Reviews
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Gems and Gemstones: Timeless Natural Beauty of the Mineral World by Lance Grande and Allison Augustyn
Gemstones are more than pretty baubles. Gems and their geological features are depicted in text and beautiful photographs. Univ. of Chicago Press, 2009, 369 p., $45. GEMS AND GEMSTONES: TIMELESS NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE MINERAL WORLD BY LANCE GRANDE AND ALLISON AUGUSTYN
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Quantum Leaps by Jeremy Bernstein
Review by Tom Siegfried.
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Reading in the Brain: The Science and Evolution of a Human Invention by Stanislas Dehaene
A cognitive neuroscientist describes how the brain has adapted to reading and what can cause reading problems. Viking, 2009, 400 p., $27.95. READING IN THE BRAIN: THE SCIENCE AND EVOLUTION OF A HUMAN INVENTION BY STANISLAS DEHAENE
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Living Weapons: Biological Warfare and International Security by Gregory D. Koblentz
Biological weapons pose unique threats to international security, beyond those caused by chemical and nuclear weapons, a policy expert argues. Cornell Univ. Press, 2009, 255 p., $35. LIVING WEAPONS: BIOLOGICAL WARFARE AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY BY GREGORY D. KOBLENTZ
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- Health & Medicine
Smallpox — The Death of a Disease
The Inside Story of Eradicating a Worldwide Killer, by D.A. Henderson.
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National Geographic Concise History of Science and Invention: An Illustrated Time Line by Jolyon Goddard, ed.
Photos, illustrations and essays trace the progress of discovery from ancient times to modern days. National Geographic, 2009, 352 p., $40. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CONCISE HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND INVENTION: AN ILLUSTRATED TIME LINE EDITED BY JOLYON GODDARD
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The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness by Alvaro Fernandez and Elkhonon Goldberg
Interviews with scientists offer practical advice and tips for maintaining brain function. SharpBrains, 2009, 166 p., $24.95. The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness by Alvaro Fernandez and Elkhonon Goldberg
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Mathematical Amazements and Surprises: Fascinating Figures and Noteworthy Numbers by Alfred S. Posamentier and Ingmar Lehmann
A book by two math professors presents number trivia that highlights math’s “gee, wow!” factor. MATHEMATICAL AMAZEMENTS AND SURPRISES: FASCINATING FIGURES AND NOTEWORTHY NUMBERS BY ALFRED S. POSAMENTIER AND INGMAR LEHMANN Prometheus Books, 2009, 269 p., $20.98.
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Botanical Medicine: From Bench to Bedside, Raymond Cooper and Fredi Kronenberg, eds.
Researchers are looking to plants to treat ailments from diabetes to dermatological problems. Botanical Medicine: From Bench to Bedside, Raymond Cooper and Fredi Kronenberg, eds. Mary Ann Liebert Inc., 2009, 237 p., $99.
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Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future by Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum
A journalist and a scientist lament ignorance of science and propose ways to fix the problem. UNSCIENTIFIC AMERICA: HOW SCIENTIFIC ILLITERACY THREATENS OUR FUTURE BY CHRIS MOONEY AND SHERIL KIRSHENBAUM Basic Books, 2009, 209 p., $24.
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The Migration of Birds: Seasons on the Wing by Janice M. Hughes
A biologist reviews the latest research on bird migration and includes high-quality photos of discussed species. THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS: SEASONS ON THE WING BY JANICE M. HUGHES Firefly Books, 2009, 207 p., $40.
