Science Recent Picks

April 2009

The title-underlined links will take you directly to our catalogue.
Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.

The Great Equations: Breakthroughs in Science from Pythagoras to Heisenberg by Robert Crease.
"Although most people can recite Einstein's famous little equation, even if we don't know quite what it means, who has heard of the 18th-century mathematician Leonhard Euler, let alone know anything at all about his famous equation? Crease, a Stony Brook philosophy professor and popular science writer, has already taken on the ten most beautiful experiments in science in The Prism and the Pendulum, and in this enjoyable book he explores 10 rather beautiful equations. He begins with the beguiling simplicity of the equation that bears Pythogoras' name (although he says the Greek wasn't the first to discover it) and moves on to Newton's second law of motion and law of universal gravitation, the second law of thermodynamics, Maxwell's celebrated equations, discoveries by Einstein and Schrodinger and, finally, Heisenberg's famous uncertainty principle. Crease explains the significance of each of these formulas for science and, in brief interludes between chapters, explores the journeys these scientists took from ignorance to knowledge, and the social lives of their theories-their impact on the larger culture. Any reader who aspires to be scientifically literate will find this a good starting place." (Amazon.com)

13 Things That Don't Make Sense: The Most Baffling Scientific Mysteries of Our Time by Michael Brooks.
"When we look to the "anomalies" that science can’t explain, we often discover where science is about to go. Here are a few of the anomalies that Michael Brooks investigates in 13 Things That Don’t Make Sense:
Homeopathic remedies seem to have biological effects that cannot be explained by chemistry,
Gases have been detected on Mars that could only have come from carbon-based life forms,
Cold fusion, theoretically impossible and discredited in the 1980s, seems to work in some modern laboratory experiments,
It’s quite likely we have nothing close to free will,
Life and non-life may exist along a continuum, which may pave the way for us to create life in the near future,
Sexual reproduction doesn’t line up with evolutionary theory and, moreover, there’s no good scientific explanation for why we must die.
Science starts to get interesting when things don’t make sense." (Amazon.com)

The Crowded Universe: The Search for Living Planets, by Alan Boss.
"Dr. Paul Butler, Carnegie Institution of Washington
"In the past decade we have gone from complete ignorance of extrasolar planets to the verge of finding habitable planets. In "The Crowded Universe," Alan Boss gives an extraordinary inside look at the people and events that have shaped the field. The excitement of discovery shines in Boss's elegant prose, and the work of centuries is seamlessly assembled for the non-expert reader"." (Amazon.com)

The Speed of Nearly Everything: From Tobogganing Penguins to Spinning Neutron Stars, by Peter Macinnis.
"The Speed of Nearly Everything" is a fascinating almanac of facts, statistics and stories about the speed of virtually everything. Speed records; comparative speeds; relative speeds; optimal speeds; fastest speeds; slowest speeds; human, animal, mechanical and natural speeds are gathered together in an easy-to-follow, original design, and explained in engaging text written by a leading science writer. The statistical element is supported by fascinating discussions, historical anecdotes and speed trivia both serious and silly. The chapters cover subjects such as how fast animals move; sporting speeds; speeds occuring inside the body; the speed of fluids; speed and the weather; drops and falls; light, sound and other waves; communication speeds; military speeds; and how fast machines travel." (Book Jacket)

Darwin's Island: The Galapagos in the Garden of England, by Steve Jones.
"Wow, Goodness me! Fancy that! Well I never! This is what you will be saying at every other page of Steve Jones's brilliant, remarkable, profound and deeply unsettling book. Your reactions otherwise will be shock and awe: shock at how far down the road to hell humankind has pushed its handcart, and awe at the light way Jones wears his formidable learning. If there is one book to be read at this bicentenary of Charles Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of his The Origin of Species, then this must be it." (Amazon.com)

Lies, Damned Lies, and Science: How to Sort Through the Noise Around Global Warming, the Latest Health Claims, and Other Scientific Controvers, by Sherry Seethaler.
"Every day, there’s a new scientific or health controversy. And every day, it seems as if there’s a new study that contradicts what you heard yesterday. What’s really going on? Who’s telling the truth? Who’s faking it? What do scientists actually know—and what don’t they know? This book will help you cut through the confusion and make sense of it all—even if you’ve never taken a science class! Leading science educator and journalist Dr. Sherry Seethaler reveals how science and health research really work...how to put scientific claims in context and understand the real tradeoffs involved...tell quality research from junk science...discover when someone’s deliberately trying to fool you...and find more information you can trust! Nobody knows what new controversy will erupt tomorrow. But one thing’s for certain: With this book, you’ll know how to figure out the real deal—and make smarter decisions for yourself and your family!." (Amazon.com)

Freaks of Nature: And what they tell us about evolution and development, by Mark S. Blumberg.
"Blumberg imparts lessons that, although familiar to biologists, will be valuable to non-specialists. Jerry A. Coyne, Nature Blumberg illustrates his points with clear and intriguing examples. Jerry A. Coyne, Nature Compelling enough not to suffocate the interest of non-scientific readers. A stimulating read. Rob Hasting, Financial Times." (Amazon.com)

Finding Moonshine: A Mathematician's Journey Through Symmetry, by M. Du Sautoy.
"'Marcus Du Sautoy knows how to tell a story, and, even more important, how to make difficult ideas palatable and entertaining. He is never condescending and is always true to the spirit of his subject. He is a living refutation of Hardy's snobbish view that popularization is 'work for second rate minds'.' Sunday Telegraph '!told with the narrative flair and storyteller's sense of detail!one of the few popular first hand accounts from the frontiers of modern mathematics.' The Independent Praise for Marcus du Sautoy and 'The Music of the Primes': 'Du Sautoy is a contagious enthusiast, a populist with a staunch faith in the public's intelligence!he has uncovered a wealth of intriguing anecdotes that he has woven into a compelling narrative.' Observer 'He laces the ideas with history, anecdote and personalia -- an entertaining mix that renders an austere subject palatable!valiant and ingenious!Even those with a mathematical allergy can enjoy du Sautoy's depictions of his cast of characters.' The Times 'He brings hugely enjoyable writing, full of zest and passion, to the most fundamental questions in the pursuit of true knowledge.' Sunday Times 'A mesmerising journey into the world of mathematics and its mysteries.' Daily Mail 'A brilliant storyteller'." (Amazon)

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