Reviews
-
Mythematics: Solving the 12 Labors of Hercules by Michael Huber
Math could have saved the ancient hero time and muscle, a professor writes. Princeton Univ. Press, 2009, 183 p., $24.95. MYTHEMATICS: SOLVING THE 12 LABORS OF HERCULES BY MICHAEL HUBER
-
The Greatest Science Stories Never Told by Rick Beyer
True stories about scientists show that the path to innovation is rarely straight- forward. Harper, 2009, 224 p., $19.99. THE GREATEST SCIENCE STORIES NEVER TOLD BY RICK BEYER
-
Hybrid: The History & Science of Plant Breeding by Noel Kingsbury
Breeders have taken an active role in plants’ reproduction throughout human history. Univ. of Chicago Press, 2009, 493 p., $35. HYBRID: THE HISTORY & SCIENCE OF PLANT BREEDING BY NOEL KINGSBURY
-
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
-
Quantum Leaps by Jeremy Bernstein
Review by Tom Siegfried.
-
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
-
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
-
- Health & Medicine
Smallpox — The Death of a Disease
The Inside Story of Eradicating a Worldwide Killer, by D.A. Henderson.
-
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
-
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
-
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.
