With her distinctive, impassioned voice and familiar felicity of language, Terry Tempest Williams talks about wilderness and wildlife, place and eroticism, art and literature, democracy and politics, family and heritage, Mormonism and religion, writing and creativity, and other subjects that engage her agile mind--in a set of interviews gathered and introduced by Michael Austin to represent the span of her career as a naturalist, author, and activist. View More...
Despite what we may sometimes imagine, popular mathematics writing didn't begin with Martin Gardner. In fact, it has a rich tradition stretching back hundreds of years. This entertaining and enlightening anthology--the first of its kind--gathers nearly one hundred fascinating selections from the past 500 years of popular math writing, bringing to life a little-known side of math history. Ranging from the late fifteenth to the late twentieth century, and drawing from books, newspapers, magazines, and websites, A Wealth of Numbers includes recreational, classroom, and work mathematics; mathemati... View More...
A Guardian "Favourite Reads--as Chosen by Scientists" Selection"Tackles some of science's most enduring misconceptions."--DiscoverA falling apple inspired Isaac Newton's insight into the law of gravity--or did it really?Among the many myths debunked in this refreshingly irreverent book are the idea that alchemy was a superstitious pursuit, that Darwin put off publishing his theory of evolution for fear of public reprisal, and that Gregor Mendel was ahead of his time as a pioneer of genetics. More recent myths about particle physics and Einstein's theory of relativity are discredited too, and a... View More...
Intimate in size yet quietly breathtaking in scope, this graceful gift book will forever change how you think, and how you feel, about trees. In poetically sparse scientific observations, renowned conservation biologist Gretchen Daily narrates the evolution, impact, and natural wonder of trees. Alongside photographs by Chuck Katz, the text and images form a quiet and moving meditation on The Power of Trees. Twenty-six duotone black and white photographs illustrate the development of trees: how trunks were formed, what tree rings tell us about human societies, and how trees define the future of... View More...
Humans might luxuriate in the idea of being "in" nature, Ackerman points out, but we often forget that we are nature--for "no facet of nature is as unlikely as we, the tiny bipeds with the giant dreams." Joining science's devotion to detail with religion's appreciation of the sublime, Dawn Light is an impassioned celebration of the miracles of evolution--especially human consciousness of our numbered days on a turning earth. View More...
Particle or Wave is the first popular-level book to explain the origins and development of modern physical concepts about matter and the controversies surrounding them. The dichotomy between particle and wave reflects a dispute--whether the universe's most elementary building blocks are discrete or continuous in nature--originating in antiquity when philosophers first speculated about the makeup of the physical world. Charis Anastopoulos examines two of the earliest known theories about matter--the atomic theory, which attributed all physical phenomena to atoms and their motion in the void, an... View More...
Remarkable Discoveries is an enthusiastic and engaging narrative that explores eighteen exciting discoveries--found in all areas of science--that have had a profound impact on modern life. Writing in an informative yet relaxed style, the author relates the histories of such fascinating discoveries as electricity, DNA, microbes, plate tectonics, and x-rays. He emphasizes the personalities involved, the role of serendipity, and the elements of surprise and wonder that often accompany scientific research. This book's wonderful vignettes, related in highly readable prose, will leave any reader in... View More...
Learn how to grow perfectly green and gorgeous grass without toxic chemicals and expensive lawn care treatments using methods in this compendium of thousands of lawn care tips, tricks, and tonics. Say goodbye to weeds, disease, and bare spots with these simple yet effective homemade remedies for improving the lawn, such as using beer, baby shampoo, and ammonia to energize soil, green-up turf, and wipe out weeds. Practical problem solvers include techniques that will keep grass alive during a drought, a treatment that is deadly to bugs but harmless to everything else, and a four season routine ... View More...
Timeless wisdom on growing a flower garden accompanies creative, professional secrets in this guide to caring for blossoms. This asters-to-zinnias growing guide features starter tips, common problems, and seasonal advice for 85 varieties of the most popular flowers. Essential aesthetic details of garden design and landscaping are discussed with attention to the challenges that sloping and uneven ground present. Common garden problems are easily fixed through homemade sprays and fertilizers and creative use of common household products to encourage the growth of beautiful and healthy flowers. View More...
