[bksvol-discuss] Fw: Nature and Science October 2008
- From: "Amber Wallenstein" <amber.wallens@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:01:53 -0400
New and Recently Released!
The Science of Fear: Why We Fear the Things We Shouldn't--and Put Ourselves in
Greater Danger - by Daniel Gardner
Publisher: Dutton
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 7/17/2008
ISBN: 9780525950622
ISBN-10: 0525950621
Despite being "the safest and healthiest humans in history," according to
journalist Daniel Gardner, we are more afraid than ever. But are our fears
justified?
We fear terrorist attacks, but not car accidents (which have claimed 200,000
American lives since 2001). And mass panic over the (rare) West Nile and Ebola
viruses doesn't extend to common killers such as diabetes. Since people
frequently rely on their emotions--which are virtually immune to
facts--attention-grabbing
headlines and confusing statistics cause gut-level fear to flourish, leading to
surprising consequences. This insightful book will bring "a breath of fresh
air and common sense to an emotional topic" (Publishers Weekly).
Table of Contents
Human: The Science Behind What Makes Us Unique - by Michael S. Gazzaniga
Publisher: HarperCollins
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 7/1/2008
ISBN: 9780060892883
ISBN-10: 0060892889
In this comprehensive examination of the human brain, neuroscientist Michael
Gazzaniga examines our grey matter to see what distinguishes Homo sapiens from
other species. He concludes that it is the brain's complex structure and
connectivity that give us the ability to imagine, empathize and analyze, as well
as enable us to develop language systems, self-awareness and ethics. Drawing on
over 50 years of scientific research in a variety of areas, Gazzaniga discusses
brain-related topics ranging from our past (evolution and adaptation) to our
future (robotics and genetics). This "savvy, witty guide to neuroscience"
is a must-read for anyone fascinated by how humans work (Kirkus Reviews).
First Chapter
Table of Contents
Where the Wild Things Were: Life, Death, and Ecological Wreckage in a Land of
Vanishing Predators - by William Stolzenberg
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 7/8/2008
ISBN: 9781596912991
ISBN-10: 1596912995
As long as there has been life on earth, there have been predators and prey,
living by one simple rule: eat or be eaten. Now, however, both the eaters and
the eaten face danger as humans increasingly disrupt the balance of the
environment. Science writer William Stolzenberg shows how removing predators
from
an ecological niche affects every other lifeform in an ecosystem. In North
America, for example, the eradication of wolves has led to a surge in the deer
population, which in turn is destroying forests. Moreover, without top
predators, medium-sized ones (e.g. raccoons) flourish, devastating songbird
populations--and
that's just the beginning. This eye-opening book is essential reading for
nature lovers everywhere.
Table of Contents
Dry Storeroom No. 1: The Secret Life of the Natural History Museum - by Richard
Fortey
Publisher: Knopf
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 8/26/2008
ISBN: 9780307263629
ISBN-10: 0307263622
Paleontologist and natural history writer Richard Fortey gives readers a behind
the scenes look at London's Natural History Museum. Hired in 1970 as "the
trilobite man," Fortey draws on an entire career's worth of knowledge to take
readers on a guided tour of the collection, which numbers over 70 million
items and includes specimens gathered by Charles Darwin. He provides insight
into the day-to-day operations of an internationally renowned museum, as well
as giving credit to the scientists and researchers whose work makes it all
possible. Science enthusiasts and history buffs alike will be delighted by this
book.
First Chapter
Table of Contents
Physics for Future Presidents: The Science Behind the Headlines - by Richard A.
Muller
Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 8/4/2008
ISBN: 9780393066272
ISBN-10: 0393066274
Are terrorists developing biological weapons? How dirty is a dirty bomb? Is
global warming really happening, and if so, are there viable alternatives to
fossil fuels? These are but a few of the current issues Berkeley physics
professor Richard Muller takes on in this informative guide, presented in clear,
nontechnical language. But don't be fooled by the title: it is just as
important for ordinary citizens to be aware of these concerns as it is for the
leaders
they elect. Filled with up-to-date research and balanced coverage of
controversial topics, Physics for Future Presidents is "required reading for
all informed
citizens" (Publishers Weekly).
Table of Contents
Focus on: Birds
The Parrot Who Owns Me: The Story of a Relationship - by Joanna Burger
Publisher: Random House
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 5/1/2002
ISBN: 9780375760259
ISBN-10: 0375760253
When ornithologist Joanna Burger adopts an abandoned 35-year-old Red Lored
Amazon parrot named Tiko, he quickly makes himself at home in her New Jersey
pad. Woman and parrot soon become inseparable: he trims her nails while she
offers him food from her plate; they even shower together. Every spring, Tiko
attempts to woo Burger, building a nest and literally flying into a jealous
rage whenever she shows affection towards her long-suffering husband, Mike.
Burger combines accounts of Tiko's adventures with a wealth of information
about parrots. "A must-have for bird-lovers and a fun read for everyone else,"
says Publishers Weekly about this quirky love story.
First Chapter
The Grail Bird: The Rediscovery of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker - by Tim
Gallagher
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 4/18/2006
ISBN: 9780618709410
ISBN-10: 061870941X
Presumed extinct for over 60 years, the ivory-billed woodpecker made a dramatic
return to the public eye in 2005, when author and Cornell ornithologist
Tim Gallagher announced his (re)discovery to the world. After stumbling across
a tantalizing lead on the Internet, Gallagher pursued the "ghost bird" to
Eastern Arkansas and spent the next year in the swamps, conducting exhaustive
research and field work in total secrecy. The effort paid off and Gallagher
was able to confirm the existence of the phantom woodpecker, an adventure which
he recreates in what Library Journal calls an "engaging story of the triumph
of conservation."
First Chapter
Return of the Osprey: A Season of Flight and Wonder - by David Gessner
Publisher: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 4/1/2001
ISBN: 9781565122543
ISBN-10: 1565122542
The osprey is an inspiring bird: nearly two feet in length and with an
impressive six-foot wingspan, this brown and white fish hawk is the only bird of
prey that dives underwater to catch its food. And then there is its remarkable
comeback from the brink of extinction--in the 1950s these remarkable coastal
raptors had a mortality rate of 90%, due in large part to DDT poisoning. Today,
however, the population numbers 460,000. In this book, wildlife observer
and essayist David Gessner focuses on four pairs of ospreys living in Cape Cod,
Massachusetts as they court, build nests, raise their young, and, of course,
fish at 80 miles per hour. Kirkus Reviews calls this book "heedful, respectful,
and filled with the romance of being out of doors."
First Chapter
Table of Contents
The Birds of Heaven: Travels with Cranes - by Peter Matthiessen; paintings and
drawings by Robert Bateman
Publisher: North Point Press
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 11/1/2001
ISBN: 9780374199449
ISBN-10: 0374199442
While celebrated in folklore, the crane may soon become nothing more than a
legend if humans do not make an effort to save the 15 remaining endangered
species.
Faced with illegal hunting and habitat destruction, cranes worldwide are in
danger of becoming extinct in the wild, a fate which naturalist and three-time
National Book Award-winner Peter Matthiessen would like to prevent. In this
book, Matthiessen undertakes a worldwide quest to see and document cranes in
their natural--and increasingly threatened--environment. A wide-ranging look
into the world of cranes, this "lovely, moving narrative will inspire and
delight," says Publishers Weekly.
First Chapter
Table of Contents
The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession - by Mark Obmascik
Publisher: Free Press
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 1/27/2004
ISBN: 9780743245456
ISBN-10: 0743245458
The North American Big Year is surely one of the more oddball competitions out
there: it requires participants to spend 365 days criss-crossing the US and
Canada, spotting as many different bird species as possible. The prize?
Recognition by the American Birding Association as Big Year Birding Champion of
North America. This book follows the 1998 competition in which the three top
contenders were a roofing contractor, a businessman, and a software engineer.
Journalist Mark Obmascik follows the birding exploits of these rivals as they
pursue some of the continent's rarest specimens (such as the pink-footed
goose) and brave inhospitable locales. You'll love this glimpse into a
little-seen world.
First Chapter
Crows: Encounters with the Wise Guys of the Avian World - by Candace Savage
Publisher: Greystone Books
Check Library Catalog
Pub Date: 10/30/2005
ISBN: 9781553651062
ISBN-10: 1553651065
Virtually everyone can describe a crow: big, black and bold. Less well-known is
the intelligence and adaptability of the bird. Far from being bird brains,
these brainy birds are second only to humans in their ability to make and use
tools--and have a gift for outwitting researchers. Part of the Corvidae family
(a group which includes ravens, magpies, jackdaws, and jays), crows have
"complex family lives surprisingly similar to our own" and communicate with each
other using sophisticated vocalizations. Full of facts and richly illustrated,
this book will make you appreciate your feathered neighbors in a whole new
way.
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