Changes

[[Category:New Reviews|Popular Science]]==Popular science==__NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John Lister-Kaye1787333175|title=At the WaterYou Don's Edge: A Walk in the Wildt Have to be Mad to Work Here|author=Benji Waterhouse|rating=35

|summary=I was tempted to read ''You Don't Have to be Mad to Work Here'' after enjoying Adam Kay's first book {{amazonurl|isbn=1509858636|title=This is a book that readers feel strongly about, and one with which I must confess Going to having a love/hate relationship! I loved the detailed observationHurt}}, the sharing of knowledge that Lister-Kaye has built from a lifetime glorious mixture of close study insight into the workings of the countrysideNHS, humour and autobiography. He delights in ''You Don't Have to be Mad...'' promised the same elements but moved from physical problems to mental illness and pays as much attention to the structure work of a spider's web as psychiatrist. I did wonder whether it was acceptable to be looking for humour in this setting but the rarest of meetings laughter is directed at a situation rather than a person and it is always delivered with a Scottish wildcatempathy and understanding.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847674054</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ian Stewart1788360702|title=Mathematics of LifeCharles, The Alternative Prince: An Unauthorised Biography|author=Edzard Ernst|rating=3.54|genre=Popular ScienceBiography|summary=Mathematics For over forty years, Prince Charles has been an ardent supporter of alternative medicine and biology doncomplementary therapies. 't traditionally mix. As science develops'Charles, The Alternative Prince'' critically assesses the boundaries between maths and physicsPrince's opinions, physics beliefs and chemistry aims against the background of the scientific evidence. There are few instances of his beliefs being vindicated and chemistry and biology his relentless promotion of treatments which have become more and more blurred. As it is now, biology requires many mathematical techniques, and it's fair no scientific support has done considerable damage to assume that major biological breakthroughs over the next hundred years will also have reputation of a strong basis in maths too. Ian Stewart looks at the major steps forward in the history man who is proud of biologyhis refusal to apply evidence-based, and the areas where maths is at the forefront of developmentlogical reasoning to his ambitions.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846681987</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Anthony James0192779230|title=Very Short Introductions for Curious Young Minds: The Happy Passion: A Personal View Invisible World of Jacob BronowskiGerms|author=Isabel Thomas|rating=4.5|genre=Popular ScienceChildren's Non-Fiction|summary=Jacob Bronowski was 'Germs' seems to have become a catch-all word to cover anything unpleasant which has the potential to make you ill. In the first book in what looks to be a scientific administratorvery promising new series, poet, philosopher, dramatist, radio OUP and Isabel Thomas have provided a clear and TV personality, best remembered for accessible introduction to the series 'The Ascent world of Man'germs. This short book, about 90 pages long, is partly biographical sketch, partly – in fact largely – We get an overview of his major published works, occupying informed look at how people originally thought about two-thirds of diseases and what they thought caused them and how the bookthinking has developed over time. In The vocabulary can be confusing but Thomas gives a regular box headed 'speak like a scientist' which explains some of the authortrickiest concepts and you's wordsll soon be familiar with bacteria, fungi, it is intended as a personal view of Bronowski as a philosopherprotists and viruses – and how we should protect ourselves.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1845402200</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sean Carrollgareth_steel|title=From Eternity to Here: The Quest for the Ultimate Theory of TimeNever Work With Animals|author=Gareth Steel|rating=4.5|genre=Popular ScienceAnimals and Wildlife|summary=The Prologue sets out what this book is about. ItI don't often begin my reviews with a warning but with ''Never Work With Animals's about ' it seems to be appropriate... the nature Stories of time, the beginning of the universe, and the underlying structure of physical reality.' OK? Bring on those questions. Yes, ita vet's a weighty tome in terms of size and subject matter, but I would certainly describe the front cover as reader-friendly, so therefore should life have broad appeal. I love the title of this book, lots of thought has been put into it proved popular since ''All Creatures Great and it certainly grabbed my attention - and ISmall'm no scientist. The classic movie from the classic book ... I also loved Carroll's language - but 'The Elegant Universe' and Never Work With Animals'a preposterous universe' These are phrases to make is definitely not the companion volume you stop and think've been looking for. And I certainly did.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1851687955</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|As a TV show the author=Robert Rowland Smith|title=Driving with Plato: The Meaning of Life's Milestones|rating=4.5|genre=Popular Science|summary=would argue that ''Driving with PlatoAll Creatures'' is a companion book to [[Breakfast with Socrates by Robert Rowland Smith|Breakfast with Socrates]]lacked realism, in which former Oxford Fellow Robert Roland Smith took various elements of a 'typical' day and provided insight into what a collection of thinkers might have to offer to make these mundane routines more interestingas do other similar programmes. Here, in Gareth Steel says that the company of a similarly eclectic range of writers book is not suitable for younger readers and thinkers, - after reading - I agree with him. He says that he considers the key aspects of a life, from birth, through school 's written it to inform and riding a bikeprovoke thought, to your first kiss, losing your virginity, having a family before a mid-life crisis, leading to divorce, old age particularly amongst aspiring vets. It deals with some uncomfortable and death. Montaigne said that to philosophise was to learn how to diedistressing issues but it doesn't lack sensitivity, although there are occasions when you would be best choosing between reading and here Roland Smith ensures that we think about each stage leading up to that momenteating.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184668305X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mark Stevenson0241480442|title=An Optimist's Tour of the FutureHealthy Vegan The Cookbook: Vegan Cooking Meets Nutrition Science|author=Niko Rittenau and Sebastian Copien

|genre=Popular ScienceCookery|summary=In 1968Emotionally, I am a vegan. Mentally, I am a vegan. I read [[How to Love Animals in a Human-Shaped World by Henry Mance]] and was appalled by the film '2001 A Space Odyssey' had an optimistic view of the future way in which we would soon be living treat animals inour search for (preferably cheap) food. In terms of technological advancement we're Practically, I am not quite there yet, even though that date has a decade since passed, so maybe it's time vegan. It worked for a revised view while apart from the odd blip with regard to cheese but then a perfect storm of what is those events which you hope don't occur too often in your lifetime tempted me back to come. Enter Mark Stevenson, a stand up comic slash scientistanimal-based protein. Itwasn's perhaps not t the taste - I know that I can get plant-based food that tastes just as good as anything plundered from the most familiar of combinations, but take animal kingdom - it was the best bits ease of each and the result is this wonderful book that combines humour and fun with proper nitty, gritty, science stuffbeing able to get sufficient protein when meals were often snatched in a few spare moments.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683564</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Stephen Macknik and Susana Martinez-CondeDaniel Gibbs with Teresa H Barker|title=Sleights of MindA Tattoo on my Brain

|genre=Popular ScienceAutobiography|summary=I have Alzheimer's is a passing interest in both magic disease that slowly wears away your identity and neurosciencesense of self. Not only am I ''quite'' the hit with the ladieshave been directly affected by this cruel disease, but I was also very keen to read ''Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals About Our Brains''as have many. Husband Your memories and wife team Stephen Macknik and Susana Martinez-Conde work at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona, and as personality worn away like a way of promoting their field of visual neuroscience, developed statue over time affected the [http://illusioncontestelements.neuralcorrelate.com/ Illusion of the Year contest]. From this, they slipped into the world of magic, investigating, discussing It seems as if nature wants that final victory over you and researching the neuroscience of magic with James Randi, Mac King, Teller (of Penn and...) and Johnny Thompsonyour dignity.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683890</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Sam Kean|title=The Disappearing Spoon|rating=4.5|genre=Popular Science|summary=If the disappearing spoon of the title doesn't pique your interest, the subtitle This is bound to get your juices flowing: ''and Other True Tales of Madness, Love and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements'what makes Daniel Gibbs'memoir so admirable. As far as popular science books goes, it's got all the umm... right elements (sorry, sorry, sorry). We're taken on Daniel Gibbs is a tour through the periodic table, hearing exciting tales of scientific discovery neurologist who was diagnosed with Alzheimers and marvel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857520261</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Martin Cohen|title=Mind Games: 31 Days to Rediscover Your Brain|rating=4|genre=Popular Science|summary=The sub-title of Martin Cohen's latest book, Mind Games, promises, rather optimistically has documented his journey in my case I felt, '31 days to rediscover your brain'. It is rather presumptuous of him to assume that I had ''discovered'' it in the first place, but I appreciate his confidence.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444337092</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Marcus Chown|title=We Need To Talk About Kelvin|rating=4.5|genre=Popular Science|summary=Sporting the best title for a popular science book this side of [[:Category:Alex Bellos|Alex BellosA Tattoo on my Brain']] ''Here's Looking At Euclid'', Marcus Chown shows us what everyday things tell us about the universe. You'll find out how your reflection in a window shows the randomness of the universe, how the abundance of iron shows a 4.5bn degree furnace exists in space, and how most of the world's astronomers are wrong about what the darkness of night shows us.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0571244033</amazonuk>1108838936

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mick O'Hare0099551063|title=Why Can't Elephants Jump?|rating=4.5|genre=Popular Science|summary=Well? Why can't elephants jump? And while you're pondering that, think about why James Bond wanted his martini shaken, not stirred. Why is frozen milk yellow? Does eating bogeys do you any harm? What's the hole for The Wisdom of Psychopaths: Lessons in a ballpoint pen? How long a line could you draw with a single pencil? For answers to all these questionslife from Saints, Spies and so many more, then do yourself a favour and pick up the latest collection from the New Scientist's [http://www.last-word.com/ Last Word column]. Mick O'Hare was also kind enough to be [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Mick O'Hare|interviewed by Bookbag]].|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184668398X</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewSerial Killers|author=Henry Nicholls|title=The Way of the Panda: The Curious History of China's Political AnimalDr Kevin Dutton

|summary=The book cover alone, with its panda hugging a tree, says 'buy me', 'read me.' A good start. The sections are divided into no-nonsense headings: Extraction, Abstraction and Protection. Maps and Prologue give a flavour of whatDonald Trump outscores Hitler on psychopathic traits's to comeclaims Oxford University researcher. The inside front cover states boldly that 'Giant pandas have been causing a stir ever since their formal scientific discovery just over 140 years ago.' I think it safe to say that many of us would probably say automatically, without thinking, that the panda has immense appeal. But is it only because of the beautifully marked eyes which give the animal a cuddly, teddy bear look?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683688</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Cindy M Meston and David Buss|title=Why Women Have SexUntil the events of 6 January 2021 that might have surprised, even shocked many readers: Understanding Sexual Motivation from Adventure to Revenge (and Everything in Between)|rating=4now they're probably convinced that they knew it all along.5|genre=Popular Science|summary=Many many years ago, The statement has lost a man who was far too young little of its shock value but it does help us to be understand more about the fusty, dusty RE teacher he was shaping nature of psychopathy. It's too easy to be, asked my best friend and I why we were each having sex associate psychopathy with our girlfriends. Even aged fifteen I thought something along the lines of 'wellYorkshire Ripper, if he doesn't know by nowJeffrey Dahmer, he never will'Saddam Hussein or Robert Maudsley, and listed that it was great funthe real-life Hannibal Lecter, a very enjoyable sensation, showed an appetite for but the relationship, and truth is that sex proved the ultimate in bonding - how much closer, to having psychopathic traits can sometimes be blunt, could you be to someone than actually inside them? I'll come clean now and admit said girlfriend was not real, but several have been since, and I have had heaps of fun finding out how - and perhaps why - women have sex. I was never to know, until now, there are 237 reasons for ita good thing.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099546639</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mary Roach1849767343|title=Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in SpaceCount on Me|author=Miguel Tanco

|genre=Popular ScienceChildren's Non-Fiction|summary=Space is big. Really big. And The title and format of this book might lead you to think that it's a long way away, too. I mean, I'm having enough trouble deciding what to pack for a year in Africa. I'd be hopeless if I were off to Mars. But then, noeither about responsibility -oneor it's written a basic 1-2-3 book for those just starting out on what to stick in your suitcase for Sierra Leonethe numbers journey. And Mary Roach It isn't: it'has'' written s a book on what to take hymn of praise to the red planet..maths. Except, this It's about why maths is so much more than a shopping list. This is the definitive inside scoop for anyone who has ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes wonderful and how you meet it in a world that is, well, out of this worldeveryday life.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1851687807</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Richard ConniffB08B39QNRH|title=Swimming with Piranhas at Feeding TimeThe Curious History of Writer's Cramp: My Life Doing Dumb Stuff with AnimalsSolving an age-old problem|author=Michael Pritchard

|summary=This isn't quite the book it seems. From the subtitle, I inferred a memoir or autobiography. Instead Richard Conniff has chosen twenty-three of his journal articles to reprint from a clutch of prestigious magazines, including ''National Geographic'' and ''Smithsonian''. Taken together, they illustrate his wide range of interests in the animal world. While this glimpse of some of the most peculiar creatures Society is based on speech but civilisation requires the planet makes for fascinating reading, itwritten word''s definitely not a book to be galloped through in a single sitting.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0393304574</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Russell Foster and Leon Kreitzman|title=Seasons I came to Michael Pritchard's ''The Curious History of Life: The Biological Rhythms That Living Things Need to Thrive and Survive|rating=3Writer's Cramp'' by a rather strange route.5|genre=Popular Science|summary="Seasons of Life" aims I have problems with my hands which orthopaedic surgeons refer to present a rounded picture of as 'interesting': I prefer the word 'painful' but I have an interest in the way seasonality affects human life as well as that hands work. An exploration of the rest history of a problem which has defeated some of nature. Covering everything from Seasonal Affective Disorder to the potential best medical minds for animals to adapt to climate changesome three-hundred-years seemed liked excellent background reading and so it proved, this with the book would be an interesting read for anyone with an enquiring mind being as much about the doctors treating the sufferers and an interest in the natural worldchanging medical attitudes as the problem itself.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>186197969X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mark van Vugt and Anjana Ahuja1776572858|title=Selected: Why some people lead, why others follow, How Do You Make a Baby?|author=Anna Fiske and why it mattersDon Bartlett (translator)|rating=45|genre=Business Home and FinanceFamily|summary=It''Selected'' is based on the psychology of leaderships more than sixty years since I asked how babies were made. Some of us may ask the perfectly reasonable question 'Does it matter who leads My mother was deeply embarrassed and who follows?told me that she' Well, apparently it not only matters but d get me a book about it matters greatly. And A couple of days later I was handed a pamphlet (which delivered nothing more than the co-authors go to great lengths to tell us why. The useful prologue informs us that the whole area of leadership can be traced back basics, in clinical language which had never been used in time, by no less than several million years. our house before) Vugt and Ahuja explain I was told that the rather innocent (and even a bit airy-fairy to some) word it wouldn't be discussed any further as it ''wasn't something which nice people talked about'leader' is evolved from various academic disciplines. Including the I ''knew'' more obvious psychology, there is also biology and anthropology in the mixbut was little ''wiser''. Heady stuff. And yesThankfully, I did want to read ontimes have changed.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683270</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Adam PhillipsDanny Dorling|title=On BalanceSlowdown

|summary=Essential for We are living in a tightrope walkertime of rapid change, prized as an intellectual objectiveand we're worried about it. Dorling tells us that the latter is normal, balance is generally considered something natural and probably good for us. We are designed to which worry and with the current state of what we can aspire're doing in the world we have much to be worried about. We praise someone who makes a balanced decisionHowever, over the next three-hundred-and-some pages, if you can follow the arguments, it sets out in scientific detail why either we envy people who have a 'good work/life balanceshouldn' t be as worried as we are, or in some cases that we offer an opinion 'on balance' to demonstrate that re worrying about the wrong things. Mostly. Because mostly, things are not changing as rapidly as we have considered various arguments think they are. In fact, the rate of change in many things is slowing down and optionsthe direction of change will in some cases go into reverse.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0241143888</amazonuk>0300243405

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Geoffrey MillerLangford_Emily|title=Must-Have: The Hidden Instincts Behind Everything We BuyEmily's Numbers|author=Joss Langford

|genre=Popular ScienceChildren's Non-Fiction|summary=If Emily found words ''useful'', but counting was what she loved best. Obviously, you can count anything and there's no one limit to how far you can tell go, but then Emily moved a step further and began counting in twos. She knew all about odd and even numbers. Then she began counting in threes: half of the differencelist were even numbers, why shell out $30 000 for a real Rolex but the other half was odd and it was this list of odd numbers which occurred when a you counted in threes which she called ''threeven'mere' $1200 will get you . (Actually, this confused me a virtually identical replica? Why do luxury manufacturers such little bit at first as BMW spend money advertising in mass media whose typical readership most likely wonthey't ever re a subset of the odd numbers but sound as though they ought to be able to afford their products? And just why is a subset of the ''i'' in iPod so important?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099437929</amazonuk>even numbers, but it all worked out well when I really thought about it.)

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Bruce Bueno de Mesquita1910593508|title=Prediction: How to See Apollo|author=Matt Fitch, Chris Baker and Shape the Future with Game TheoryMike Collins|rating=3.5|genre=Popular ScienceHistory|summary=As This incredible graphic novel is a rather mediocre recreational poker player I've often been intrigued love letter to the Moon landings and the passion for the subject drips off every Apollo by game theoryMatt Fitch, Chris Baker and Mike Collins. The academic discipline used by politicos during the chilliest days This is a story we know well and because of this, the Cold War has been utilised by authors take a few narrative shortcuts knowing that we can fill in the more mathematically minded players on blanks. These shortcuts are the professional circuit only downside to improve profitabilitythe book. Rather than poker, author If you've ever read a comic book adaptation of a film you will be familiar with the slight feeling that there are scenes missing and politics professor Bruce Bueno de Mesquita uses game theory models to forecast political, economic that dialogue has been trimmed. This is a graphic novel that could easily have been three times as long and international security scenarios and in Prediction he shares some of his secretsstill felt too short.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099531844</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Tim Dee1999308719|title=The Running SkyLive Forever Manual: A BirdScience, ethics and companies behind the new anti-Watching Lifeaging treatments|author=Adrian Cull|rating=4.5|genre=Popular ScienceLifestyle|summary=Tim Dee may already be known For many years now I've (half) joked that I intended to you as a distinguished critic live forever and adjudicator of contemporary poetrythat so far, or for producing BBC Radio 4's 'Poetry Please'. So it's hardly surprising that my first impression of his birdwatching memoir, ''The Running Sky'' is of poetic exactitude transferred to another genrewas working out OK. But Time has passed though and although I remain dazzled by the sustained quality 'm a great deal fitter and healthier than most people of my age there were a few nagging health problems which were tipping my life out of his writing over 80,000 wordsbalance. Opened at any pageIt was time to look for a new approach and as so often happens, paragraphs of graceful prose enclose figurative language capturing the very essence of flight (hence reviewing gods brought me the title, from a Philip Larkin poem)book I needed. To Dee''Live Forever Manual: Science, flight is ethics and companies behind the nub of a birdnew anti-ageing treatments''s independence. He describes and wonders poetically – be it seemed like the collective sweep of flock formations, the mysteries of migration, or individual observations of nightjars, carrion crows or peregrinesanswer to my problems - only you get so much more than just 101 tips.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099516497</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Paul Bloom1847941834|title=How Pleasure Works: The New Science of Why We Like What We LikeAtomic Habits|author=James Clear|rating=4.5|genre=Popular ScienceLifestyle|summary=How much would you pay for a jumper I've said this before but there are some books that used to belong to Brad Pitt? What about if I had it dry cleaned for you first? Chances areseek out, if some books that you were considering the first offer, stumble across and some books that drop into your life because you've just been put off somewhat. But why? The jumper hasn't changedreally MUST read them, after all. Do you honestly and rationallylike, believe that dry cleaning would destroy some of Bradright now! ''s Atomic Habits'essence', thus making is in the item less valuable?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847921434</amazonuk>last category.

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John FarndonHoneyborne BlueII|title=Do You Think You're Clever?: The Oxbridge QuestionsBlue Planet II|author=James Honeyborne and Mark Brownlow|rating=34.5|genre=Popular ScienceAnimals and Wildlife|summary=My history You may well remember when the sticking of interviews with Oxbridge colleges forms a very short dialoguenumber '2' after a film title was suggesting something of prestige - that the first film had been so good it was fully justified to have something more. MeThat has hardly been proven correct, but it has until recently almost been confined to university admissions representative, ''You don’t actually do media studies per se, do the cinema - you?'' He, ''No – our graduates run the media.'' Had I barely got a lot furtherTV series worthy of a numbered sequel, and sat never in front the world of non-fiction. If someone has made a potential tutornature series about, I would have faced say, Alaska (and boy aren't there are a question designed lot of those these days) and wants to bafflemake another, provokewhy she just makes another - nothing would justify the numeral. But some nature programmes do have the prestige, bewilder – or to inspire a flight of intuitive intelligence. Thus is the media-running wheat separated from energy and the mediaheft to demand follow-consuming chaffups. And thus is this book given its basis – sixty of after five years in the more remarkable questionsmaking, answered as our erudite author might have wished to answer themthe BBC's Blue Planet series has delivered a second helping. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>184831132X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Lisa Sanders1783099593|title=Diagnosis: Dispatches from the Frontlines of Medical MysteriesSpeaking Up|author=Allyson Jule

|summary=Fans 'Speaking Up' has a fascinating subject matter - how language reflects and shapes our notions of ‘’House, Mgender.D.’’ may recognise the name of Lisa Sanders. She’s the technical advisor to the TV show as well as being the writer It looks at our use of the ‘’Diagnosis’’ column language in the New York Times. Many of the stories which appear in the column are recounted in this bookmedia, education, religion, which is a look at the way in which doctors reach a diagnosis workplace and how the method has changed (or not) over the yearspersonal relationships. I’m not a fan Author Allyson Jule calls on an encyclopedic body of research from the hospital dramas which seem mid-twentieth century to be a major feature of the TV schedulespresent day. Reading it, but I was fascinated by what is, essentially, a series of medical detective storieswe feel that she has studied everything that has ever been said on gendered linguistics; she references Foucault and the Kardashians with equal rigour.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848311338</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stefan KleinCampbell_Astra|title=Leonardo's LegacyAd Astra: How Da Vinci Reinvented An illustrated guide to leaving the Worldplanet|author=Dallas Campbell

|summary=Take fifty So… you want to leave the planet? Before you do you'd better study the whole history of science's most thought-provoking theories, and try human space flight to get up to explain each in thirty seconds or one pagespeed. It's That could take a while… if only there was a handy guide that could condense it all here, from Schrodinger's cat, down for you. Enter Dallas Campbell with this book: An illustrated guide to cosmic topology, via leaving the Gaia hypothesis and chaos theoryplanet.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184831129X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mark GriffithsAdrian_Sock|title=The Lotus Quest|rating=4|genre=Travel|summary=Mark Griffiths is one of Britain's leading plant experts. I know this because his brief biog in the front of The Lotus Quest tells me so; just as it tells me that he is the editor of The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening 'the largest work on horticulture ever published'. His prior works list includes five other plant book credits, three of them for the RHS. I shall take all of this on trust, since attempts to find out more about the author and his background through the usual internet search mechanisms has failed miserably. He remains as elusive as the sacred flower that is the subject of this latest work: the lotus.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184595100X</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewSock (Object Lessons)|author=Glenn Murphy|title=Science: Sorted! Evolution, Nature and StuffKim Adrian|rating=5|genre=Children's Non-Fiction|summary=Ever wanted to know about evolution, nature and stuff? Unsurprisingly, this is the book for you3. If you're interested in [http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0330508938?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0330508938 space, black holes and stuff], then Glenn Murphy has also written a sister book in the ''Science: Sorted!'' series packed full of all the information you'd want to know. It's all written with the fabulous quality that made [[Why is Snot Green? by Glenn Murphy|Why is Snot Green?]] such a must-read.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330508946</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Alex Bellos|title=Alex's Adventures In Numberland|rating=5

|summary=Maths is a wonderful thing. ...WaitThe subject of this book has been around for several millennia, donand yet my partner't run aways daughter has been employed for several years designing it, or them. It really is. The way numbers interact with each 's something I use for about 200 days of every year, at a guess (well, I have my self-diagnosed over-active eccrine glands and otherpeople to think about) – which clearly puts me at the opposite end of the scale to well-known mass-murderer of women, the way counting systems developedTed Bundy, how mathematical breakthroughs are coming from the world who was into stealing credit cards to fund his desire of crochethaving a fresh pair every single day. On which subject, and how people can mentally calculate the 13th root amount of them we create every year could stack to the freaking moon and more. Some idiots buy more than six pairs a 200 digit number in almost less time than it takes to read it out loudyear, apparently, which is plain stupid. ThereI's all sorts m talking, as you can tell, of weird and wonderful stuff going on in Numberlandthe humble sock.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0747597162</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Richard ForteyGermano_Eye|title=The Hidden LandscapeEye Chart (Object Lessons)|author=William Germano|rating=4.5

|summary=The purpose It's happened to me, and like as not it has or will happen to you, too. I mean the receipt of this book is certain little numerical results, with a positive or negative before them to explore prove the connection between correction needed to my vision to make me see with the landscape intended clarity and normality. I've had that gizmo that photos the geology underlying itback of my eye to check for diabetes and other problems, which in one of his many vivid similes Fortey compares I've had different tests to check the surface personality pressure inside my eye, and I've come away with glasses I don't need to wear all the workings of the unconscious mind beneath. He starts by describing a journey he once made time, but certainly benefit from Paddington Station to Haverford Weston holiday, or when watching TV or a market town in Pembrokeshire cinema or theatre production. And above and beyond that I've stared at – and with it a passage back into got wrong – the plutonic depths simple, seemingly ageless test, of geological aeons, indicated by the large 60cm monster trilobites various letters in various configurations that have been found diminish in size, to prove to the Cambrian rocks near St Davidrelevant scientist at what stage things get blurry for me. Of course, it's. Fortey describes not ageless, but the magnificence of scientific progress that led to it, the Cathedral constructed from the local purple sandstone changes other people made to it, and mottled with moisture-loving lichens. He contrasts this with the anonymous character of a nearby brightlycultural impact it's had are all on these eye-coloured service station, anonymous and synthetic, an invader cheaply built and out of contextopening small pages.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847920713</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alexandra HorowitzBall_Wonders|title=Inside Wonders Beyond Numbers: A Brief History of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and KnowAll Things Mathematical|author=Johnny Ball

|summary=Like many people of a ''We need to talk about musiccertain age, but it is hard. Very few people can do it.' So says Philip ' I have fond memories of tuning in to watch Johnny Ball after 400 pages enthusiastically extolling the virtues of talking about musicmaths and science; succeeding where our schoolteachers had failed and actually making these subjects ''fun. Very few readers who make it '' Although decades have passed since those classic TV shows, his latest book proves that far will disagree with he has lost none of his conclusion, but most will have gained some enlightenment about how music works passion and why we enjoy itenthusiasm for his subject.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847920888</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Derrick NiedermanYong_Contain|title=Number FreakI Contain Multitudes: A Mathematical Compendium from 1 to 200|rating=4.5|genre=Popular Science|summary=This is a book that definitely does what it says on the tin. Our author has the capacity to grab each number between one and two hundred, and wring it for all its worth - all the special status it might have in our culture (more easy with seven than, say, 187), all the special properties it might possess (perfect, triangular, prime), microbes within us and as many other things mathematicians and so on would find of interest. Luckily there is enough here to make the book well worth a browse for us who would not deem themselves number buffs.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>071563710X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Kees van Deemter|title=Not Exactly - In Praise Of Vagueness|rating=3.5|genre=Popular Science|summary=How warm is a warm day? Or rather, given the weather at the moment, how chilly is a chilly day? Is it better to know I want a small helping grander view of peas, or to know that I want 82 peas? There are times when vagueness is more useful than being specific. Kees van Deemter makes this point, sharing many examples from a number of fields, including maths, philosophy, linguistics and AI.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0199545901</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewlife|author=Druin Burch|title=Taking the MedicineEd Yong

|summary=In 1898, Burch points out that The world you know is a new drug was developed and marketed for the treatment of tuberculosis by Bayer & Colie. TB There is no such an ancient enemy of man that there is apparently evidence of an earlier strain to be found in Egyptian mummiesthing as good or bad microbes. The German firm had discovered a chemical that seemed to work well, Sickness and patients and indeed their own staff, who were tested seemed to respond well - it was named Heroin - and its addictive effects were at first missed.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1845951506</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Roger Scruton|title=I Drink Therefore I Am|rating=3.5|genre=Popular Science|summary=Roger Scruton is a conservative philosopher and composer, best known for his work on philosophy and music, but who shares Plato's belief that 'nothing health are all far more excellent or valuable complex than wine was ever granted by the gods we thought. Things designed to man' save us may kill us and in this book seeks to combine his two interests of philosophy and the fruits of the vine.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847065082</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Keith Laidler|title=Animals|rating=4.5|genre=Popular Science|summary=''Animals'' is described as a visual guide to the animal kingdom, but please don't things we think of it as a picture book as it's far more than thatwould kill us may save us. Don't think of it as a coffee table book either – despite the fact that its size – midway between A2 and A3 – might tempt you Welcome to think that way. It's a journey through the complex diversity modern study of the animal kingdom based on sound scientific principlesmicrobes.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184916004X</amazonuk>

{{newreview|author=Bill Butterworth|title=Reversing Global Warming For Profit |rating=3.5|genre=Politics and Society|summary=There aren't many climate change deniers left, are there? We all know it's there. We all know, too, that the world's population growth is Move on a collision course with the dwindling of its resources. The world's going to get hotter, its weather more extreme. Fossil fuels are going to run out. More and more people will compete for fewer and fewer of civilisation's luxuries. We're all worried. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904312810</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Richard Wrangham |title=Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human |rating=4.5|genre=Popular Science|summary=Humans are cooking apes. According to Richard Wrangham, mastery of fire and cooking of the food that resulted from it was at the root of human evolutionary development and ultimate success. Various factors have been proposed as the crucial stimulus which led to the appearance of the first recognisably human creatures: leaving aside divine intervention (be it from God, extra-terrestrials or future humans travelling in time), the candidates for what made our ancestral apes stand straighter and start growing brains range from socialised hunting to chattering about kinship to eating seafood.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846682851</amazonuk>}}[[Newest Reference Reviews]]