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June 11, 2005

How to Be a (Bad) Birdwatcher — Simon Barnes

In this irreverent book, Barnes reveals the hidden joys of being a bad bird-watcher. Most of us can be bad bird-watchers without his coaching. With a good dose of wry humor, however, the author explains the difference between a bad bird-watcher, that is, one who only casually watches birds, and those bird-watchers known as "twitchers," who become obsessed with catching a glimpse of some rare specimen before it flies away. In contrast, being a bad birdwatcher, he says, brings a sense of richness and calm to one's everyday life. Barnes gives tips on how to get beyond bad bird-watching, such as the unsurprising advice to stand closer to rather than farther from, birds and to get a pair of binoculars and a field guide. But he maintains that identifying hundreds of birds by sight and name is not necessary for enjoying them. Full of amusing anecdotes about the author's adventures in bird-watching and his philosophy on birds as part of the meaning of life, this delightful book should inspire readers to go outside and look again at their feathered friends. Pantheon, 2005, 240 p., hardcover, $17.95.

ISBN: 0375423559: Click here to order How to Be a (Bad) Birdwatcher on Barnes & Noble.com.

The Murderer Next Door: Why the Mind Is Designed to Kill — David M. Buss

While serial killers such as John Wayne Gacy and Charles Manson rule the headlines, they account for only 1 percent of all murders committed. The majority of murders are perpetrated by ordinary citizens, and most of those killers are men who kill only once. In this intriguing book, Buss proposes that the human mind has been evolutionarily programmed to kill. In short, people kill under very specific circumstances most often involving reproductive competition. The struggle to find and keep a suitable mate has led many people to resort to drastic measures. Buss developed his controversial theory after studying thousands of FBI case files and conducting several studies of homicidal fantasies. He found that, worldwide, most murders are committed by young men who kill other men, most women are killed by mates or former mates, and women most often kill men who harm them or their offspring. These and other examples offer powerful support for the author's evolutionary theory and give the reader a startling, and at times unsettlingly familiar, glimpse into the mind of a killer. Penguin Press HC, 2005, 288 p., hardcover, $24.95.

ISBN: 1594200432: Click here to order The Murderer Next Door on Barnes & Noble.com.

The Language of Life: How Cells Communicate in Health and Disease — Debra Niehoff

Cells within a human body function much as the ideal human society does, each member working for the survival of the whole. The key to this harmony is communication. Niehoff explores the various methods by which cells communicate on topics ranging from growing into an embryo to committing suicide for the good of the human body. Scientists have discovered the signaling pathways that orchestrate such changes. When these pathways become disrupted—often by mutation—birth defects and diseases such as cancer and diabetes occur. Niehoff clearly defines the acronym-laden and inscrutable jargon of cell biologists. She explains the cellular functions underlying how the body reacts to stress, why dieting is so difficult, and how memories are formed in the brain. By learning how cells signal each other, scientists are developing drugs and other treatments that can be introduced when the signaling goes awry. Joseph Henry Press. 2005, 260 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $27.95.

ISBN: 0309089891: Click here to order The Language of Life on Barnes & Noble.com.

Reading the Rocks: The Autobiography of the Earth — Marcia Bjornerud

Earth keeps a "stone diary," explains geologist Bjornerud. That is, Earth has kept for 4 billion years a record of its changes and its inhabitants' changes, all stored in rocks and fossils. Starting with the supernova that led to the planet's formation and concluding with today's human-made changes, the author explains modern geologic theories. To keep the text lively, she intersperses fascinating tidbits, such as a discussion of "snowball Earth," the planet at a time so cold that all the oceans froze. The book is an overview cast in nontechnical language, so readers shouldn't look here for in-depth discussions of geoscience. However, this book is a good choice for novices to the discipline or people whose knowledge of geology may not be up-to-date. Westview Press, 2005, 237 p., hardcover, $26.00.

ISBN: 081334249X: Click here to order Reading the Rocks on Barnes & Noble.com.

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer — Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin

Authors Bird and Sherwin spent 25 years poring through thousands of letters and records—including massive FBI files—and conducting nearly 100 interviews with friends, relatives, and colleagues of J. Robert Oppenheimer. The effort has produced the most comprehensive biography to date of the scientist sometimes known as the father of the atomic bomb. Unlike other Oppenheimer biographies, which begin with the Manhattan Project that he directed and end with the first explosions of atomic bombs, this book examines Oppenheimer's entire life. He had a privileged childhood in New York City and spent his immediate-prewar years as a Berkeley professor. In 1942, an Army committee selected him to be the scientific director of the Manhattan Project, a post he held until the end of the war. Oppenheimer lost his security clearance in the 1950s for speaking out against the hydrogen bomb. This book will appeal to readers looking for insight into one of the most fascinating men of the 20th century. Knopf, 2005, 752 p., b&w photos, hardcover, $35.00.

ISBN: 0375412026: Click here to order American Prometheus on Barnes & Noble.com.

June 4, 2005

The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry — Larry Gonick and Craig Criddle

This is the latest in a long series of illustrated history and science books by cartoonist Gonick. He and Criddle, a Stanford University science professor, use humorous illustrations to explain the history of chemistry, discuss innovators, such as Joseph Priestley and John Dalton, and explore subjects advanced enough to be covered in a college chemistry class. These include chemical thermodynamics, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. Criddle explains countless chemical reactions, while Gonick illustrates the ideas behind them in comic book fashion. One of the appendixes is devoted entirely to logarithms. This highly accessible book is recommended to anyone who might be having trouble understanding some of the concepts presented in traditional chemistry textbooks. HarperResource, 2005, 249 p., b&w illus., paperback, $16.95.

ISBN: 0060936770: Click here to order The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry on Barnes & Noble.com.

Identify Yourself: The 50 Most Common Birding Identification Challenges — Bill Thompson III, et al.

Beginning bird-watchers can be easily tricked: Many common bird species resemble one another. The novice who spies a lesser scaup and a ring-necked duck, for instance, can be left scratching his or her head and wondering which bird to claim for a sighting. Help is at hand in this new book by Bill Thompson and five other editors of Bird Watchers' Digest. The book's explanation of differences in bill shapes, body and head markings, and the color of legs, backs, wings, and tails will have novice birders sorting out sparrows, gulls, warblers, ravens, finches, cuckoos, and many other types. Excellent illustrations by Julie Zickenfoose are especially helpful. The authors intend their book to provide "beginning and intermediate-level bird-watchers with a clear and logical path" to identifying what they see through their binoculars. Houghton Mifflin, 2005, 416 p., color illus., paperback, $19.95.

ISBN: 0618514694: Click here to order Identify Yourself on Barnes & Noble.com.

The Singing Life of Birds: The Art and Science of Listening to Birdsong — Donald Kroodsma

Why do birds sing? Well, mostly to attract females—the crooners are usually male. The choir may be all of one sex, but the repertoire of each member varies greatly. Furthermore, each species has its own songs, and some birds modify that music as well as pick up songs from other species. Kroodsma recounts the example of a brown thrasher that in a 2-hour period sang 1,800 different songs. The author instructs readers on how to listen to a bird's song from the perspectives of both another bird and of a scientist. He explains how birds acquire their songs, what makes songs unique, and how and why the songs differ between locales. Also included is a CD with 98 tracks of birdsongs, all of which are explained in an appendix in the book. Another appendix tells readers how to record birdsongs, including details on the equipment needed. Houghton Mifflin, 448 p., b&w illus, CD, hardcover, $28.00.

ISBN: 0618405682: Click here to order The Singing Life of Birds on Barnes & Noble.com.

Before the Fallout: From Marie Curie to Hiroshima— Diana Preston

As the 60th anniversary of the detonation of the first atomic bomb approaches, historian Preston traces the scientific and political history of atomic energy. Starting with the discoveries of X rays by Wilhelm Roentgen and of radium by Marie Curie, this book traces the path that led to the detonation of an atomic bomb over Hiroshima, on August 6, 1945. Preston chronicles how scientists' optimistic quest for knowledge was transformed into a worldwide race to develop the ultimate weapon of mass destruction. Rather than focusing on the Manhattan project and its counterparts in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, Preston covers the unfolding technology that led scientists and political leaders of the 20th century to regard the atomic bomb as a possibility. The book concludes with a fascinating what-if epilogue. It is highly recommended for readers who relish 20th-century history in general and the modern history of science in particular. Walker & Company, 2005, b&w photos, hardcover, $27.00.

ISBN: 0802714455: Click here to order Before the Fallout on Barnes & Noble.com.

The Grail Bird: Hot on the Trail of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker — Tim Gallagher

On April 26, 2005, the field of ornithology was rocked by an incredible announcement: The ivory-billed woodpecker, long considered extinct, had been rediscovered in a swampy forest of Arkansas. In this thrilling narrative, Gallagher, one of the key players in the bird's rediscovery, documents the years of effort that he and others spent working to confirm the woodpecker's continued existence. Alongside photographer Bobby Ray Harrison, Gallagher first headed through the Mississippi delta to the famed Singer Tract in Louisiana. This forest was once rich with ivory-billed woodpeckers, and most recently it was the location of several unconfirmed reports of living birds. Having had no luck there, the pair moved up into Arkansas, to the White River National Wildlife Refuge. With little to go on besides a few credible and more not-so-credible sightings from hunters, bird-watchers, and assorted characters, Gallagher and his crew spent weeks and months camped in the wilderness and hunkered down in canoes, hoping, essentially, to see a ghost. Their lives were changed forever in February 2004 as both Gallagher and Harrison viewed what was unmistakably an ivory-billed. They devoted the next year to attempting to confirm and record a sighting with other researchers and experts. In this book, published before the April 26 announcement, Gallagher wonders, "Who knows what will happen after the rediscovery of this species is announced to the world?" HM, 2005, 288 p., color plates, hardcover, $25.00.

ISBN: 0618456937: Click here to order The Grail Bird on Barnes & Noble.com.

May 28, 2005

Hot Property: The Stealing of Ideas in an Age of Globalization — Pat Choate

Globalization of the world's economy, accompanied by the rise of the Internet, is breaking down borders between nations. One unintended result is promotion of the pirating, counterfeiting, and stealing of intellectual property. The U.S. economy is inundated with counterfeit and pirated goods, including pharmaceuticals, books, and recorded movies. Although they're faced with an enormous mission, U.S. Customs and other government agencies can devote few resources to the problem of intellectual property theft. Authorities apprehend only about one in every half million counterfeit or pirated items entering the country. This is a case, Choate notes, in which crime does pay. In this book, the author examines the myriad difficulties in protecting intellectual property, how the United States came to dominate the technologies that are the targets of pirates and counterfeiters, and how countries such as China threaten that dominance through copying. He also describes, using many specific cases, the lengths to which individual companies must go to protect their ideas. This is an account of technology and economics by the man who was Ross Perot's vice presidential running mate in 1996. Knopf, 2005, 368 p., hardcover, $26.95.

ISBN: 0375402128: Click here to order Hot Property on Barnes & Noble.com.

Fed Up: Winning the War against Childhood Obesity — Susan Okie

Today's young people are, on average, the fattest in history, and this eye-opening book seeks to explain why. The generation raised on pizza and french fries is plagued by serious medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, that were once found only in adults. The author, a journalist, physician, and contributing editor to The New England Journal of Medicine, blames both nature and nurture for kids' expanding waistlines. She points to a culture that has reduced kids' time spent in gym class or at play, increased their time spent watching television, and made them reliant on calorie-dense processed foods. She also examines the genetics of weight control and the complex physiology behind appetite. She looks at how obesity affects not only children's physical health but also their emotional well-being, potentially leading to problems with self-esteem and depression. Most important, she offers many methods for combating weight gain in children, from tricks for getting picky eaters to try more vegetables to ways in which adults can encourage health-conscious attitudes in children both in school and at home. This book is a must-read for parents trying to save their children from becoming victims of the obesity epidemic. Joseph Henry Press, 2005, 322 p., hardcover, $27.95.

ISBN: 0309093104: Click here to order Fed Up on Barnes & Noble.com.

Dryland Gardening: Plants That Survive and Thrive in Tough Conditions — Jennifer Bennett

Hot, dry summers don't necessarily rule out having a lush, beautiful garden. With this helpful guide, gardeners can learn techniques for growing plants under harsh conditions. Bennett describes the many successful methods of xeriscaping, or landscaping using drought-resistant plants. She begins the guide with advice on watering techniques, from conserving rainwater to timing of garden irrigation. She includes tips on plant selection and placement, soil treatment, and basic planting methods. The majority of the book is devoted to the many dryland plants from herbs, grasses, shrubs, and perennials, to annual flowers that can withstand drought conditions and extreme temperatures. Each description of a plant includes its scientific name, the zone where it thrives best, and its color varieties. Filled with brilliant, colorful photos, this book provides inspiration for would-be gardeners in all climates. Firefly, 2005, 192 p., color photos, paperback, $24.95.

ISBN: 1554070317: Click here to order Dryland Gardening on Barnes & Noble.com.

Stalking the Riemann Hypothesis: The Quest to Find the Hidden Law of Prime Numbers — Dan Rockmore

The Greeks were the first to notice the difference between composite numbers, or those that can be broken down into groups of other numbers, and primes, those numbers that can't be divided by anything but 1 and themselves. In this math-dense but straightforward book, Rockmore explores the complex world of prime numbers, from Euclid's investigations on whether there are an infinite number of them, to primes' role in computer communications and quantum physics. He reviews the long history of prime cartographers, including Adrien-Marie Legendre, Carl Freidrich Gauss, and others who developed basic theorems about primes. However, Rockmore focuses most intently on Bernhard Riemann, the mathematician whose hypothesis, proposed 150 years ago, continues to puzzle and fascinate mathematicians today. In his short life, Riemann produced what has become one of mathematics' most enduring unsolved puzzles. The Riemann hypothesis posits that practically all the solutions to a certain famous equation have a simple relationship to one another. Indeed, in 2000, the Clay Mathematics Institute offered $1 million for its proof. Rockmore details Riemann's work and that of the countless others who followed in his footsteps. Throughout the book, Rockmore reveals the complex computations of the hypothesis and the attempts at its proof. The author provides a helpful glossary as well. Pantheon, 2005, 304 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $25.00.

ISBN: 037542136X: Click here to order Stalking the Riemann Hypothesis on Barnes & Noble.com.

May 21, 2005

The Nature of Plants: Habitats, Challenges, and Adaptations — John Dawson and Rob Lucas

The Nature of Plants tells dramatic stories of how plants struggle throughout their lives, how they adapt to their often-inhospitable surroundings, and how they change when their surroundings change. The range of conditions and the variety of ways in which plants survive are staggering. Some live in swamps, deserts, or arctic plains; some live in concert with other plants; some parasitize other plants; some depend on animals; and many are eaten by herbivores. Some plants capture and eat insects, although most require insects to spread their pollen. Fire, flood, drought, bacteria, and fungi are either negative or positive factors, depending on the plant. The authors, university professors in New Zealand, have written extensively about plant life in their home country, but this book considers ecosystems worldwide. It is targeted to anyone interested in nature and botany. Timber Press, 2005, 314 p., color photos, hardcover, $39.95.

ISBN: 0881926752: Click here to order The Nature of Plants on Barnes & Noble.com.

Big Weather: Chasing Tornadoes in the Heart of America — Mark Svenvold

In Big Weather, Svenvold reveals what happened when he joined the world of storm chasers. This book follows the author and his band of meteorology-obsessed confederates across the Midwest during the height of tornado season. Their all-consuming mission was to witness, record, and conquer the next big tornado. Svenvold tells the stories of the typical chasers he met and worked with, including an IMAX filmmaker, tornado field researchers, and meteorology students who drive toward "scary-looking clouds" that they see. Witnessing a tornado requires both being skilled at weather forecasting—using tools such as mobile Doppler radar, Global Positioning Systems, and continuous updates from the National Weather Service—and being in the right place at the right time. In this engaging narrative, Svenvold also explains how tornadoes form and defines some of the weather lingo used by chasers. He details the history of storm chasing, from Ben Franklin and his weather experiments to the advent of the Weather Channel, and focuses on the often-conflicting ways in which people respond to catastrophic weather. Henry Holt and Co., 2005, 304 p., hardcover, b&w photos and illus., $26.00.

ISBN: 0805076468: Click here to order Big Weather on Barnes & Noble.com.

Descent: The Heroic Discovery of the Abyss — Brad Matsen

This is the riveting story of the first truly deep-sea exploration. In a series of 20 dives between 1929 and 1934, William Beebe and Otis Barton rode a diving capsule to 3,028 feet under the Atlantic, about 100 times as far down as anyone had gone underwater before. Maritime author Matsen weaves a tale of two men who needed each other for their mission but who were barely on speaking terms by the time they completed it. Both men were looking for fame and fortune as much as for scientific knowledge. Beebe, a famous naturalist and bon vivant of the time, provided access to people who would fund the dives, and engineer Barton built the capsule that the men rode together and dubbed the bathysphere. This original bathysphere has recently been restored and will soon be on display at the New York Aquarium. Its story, as told in these pages, is every bit as interesting as the stories of Beebe and Barton. This book will appeal to anyone interested in adventure or marine exploration. Pantheon, 2005, 304 p., b&w photos and illus., hardcover, $25.00.

ISBN: 0375422587: Click here to order Descent on Barnes & Noble.com.

Grand Canyon: Solving Earth's Grandest Puzzle — James Lawrence Powell

The Grand Canyon isn't just one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It's also a mystery and a learning resource. Early study of the canyon led directly to our current understanding of continental drift and plate tectonics. But to this day, scientists are still arguing about exactly how the canyon formed. Up front, the book is devoted to short biographies of the early geologists who studied the canyon and details of their hypotheses for its formation. Later sections of the text get into modern theories, with geological terms well explained. Certain to appeal mostly to geology buffs, the book is understandable to other readers. Powell, executive director of the National Physical Science Consortium and a former geology professor, is author of several books on geology. Pi Press, 2005, 320 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $27.95.

ISBN: 013147989X: Click here to order Grand Canyon on Barnes & Noble.com.

Year of the Comets: A Journey from Sadness to the Stars — Jan Deblieu

In this poignant and personal story, Deblieu examines both the inner space of the mind and the outer space of the cosmos. In 1996, her husband Jeff, undermined by the illness and death of his mother, began a descent into depression. At the same time, spurred by the sight of the comet Hyakutake one night, Jan Deblieu began a quiet fascination with the night sky. Her story focuses on how she came to recognize her husband's illness and how the two attempted to cope with it and save their marriage. She details how she found solace in the stars and the cosmological notion of light emerging from absolute darkness, drawing an analogy to her husband's depression. She lucidly describes the science behind the beginning and expansion of the universe, black holes, comets, and the possibility of other worlds. In her exploration, Deblieu notes that astronomy, like the study of the human mind, is a way to learn more about ourselves. But, she notes that unlike astronomy, the science of the mind and mental illness is still in its infancy. Shoemaker & Hoard, 2005, 201 p., hardcover, $23.00.

ISBN: 1593760701: Click here to order Year of the Comets on Barnes & Noble.com.

May 14, 2005

Fab: The Coming Revolution on Your Desktop—from Personal Computers to Personal Fabrication — Neil Gershenfeld

One day, people will be able to make almost anything they want with the help of a personal fabricator (PF). Though this may sound like science fiction, scientist-inventor Gershenfeld points out that the now-ubiquitous personal computer also was once thought impossible. Indeed, rudimentary PFs are already in use in various parts of the world. For instance, under Gershenfeld's guidance, Boston inner-city children now instruct machines to make jewelry that the kids then sell. This book focuses on an impending technological revolution: invention machines that make manufacturing as accessible as ideas are today. Gershenfeld, who directs the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Bits and Atoms, describes his attempts to foment this revolution through "fab labs." Several such laboratories are already enabling would-be inventors, from the Boston kids to U.S. college students to farmers in India, to make objects and machines that meet their unique needs. The author explains how the tools in future fab labs can evolve from current computers and how the new machines will work. However, the book's main focus is its stories of ingenuity by ordinary people given the right tools. Basic, 2005, 278 p., hardcover, b&w illus. and photos, $26.00.

ISBN: 0465027458: Click here to order Fab: The Coming Revolution on Your Desktop on Barnes & Noble.com.

The Bomb: A Life — Gerard J. DeGroot

In the 60 years since the first atomic bomb was detonated, such weapons have shaped not just military doctrine but also how people look at life. In this new history, DeGroot discusses atomic and hydrogen weapons' impact on political, military, and diplomatic history. From there, the author explores how people have learned to live with weapons capable of eradicating life on Earth. DeGroot describes in detail the Manhattan project, whose scientists told themselves that the weapon they were building would end war. The results, however, were the bombing of Japan, the cold war, nuclear testing, and now the specter of nuclear terrorism. DeGroot spends much of the book discussing the 1950s, as he believes that most of the important debate about the atomic bomb took place then. Harvard University Press, 2005, 432 p., b&w photos, hardcover, $27.95.

ISBN: 0674017242: Click here to order The Bomb: A Life on Barnes & Noble.com.

Carnivorous Nights: On the Trail of the Tasmanian Tiger — Margaret Mittelbach and Michael Crewdson

Snakes, venomous insects, and road kill all play parts in this spirited narrative of the authors' hunt for the presumed-extinct thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian tiger. After developing a fascination with the visage of a stuffed specimen in the American Museum of Natural History, nature writers Mittelbach and Crewdson set off to Tasmania with quirky artist Alexis Rockman and other friends in tow. Their mission was to catch a glimpse of the fabled animal, although it was declared extinct in the early 1900s. Occasionally, Tasmanians report possible sightings of a thylacine lurking in the wilderness. Encouraged by these reports, the authors braved backcountry areas populated by deadly snakes, Tasmanian devils, and other unsavory creatures. Along the way, Mittelbach, Crewdson, and company commune with wildlife experts and revel in Tasmania's rich ecological diversity, including such unfamiliar animals as the potoroo, the pademelon, and the quoll. Despite numerous detours and dead ends, the team is relentless in its pursuit. This book is at once a detailed nature guide and a humorous and engaging adventure story. Villard, 2005, 336 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $24.95.

ISBN: 1400060028: Click here to order Carnivorous Nights on Barnes & Noble.com.

What Einstein Told His Cook 2: The Sequel: Further Adventures in Kitchen Science — Robert L. Wolke and Marlene Parrish

In this sequel to What Einstein Told His Cook, Wolke is back to his old tricks, bad puns, and lots of enjoyable explanations of the science behind foods and cooking. This second volume answers new questions, debunks myths the first book didn't address, and includes 35 new recipes from food-critic Parrish. Topics in this book include what makes a bourbon authentic, how to get red wine stains out of a tablecloth, how to add cream to coffee and keep it hot, whether eating ice cream in hot weather really cools you off, how to match pasta to sauce, and why fats turn rancid. This second book is every bit as much fun as the first and 110 pages longer to boot. It's recommended for anyone interested in either cooking or the science in everyday life. W. W. Norton & Company, 2005, 464 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $25.95.

ISBN: 0393058697: Click here to order What Einstein Told His Cook 2: The Sequel on Barnes & Noble.com.

True North: Peary, Cook, and the Race to the Pole — Bruce Henderson

Ninety-six years after two men separately laid claim to being the first person to reach the North Pole, supporters of each man are still arguing about who really won that race. Robert E. Peary is generally given the credit, but Frederick Cook argued that he reached the pole nearly a year before Peary. In True North, Henderson examines the claims and counterclaims, scientific data, personal accounts, and, most dramatically, Peary's long-suppressed diary. Peary and Cook knew each other well: Cook was a doctor on one of Peary's earlier expeditions and in fact saved Peary's ability to walk by treating his shattered leg. However, after both explorers submitted claims to reaching the pole, things turned ugly. Peary refused to transport Cook's scientific instruments from the North Pole, ensuring their loss. He was even instrumental in getting Cook sentenced to jail for 14 years. This book tells these men's stories and explores how perceptions of historical events can become clearer and more accurate over the years. W.W. Norton & Company, 2005, 331 p., b&w photos, hardcover, $24.95.

ISBN: 0393057917: Click here to order True North on Barnes & Noble.com.

May 7, 2005

Insights from Insects: What Bad Bugs Can Teach Us — Gilbert Waldbauer

On the whole, bugs get a bum rap. Insects perform invaluable services toward the maintenance of Earth's ecosystems. Nonetheless, about 2 percent of insects do qualify as pests. In this book, Waldbauer exposes the hidden lives of this less desirable and sometimes-deadly minority of bugs. While these insects, including the mosquito, tsetse fly, and gypsy moth, are notorious for wreaking havoc on crops and spreading disease, the author shows that it's the insects that struggle to survive. Each chapter chronicles the life cycle, defense mechanisms, and evolution of a different insect pest. Waldbauer emphasizes that insects have proliferated primarily because of their adaptability—in particular, their capacity to overcome the pesticides used to control and eliminate them. He concludes that insects, even the pests among them, have a great deal to teach people about natural selection. Prometheus Books, 2005, 311 p., color plates, paperback, $18.00.

ISBN: 1591022770: Click here to order Insights from Insects on Barnes & Noble.com.

Robots: From Science Fiction to Technological Revolution — Daniel Ichbiah .

Many people know that the word robot came from rabota, meaning servant or serf, coined in 1921 by Czech writer Karel Capek in his play "R.U.R." But the history of robots goes much further back. Some of the earliest ones, called automata, were built in the early 1800s with clockwork mechanisms. From these first examples to the cutting edge of invention today to speculation about the future, author Ichbiah describes the many exquisite and banal machines that can be called robots. He includes interviews with scientists, inventors, writers, toy makers, artists, and others. The realms he covers include science fiction and the worlds of industry, medicine, the military, and entertainment. The book, translated from French, includes a brief guide to robots in movies and books and is ideal for anyone interested in robotics and especially in the history of that field. Harry N. Abrams, 2005, 544 p., color photos & illus. hardcover, $37.50.

ISBN: 0810959062: Click here to order Robots on Barnes & Noble.com.

The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed — John Vaillant

The golden spruce was a 165-foot-tall mutant that survived 300 years and was revered by the Haida Indians of the Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia. Other locals loved it as well, and even the logging companies treated the unique specimen with respect. But it took just one night for Grant Hadwin, a logger turned environmental terrorist, to chainsaw away enough of the tree to kill it. Hadwin, whose life was threatened by several people for this act, soon disappeared, and months later his kayak and camping gear washed ashore on a remote Alaskan island. First-time author Vaillant chronicles the history of this tree, from how the Haida Indians made it an integral part of their mythology to the story of the loggers who have the dangerous and controversial job of cutting down the old-growth forests of British Columbia. Vaillant discusses environmentalism from the points of view of the loggers, the Indians, and the environmentalists. This book will appeal to anyone interested in the Pacific Northwest, environmentalism, or a gripping real-life mystery. W.W. Norton & Company, 2005, 256 p., b&w photos, hardcover, $24.95.

ISBN: 0393058875: Click here to order The Golden Spruce on Barnes & Noble.com.

The New Quotable Einstein — Alice Calaprice, ed.

Published on the 100th anniversary of the theory of special relativity and the 50th anniversary of Albert Einstein's death, this expanded, paperback edition of The New Quotable Einstein features the scientist's musings on such diverse topics as pets, creativity, music, vegetarianism, family, and many others—including science and mathematics. Added to this edition are more than 300 new quotes, an entire new section on aging, a peek into Einstein's FBI file, a summary of his last days by his personal assistant, and his famous letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt suggesting that the United States build the first atomic bomb. Included from the hardback edition are hundreds of quotes attributed to Einstein, other people's quotes about the man, a chronology of his life, and answers to many nonscientific questions about Einstein. This book presents one of the most fascinating men of the 20th century. Princeton University Press, 2005, 440 p., b&w photos, paperback, $14.95.

ISBN: 0691120757: Click here to order The New Quotable Einstein on Barnes & Noble.com.

The Math Instinct: Why You're a Mathematical Genius (Along with Lobsters, Birds, Cats, and Dogs) — Keith Devlin

Ever wonder how migrating birds navigate or how a dog knows just where to run to intercept a thrown ball? Both feats can be explained by complex mathematical computations on paper. However, the animals don't know that. They compute with an innate mathematical sense. In this book, Devlin explores the many ways in which math is built into nature. He examines how the process of natural selection has resulted in ants that set their courses by dead reckoning, homing pigeons with built-in compasses, and bats that use sonar. All these innate capabilities can be explained in detail only by using complex trigonometry and calculus. Math appears in nature in other ways: Fibonacci numbers dictate the design of a sunflower, and the engineering behind an animal's vision system is remarkably precise. People, too, are born with a sense of numbers. Devlin reveals the differences between the symbolic mathematics taught in schools, which many students have difficulty mastering, and the inherent "street math" that we all demonstrate when we perform real-life tasks. Devlin ends the book with tips for improving math skills. Thunder Mouth Press, 2005, 279 p., hardcover, b&w illus., $25.00.

ISBN: 1560256729: Click here to order The Math Instinct on Barnes & Noble.com.

April 30, 2005

Chimney Swifts: America's Mysterious Birds above the Fireplace — Paul D. Kyle and Georgean Z. Kyle

Chimney swifts originally nested and roosted in hollow trees, but today they live almost exclusively in human-made structures. Changes to the way chimneys are being made are taking a toll on the birds' habitat, which covers most of the United States east of the Rockies. The authors run a chimney swift research station in Austin, Texas. Their book discusses research on the birds as well as the swifts' habitat at the station and elsewhere, their social lives, and nesting habits. Also included is a section on how best to accommodate these beneficial birds—their diet includes mosquitoes, flies, and termites—in your chimney or a chimneylike birdhouse. A frequently-asked–questions section informs readers, for example, what to do if they find a fallen nest in their fireplaces. This book is the latest in the Louise Lindsey Merrick Natural Environment Series. Texas A&M Univ. Press, 2005, 152 p., color and b&w photos and illus., paperback, $16.95.

ISBN: 1585443719: Click here to order Chimney Swifts on Barnes & Noble.com.

The Big Bento Box of Unuseless Japanese Inventions — Kenji Kawakami .

High heels with training wheels, an automatic chew counter, and a kissing coffee cup are probably not the most bizarre and zany inventions described in this humorous book, written by the inventor of Chindogu, the Japanese art of the useless. This guide reveals the inspiration for the concept as well as 200 inventions that might address a legitimate need if they weren't so goofy. The 10 tenets of Chindogu dictate that for an invention to qualify it can't be for real use, can't be patented, and yet must exist. What results is a hilarious collection of photos and descriptions of odd gadgets, such as dust mop slippers for cats and a solar-powered flashlight. Each pictured invention gets an enthusiastic endorsement for utility and ease of use in everyday tasks, but its main function is to provide a good laugh. Norton, 2005, 304 p., color photos, paperback, $12.95.

ISBN: 0393326764: Click here to order The Big Bento Box on Barnes & Noble.com.

Medicine in the Days of the Pharaohs — Bruno Halioua and Bernard Ziskind

When we think of the Egyptians in the time of the pharaohs, we think pyramids, the Sphinx, King Tut, mummies, and antiquity. What we don't think about is how advanced their medical practices were. Twenty-five centuries before Hippocrates, Egyptian ophthalmologists, urologists, and dentists were seeing patients from almost every walk of life. The doctors' lives weren't that different from those of doctors today. They even had remedies for the common cold, one of which was crushing dates and leaves of the niaia plant and applying the resulting paste to the nose. Egyptian doctors prescribed medicines, had competition from alternative practitioners, were sued for malpractice, and even had to deal with what can only be described as an ancient-version of the Food and Drug Administration. In the tradition of modern specialists studying their Egyptian predecessors, this is a book about Egyptian doctors written by two present-day M.D.s, both members of the French Society for the History of Medicine. This book should appeal to anyone interested in the history of medicine or in Egyptology. Originally published in France in 2002. Belknap Press, 2005, 288 p., color photos, hardcover, $24.95.

ISBN: 0674017021: Click here to order Medicine in the Days of the Pharaohs on Barnes & Noble.com.

National Audubon Society North America Birdfeeder Guide — Robert Burton and Stephen R. Kress

This book includes everything a person might need, except the binoculars, to get started in backyard birding. Color-coded sections cover what makes a good bird habitat, what kinds of food will attract which birds, the tools and techniques of birdwatching, a primer on the behavior of birds, and an identification guide for the 100 birds that people in North America are most likely to see outside their windows. The book is well laid out and easy to follow, starting with how to construct and where to place various styles of bird feeders, houses, and baths. It continues with tips on what plants to grow around these structures and how to lay out a garden that will attract birds year-round. This is definitely the book for anyone interested in starting to bird-watch or someone who simply wants to plant a garden that will invite more birds to visit. DK Adult, 2005, 224 p., color photos and illus., hardcover, $25.00.

ISBN: 0756608503: Click here to order North America Birdfeeder Guide on Barnes & Noble.com.

Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track: The Letters of Richard P. Feynman — Michelle Feynman and Timothy Ferris

Physicist Richard Feynman's words and achievements are the stuff of legend, filling numerous books and recordings. This book is a unique and deeply personal look into one of the greatest minds of the 20th Century. Feynman's daughter, Michelle Feynman, has compiled his letters, spanning his whole career. They reveal new facets of his charm, intellectual brilliance, and enthusiasm for physics. Presented chronologically, the letters begin with glimpse into Feynman's bittersweet marriage to his first wife, Arline, who succumbed to tuberculosis. Subsequent letters detail myriad pursuits and accomplishments during Feynman's work on the Manhattan project, his receipt of the Nobel Prize in Physics, and his assistance in the Challenger-explosion investigation. Many letters offer insight into his personal life, revealing generosity, wisdom, and a passion for teaching. For example, they show equal respect for and attention to both experts and laypeople seeking his advice and opinions. Basic, 2005, 486 p., hardcover, b&w photos, $26.00.

ISBN: 0738206369: Click here to order Perfectly Reasonable Deviations on Barnes & Noble.com.

April 23, 2005

Cool Chemistry Concoctions: 50 Formulas that Fizz, Foam, Splatter & Ooze — Joe Rhatigan and Veronika Gunter

Take a few simple household items, add this book, and you can make a mess ... er, learn a lot of science. Projects to make fossils, giant gems, homemade slime, and, of course, tabletop volcanoes are just a few of the 50 experiments aimed at kids ages 9 to 12. Included are not just the projects but also explanations of the science that links various experiments' results. The book also contains a glossary of scientific terms that kids will run across while conducting these experiments and a list of lab rules that, if followed, will keep youngsters safe and kitchens intact. The authors have written several other books featuring projects for children, and this volume is the first in a new series featuring hands-on science experiments. Lark, 2005, 80 p., color illus., hardcover, $14.95.

ISBN: 1579906206: Click here to order Cool Chemistry Concoctions on Barnes & Noble.com.

Wildlife Spectacles — Russell A. Mittermeier, et al.

This beautifully produced, oversize book is full of wonderful photographs plus insightful essays by some of the foremost biologists and scientists in the field of conservation today. Animals from ants to zebras are shown in their habitats, and the accompanying text discusses how the animals survive there with the help or hindrance of human activity. Divided into four sections—mammals, birds, invertebrates, and a single section covering reptiles, amphibians, and fishes—the book is true to its title in presenting spectacular images. Each image shows the majesty of wildlife in its color, abundance, or strength. Few photographs concentrate on just one or two animals. In large formats, they show the animals by the dozens and even thousands. Conservation International, 2005, 324 p., color photos, hardcover, $50.00.

ISBN: 9686397728: Click here to order Wildlife Spectacles on Barnes & Noble.com.

The Future of the Brain: The Promise and Perils of Tomorrow's Neuroscience — Steven Rose

When they want to define what it means to be human, scientists focus on the brain. In this book, Rose summarizes in technical detail the long history of neuroscience leading to great advances made in the past decade. He begins with an overview of how the brain evolved to give people their seemingly unique capacity to reason. He then examines how the brain develops and matures in a person's lifetime and how researchers have sought to explain human behavior and intelligence by the functioning of various brain areas. In such diseases as depression, Parkinson's, and schizophrenia, researchers now use pharmaceuticals to manipulate brain function. However, Rose sees the potential for trouble as scientists seek to modify an increasing array of behaviors through drugs. He asks whether this trend could change how we define humanness. He warns against the view that the brain can be fully understood by the workings of its neurons, signals, and genes. He argues that future neuroscientists must recognize the influence of history, free will, and the environment on human consciousness. Oxford University Press, 2005, 344 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $28.00.

ISBN: 0195154207: Click here to order The Future of the Brain on Barnes & Noble.com.

The Ajanta Caves: Ancient Paintings of Buddhist India — Benoy K. Behl

In the gorge of the Waghora River in western India are 27 caves containing art of Buddhism dating to the second century B.C. Behl reveals these masterpieces, for the first time, in more than 200 beautiful color photographs and black-and-white illustrations. To remain faithful to the murals' true colors, Behl used long film exposures and eschewed flash photography. The resulting photos of the four principal caves, monasteries known as viharas, are presented as large color plates with captions. Furthermore, Behl provides a history of the murals' creation and discovery and an outline of the parables, called Jatakas, depicted in the artwork. Also included are a brief examination of the Ajanta caves' impact on Asian art and an appendix of early descriptions of the caves, written in the 19th century by their British discoverers. This book will appeal both to readers interested in ancient art and to those exploring Buddhist history. Thames & Hudson, 2005, 256 p., color plates/b&w illus., paperback, $34.95.

ISBN: 0500285012: Click here to order The Ajanta Caves on Barnes & Noble.com.

Beasts of the Earth: Animals, Humans, and Disease — E. Fuller Torrey and Robert H. Yolken

People have lived among animals for thousands of years, depending on them for everything from companionship to food. However, animals have also provided a less desirable legacy: a multitude of microbes that make people sick. Indeed, researchers have identified more than 800 microbes that are transmitted from animals to people. Torrey and Yolken trace the origins and routes of animalborne illnesses from diseases such as herpes and malaria that first infected humans millions of years ago to modern infections such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and mad cow disease. The authors examine how the rise of agriculture, trade, and urbanization has created avenues for the spread of germs among populations. They note that present-day changes in behavior, technology, and ecology continue to promote the spread of microbes from animals to people. Though modern medicine has treatments for many of the diseases that have plagued people historically, the authors caution that unknown illnesses will continue to emerge and must be addressed. Rutgers University Press, 2005, 191 p., hardcover, $23.95.

ISBN: 0813535719: Click here to order Beasts of the Earth on Barnes & Noble.com.

April 16, 2005

Electric Universe: The Shocking True Story of Electricity — David Bodanis

We flick a switch and current flows, but many of us have little understanding of how electricity works or its importance in the functioning of the cosmos. This book explains those ideas and tells the stories of key scientists in the history of electricity. In short but insightful biographies, Bodanis tells of the inventions, successes, and failures of men such as Michael Faraday, Joseph Henry, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Guglielmo Marconi, Heinrich Hertz, Alan Turing, and many others. The book also explains electricity's role in myriad biological and physical processes. Included are copious, yet easy-to-understand, notes and a guide to further reading. Bodanis has written a science book that will appeal to people who usually don't like reading about science but that might not satisfy people looking for equations to fill in every detail about a topic. Electric Universe is similar in style to E =mc², Bodanis' best selling book on the theory of relativity. Crown, 2005, 320 p., hardcover, $24.00.

1400045509: Click here to order Electric Universe on Barnes & Noble.com.

Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking — Malcolm Gladwell

In 1983, the Getty Museum in California put a presumably ancient Greek statue through months of scientific and historical analysis and finally declared the object genuine. But when a handful of art experts saw it for the first time, within a few seconds they declared it a forgery. Blink is about the gut feelings that come to a person within those few seconds. This book examines the anatomy of unconscious reasoning, when the mind appears to think without thinking. Science writer Gladwell cites research findings and anecdotes concerning how this ability controls and modifies our behavior. He gives examples concerning how such speed thinking works to our advantage: keeping us safe, for instance, in the face of an immediate threat. Alternatively, he notes that such thinking can also lead to erroneous and sometimes detrimental conclusions based on stereotypes. He ends the book with methods for identifying and managing how intuition shapes everyday decision making. Little Brown, 2005, 288 p., hardcover, $25.95.

0316172324: Click here to order Blink on Barnes & Noble.com.

Deep Simplicity: Bringing Order to Chaos and Complexity — John Gribben

Order out of chaos—somehow, the universe makes it happen. In a straightforward manner, Gribben examines how various scientific disciplines seek to explain how order arises from disorder. This book outlines the laws and theories on chaos and complexity developed by notable scientists, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Alan Turing, and Jim Lovelock. The author, an astrophysicist and author of several popular books on physics and cosmology, demonstrates how simple relationships among numbers and elements of the universe yield complex relationships. He provides an in-depth look, complete with graphs and figures, at phenomena such as the laws of motion, weather patterns, fractals, and mass extinctions. He then explains how each system, though seemingly chaotic, results in a degree of order that can be predicted. The book includes a glossary of mathematic and scientific terms as well as a list of further readings. RH, 2005, 304 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $24.95.

140006256X: Click here to order Deep Simplicity on Barnes & Noble.com.

The Triumph of Numbers: How Counting Shaped Modern Life — I. Bernard Cohen

In his last work, the late science historian explores how numbers gained importance in both science and everyday life. After a brief examination of the use of numbers in ancient civilizations, Cohen focuses on their increasing importance after the scientific revolution of the 17th century. Some of the seemingly non-numerical topics that were influenced by math include medicine and social science. Number-influenced discoveries elucidated blood circulation, for instance, and Earth's capacity to hold people. Cohen also delves into number-based mysticism and how statistics influence governments. He ends the book with a chapter devoted to Florence Nightingale's pioneering use of graphics to display statistics on public health. Norton, 2005, 224 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $24.95.

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The Remarkable Life of William Beebe: Explorer and Naturalist — Carol Grant Gould

If Indiana Jones had been a naturalist rather than an archaeologist, he might have been named William Beebe. A socialite and celebrity, Beebe was also one of the foremost scientists of the early 20th century. Before him, naturalists were catalogers of species, usually examined when dead. Beebe changed all that by studying not just live animals but also their behaviors and habitats. He pioneered the technique of examining everything—plants, animals, soil, trees, and rocks—within a delimited area to understand how ecosystems worked. Best known for being the first person to dive to 2,000 feet under the ocean in an iron bathysphere lowered from a ship, he also wrote two dozen best-selling books on his wildlife studies in Trinidad, the Galápagos Islands, British Guiana, the Himalayas, and many other places. Gould, a science writer, was the first biographer given access to the journals and correspondence that Beebe kept from 1887 until his death in 1962. The product is a comprehensive and fascinating picture of this pioneer. Shearwater Books, 2004, 358 p., b&w photos, illus., hardcover, $30.00.

1559638583: Click here to order The Remarkable Life of William Beebe on Barnes & Noble.com.

April 9, 2005

Tending Fire: Coping with America's Wildland Fires — Stephen J. Pyne

In 2003, California suffered one of its most devastating natural disasters. It wasn't an earthquake but an enormous fire that burned more than 740,000 acres, leveled 3,000 buildings, and killed 22 people. Fire researcher Pyne uses this conflagration and others to examine the relationships among fire, fire policy, and how people care for the environment. Thus dividing his topic into three parts, Pyne first examines past wildfires' effects on people and how various government programs, especially in the United States, have attempted to deal with fire threats. Second, he details how western expansion and industrialization in the United States created fire-prone public lands. Third, he describes the most common methods by which authorities have dealt with wildfires: let them burn, try to suppress them, or prevent them through prescribed burns and the clearing of combustible vegetation. The choice among these approaches is often complicated by the conflicting interests and opinions of scientists, environmentalists, and government officials. Pyne reminds his readers that fires are an ancient problem, not one suddenly made important by media images of homeowners protecting their properties with garden hoses. The author makes it clear that "little of human life escapes fire's touch," so the public and its leaders need new and imaginative ways of dealing with this threat. Shearwater Bks., 2004, 256 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $25.00.

1559635657: Click here to order Tending Fire on Barnes & Noble.com.

Astro Turf: The Private Life of Rocket Science — M.G. Lord

This is the story of a rocket laboratory, the world-renowned Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) from a personal perspective. In this memoir, Lord examines the professional lives of a few of the scientists and engineers responsible for the United States' successes in space during the 1960s and 1970s: men with intense focus, keen rationality, and limited emotions. The story begins with an intimate narrative of Lord's relationship with her father, Charles Lord, a rocket engineer. She recalls how his obsession with work and detachment from home life, especially during her mother's illness with cancer, were both saddening and fascinating. The author concludes that her father simply acted in accordance with the expectations of his profession and gender. JPL was a microcosm of the United States immediately after World War II, reflecting attitudes about gender roles, race, and communism. One of JPL's cofounders, Frank Malina, fled the lab and the country under a McCarthy-era probe into his communist ties. Only decades later was he recognized for his contributions to JPL and to rocket science overall. Changes in the world inevitably led to changes at the lab: increased hiring of women, improved working conditions for employees with families, and greater acceptance of homosexual partnerships. Lord gives the reader an honest look into how the mores of her father's time and their evolution affected her relationship with him, her personal growth, and the backstage story of a rocket lab. Walker, 2004, 259 p., b&w photos, hardcover, $24.00.

0802714277: Click here to order Astro Turf on Barnes & Noble.com.

Einstein's Cosmos: How Albert Einstein's Vision Transformed our Understanding of Space and Time — Michio Kaku

The shadow that Albert Einstein casts is so immense that scientists are still winning Nobel prizes for work stemming from ideas he came up with nearly a century ago. This book, another in the publisher's Great Discoveries series, is as much an account of Einstein's work as it is a biography of the man. In plain language, Kaku explains black holes, the dual nature of light, and Einstein's theories of special and general relativity. Even the quest for a unified field theory becomes understandable in the author's handling of it. Following Einstein's lead, Kaku makes difficult concepts accessible by invoking simple pictures. This, in fact, was both the great scientist's genius and the explanation for his late-career frustrations, the author asserts. Einstein created and depended on vivid images of light's motion and falling bodies in coming to understand special relativity and gravity waves, respectively. However, he could never clearly visualize a unified field theory, and he never formulated it. The author is a theoretical physicist and an explorer of string theory as well as a radio-show host and physics-textbook writer. This book, with hardly an equation between its covers, is an excellent choice for anyone who has had a difficult time understanding Einstein's theories. W.W. Norton & Company, 2004, 240 p., hardcover, $22.95.

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If Dogs Could Talk: Exploring the Canine Mind — Vilmos Csányi

Author Csányi asserts that the typical dog probably understands 40 to 50 different verbal phrases. He warns us, however, that anecdotal stories aren't evidence of canine intelligence, but a starting point for scientific study. The book explains why early humans valued ancestral dogs and how they evolved into the pets we keep today. Dogs and people are social animals that share behavioral traits such as cooperative problem solving and hunting. Csányi, who has written more than 20 books, studies animal behavior at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary. He supplies amusing anecdotes about his dogs Flip and Jerry as well as in-depth discussions of experimental and theoretical work on animal behavior. This book covers scholarly research, in an accessible style. The author closes with a chapter on how to be a better dog owner. Richard E. Quandt translated the text, which was originally published in Hungary in 2000. North Point Press, 2005, 352 p., b&w illus, hardcover, $25.00.

0865476861: Click here to order If Dogs Could Talk on Barnes & Noble.com.

April 2, 2005

Strange Angel: The Otherworldly Life of Rocket Scientist John Whiteside Parsons — George Pendle

The life of John Whiteside Parsons was two parts science, one part science fiction, and one part black magic. He was a collection of contradictions: a college dropout and a Caltech professor, a founder of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a member of the occult underground. Inspired by the pulp novels he read as a boy, he grew up to be a pioneer rocketeer and developer of a fuel subsequently refined into what powers the space shuttle today. While earlier books about Parsons dwell either on his science or his fascination with the occult, this is the first to address both topics. It's a painstakingly researched book made all the more fascinating by vignettes involving people as varied as Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard (who stole Parsons' lover), physicist Robert Millikan, occult luminary Aleister Crowley, and aviator-recluse Howard Hughes. This book explores both the light and dark sides of genius. Author Pendle is a science reporter for the Financial Times and the Times of London. Harcourt, 2005, 368 p., b&w photos, hardcover, $25.00.

015100997X: Click here to order Strange Angel on Barnes & Noble.com.

A Change of Heart: How the Framingham Heart Study Helped Unravel the Mysteries of Cardiovascular Disease — Daniel Levy and Susan Brink

Before 1948, most Americans were unaware that the rich, fatty foods they ate, the cigarettes they smoked, and the lethargic habits they indulged could be killing them. Cardiovascular disease was the number-one killer, and yet people who succumbed to it were often pronounced dead from "unknown" illness. All this changed after the launch of a massive, government-sponsored epidemiological study spurred, in part, by President Franklin Roosevelt's death from a stroke. The study that would change medical history began with 5,209 average citizens of Framingham, Mass. Each study participant was subjected to biannual physicals and interviews about his or her diet and lifestyle. The gathered data were at first intended to clarify the suspected, but then-unconfirmed, connection between high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, and the study accomplished that aim. A Change of Heart chronicles the story of the Framingham Heart Study from the difficult recruitment of volunteers to the financial woes that threatened to shut it down. The authors also describe the eventual findings that produced lifesaving treatments for hypertension and atherosclerosis. Now in its third generation, the Framingham Heart Study is the foundation of many of the health and nutritional guidelines that people today view as common sense. No longer are heart disease and stroke inevitable consequences of aging, but conditions that can be prevented and even reversed. Knopf, 2005, 276 p., hardcover, $26.95.

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A Different Universe: Reinventing Physics from the Bottom Down — Robert B. Laughlin

Nobel prize winner Laughlin writes that physics has traditionally strived to simplify phenomena, through theories of reductionism such as those of the Big Bang and quantum mechanics. Laughlin argues that this approach fails to recognize the importance of emergence, which he describes as the idea that the whole is usually greater than a sum of its parts. Examining physical phenomena on too small a scale overlooks behaviors and attributes of matter that are apparent only collectively, Laughlin asserts. For example, Newton's law of motion describes the behavior only of macroscale fluids and solids and is thus not fundamental, but emergent. The author cites the organization implicit in the phases of matter and the paradoxical role of collective behavior in quantum measurement. Though his subject matter is complex, Laughlin uses analogies to everyday experience, such as commuting to work, to put his ideas into context. Personal anecdotes detailing his work and interaction with physicists and other colleagues make the book an engaging narrative. Laughlin provides a new focus for scientific inquiry, moving beyond phenomena so small they can't be measured to phenomena that anyone can observe. Basic Books, 2005, 254 p., b&w illustrations, hardcover, $26.00.

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Clara's Grand Tour: Travels with a Rhinoceros in Eighteenth-Century Europe — Glynis Ridley

For nearly 20 years in the mid-1700s, a 3-ton Indian rhino named Clara traveled Europe—from Rotterdam to Breslau, Naples, Marseilles, and many places in between. Making this an even more amazing achievement is that it happened before railways and modern roads existed. Clara, orphaned when she was only months old, was hand raised by a Dutch merchant in Assam, India. When she was 3 years old, a Dutch sea captain brought her to Europe. There, she became a sensation. In one of the first marketing campaigns of all time, her owner promoted Clara's appearances to peasants and royalty alike. Both came to see her. There were Clara product tie-ins galore: poems, songs, fashions, portraits, etchings, and bronze figurines. Her image adorned everything from tin coins to fine porcelain, and all this merchandise produced a fortune for the Dutch captain. Ridley, a first-time author, is a professor of 18th-century studies, and as such discusses not just Clara's travels but also diverse subjects including early publishing and the long-term effects of Hannibal's invasion of Italy. This book should please anyone interested in the history of the 18th century or of marketing. Atlantic Monthly Press, 2005, 224 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $21.00.

0871138832: Click here to order Clara's Grand Tour on Barnes & Noble.com.

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