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[[Category:New Reviews|Popular Science]]==Popular science==__NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=David Malouf1787333175|title=The Happy Life: The Search for Contentment in the Modern World|rating=4|genre=Popular Science|summary=ThereYou Don's something quite uplifting about the physical brevity of David Malouf's 'The Happy Life' which is subtitled 'The Search for Contentment in the Modern World'. It suggests that it is easy t Have to find, when of course, the whole point of the book is that despite, or perhaps because of, scientific and technological advances that have taken away many of the causes of true unhappiness in the world, it remains elusive for most. Who can say that they are truly happy? The book runs be Mad to less than 100 pages if you take out the Notes section, and the typeface is large. It is, by any reckoning a slim offering.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0701187115</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewWork Here|author=Marcus Chown|title=Solar SystemBenji Waterhouse

|summary=With beautiful photographs of the wonders of the solar system, this is a gorgeous coffee table book for anyone with even a passing interest in astronomy. Marcus ChownI was tempted to read ''You Don's descriptions are in-depth enough t Have to be Mad to warrant considered reading, but if youWork Here''re after a simple and casual flick through, youenjoying Adam Kay'll still find plenty to appeal.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571277713</amazonuk>}} s first book {{newreviewamazonurl|authorisbn=Mark Forsyth1509858636|title=The Etymologicon|rating=5|genre=Trivia|summary=I like wordsThis is Going to Hurt}}, a glorious mixture of insight into the workings of the NHS, humour and autobiography. ''You Don't Have to be Mad.. Words are awesome. End '' promised the same elements but moved from physical problems to mental illness and the work ofa psychiatrist. But I also like trivia. I like knowing things that perhaps other people don’t, and helpfully passing on did wonder whether it was acceptable to be looking for humour in this knowledge to them. So setting but the laughter is directed at a book about word-related trivia is just situation rather than a win-win, person and this one it is so good I think we’ll have to call it a win-win-winalways delivered with empathy and understanding.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848313071</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Simon Barnes1788360702|title=Birdwatching With Your Eyes ClosedCharles, The Alternative Prince: an introduction to birdsongAn Unauthorised Biography|author=Edzard Ernst

|genre=Popular ScienceBiography|summary=One of my best-ever auditory memories is waking up in a tent to a dawn chorusFor over forty years, sung in the middle Prince Charles has been an ardent supporter of Ireland in spring. It was a high-decibel effort alternative medicine and seemed to involve hundreds of birdscomplementary therapies. I'm ashamed to say that I couldn't begin to identify Charles, The Alternative Prince'' critically assesses the Prince's opinions, beliefs and aims against the multitude background of species I heard that morningthe scientific evidence. So I suppose I chose this book expecting it There are few instances of his beliefs being vindicated and his relentless promotion of treatments which have no scientific support has done considerable damage to be the reputation of a field guide that could at long last help me get a handle on birdsong. But it isn't yet another handbookman who is proud of his refusal to apply evidence-based, but a much more interesting book than that, which I thought would make a great present for a new birdwatcherlogical reasoning to his ambitions.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1907595473</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Steve Backshall0192779230|title=PredatorsVery Short Introductions for Curious Young Minds: The Invisible World of Germs|author=Isabel Thomas|rating=45

|summary=Many readers would probably know that on 'Germs' seems to have become a catch-all word to cover anything unpleasant which has the potential to make you ill. In the simple count of humans they helped first book in what looks to dispatchbe a very promising new series, mosquitoes may be OUP and Isabel Thomas have provided a clear and accessible introduction to the most deadly animals everworld of germs. But did you know that if you take into account We get an informed look at how people originally thought about diseases and what they thought caused them and how the success rate thinking has developed over time. The vocabulary can be confusing but Thomas gives a regular box headed 'speak like a scientist' which explains some of huntsthe trickiest concepts and you'll soon be familiar with bacteria, diversity fungi, protists and spread, ladybirds are more successful predators than tigers? |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444004174</amazonuk>viruses – and how we should protect ourselves.

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sam Leithgareth_steel|title=You Talkin' To Me?: Rhetoric from Aristotle to ObamaNever Work With Animals|author=Gareth Steel|rating=4.5|genre=Popular ScienceAnimals and Wildlife|summary=Over the years Idon've trained myself (fairly successfully) not to judge t often begin my reviews with a book by its cover. Iwarning but with ''ve added Never Work With Animals'not judging a book by its title' it seems to the training, but what do you do when your first impressions be appropriate. Stories of a book - the title vet's life have proved popular since ''All Creatures Great andSmall'' but '' Never Work With Animals'' is definitely not the cover - scream companion volume you've been looking for. As a TV show the author would argue that ''All Creatures'trivia'? Welllacked realism, as do other similar programmes. Gareth Steel says that the book is not suitable for younger readers and - after reading - I put this one agree with him. He says that he's written it to one side on the basis that inform and provoke thought, particularly amongst aspiring vets. It deals with some uncomfortable and distressing issues but it really wasndoesn't likely to lack sensitivity, although there are occasions when you would be a book which would interest me. Picking it up best choosing between reading and looking at the contents was almost accidental - and then I discovered that this book is a gold mineeating.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683157</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Gordon Grice0241480442|title=Healthy Vegan The Book of Deadly AnimalsCookbook: Vegan Cooking Meets Nutrition Science|author=Niko Rittenau and Sebastian Copien

|genre=Popular ScienceCookery|summary=Animals and humans have long mixedEmotionally, I am a vegan. Mentally, even though the one has almost always proven capable of being lethal to the otherI am a vegan. Many scientists I read [[How to Love Animals in a Human-Shaped World by Henry Mance]] and was appalled by the past decided way in which we treat animals killing humans were aberrant, and that the real animal knew it was second best to humans, having been saved in the Ark, and respected our dominion over themsearch for (preferably cheap) food. Even nowPractically, it seems, there are opinions that creatures attacking mankind are somehow rogue and need destroyingI am not a vegan. But where is It worked for a while apart from the wrong odd blip with regard to cheese but then a perfect storm of those events which you hope don't occur too often in an your lifetime tempted me back to animal behaving as its nature compels it? -based protein. Similarly, It wasn't the human wandering around the wilderness, or even the idiot woman feeding a black bear her own toddler's honeytaste -dripping hand (true story I know that I can get plant- what based food that tastes just as good as anything plundered from the bear thought of animal kingdom - it was the taste ease of honeyed fingers we don't know) is just the same being able to get sufficient protein when meals were often snatched in reverse - humans behaving as only humans cana few spare moments.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0670919675</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Thomas Byrne and Tom CassidyDaniel Gibbs with Teresa H Barker|title=How to Save the World with Salad Dressing|rating=3|genre=Popular Science|summary=The world is under threat from a manic Bond-type baddie. You, A Tattoo on my friendly reader, are the only person with the smarts enough to save it. You'd better not be one of my less intelligent friends, because according to this book one needs a lot of physics-inclined lateral thinking to carry out the dangerous tasks ahead. You'll need to know about gravity and other forces, buoyancy, friction, acceleration and more to get through the puzzles here.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1851688552</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Gary Hayden|title=You Kant Make it Up!: Strange Ideas from History's Greatest PhilosophersBrain

|genre=Popular ScienceAutobiography|summary=In You Kant Make it UpAlzheimer's is a disease that slowly wears away your identity and sense of self. I have been directly affected by this cruel disease, journalist as have many. Your memories and philosopher Gary Hayden takes his readers through some of personality worn away like a statue over time affected the biggest elements. It seems as if nature wants that final victory over you and most important ideas right from the very beginnings of philosophical thought up to the philosophy of the modern dayyour dignity. This is what makes Daniel Gibbs' memoir so admirable. He gives Daniel Gibbs is a brief explanation neurologist who was diagnosed with Alzheimers and discussion of each idea, and shows how through the ages philosophers have argued pretty much everything you could think of, much of which seems bizarre to the modern thinkerhas documented his journey in ''A Tattoo on my Brain''.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1851688455</amazonuk>1108838936

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stephen H Segal0099551063|title=Geek The Wisdomof Psychopaths: Lessons in life from Saints, Spies and Serial Killers|author=Dr Kevin Dutton|rating=4.5

|summary=I am by no means a fully fledged geek, but on the Big Bang scale I'm probably more of a Leonard than a Penny. I was weaned on ''Star Trek '', chose 'Donald Trump outscores Hitler on psychopathic traits'Hitchhiker’s Guide..claims Oxford University researcher. '' as my reading aloud piece for a Year 7 exam, and think it would be more than a little fun to take a trip to Comic Con. At the same time, there are gaping holes in my knowledge. My first celeb crush might have been ''Blake’s 7’s'' Villa but I've never seen a ''Batman'' film, never read a comic book, never quite understood what all the ''Star Wars'' fuss was about. If Sci Fi is a religion, then this is the book that can fill me in one the stories, the parables, the rules, as it were, of geekdom. I had to have it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1594745277</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Mick OUntil the events of 6 January 2021 that might have surprised, even shocked many readers: now they'Hare|title=Why Are Orangutans Orange?|rating=3re probably convinced that they knew it all along.5|genre=Popular Science|summary=Another year The statement has passed, and once again we're treated lost a little of its shock value but it does help us to another offering from New Scientistunderstand more about the nature of psychopathy. It's Last Word column. We've been here beforetoo easy to associate psychopathy with the Yorkshire Ripper, with [[Why Don't Penguins' Feet Freeze? by Mick O'Hare|Penguins]]Jeffrey Dahmer, [[Do Polar Bears Get Lonely? by Mick O'Hare|Polar Bears]]Saddam Hussein or Robert Maudsley, [[How To Make A Tornado by Mick O'Hare|Tornadoes]]the real-life Hannibal Lecter, [[Why Can't Elephants Jump? by Mick O'Hare|Elephants]] and [[How To Fossilise Your Hamster by Mick O'Hare|Hamsters]]. Now it's time for but the orangutan to find out why he's orangetruth is that having psychopathic traits can sometimes be a good thing.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846685079</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=David Crystal1849767343|title=The Story Of English In 100 WordsCount on Me|author=Miguel Tanco|rating=4.5|genre=Popular ScienceChildren's Non-Fiction|summary=Crystal is a god when it comes to language. I’ve known that since I was quoting him during English A Level, since my university studies, since my TEFL days when students ask 'Why?' The title and you need an answer other than 'Because'. This is his new format of this book, but might lead you don’t need a degree in linguistics to find think that it fascinating, and in addition to the intriguing revelations and chummy writing style, 's either about responsibility - or it looks 's a basic 1-2-3 book for those just lovely and would make a fab Christmas presentstarting out on the numbers journey.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846684277</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Niall McCrae|title=The Moon and Madness|rating=4|genre=Popular Science|summary=A book entitled ''The Moon and Madness It isn't: it' has the potential to be s a pile hymn of New Age hokumpraise to maths. This learned and academic treatise by Niall McCrae It's about why maths is very far from hokum, so wonderful and there is not a whiff of New Age hanging over how you meet it. We probably all have an old folklore image in our minds of lunatics in the asylum howling at the full moon. Of course, the very word 'lunatic' has its origins in the moon. McCrae tries to separate myth and fact in this fascinating bookeveryday life.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1845402146</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John L LockeB08B39QNRH|title=Duels and DuetsThe Curious History of Writer's Cramp: Why Men and Women Talk So DifferentlySolving an age-old problem|author=Michael Pritchard

|summary=Locke's subtitle ''Why Men and Women Talk So Differently'' might lead you to think that this Society is just another self-help ''Men are from Mars, Women are from Venusbased on speech but civilisation requires the written word'' tome. It's not. Rather than focussing upon what we all know from experience – that men and women do not communicate very well because of some fundamental difference in their respective approach to verbal expression – the New York City University Professor of Linguistics sets out to explain WHY that might be.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0521887135</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Steven Connor|title=Paraphernalia: I came to Michael Pritchard's ''The Curious Lives History of Magical Things|rating=4|genre=Popular Science|summary=Writer's Cramp'' by a rather strange route...In I have problems with my hands which our author considers orthopaedic surgeons refer to as 'interesting': I prefer the smaller, less noticeable items word 'painful' but I have an interest in our lives. He finds such objects as sticky tape, combs and keys magical, because "we can do whatever we like to things, but magical things are things the way that we allow and expect to do things back to ushands work. Magical things all do more, and mean more than they might be supposed to." Principally these are An exploration of the little flotsam that wash up on our desks, history of a problem which has defeated some of the handy things we keep in our pockets best medical minds for some three-hundred-years seemed liked excellent background reading and about our person, and never think about - wave about, flick aboutso it proved, fiddle with, but never think the book being as much aboutthe doctors treating the sufferers and the changing medical attitudes as the problem itself.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846682703</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Michael Brooks1776572858|title=Free RadicalsHow Do You Make a Baby?|author=Anna Fiske and Don Bartlett (translator)|rating=4.5|genre=Popular ScienceHome and Family|summary=We often have an image of scientists as quietly plodding away, with small breakthrough after small breakthrough. When the big breakthroughs come, they downplay things, and insist upon logical and level-headed caution. It's all very mild-mannered more than sixty years since I asked how babies were made. My mother was deeply embarrassed and polite. ..told me that she'd get me a book about it.Or is it? The history A couple of science is splattered with radicalsdays later I was handed a pamphlet (which delivered nothing more than the basics, whoin clinical language which had never been used in our house before) and I was told that it wouldn't be discussed any further as it ''wasn't something which nice people talked about''ll do anything for success. There are those who mercilessly put down their rivals I ''knew'' more, those who use drugs to stimulate their breakthroughs, those who put themselves in harmbut was little ''wiser''s way in the pursuit of truth. Thankfully, and those who just plain go about things their own way, regardless of what anyone else saystimes have changed.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846684056</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Andrew WheenDanny Dorling|title=Dot-Dash To Dot.ComSlowdown

|genre=Popular SciencePolitics and Society|summary=You know exactly what youWe are living in a time of rapid change, and we're getting when you read worried about it. Dorling tells us that the summary of Andrew Wheen's ''Dot-Dash To Dotlatter is normal, natural and probably good for us.Com''. ''How Modern Telecommunications Evolved from the Telegraph We are designed to worry and with the Internetcurrent state of what we'' sums it up perfectly. This is a history of technology and re doing in the people involved in creating that technology. It serves as a primer for anyone with an interest or need world we have much to know be worried about telecommunications.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1441967591</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Stephanie Pain|title=Farmer Buckley's Exploding Trousers|rating=4.5|genre=Popular Science|summary=The history of science is filled with many miraculous discoveries. ...It's also filled with exploding trousers However, selfover the next three-experimentationhundred-and-some pages, a coachmanif you can follow the arguments, it sets out in scientific detail why either we shouldn's leg t be as worried as we are, or in some cases that becomes a museum piece and gas-powered radios. we''Farmer Buckley's Exploding Trousers'' regales us with fifty odd events on re worrying about the way to scientific discoverywrong things. Mostly. Part popular science book Because mostly, part triviathings are not changing as rapidly as we think they are. In fact, each article the rate of change in many things is a treat to read, either as a fun-sized nugget, or when reading from cover to coverslowing down and the direction of change will in some cases go into reverse.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846685087</amazonuk>0300243405

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jonah LehrerLangford_Emily|title=Proust Was a NeuroscientistEmily's Numbers|author=Joss Langford

|genre=Popular ScienceChildren's Non-Fiction|summary=In Troilus and CressidaEmily found words ''useful'', Shakespeare wrotebut counting was what she loved best. Obviously,you can count anything and there'Time hath, my lords no limit to how far you can go, but then Emily moved a wallet at his back, wherin he puts alms for oblivion'step further and began counting in twos. This fully accords with the discoveries of modern brain science She knew all about odd and even numbers. Proust Then she began counting in his famous novel, 'In Search threes: half of Lost Time' anticipates such discoveries by neuroscientists, such as Rachel Hertzthe list were even numbers, that smell and taste are but the only senses that connect directly to the hippocampus. Thus the taste of a petit madeleine evokes a rediscovery by Proust of Combray other half was odd and a flow of associations - it is the part was this list of the brain odd numbers which occurred when you counted in threes which long term memory is centred. Lehrer in she called ''threeven' Proust was a Neuroscientist' weaves an intriguing argument about the relationship between recent neuroscientific discoveries and the novels of George Eliot, Gertrude Stein and Virginia Woolf. A scientist (Actually, who has researched with Nobel Prize-winning, [[:Category:Eric R Kandel|Eric Kandel]], has this confused me a little bit at first as they're a taste for philosophy; Lehrer intends to heal subset of the rift between what C.P.Snow termed the 'Two Cultures'. He wishes odd numbers but sound as though they ought to accord respect to the truths and be a subset of the intuitive discoverieseven numbers, especially of modernist writers and paintersbut it all worked out well when I really thought about it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847677851</amazonuk>)

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John Lister-Kaye1910593508|title=At the Water's Edge: A Walk in the WildApollo|author=Matt Fitch, Chris Baker and Mike Collins|rating=35|genre=Popular ScienceHistory|summary=This incredible graphic novel is a book that readers feel strongly aboutlove letter to the Moon landings and the passion for the subject drips off every Apollo by Matt Fitch, Chris Baker and one with which I must confess to having Mike Collins. This is a love/hate relationship! I loved the detailed observationstory we know well and because of this, the sharing of knowledge authors take a few narrative shortcuts knowing that Lister-Kaye has built from a lifetime of close study of we can fill in the countrysideblanks. He delights in and pays as much attention These shortcuts are the only downside to the structure book. If you've ever read a comic book adaptation of a spider's web as to the rarest of meetings film you will be familiar with a Scottish wildcat.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847674054</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ian Stewart|title=Mathematics of Life|rating=3.5|genre=Popular Science|summary=Mathematics and biology don't traditionally mix. As science develops, the boundaries between maths slight feeling that there are scenes missing and physics, physics and chemistry and chemistry and biology have become more and more blurredthat dialogue has been trimmed. As it This is now, biology requires many mathematical techniques, and it's fair to assume a graphic novel that major biological breakthroughs over the next hundred years will also could easily have a strong basis in maths been three times as long and still felt tooshort. Ian Stewart looks at the major steps forward in the history of biology, and the areas where maths is at the forefront of development.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846681987</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Anthony James1999308719|title=The Happy PassionLive Forever Manual: A Personal View of Jacob BronowskiScience, ethics and companies behind the new anti-aging treatments|author=Adrian Cull

|genre=Popular ScienceLifestyle|summary=Jacob Bronowski For many years now I've (half) joked that I intended to live forever and that so far, it was working out OK. Time has passed though and although I'm a scientific administrator, poet, philosopher, dramatist, radio great deal fitter and TV personality, best remembered for the series 'The Ascent healthier than most people of my age there were a few nagging health problems which were tipping my life out of Man'balance. This short bookIt was time to look for a new approach and as so often happens, about 90 pages long, is partly biographical sketch, partly – in fact largely – an overview of his major published works, occupying about two-thirds of the reviewing gods brought me the bookI needed. In ''Live Forever Manual: Science, ethics and companies behind the authornew anti-ageing treatments's words, it is intended as a personal view of Bronowski as a philosopher' seemed like the answer to my problems - only you get so much more than just 101 tips.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1845402200</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sean Carroll1847941834|title=From Eternity to Here: The Quest for the Ultimate Theory of TimeAtomic Habits|author=James Clear

|genre=Popular ScienceLifestyle|summary=The Prologue sets I've said this before but there are some books that you seek out what this book is about. It's about ' ... the nature of time, the beginning of the universe, some books that you stumble across and the underlying structure of physical reality.' OK? Bring on those questions. Yes, it's a weighty tome in terms of size and subject matter, but I would certainly describe the front cover as reader-friendlysome books that drop into your life because you really MUST read them, so therefore should have broad appeal. I love the title of this booklike, lots of thought has been put into it and it certainly grabbed my attention - and I'm no scientist. The classic movie from the classic book ... right now! I also loved Carroll's language - 'The Elegant UniverseAtomic Habits' and 'a preposterous universe' These are phrases to make you stop and think. And I certainly didis in the last category.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1851687955</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Robert Rowland SmithHoneyborne BlueII|title=Driving with Plato: The Meaning of Life's MilestonesBlue Planet II|author=James Honeyborne and Mark Brownlow

|genre=Popular ScienceAnimals and Wildlife|summary=''Driving with Plato'' is a companion book to [[Breakfast with Socrates by Robert Rowland Smith|Breakfast with Socrates]], in which former Oxford Fellow Robert Roland Smith took various elements You may well remember when the sticking of a number 'typical2' day and provided insight into what after a collection film title was suggesting something of thinkers might prestige - that the first film had been so good it was fully justified to have to offer to make these mundane routines something more interesting. HereThat has hardly been proven correct, in but it has until recently almost been confined to the company cinema - you barely got a TV series worthy of a similarly eclectic range of writers numbered sequel, and thinkers, he considers never in the key aspects world of non-fiction. If someone has made a lifenature series about, from birthsay, through school Alaska (and riding boy aren't there are a bike, lot of those these days) and wants to your first kissmake another, losing your virginity, having a family before a midwhy she just makes another -life crisisnothing would justify the numeral. But some nature programmes do have the prestige, leading the energy and the heft to divorce, old age and deathdemand follow-ups. Montaigne said that to philosophise was to learn how to dieAnd after five years in the making, and here Roland Smith ensures that we think about each stage leading up to that momentthe BBC's Blue Planet series has delivered a second helping.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184668305X</amazonuk>

 {{newreview|author=Mark Stevenson|title=An Optimist's Tour of the Future|rating=4.5|genre=Popular Science|summary=In 1968, the film '2001 A Space Odyssey' had an optimistic view of the future we would soon be living in. In terms of technological advancement we're not quite there yet, even though that date has a decade since passed, so maybe it's time for a revised view of what is to come. Enter Mark Stevenson, a stand up comic slash scientist. It's perhaps not the most familiar of combinations, but take the best bits of each and the result is this wonderful book that combines humour and fun with proper nitty, gritty, science stuff.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683564</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Stephen Macknik and Susana Martinez-Conde|title=Sleights of Mind|rating=3.5|genre=Popular Science|summary=I have a passing interest in both magic and neuroscience. Not only am I ''quite'' the hit with the ladies, but I was also very keen to read ''Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals About Our Brains''. Husband and wife team Stephen Macknik and Susana Martinez-Conde work at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona, and as a way of promoting their field of visual neuroscience, developed the [http://illusioncontest.neuralcorrelate.com/ Illusion of the Year contest]. From this, they slipped into the world of magic, investigating, discussing and researching the neuroscience of magic with James Randi, Mac King, Teller (of Penn and...) and Johnny Thompson.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683890</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sam Kean1783099593|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 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''. As far as popular science books goes, it's got all the umm... right elements (sorry, sorry, sorry). We're taken on a tour through the periodic table, hearing exciting tales of scientific discovery and marvel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857520261</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewSpeaking Up|author=Martin Cohen|title=Mind Games: 31 Days to Rediscover Your BrainAllyson Jule

|summary=The sub'Speaking Up' has a fascinating subject matter -title how language reflects and shapes our notions of Martin Cohen's latest bookgender. It looks at our use of language in media, Mind Gameseducation, promisesreligion, rather optimistically in my case I felt, '31 days to rediscover your brain'the workplace and personal relationships. It is rather presumptuous Author Allyson Jule calls on an encyclopedic body of him research from the mid-twentieth century to assume the present day. Reading it, we feel that she has studied everything that I had ''discovered'' it in has ever been said on gendered linguistics; she references Foucault and the first place, but I appreciate his confidenceKardashians with equal rigour.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444337092</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Marcus ChownCampbell_Astra|title=We Need To Talk About KelvinAd Astra: An illustrated guide to leaving the planet|author=Dallas Campbell|rating=4.5

|summary=Sporting So… you want to leave the best title for a popular science book this side of [[:Category:Alex Bellos|Alex Bellosplanet? Before you do you']] ''Here's Looking At Euclid'', Marcus Chown shows us what everyday things tell us about d better study the universewhole history of human space flight to get up to speed. You'll find out how your reflection in That could take a window shows the randomness of the universe, how the abundance of iron shows while… if only there was a 4handy guide that could condense it all down for you.5bn degree furnace exists in space, and how most of Enter Dallas Campbell with this book: An illustrated guide to leaving the world's astronomers are wrong about what the darkness of night shows usplanet.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571244033</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mick O'HareAdrian_Sock|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 in a ballpoint pen? How long a line could you draw with a single pencil? For answers to all these questions, 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>}} {{newreviewSock (Object Lessons)|author=Henry Nicholls|title=The Way of the Panda: The Curious History of China's Political AnimalKim Adrian|rating=43.5

|summary=The subject of this book cover alonehas been around for several millennia, with its panda hugging a tree, says 'buy meand yet my partner's daughter has been employed for several years designing it, 'read meor them.It' A good start. The sections are divided into no-nonsense headings: Extractions something I use for about 200 days of every year, Abstraction and Protection. Maps and Prologue give at a flavour of what's to come. The inside front cover states boldly that 'Giant pandas guess (well, I have been causing a stir ever since their formal scientific discovery just my self-diagnosed over 140 years ago.' I -active eccrine glands and other people to think it safe about) – which clearly puts me at the opposite end of the scale to say that many well-known mass-murderer of us would probably say automaticallywomen, without thinkingTed Bundy, who was into stealing credit cards to fund his desire of having a fresh pair every single day. On which subject, that the panda has immense appealamount of them we create every year could stack to the freaking moon and more. But Some idiots buy more than six pairs a year, apparently, which is it only because plain stupid. I'm talking, as you can tell, of the beautifully marked eyes which give the animal a cuddly, teddy bear look?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683688</amazonuk>humble sock.

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Cindy M Meston and David BussGermano_Eye|title=Why Women Have Sex: Understanding Sexual Motivation from Adventure to Revenge Eye Chart (and Everything in BetweenObject Lessons)|author=William Germano

|summary=Many many years agoIt's happened to me, and like as not it has or will happen to you, too. I mean the receipt of certain little numerical results, with a man who was far too young positive or negative before them to be prove the fusty, dusty RE teacher he was shaping correction needed to be, asked my best friend vision to make me see with the intended clarity and I why we were each having sex with our girlfriendsnormality. Even aged fifteen I thought something along 've had that gizmo that photos the lines back of my eye to check for diabetes and other problems, I'wellve had different tests to check the pressure inside my eye, if he doesnand I've come away with glasses I don't know by nowneed to wear all the time, he never will'but certainly benefit from on holiday, or when watching TV or a cinema or theatre production. And above and listed beyond that it was great funI've stared at – and got wrong – the simple, a very enjoyable sensationseemingly ageless test, showed an appetite for the relationship, and of various letters in various configurations that sex proved the ultimate diminish in bonding - how much closersize, to be bluntprove to the relevant scientist at what stage things get blurry for me. Of course, could you be to someone than actually inside them? Iit'll come clean now and admit said girlfriend was s not realageless, but several have been sincethe scientific progress that led to it, the changes other people made to it, and I have the cultural impact it's had heaps of fun finding out how - and perhaps why are all on these eye- women have sex. I was never to know, until now, there are 237 reasons for itopening small pages.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099546639</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mary RoachBall_Wonders|title=Packing for MarsWonders Beyond Numbers: The Curious Science A Brief History of Life in SpaceAll Things Mathematical|author=Johnny Ball|rating=4.5

|summary=Space is big. Really big. And itLike many people of a ''s a long way awaycertain age, 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 have fond memories of tuning in to Mars. But then, no-onewatch Johnny Ball enthusiastically extolling the virtues of maths and science; succeeding where our schoolteachers had failed and actually making these subjects ''s written a book on what to stick in your suitcase for Sierra Leonefun. And Mary Roach ''has'' written a Although decades have passed since those classic TV shows, his latest book on what to take to the red planet... Except, this is so much more than a shopping list. This is the definitive inside scoop for anyone who proves that he has ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in a world that is, well, out lost none of this worldhis passion and enthusiasm for his subject.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1851687807</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Richard ConniffYong_Contain|title=Swimming with Piranhas at Feeding TimeI Contain Multitudes: My Life Doing Dumb Stuff with Animals|rating=4|genre=Popular Science|summary=This isn't quite the book it seems. From the subtitle, I inferred microbes within us and a memoir or autobiography. Instead Richard Conniff has chosen twenty-three grander view 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 on the planet makes for fascinating reading, it's definitely not a book to be galloped through in a single sitting.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0393304574</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewlife|author=Russell Foster and Leon Kreitzman|title=Seasons of Life: The Biological Rhythms That Living Things Need to Thrive and SurviveEd Yong|rating=3.5

|summary="Seasons of Life" aims to present The world you know is a rounded picture of the way seasonality affects human life lie. There is no such thing as well as the rest of naturegood or bad microbes. Covering everything from Seasonal Affective Disorder to the potential for animals to adapt to climate change, this book would be an interesting read for anyone with an enquiring mind Sickness and an interest in the natural worldhealth are all far more complex than we thought.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>186197969X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Mark van Vugt and Anjana Ahuja|title=Selected: Why some people lead, why others follow, and why it matters|rating=4|genre=Business and Finance|summary=''Selected'' is based on the psychology of leadership. Some of Things designed to save us may ask the perfectly reasonable question 'Does it matter who leads kill us and who follows?' Well, apparently it not only matters but it matters greatly. And the co-authors go to great lengths to tell things we think would kill us why. The useful prologue informs may save us that the whole area of leadership can be traced back in time, by no less than several million years. Vugt and Ahuja explain that the rather innocent (and even a bit airy-fairy Welcome to some) word 'leader' is evolved from various academic disciplines. Including the more obvious psychology, there is also biology and anthropology in the mix. Heady stuff. And yes, I did want to read on.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683270</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Adam Phillips|title=On Balance|rating=4|genre=Politics and Society|summary=Essential for a tightrope walker, prized as an intellectual objective, balance is generally considered something to which we can aspire. We praise someone who makes a balanced decision, we envy people who have a 'good work/life balance' we offer an opinion 'on balance' to demonstrate that we have considered various arguments and optionsmodern study of microbes.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0241143888</amazonuk>

{{newreview|author=Geoffrey Miller|title=Must-Have: The Hidden Instincts Behind Everything We Buy|rating=4|genre=Popular Science|summary=If no one can tell the difference, why shell out $30 000 for a real Rolex when a 'mere' $1200 will get you a virtually identical replica? Why do luxury manufacturers such as BMW spend money advertising in mass media whose typical readership most likely won't ever be able Move on to afford their products? And just why is the ''i'' in iPod so important?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099437929</amazonuk>}}[[Newest Reference Reviews]]