all that we know.Trade ReviewKatie Mack is a great scientist, a passionate inquirer of nature, a great companion in this exploration, full of wit and lightness. I have learned from her plenty of things I did not know. And I have found myself staring out of the window, meditating about the end of it all -- Carlo Rovelli * Observer Books of the Year *Witty, clear and upbeat -- Bill Clinton * Guardian *An engrossing and often funny tour of all the ways our cosmos might come to a close. Mack's enjoyment of physics stands out - and is contagious. She describes primordial black holes as "awfully cute in a terrifying theoretical kind of way", antimatter as "matter's annihilation-happy evil twin" and the universe as "frickin' weird". All true, and Mack's explanations are entertaining and informative * New Scientist Books of the Year *Mack's humour and eclectic references (from Shakespeare to 'Battlestar Galactica') carry the book along. Even through discussions of cutting-edge science, the general reader is never bewildered * The Economist Books of the Year *An enthusiastic celebration of the fact that we exist at all, here, right now, and are able to wonder about such stuff. . . By introducing concepts such as entropy and heat death with metaphors of unscrambling eggs or your coffee going cold, she takes the reader from the cosmos to the kitchen, and Mack's true skill is to do all this without a whiff of condescension or self-importance. . . while dealing with many of the same mind-bending cosmic conundrums, she succeeds brilliantly where Hawking failed * Sydney Morning Herald *Tremendous... makes me laugh the kind of laugh that puts doom in perspective. How useful! I feel weirdly lulled when I read about all the many ravishing ways the universe might, and will, end -- Johanna Hedva * White Review *In which everything ends, or doesn't, with bangs and whimpers. Like many good serious books, it's also funny -- Sarah BakewellA rollicking tour of the wildest physics. . . Like an animated discussion with your favourite quirky and brilliant professor. What stands out most is Mack's pure enjoyment of physics, and it is contagious. . . If you need a moment to be distracted from everyday life and journey to the deep cosmic future, I highly recommend it -- Leah Crane * New Scientist *Mack is brilliant, and my neighbour's six-year-old daughter loves her. I love her. . . The cosiest way to read The End of Everything, her fast-paced book about universal death, is as a murder mystery. In the middle of the carpet is our butchered universe. How did it die? Squashed ('The Big Crunch')? Boiled ('Heat Death')? Eviscerated ('The Big Rip')? Burst apart from every pore ('Vacuum Decay')? To one side, almost dancing with excitement, is Inspector Mack. . . -- Alexander Masters * The Spectator *One of the most popular voices on science. . . Katie Mack achieves two improbable feats. First, she writes about the end of the universe with a jauntiness that makes it not actually that depressing. And second, she takes concepts in cosmology, string theory and quantum mechanics and makes them accessible -- Tim Lewis * Observer *Exactly the sort of book I would have given to myself at 14, 24, 34 and honestly pretty much every age after. Weird science, explained beautifully -- John ScalziJoyous, beautiful and strange. . . filled with brilliant moments where you just have to stop and stare out of the window for a while -- Robin InceEverything dies, even the universe. But will it be a peaceful fading-away, or a dramatic cataclysm? Scientists don't know for sure, but Katie Mack provides an expert and entertaining guide to the possibilities. Who knew a book about the end of the universe could communicate so much passion for science? -- Sean Carroll, author of Something Deeply HiddenThis book teaches you that the universe could end at any moment, but is so good that you will be rooting for it not to-at least, not until you finish the book. Katie Mack's witty, lucid prose is endlessly delightful -- Alexandra Petri, author of Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is WhyAn engrossing, elegant timeline of the cosmos. . . Mack sprinkles in delightful esoterica along the way, while providing a guide to some of the most plausible scenarios about the end of the universe * New York Times *Mack is a great science communicator and I suspected I was going to like this book as soon as I saw her name. I am pleased to say it does not disappoint * BBC Sky at Night *Mack creates an accessible, easy-to-digest guide to how the universe might end, speaking in a casual way that feels like sitting down for coffee with a good friend - one who can break down the physics of destruction into bite-sized delights * Discover *Excellent, far-reaching... the perfect antidote to the malaise of mundane worries * Science *I found it helpful -- not reassuring, certainly, but mind-expanding -- to be reminded of our place in a vast cosmos. -- James Gleick, The New York Times Book ReviewHaving a great time enjoying The End of Everything. A mind blowing book. I got mine on Kindle as I need to underline particularly mind boggling ideas. Why not join me? -- Eric Idle

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Book SynopsisFrom gravity to black holes, special relativity to global warming, this authoritative and entertaining book from bestselling author Marcus Chown breaks down complex science into manageable chunks, explaining the one thing you really need to know to get to grips with the subject.Rather than trying to bend your mind around all the vast and confounding details of things such as gravitational waves, electricity and black holes, wouldn’t it be easier to understand just one central concept from which everything else follows?If you’ve ever found yourself fascinated by the idea of quantum computing but feel a little overwhelmed by the mindblowing subject of quantum mechanics or concerned by climate change but haven’t been able to get to grips with the details of global warming, this book is for you. Let’s take atoms, for example - what on earth are they? Well, if you start to think of them less like things you can’t see with complex little nuclei and more like the alphabet of nature, which in different configurations can make a rose, a galaxy or a newborn baby, they might start to feel a little more understandable. Or gravitational waves - they sound poetic, but why are they creating so much excitement? Think of them as the voice of space, vibrations on the drumskin of space-time - before delving into all their complexities.In twenty-one short and engaging chapters, Chown explains the one thing you need to know to understand some of the most important scientific ideas of our time. Packed full of astounding facts, scientific history and the entertaining personalities at the heart of the most pivotal discoveries about the workings of our universe, this is an accessible guide to all the tricky stuff you’ve always wanted to understand more about.

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Book SynopsisA revolutionary new understanding of the human brain and its changeable nature. The brain is a dynamic, electric, living forest. It is not rigidly fixed but instead constantly modifies its patterns - adjusting to remember, adapting to new conditions, building expertise. Your neural networks are not hardwired but livewired, reconfiguring their circuitry every moment of your life. Covering decades of research - from synaesthesia to dreaming to the creation of new senses - and groundbreaking discoveries from Eagleman's own laboratory, Livewired surfs the leading edge of science to explore the most advanced technology ever discovered.Trade ReviewVivid . . . Since the passing of Isaac Asimov, we haven't had a working scientist like Mr Eagleman, who engages his ideas in such a variety of modes. Livewired reads wonderfully like what a book would be if it were written by Oliver Sacks and William Gibson, sitting on Carl Sagan's front lawn * * Wall Street Journal * *Chockfull of mind-bending ideas and dazzling insights. Eagleman's infectious enthusiasm, his use of fascinating anecdotes and his clear, effortless prose render the secrets of the brain's adaptability into a truly compelling page-turner. Livewired is a fun and whirlwind exploration of the most complex thing in the universe -- KHALED HOSSEINIAn altogether fascinating tour of the astonishing plasticity and interconnectedness inside the cranial cradle of all of our experience of reality, animated by Eagleman's erudite enthusiasm for his subject, aglow with the ecstasy of sense-making that comes when the seemingly unconnected snaps into a consummate totality of understanding -- MARIA POPOVA * * Brain Pickings * *An intellectually exhilarating look at neuroplasticity . . . Eagleman's skill as teacher, bold vision, and command of current research will make this superb work a curious reader's delight * * Publishers Weekly (starred review) * *Gets the science right and makes it accessible . . . completely upending our basic sense of what the brain is in the process . . . Exciting * * Harvard Business Review * *Eagleman brings the subject to life in a way I haven't seen other writers achieve before * * New Scientist * *David's a brilliant writer and thinker, and he knows more about how we tick and why we tick than anyone I know -- NEIL GAIMANLivewired is terrific. If you have a mind, David Eagleman will boggle it for you -- HUGH LAURIEMasterful . . . Outstanding popular science * * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) * *Praise for David Eagleman: The unaccountable, jaw-dropping quality of genius * * Observer * *

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Book SynopsisThis book explores ethical issues at the interfaces of science, policy, religion and technology. Through case studies and in-depth analyses, this book cultivates skills of critical thinking, cogent argument and informed judgement and explores ethical issues at the interfaces of science, policy and technology.Trade Review'[Ethics and Science] examines science, and engineering and technology, both internally - the research process - and externally - the socio-political context in which it is institutionally set and where its influence will be felt, for the ethical issues entailed in this central twenty-first-century area of study. Revealing case studies frame the issues, which the authors then complement with judicious questions designed to stimulate serious reflection. This volume should be widely adopted, finding an enthusiastic student audience in a wide range of science, engineering, policy, and philosophy courses. Briggle and Mitcham have provided science, technology and society instructors with a very usable classroom text, one that should also be of interest to a wider, engaged public readership as well.' Stephen Cutcliffe, Lehigh UniversityTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Introduction and overview; 2. Ethical concepts and theories; 3. Science and its norms; 4. Research ethics I: misconduct and the responsible conduct of research; 5. Research ethics II: science involving humans; 6. Research ethics III: science involving animals; 7. The science of ethics; 8. Transition: from ethics to politics and policy; 9. Science and politics I: policy for science; 10. Science and politics II: science for policy; 11. Science and ideational culture; 12. Science applied: ethics and engineering; Appendix: influential ethics codes and declarations; Works cited; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe Cambridge IGCSE & O Level Complete Physics Student Book is at the heart of delivering the course. It has been fully updated and matched to the latest Cambridge IGCSE (0625) & O Level (5054) Physics syllabuses, ensuring it covers all the content that students need to succeed.The Student Book is written by Stephen Pople, experienced and trusted author of our previous, best-selling edition, and Anna Harris. It has been reviewed by subject experts globally to ensure it meets teachers'' needs. The book offers a rigorous approach, with a light touch to make it engaging. Varied and flexible assessment-focused support and exam-style questions improve students'' performance and help them to progress, while the enriching content equips them for further study.The Student Book is available in print, online or via a great-value print and online pack. The supporting Exam Success Guide and Practical Workbook help students achieve top marks in their exams, while the Workbook, for independent pract

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Book SynopsisSome have wings that shimmer bright... Some live deep in the earth, hidden from sight... Some have a venomous, deadly bite... It''s time to meet the BUGS!Discover a secret world thriving right underneath your feet. From beetles to butterflies, spiders to scorpions, meet the most bizarre and awe-inspiring bugs ever to walk the Earth! Author Simon Mole turns fascinating facts into poems full of humour and heart; Adam Ming's illustrations are a riot of colour and energy, helping these extraordinary creatures to jump off the page. Here is the insect kingdom in all its glory and here is a book that children will want to read over and over again.

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Book SynopsisScotland’s plants define its landscape – from the heather moorlands of its iconic habitats to the weeds and a garden plants of its towns and cities. Plants have shaped the country’s domestic economy and culture over centuries, providing resources for agriculture and industry as well as food, drink and medicines. They have even inspired children’s games and been used as components in magical charms Drawing together traditional knowledge from archives and oral histories with the work of some of the country’s finest botanical artists, this book is a magnificent celebration of the enormous wealth of Scottish plant lore.Trade Review'A small number of books are so beautiful, or so interesting, or so useful as a reference that you know immediately you will be returning to the time and again. Scottish Plant Lore is one of those all-too-rare books that qualify on all three fronts…Everything about this book exudes quality' * Undiscovered Scotland *'A lovely coffee table book, filled with an array of beautiful drawings and information that you will return to time and again ... a fine place for wannabe horticulturists inspired to create their own green haven' * Scottish Field *

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Book SynopsisA collection of 365 numerical nuggets - one for each day of the year

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Book SynopsisA fresh look at health, habits and longevity from internationally-bestselling author, Nicklas Brendborg - perfect for fans of Ultra-Processed People Highly readable DAILY MAILBrilliantly unpacks how modern life hijacks our ancient biology. DR JENNA MACCIOCHIAn informative and engaging read that will appeal to anyone with a bad habit - which must widen the net to everyone. IRISH INDEPENDENTIntriguing ... makes some shocking revelations. SUNDAY TIMES------IT''S NOT YOU. IT''S YOUR BIOLOGY.Modern society is plagued by health epidemics: obesity, record levels of loneliness, increasing mental health problems and various forms of addiction. From the outside, all these issues might seem unrelated. But a single phenomenon actually ties them all together: superstimuli.Superstimuli are exaggerated, unnatural versions of things we have evolved to want and need such as food, sex and social recognition. This hard wired evolutionary response is why we binge on fake ultra-processed food, lust after airbrushed people online, and struggle to stop scrolling on social media, even when it makes us feel bad. Our lack of control isn''t because we are weak. It''s because powerful companies spend billions creating superstimuli that manipulate our biology for profit, leaving us unhealthy and unhappy as a consequence. Super Stimulated shows how we can resist this hijacking of our natural instincts, recognise superstimulus traps, and take control of our bad habits to live longer, healthier lives.

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Book SynopsisExplains how people who are clinically dead can have a transformative experience, illustrating the stories of people who have gone through a Near Death Experience (NDE). This title states that our consciousness does not always coincide with brain functions, and shows that consciousness can even be experienced separate from the body.Trade Review"Dr. Pim van Lommel's Consciousness Beyond Life is an exciting, informative, and thorough overview of near-death experiences. As one of the foremost experts in the field, his work moves us closer to rational comprehension of human kind's deepest mystery- life after death." -- Raymond A. Moody MD,PhD, author of Life After Life "In Consciousness Beyond Life, cardiologist Pim van Lommel constructs a model of consciousness that courageously builds on all we know. The resulting view is... bright and hopeful... and has the redeeming feature of being consistent with scientific data, which in our era makes all the difference." -- Dr. Larry Dossey "Pim van Lommel shows that the symphony of human consciousness does continue... [even] at the portals of death. His evidence is robust, and can no longer be ignored either by the science community, or by society at large." -- Dr. Ervin Laszlo "Most books on NDEs only touch on some of the ideas that are presented, but the distinctive contribution of this book is that it presents and defends a complete theory of consciousness... What a brilliant, erudite and magisterial book. A magnificent achievement, clearly a landmark book. " -- Dr. Kenneth Ring, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Connecticut "Consciousness Beyond Life confronts the apparent enigma of clear thinking, accurate perception, and enhanced memory in people who are clinically dead. This rigorous and provocative book may change our ideas about the mind and how we practice medicine." -- Bruce Greyson, M.D., Carlson Professor of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine "I highly recommend Consciousness Beyond Life. Van Lommel is convinced that NDEs are real experiences, not just some sort of brain malfunction. He... has studied NDEs for more than 20 years and this is an authoritative look, with solid medical background. " -- Dr. Charles T. Tart, Ph.D. "There have been several books published which explore consciousness, the near-death experience, or the brain, but van Lommel's book is the most comprehensive... Human beings are something more than physical bodies. There is life after death. Read Consciousness Beyond Life and expand your mind with hope." -- Basil & Spice "The most significant contribution to the field to appear in many years, containing as it does [van Lommel's] mature philosophical reflections on the implications of the findings of his study on near-death experiences in survivors of cardiac arrest." -- David Lorimer, editor of the Network Review

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Book SynopsisFor thousands of years, mathematicians have used the timeless art of logic to see the world more clearly. In The Art of Logic, Royal Society Science Book Prize nominee Eugenia Cheng shows how anyone can think like a mathematician - and see, argue and think better. Learn how to simplify complex decisions without over-simplifying them. Discover the power of analogies and the dangers of false equivalences. Find out how people construct misleading arguments, and how we can argue back. Eugenia Cheng teaches us how to find clarity without losing nuance, taking a careful scalpel to the complexities of politics, privilege, sexism and dozens of other real-world situations. Her Art of Logic is a practical and inspiring guide to decoding the modern world.Trade ReviewMind-expanding ... a meaningful contribution to creating a better society as well as happier conversations and relationships * Guardian *A mathematician's thought-provoking attempt to lay out the tools of rational argument -- Michael Brooks * New Statesman Books of the Year *With humour, grace, and a natural gift for making explanations seem fun, Eugenia Cheng has done it again. This is a book to savour, to consult, and to buy for all your friends. You'll think more clearly after reading this book, something that is unfortunately in short supply these days. I am buying several copies to send to heads of state. -- Daniel Levitin, bestselling author of The Organised Mind & A Field Guide to Lies and StatisticsIn an era awash with conflict, exploitation, tribalism and fake news, the "illuminating precision" offered by logic is important. Cheng harnesses the power of abstraction to explore real-life phenomena such as sexism and white privilege. She walks us through the grand terrain of logic, from axioms to proofs. And she reveals how to build arguments as long chains of logical implications - a "virtuosic and masterful" skill that, combined with intelligent emotional engagement, can cut through pervasive irrationality * Nature *A perceptive analysis of logic and its limitations ... Cheng is successful not only in helping readers think more clearly, but in helping them understand why others sometimes appear to be illogical. This book has the potential to help understanding and avoid confrontational arguments that serve only to entrench opposing views * Times Higher Education *Radical and liberating * Emerald Street *We're thankful that someone like Eugenia Cheng is here; someone to eloquently and efficiently expound on concepts like logic and truth at a time when their very basis seems to come under attack ... We're forever on the lookout for someone to make mathematics both fun and accessible, and it looks like we've found that person in Eugenia Cheng * How it Works Magazine *A concert pianist, mathematician, polyglot and YouTube star, Cheng has carved out quite a niche for herself ... she brings an ebullient enthusiasm that's infectious * Guardian *Witty, charming, and crystal clear. Eugenia Cheng's enthusiasm and carefully chosen metaphors and analogies carry us effortlessly through the mathematical landscape -- Ian StewartClear, clever and friendly -- Alex Bellos

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Book SynopsisA tantalising journey into the weird and wonderful world of fermentation, from its role in our evolution to the foods we love and everything in between. Imagine a world without bread, butter or wine. Without soy sauce or chocolate. What if we also take away cheese, coffee and even antibiotics? This is what life without fermentation would be like. Fermentation is so much more than a current health trend, it has shaped the world we live in, the bodies we inhabit, the staple foods we eat and even has the potential to shape our future. The truth is, when we ferment, we're tapping into a collaboration thousands of years in the making between humans and a hidden microbial cosmos, one which we're only just beginning to understand. Adventures in Fermentation is the first book to lift the lid on the power of this ancient practice, exploring how it has been utilised in different cultures across the globe and how we can do the same. With irresistible wit and verve, chef and scientist Dr Joh

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Book SynopsisThe brilliantly told and gripping story of the most familiar - yet, amazingly, still poorly understood - substance in the universe: Water.

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Book SynopsisThe tenth anniversary edition of the dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest: the search for the solution of how to calculate longitude and the unlikely triumph of an English genius. With a new Foreword by the celebrated astronaut Neil Armstrong.Sobel has done the impossible and made horology sexy no mean feat' New ScientistAnyone alive in the 18th century would have known that the longitude problem' was the thorniest scientific dilemma of the day and had been for centuries. Lacking the ability to measure their longitude, sailors throughout the great ages of exploration had been literally lost at sea as soon as they lost sight of land. Thousands of lives, and the increasing fortunes of nations, hung on a resolution.The quest for a solution had occupied scientists and their patrons for the better part of two centuries when, in 1714, Parliament upped the ante by offering a king's ransom (20,000) to anyone whose method or device proved successful. Countless quacks weighed in wiTrade ReviewDava Sobel has written a gem of a book…one of the best reads for the non-scientific writing to come along for many a moon." Financial Times "A true life thriller, jam-packed with political intrigue, international warfare, personal feuds and financial skullduggery." Daily Mail "Rarely have I enjoyed a book as much as Dava Sobel's Longitude. She has an extraordinary gift of making difficult ideas clear." Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThese popular molecular modelling sets can be used to make many different molecules. This makes them ideal for student use and also for educators and researchers. The set contains 72 colour-coded atoms, 105 links and 5 lone pair electron clouds. The shorter links can be used for single bonds, while the longer, flexible links can be used for double or triple bonds. Using molecular models can help students to visualise concepts such as isomerism through hands-on learning. The models can also be used to learn about balancing equations and molecular geometry. Molymod is a registered trade mark of the EU ( and other places) and is owned by Spiring Enterprises Limited who are the inventors and exclusive manufacturers of the molymod system. Made In England. NOT AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA AND CANADATable of Contents72 colour-coded atoms; 105 links; 5 lone pair electron clouds

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Book SynopsisSeaweed is so familiar and yet its names - pepper dulse, sea lettuce, bladderwrack - are largely unknown to us. In this short, exquisitely illustrated portrait, the Dutch poet and artist Miek Zwamborn shares her discoveries of its history, culture and use, from the Neolithic people of the Orkney Islands to sushi artisans in modern Japan. Seaweed troubled Columbus on his voyages across the Atlantic, intrigued von Humboldt in the Sargasso Sea and inspired artists from Hokusai to Matisse. Covering seaweed's collection by Victorians, its adoption into fashion and dance and its potential for combating climate change, and with a fabulous series of recipes based around the 'truffles of the sea', this is a wonderful gift for every nature lover's home.Trade ReviewA very special, little, cute, moving but splendid book. * Shortlisting for Jan Wolkers Prijs 2018 *a treasure chest filled with fascinating, horizon-widening, mind-expanding curiosities and moments of awe and wonder on every page. Zwambown is an artist-polymath: erudite, wide-ranging and magpie-like. She takes us underwater to a world of iridescence rainbow weed, sea monsters, space algae and world-saving kelp. She opens up the sea for us with an intriguing mixture of cultural and natural history, acute observations and enchanting illustrations and challenges us to slow down and engage in a radical noticing and joy of seeing we all need. I am now completely obsessed by seaweed. -- Lucy Jones author of * Losing Eden *

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Book SynopsisNobel Prize winner Werner Heisenberg''s classic account explains the central ideas of the quantum revolution, and his celebrated Uncertainty Principle. Heisenberg reveals how words and concepts familiar in daily life can lose their meaning in the world of relativity and quantum physics.This in turn has profound philosophical implications for the nature of reality.

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Book SynopsisFor thousands of years, humans have wondered whether we're alone in the cosmos. Now, for the first time, we have the technology to investigate. The question should have an obvious answer: yes or no. But once you try to find life elsewhere, you realize it is not so simple. How do you find it over cosmic distances? What actually is life?As founding director of Cornell University's Carl Sagan Institute, astrophysicist Lisa Kaltenegger built a team of tenacious scientists from many disciplines to create a uniquely specialized toolkit to find life on faraway worlds. In Alien Earths, she demonstrates how we can use our homeworld as a Rosetta Stone, creatively analyzing Earth's history and its astonishing biosphere to inform this search. With infectious enthusiasm, she takes us on an eye-opening journey to the most unusual exoplanets that have shaken our worldview - planets covered in oceans of lava, lonely wanderers lost in space, and others with more than one sun in their sky! And the best contenders for Alien Earths. We also see the imagined worlds of science fiction and how close they come to reality. We live in an incredible new epoch of exploration. As our witty and knowledgeable tour guide, Professor Kaltenegger shows how we discover not merely new continents, like the explorers of old, but whole new worlds circling other stars and how we could spot life there. Worlds from where aliens may even be gazing back at us. What if we're not alone?

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Book Synopsis___***SHORTLISTED FOR THE ROYAL SOCIETY SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE 2022******A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF 2022***'What you should do now to change the rest of your life' The Times'A timely call to safeguard your health and vitality' Irish TimesDid you know that we can lead longer and healthier lives by making simple changes right now?Professor Rose Anne Kenny has 35 years of experience at the forefront of ageing medicine. In Age Proof, she draws on her own pioneering research and the latest evidence to demystify why we age and shows us that 80% of our ageing biology is within our control: we can not only live longer lives but become happier and healthier deep into our later years. Effortlessly distilling scientific theory into practical advice that we can apply to our everyday lives, Professor Kenny examines the impact that food, genetics, friendships, purpose, sex, exercise and laughter have on how our cells age. This illuminating book will show you the steps you can take to stay younger for longer - and will prove that you really are just as young as you feel.Trade ReviewA timely call to safeguard our health and vitality * Irish Times *An essential roadmap to ageing well that's full of good sense and optimism * Irish Examiner *Professor Rose Anne Kenny reveals in her new book what you should do now to change the rest of your life * The Times *'A very readable and stimulating survey of ageing, strong both on the science of ageing, and on our experiences of getting older. It is wide ranging, blending succinct descriptions of the biological, social and psychological underpinnings of the ageing process with practical advice about how to age in a healthier way, covering issues such as exercise, mindfulness, diet, and the maintenance of social relationships and engagement with life. I can highly recommend this book' * Professor Andrew Steptoe, Professor of Psychology and Epidemiology, UCL and Director of English Longitudinal Study of Ageing *'Dr. Rose Anne Kenny combines decades of loving, hands-on, bedside expertise with state of the art science and a delightful Irish voice to give not only hope but even joyful anticipation to the privilege of growing older. Age Proof is evidence that aging is for everyone' * Stacy Tessler Lindau, MD, MAPP, Catherine Lindsay Dobson Professor, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medicine-Geriatrics, University of Chicago *'Of the many books available to read on how to think positively about how we age and what evidence supports particular ways of living this one stands out ... it deserves a wide readership' * Professor Carol Brayne CBE, Professor of Public Health Medicine in the Department of Public Health and Primary Care in the University of Cambridge *

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

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Book SynopsisA celebration of British raptors, following their fortunes as British breeding birds from historical times to the present day, illustrated with 100 colour photographs.

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Book SynopsisExam Board: EdexcelLevel: A-levelSubject: ChemistryFirst Teaching: September 2015First Exam: June 2016Ensure your students get to grips with the core practicals and develop the skills needed to succeed with an in-depth assessment-driven approach that builds and reinforces understanding; clear summaries of practical work with sample questions and answers help to improve exam technique in order to achieve higher grades.Written by experienced teacher and author David Scott, this Student Guide for practical Chemistry:- Help students easily identify what they need to know with a concise summary of required practical work examined in the A-level specifications.- Consolidate understanding of practical work, methodology, mathematical and other skills out of the laboratory with exam tips and knowledge check questions, with answers in the back of the book.- Provide plenty of opportunities for students to improve

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