Book Description

Biotechnology, one of the fastest growing and most exciting areas of science, is a complex combination of scientific disciplines beset by jargon and buzz words. Now fully updated to incorporate the most current terminology, this second edition of Biotechnology From A to Z offers an illuminating and practical introduction to the ideas of biotechnology. Starting from ADEPT (antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy) and finishing with zoonosis (infection by an organism that usually infects other species), and describing artificial tissues, extremophiles, nutraceuticals, prosthetics, and xenografts among many other topics along the way, this book provides a concise and readable overview of the field. Straightforward language and concrete examples are used to unravel the jargon for the non-specialist. This book is an essential, accessible guide to the science, the technology, and the real achievements of this fascinating and controversial industry. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Biotechnology from A to Z
Biotechnology from A to Z, 2nd edition, by W. Bains With the current explosion of interest in biotechnology and the application of the basic techniques of genetic engineering to medicine, agriculture, forensics, environment, it is becoming increasingly difficult for any one person to stay abreast of all the applications. A handbook such as Bains' is invaluable in cutting straight to the point and providing the appropriate jargon for the particular discipline. Scientists, science writers, environmental activists, everyone will find this book an invaluable reference source. My favorite few pages go from Affinity Tag, Ageing, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, AIDS, to Airlift fermentor. All the entries are explained in clear concise English, with the just the right amount of cross-entries. As is appropriate for a biotechnology book, there are frequent practical examples. There is a good index and a list of books for further reading. It's a shame OUP couldn't have kept the internet address stable. This book is a definite good buy.

Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics Bilkent University, Bilkent 06533, Ankara, Turkey ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Strictly for Non-scientists
I'm afraid I was taken in by the title, which is deceptive. I'd be shocked if Einstein didn't actually know most of what is in this book. I only had my high-school chemistry, and 2 years of college physics, and I knew 90% of the facts presented in this book.

The book is well written, and the descriptions are clear and accurate. It wasn't a painful read (taking me only 4 hours or so), and I'd reccomend it to my non-technical friends, but if you have a scientific mind and even a little training, don't bother. I was hoping for some more advanced stuff - that even Einstein didn't know.

It is fun, but only if you're not in the business.
I bought this book because I thought it would be the perfect reading for a week during some beach vacations. It was a perfect read for the occasion since you can read separate sections that do not have much connection between them. Grab it, read a bit, put it away, do the same later. This is no science book, and reading it will be very, very easy, it will require little of your attention, almost no technical background and well, even little time. Chemists and Physicists, and even engineering students might feel shocked seeing how Wolke simplifies some subjects that are complex enough to have whole books written about it, but you have to remember that this is not at all a technical book. You will learn, but you won't learn much. You will have the illusion of knowledge about heavy stuff like electromagnetism, nuclear fusion, thermodynamics and even the big bang theory and some cosmology.

But don't get me wrong, it you keep that in mind, Wolke has managed to write a very entertaining title that will keep you interested until the end. I have to admit I would drop some of the subjects and would pick other questions. I was a bit annoyed at how many pages Wolke uses talking about fat. A déjà vu feeling often happens. Wolke repeats himself a tad too much for my taste, but it is true that with some subjects it would be hard not to repeat the same facts. Still, Wolk should assume the reader isn't all that dumb and got the basics right the first time, why repeat what was already written. Wolke's sense of humour requires some getting used to. I was annoyed in the first few pages, but eventually grew to like it and it makes the book a lot more fun.

Chemistry and Physics students might get bored at some of the questions Wolke answers, but if you're not into the business and don't know too much about it, you will find it interesting, and sometimes fascinating. In many occasions I found myself wanting more technical details, and that can frustrated many readers.

Not perfect, the title is a bit of a bad idea and it's only all that interesting if you don't already have a scientific background on the subjects (mostly chemistry and some physics) but otherwise, it provides entertainment, it's perfect to lighten up from more heavier science readings and you'll always learn more than reading Calvin & Hobbes. :-) Go for it, I recommend it.

Great books for everyday knowledge
It is winter time in Boston and since I was a kid, I was always curious why people sprinkle salts during the snow. I asked my dad and he told me, it was so "we can walk better with the salt providing some texture on the ground." Well, after reading this book, I now know why my dad is terrible in science. LOL. This book brings up a lot of day-to-day things that we in the Western World take for granted. I admit that I have a deeper appreciation for science and how creative the mind can be. Now I know more about inner working of the events around me. More than that, I feel like I'm smarter, or at least more knowledgeable. Wow. If a book can have that type of impact on me, I have to give it 5 stars.

Too superficial
The book is very entertaining and quite funny, but for anyone with more than high school chemistry and physics, it is too superficial. The author introduces only one formal concept in the whole book: "molecules" and does this in 4 lines after apologizing and promising not to do it again. If you know what a dipole, entropy or superficial tension is, this book is not for you. It might be great to get a young and interested kid going though.

Interesting and Entertaining
Great book for people who like to understand everyday questions. Good for all ages... ... Read more

Amazon.com

Considering this volume is a mere 668 pages, it does a remarkable job of covering the major concepts and facts of biology, human anatomy, chemistry, physics, astronomy, Earth sciences, meteorology, environmental sciences, and engineering. Not surprising, as it was written by the New York Public Library staff who know what questions are most frequently asked by a knowledge-hungry public.

The ultimate test of such a reference volume is scrutiny of areas with which one is intimately familiar, then reading up on areas about which one is woefully ignorant. This book passed both tests: The biology chapter was sound (though I wanted much more information about evolutionary principles), and the section on particle physics was informative. Even if you already have a collection of several thousand books covering most of the sciences (like myself), this is a handy reference. And if you're a student or want access to a lot of scientific knowledge in the smallest possible non-digital package, this resource is essential for those times when you simply can't get to the library. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Untrustworthy
The book lost immediatly credibility for me when the first thing I looked up contained a serious factual error. The biographical entry for Alan Turing in the Computing section states that he was American, whereas he was in fact British.

Even if this were the only error in the whole book, how can you trust a book that so immediatly shows itself to be flawed.

Don't believe everything you read
While I love the concept of this book, my personal experience was that I flipped, more or less randomly, to four different pages and found errors on EVERY page. Perhaps that was just rotten luck, but it makes me suspicious of all the answers in the book. I think you'd be better off looking at a reference that's written by experts, rather than generalists. Buy a copy of the Encyclopedia Britannica CD-ROM.

Well, it's big...
...and fun to flip through. And the section on computer science has a handy ASCII chart. Really, isn't getting this sort of spotty, high-level and often outdated scientific information exactly what the Internet is good for? (Do you know that the Internet "has now grown to possibly 2 million host computers all over the world?" - The NYPLSDR does.) If you think a random, off-line, walk through the science tree sounds like fun, get this book. I do and i did and i'm satisfied.

What a great book
This is a terrific book. Practically every other sentence is a statistic! I love the big list of discoveries and inventions, which dates back to the discovery of fire!
I love the huge section on computer science, amazing book! worth ten times the price!

Handy reference book for educational purposes.
Anyone who is in the sciences, especially the biological sciences, know that the information being discovered it growing at an exponential rate. This makes it incredibly difficult to write a textbook for science, since one way or another, you are going to miss recent knowledge which may not be widely available yet. It is also difficult to decide what science is important to learn. This is one of the major problems in developing science educational standards that all students between K-12th grade should be expected to learn. I am inclined to think that purchasing references books such as this fine example, would almost be preferable to buying textbooks that will be out of date within six months. A reference manual such as this is not intended to be used for reading straight through to gain information on one particular science. Rather it acts as a basic foundation from which to springboard science knowledge. The concept of recommending current reference books, distributing science journal papers and using the vast amount of science knowledge now available on the web is an idea that has been used at the college level for several years. It is now a good idea to extend this practice to the junior high and high school level, rather than attempting to cram textbooks full of scientific information which may or may not be valid and useful to students by the time they complete the class.

My main objections to this reference book are two. First, for most deaf students (and for nondisabled students too) reseach has demonstrated that the more visual information given in terms of pictures, graphics, photographs, mathematical equations, etc., the more likely students will remember science. This book could definitely use more pictures and graphics, and it could definitely use color for enhancing learning. This particular reference would be great for on-line, especially if the New York Public Library was willing (or Macmillan) to keep it up-to-date...pictures, graphics, and photographs could easily be scanned to make the information more potent to the learner. The other objection is the placement of a large field of study, Neuroscience, in the biology section and it is given barely a nod, when it is as vital to our understanding as genetics is. Even though Neuroscience is considered to be a rather new field, its impact on medicine and behavioral sciences is too large to be dismissed. Perhaps the publishers will rectify this error the next time around.

Otherwise, I find this to be an excellent resource, both for me and for those I teach. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh ... Read more

Book Description

"Paul Messaris is an extremely thoughtful commentator on the world of visuals. He has studied advertising visuals for many years and his insights are always stimulating and sometimes, even controversial. This book makes an important contribution to the literature in two fields: visual communication and advertising. I recommend it for faculty and students as well as professionals in the advertising field."

--Sandra Moriarty, Professor University of Colorado

"With an informal writing style and examples both thoughtful and illustrative, Paul Messaris in his Visual Persuasion leads the reader through the often complex field of visual literacy related to advertising images with high style and intellect. When so much information is conveyed through quickly edited and carefully controlled mass media images, Visual Persuasion is a vital book toward understanding the impact on individuals, cultures, and society of persuasive visual messages."

--Paul Martin Lester, Ph.D, Author of Visual Communication with Messages

"A smartly reasoned and elegantly written treatment of visual argumentation authored by one of America's most respected authorities on visual communication. "

--James Lull

The pictures in TV commercials, magazine ads, and other forms of advertising often convey meanings that cannot be expressed as well, or at all, through words or music. Visual Persuasion is an exploration of these unique aspects of advertising. By virtue of their ability to simulate the appearance of the physical world, pictures can become surrogate objects of desire or other emotions which ads subsequently associate with products. By exploiting viewers' assumptions of a direct, automatic connection between photography and reality, images can serve as proof of advertising claims. Because of the implicit nature of visual argumentation and the relative lack of social accountability that images enjoy in comparison with words, pictures can be used to make advertising claims that would be unacceptable if they were spelled out verbally. Using these characteristics of visual persuasion as a starting point, this important book analyzes a variety of commercial, political, and social-issue advertisements. A separate chapter examines the role of pictures in cross-cultural advertising. Visual Persuasion is recommended for upper-level undergraduate students and graduate students in communication and media studies. It also contains insights that will be valuable to students in courses in cultural studies, sociology, anthropology, and advertising.

Book Description

This volume comprises of papers which were presented at the Paul Roberts' Anniversary meeting at the University of Exeter and reflect his research contributions which are remarkable in their diversity, depth of contents and international importance. The volume is presented in the following sections covering geomagnetism and dynamos; fluid mechanics and MHD; superfluidity; mixed phase regions. There is a commentary of the papers putting the work of Paul Roberts into historical context and this volume provides a valuable source of reference for graduates and researchers working in this area of geoscience. ... Read more

Book Description

Who Killed The Dead Sea? Where was the Garden of Eden? What's So Bad About the Badlands?

Get on board as Kenneth C. Davis, author of the acclaimed national bestseller Don't Know Much About® History, takes us on a fascinating, breathtaking, and hilarious grand tour of the planet Earth -- opening our eyes and imaginations to a wide, wild, and wonderful world we never knew.

Reviews (21)

fun and informative book on geography, geology, and history
A pretty good introduction to a variety of topics in geography, geology, astronomy (generally as it relates to the earth), and history as well. In part, the book is fairly basic, addressing some basic topics such as what are continents, addressing if Columbus "discovered" America or not, what is a light year, and listing the world's largest seas for instance. Some commentators called the book remedial I see, and at times, yes, it can be. Many of the questions that are answered (the information in the book is generally presented as a particular question followed by several paragraphs to several pages of answers for each) can be high school or even middle school level (though not written at middle school level).

By and large though, I found the book a really neat read, covering a lot of topics. While it might have been nice if some questions were gone into in more depth, all in all the author, Kenneth C. Davis, is to be commended by his well-written answers to a variety of questions in world geography. To me, many topics that were addressed were not remedial at all. What do tides and tidal waves have to do with one another? Isn't Europe just part of Asia? Why is Australia a continent? Where was the Garden of Eden, or was there one? Why are there no deserts on the Equator? Why is the Black Sea called that? How did Africa come to be called the Dark Continent? Are there Canaries in the Canary Islands? What the heck is a Hoosier? I don't know about you, but I wasn't able to answer all those questions, and I was intrigued to read the interesting and well-written answers to these questions. If want some fun light reading in geography and history, bone up on your trivia for the next time you watch Jeopardy! or play Trivial Pursuit, or just want to impress your familiy and friends, this book is one to get.

Don't Know Much ABout(TM) Kenneth Davis
It's been said that the difference between a mediocre author and a good one is a good editor, and the same goes for the difference between good and great and great and outstanding. In all cases, the editor has to be the better of the two. In Kenneth C. Davis' case, a mediocre author had a mediocre editor. He's good at collecting facts, but not so good at verifying them. One that really bugged me was on page 314: "Invisible to the naked eye, Uranus was not discovered until 1781, the first planet to be observed by telescope." Yet, in the period 1609-1613, Galileo observed the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn (though he could not recognize the rings for what they were). Davis' editor should have had him say that Uranus was the first planet to be DISCOVERED (not OBSERVED) by telescope. This is but one of many similar annoyances. The author seems to be better at copyrighting a title and carving a niche than carefully choosing his words and checking his facts.

The joke's on you, Kenneth Davis
This book was written in 1992, so one can forgive Kenneth Davis a few inaccuracies - geography just doesn't stay the same and scientists learn new things about the Earth all the time.

What I can't forgive, however, is when an author who is supposedly trying to teach you something injects his partisan politics into the book. Davis did this in Don't Know Much About History by taking an undeserved shot at Reagan. And he takes a shot at Bush (Daddy-O, not Jr, obviously) in Don't Know Much About Geography.

Davis is trying to pretend that Bush made the world situation worse by liberating Kuwait during the Gulf War. I wonder if he feels like a fool having those words in print, given what we know now about Saddam Hussein? He practically screams "No blood for oil!" on pg. 240. It's embarrassing.

So, considering Davis is prone to injecting his own political interpretations in his writing, I wonder how much credence I can give anything he writes?

That said, if you truly don't know much about geography, this is a decent start. But read with a grain of salt and know where Davis is coming from when he writes about geopolitical "history".

Great Idea...
If you pick this book up thinking you are going to get great details about Geography you are mistaken, but if you do what I did and just expect a fun book with some great facts then this is the book for you. I own all of his books and this was my first. Davis makes reading the book enjoyable, as he does his others. BUY THIS BOOK, and have some fun with it. I completely annoyed my wife with "Hey, did you know that..."

GREAT BUY!!!

You don't? Well, you can....
Think geography is just where things go on a map? Read this book and let Kenneth C. Davis disabuse you of such ideas. Napoleon, volcanoes, Vikings, and killer meteorites are only a few of the topics Davis gives a solid going over.

One minor complaint: the amount of finger-wagging at the United States and Europe, as compard to that directed at everyone else in the world, is a bit excessive. But, overall, Davis is reasonably fair. ... Read more

Book Description

Career Renewal is a practical career guide which shows you how to get the job you want. Designed specifically for scientists, engineers, and other medical and legal professionals, this book contains the information you need to rejuvenate your career.

It will help you find a satisfying career in today's market. It includes numerous assessment surveys, identifies career resources for professional networking, outlines how to write a winning resume, and features numerous personal case histories of those who have successfully made the transition from academia to the business world. The authors' step-by-step techniques have been field-tested on thousands and will help you to discover new career perspective.

* BENEFITS:
* Serves as a guide for scientists, engineers, and technical professionals to find a different and satisfying career by identifying career options in any field
* Features numerous personal case histories of those who have successfully made the transition from academia into the business world
* Helps identify your strengths through numerous assessment surveys developed for and by science professionals
* Discusses career selection criteria, supplemental references, the use and misuse of the Internet in a job search, and examples of appropriate on-line searches
* Offers extensive resume help with complete discussions of how to research and develop an appropriate resume ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A good book, but...
I am a Biochemistry/Molecular Biology PhD who has made transition into one of the "alternative careers".Three years before I made the transition, I bought and read the book.

I found the book generally helpful.But at the time when I was struggling with my career decision, I found the book inadequate.The book tried to cover too many areas of professions.It includes not only life scientists, but also medical doctors, accountants, engineers, psychologists, and even English-major...These people, like me, all want to make career changes.This book is too general.It does not give me enough information for my particular case.In reality, there are "alternative career" opportunities which are open to an English major but closed to a Biochemist.

targeted at highly educated professionals and pre-profession
best for professionals and pre-professionals...parachute for scientists, doctors, engineers, and lawyers. really on target

One of the best
I would rank this book along with other great resources like Vaultreports.com as the best places for people in the sciences looking for a satisfying career. ... Read more

Book Description

Completion of sequencing of the human genome, as well as those of many other organisms, has now opened the door for exploration of the proteome, the many thousands of interacting proteins in a given organism. Critical to tackling the complexity of the proteome is a workable strategy using reliable and tested protocols for identifying, isolating, and quantifying proteins in cells and cell pathways and for performing functional assays. Proteins and Proteomics: A Laboratory Manual, authored by Richard Simpson of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Melbourne, provides the first authoritative and wide–ranging protocol-based approach to proteomics. Presented as a logical strategy for analyzing proteomes, Proteins and Proteomics provides information about protein structure and numerous methods for the preparation and analysis of protein samples ranging from electrophoresis and mass spectrometry to protein chips and informatics. Extensive background information and references are provided regarding the theoretic aspects of the techniques presented as well as their applications. This manual is an essential laboratory tool for genetics and molecular biology investigators moving from studies of genomics and genotype to those of proteomics and phenotype. It is invaluable for cell biologists, developmental biologists, and neuroscientists exploring the intricacies of the proteome. It will also be an excellent resource for protein chemists and biochemists. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An OK book but reinvents the wheel
To be fair this is a good and useful book, but at a higher price than the already excellent published (2002) laboratory proteomics by Westermeier and Naven, save your dollars. The latter goes for half the price and serves the same purpose with excellent illustrations and protocols.

The "must have" book for the practicing proteomics lab .
This is a outstanding book, covering all aspects of sample preparation and experimental techniques involved in protein and peptide analysis by gels, liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Each chapter gives detailed protocols complete with tips, reagent lists, short tutorials (printed in blue colored information panels) and references. The protocols will work for you just as they are written and will give you a place to start in customizing and adapting them to your own circumstances (and you certainly will do that!). As with any fast moving field an updated second edition will be welcome around 2006, but by then, I'll be happy to replace my dog-eared copy for a fresh one (or maybe not, I don't really think a book as good as this will ever be obsolete). I recommend you buy the paperback edition, it will serve you well and save you some $$$. ... Read more

Book Description

The Encyclopedia of Animals is a lavishly illustrated, authoritative, and comprehensive exploration of the rich and intriguing world of animals. Written by an international team of specialists, spectacularly adorned with a gallery of more than 2,000 color illustrations, and supplemented with distribution maps, detailed and beautifully rendered diagrams, and some of the world's finest wildlife photographs, this volume will become the standard by which all others are measured. Each page is expertly laid out to enhance either browsing or in-depth study. Readers will find detailed coverage of all sorts of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates.The Encyclopedia includes an introductory overview of animal evolution, biology, behavior, classification, habitats, and current conservation issues. An extensive encyclopedic survey of the animals follows, with special attention given to endangered and vulnerable species. All information is completely up-to-date, with the most recent scientific and conservation data.Elegant graphics put a broad selection of information at readers' fingertips, including classification information, scientific and common names, distribution maps for all animal groups, conservation panels that focus on threatened species, accurate and detailed anatomical drawings, and illustrations of multiple species. Each section is color coded for easy identification of animal groups. Feature pages explore topics of particular interest and provide insights into animal behavior. With its expansive scope, richly detailed information, and inviting design, this will be the ideal reference for a broad range of uses. * Completely up-to-date, with the most recent scientific information and conservation data* A gallery of more than 2,000 illustrations* Authoritative text contributed by a team of international specialists* Lavish color photographs from leading wildlife photographers* Distribution maps for all animal groups* Detailed explanatory scientific diagrams* Feature pages exploring topics of particular interest and providing insights into animal behavior

Illustrations: 475 color photographs, 1,700 color illustrations, 950 maps, 125 tables ... Read more

Book Description

Although there are many books written on the principles and methods of experimentation, few are written in a succinct, comprehensive outline format. The Concise Handbook of Experimental Methods for the Behavioral and Biological Sciences is based on a popular course taught by the author for more than two decades to assist advanced undergraduate and graduate students in understanding and applying the principles and methods of experimentation. The handbook is organized into three parts. Part One covers the philosophy of science, forms of scientific research, steps of the scientific method, variables in research designs, and the initial and final phases of research. Part Two discusses research ethics and experimental control. Part Three surveys experimental design, sampling and generalization, and hypothesis testing and statistical significance. The handbook's illustrations, extensive appendices, and detailed index allow you to acquire the techniques necessary to conduct, interpret, and evaluate research and then clearly communicate those findings. The Concise Handbook of Experimental Methods for the Behavioral and Biological Sciences eliminates the need for wading through unnecessary details to find what you need, making it a handy resource for reference and review. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A scary crop of academia nuts
Despite the subtitle "The Academic Left and Its Quarrels With Science," the dangerous aspects of the misconceptions exposed and dissected in this book are due much more to irrationality than to politics. Fortunately the authors take pains to clear up a potential misunderstanding by pointing out that there does exist a generous complement of academics who are left-leaning, rational, and not inclined to quarrel with science.

Gross and Levitt perform a valuable service in three parts. They take the time and trouble to wade through the more obviously idiotic postmodern anti-science drivel, they refute it, and they remind us that the purveyors of it are firmly ensconced in the faculties of major universities.

The authors of "Higher Superstition" are academics themselves, and write elegantly in prose laced with vocabulary-stretching words like hermeneutics, conspective, auspicating, tatterdemalian and weltanschauung. While not a particularly easy read, the book makes its main point clearly and simply enough: the postmodern science-bashers are aiming their largely spurious complaints at subjects they secretly resent and barely comprehend. Science has produced edifying, useful, beneficial results with more regularity and less ambiguity than any other field of human endeavor. To claim otherwise is deeply dopey. If academia tolerates a clique where such claims resonate, something is seriously out of whack and we must thank Gross and Levitt for providing fair and frightening warning. Self-styled progressives who berate science with politically correct non sequiturs are no less goofy than the religious zealots they so pointedly disdain.

If it doesn't work for science...
Gross and Levitt know their subject, and they present their case with wonderful lucidity and sophistication. Some may call it pedantic, but it taught me a few new words, and for that I am grateful.
However, there remains something troubling about this book. First of all, the author's views of politics are egregiously simplistic. As far as their concerned, there are only two political beliefs: left and right, the latter being populated mostly by their enemy the "creation scientist." Second, the book sends dangerously mixed messages. They call the academic left their "friends" even as they lambast them in a manner that would give Ayn Rand a lesson in polemics. Because of this, their critique is limited to myopic analyses of specific blunders (with a hasty appeal to their representativeness), while leaving untouched the mistaken postmodern premises that give rise to such blunders.
Last, and most importantly: Gross and Levitt come across as watchdogs patrolling their own profession. When they find a transgressor, they simply throw her over the fence into the humanities and social sciences, to run amok as she pleases. Granted, the sorry state of the humanities is not their problem; they are scientists. However, as scientists, they of all people should hold the virtues of objective inquiry in high regard. If the postmodern word-salad of relativism does not work for the natural sciences, why should it work in the humanities, which is every bit as concerned with understanding of reality?
I give the book four stars because these men are heroes for taking on the postmodern academy. I did not give them five stars because they do not go far enough. They pawn their misguided "friends" off onto their sister departments, and think that sufficient. But they will always come back. By refusing to strike the root, Gross and Levitt work against their intention.
Still, what is good in here is EXTREMELY good, and I recommend the book highly.

Lower sub-stition
When I first read this book I found it hilarious and in so far as I don't ride with postmodern appropriations of science I thought it merely odd. But with the passing of the Sokal episode and its trivia the basic issues have resurfaced and the harm done by this book suddenly came home to me. Let's face it, the book is more stupid than what it critiques. Science is failing. Period. It has failed on the theory of evolution, and given us reductionist views on man the average Buddhist finds embarrassing. Whatever the sins of the postmodernists they at least sensed the problem.
The most pathetic bit in this forgettable book is the excoriation of Jeremy Rifkin's Algeny, admittedly a book hard to take, and one that caused palpitations in Gould who reviewed it. I actually tracked the book down and discovered a very acute critique of Darwinian theory. It is no great shakes as a book, but at least the author could see the problem.
That's the point where this science arrogance is so ill-advised and misleading, the tactics those of the Big Science bullies preening with their positivistic idiocy.

For a history of the science wars, cf. The One Culture? J. Labinger, ed

"a reality-driven enterprise"
Triggering the most hilarious literary scandal in recent years, this book will be a major influence in determining how our society progresses. Science has been under severe assaults during the past generation. Much anti -science feeling arose as a reaction against the use of science and technology to support war. Later, science was accused of supporting racism and sexism. Now, as this book makes clear, a new wave of slander on science has arisen and is gaining strength. The origin of these assaults began with the wave of "postmodernist" writings among French philosophers and social commentators. The attitude of science being merely the tool of society instead of working aloof or apart from social issues leapt the Atlantic to take firm root among North American academics. This "academic left," having begun as a movement for social equality, has turned its wrath on science. Nearly every element of science, from relativity to biology, has come under the distorted scrutiny of humanities scholars. Alan Sokal's fictitious example in Social Text demonstrated just how contorted this outlook can be.

After an excellent presentation of "postmodernist" concepts, the authors address the anti-science critics declarations. The authors offer us a rogues' gallery of misguided "spokespersons" who bend language, misinterpret what science discloses and the methods it uses, and who fail to comprehend the very topics they purport to critique. They accept that much of science seems obscure and eludes quick or superficial comprehension. Why then, they query, do these critics insist either on denouncing its methods or adopt the findings in an attempt to restructure society? In Gross and Levitt's view, the critics see attacks on science as a means of attaining intellectual power and guiding society along a revised path. Since these critics see corruption at every level, they mean to "purify" society by tearing out any and all roots supporting it. That they have been effective at this slashing exercise in many areas is the reason this book was written.

Gross and Levitt show that those condemning science as "patriarchal," environmentally destructive or racist, are almost universally devoid of knowledge of the workings of science. These attackers seek to replace traditional science with new "ways of knowing." Gross and Levitt offer some real howlers as examples of this genre. From the frivolous "Newton's Principia is a rape manual" to the bizarre notion of a "feminist algebra," Gross and Levitt expose the fallacies of these "anti-patriarchal" constructs. Given the long term campaign by feminists to rebuke science, they show remarkable restraint in their assessment of this aspect of post-modernist techniques. The chapter "Auspiciating Gender" is but seven pages longer than the next longest one. Still, as they remind us, those adherents to such grotesque notions are now firmly established in academic positions and making education policies.

Throughout the book, the authors remind us that science is "a reality-driven enterprise." Science achieves its results by constant attention to methods and results. Whatever impact "culture" has on science, it isn't in the methodology. No reputable scientist assumes his theories will go unchallenged, especially as new data emerge. The cycles of checks and confirmations or refutations has kept science moving forward since the Enlightenment. Gross and Levitt urge readers to remember that without the methods and results of science, countless human achievements from the elimination of smallpox to the computers viewing this page would never have occurred. In the words of Richard Dawkins, "show me a cultural relativist in a jet aircraft at 35 000 feet, and I'll show you a hypocrite." What more can be said?

Illuminating
A nice dissection of various strains of irrationality that have sprung up, mostly on campuses. The authors look at the misunderstanding and confusion about science that characterizes such things as postmodernism, "Deep ecology", and some forms of radical feminism. Somewhat prolix. ... Read more

Book Description

A convenient, accurate, one-stop, comprehensive source of business information. The ``Quick Reference'' section offers a concise, cross-reference encyclopedia of terms and definitions. ``Vital Statistics'' is a directory which provides data and shows where to locate it. The ``Tool Kit'' section is composed of formulas frequently used in business. ... Read more

Book Description

To be effective as a scientist or engineer - professional or student - you must write well. This book, by a scientist, will help you to write: to observe, remember, think and plan; to manage your time and avoid stress; and to improve your communication skills. Extensively revised and updated, this valuable reference takes into account the huge changes in information technology since the very successful first edition. ... Read more

Book Description

This book's major contributions include a detailed description of the Manchester method of facial reconstruction, using all the available published data on tissue depths and variation with age, sex, stature and ethnic origin.Caroline Wilkinson also includes an evaluation of the methods and problems associated with reconstructing the faces of children.Forensic facial reconstruction reproduces an individual's face from skeletal remains. Used when identification is otherwise impossible, it can give a name to the dead in forensic cases, or in archaeological contexts, provide a tangible impression of real individuals from our past. ... Read more

Book Description

An all-encompassing study of naval armament under fighting sail. This first volume covers axes, pikes and fighting blades in use between 1626 and 1826 - tracing their development in the navies of England and Northern Europe through that of the United States. Heavily illustrated with art and photography including an 8-page color section. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An EXCELLENT Reference Book !!!
What can I say, but WOW!!! This is an EXCELLENT book on the edged tools and weapons used during the age of fighting sail.
Well documented, with exceptional line drawings and paintings, this book is a MUST for museum curators, collectors, reenactors, artists and navy historians. Even if you are not an "anchor clanker" at heart, you can almost smell the salt air and feel the spray...

Highly recommended to anyone interested in naval history
There is a vast literature on naval warfare in the age of sail. William Gilkerson's two volume set, Boarders Away, deals with the fascinating topic of boarding actions and their weapons and tactics. Although covering the entire age of fighting sail, his emphasis is on the period 1775-1815 and on the British, French, and American navies.

Volume I, With Steel, covers edged weapons and polearms. Chapter I gives a general description of boarding actions. Included is a detailed account of the 1813 action between HMS Shannon and USS Chesapeake. Other chapters discuss boarding axes, boarding pikes, cutlasses, officers swords and dirks, and miscellaneous weapons (knives, belaying pins, flensing spades, etc.)

The text discussed these subjects in lavish detail. Included are are extracts from logs and other primary sources. The folio-sized volume is lavishly illustrated with hundreds of drawings and photographs. The cover photo above is an example of one of the colored plates. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must have book for rockhounds
When I open this book I was amazed at the quality of the color pictures and all the info on each mineral. This book is an extreme value for the pictures alone. The pictures of rare and beautiful minerals are exceptional. The mineral information can be used for beginner on up, A must have book for any rockhound. ... Read more

Book Description

Conventional wisdom has it that the sciences, properly pursued, constitute a pure, value-free method of obtaining knowledge about the natural world. In light of the social and normative dimensions of many scientific debates, Helen Longino finds that general accounts of scientific methodology cannot support this common belief. Focusing on the notion of evidence, the author argues that a methodology powerful enough to account for theories of any scope and depth is incapable of ruling out the influence of social and cultural values in the very structuring of knowledge. The objectivity of scientific inquiry can nevertheless be maintained, she proposes, by understanding scientific inquiry as a social rather than an individual process. Seeking to open a dialogue between methodologists and social critics of the sciences, Longino develops this concept of "contextual empiricism" in an analysis of research programs that have drawn criticism from feminists. Examining theories of human evolution and of prenatal hormonal determination of "gender-role" behavior, of sex differences in cognition, and of sexual orientation, the author shows how assumptions laden with social values affect the description, presentation, and interpretation of data. In particular, Longino argues that research on the hormonal basis of "sex-differentiated behavior" involves assumptions not only about gender relations but also about human action and agency. She concludes with a discussion of the relation between science, values, and ideology, based on the work of Habermas, Foucault, Keller, and Haraway.

Reviews (1)

A Class Review
This was one of the required readings for Rice University's Philosophy of Science Spring 2004 class. The following is a brief account of the book by various members of the 40 person class:

PROs: ~ Chapters one through four and chapter ten
~ The discussion of objectivity as a social process in chapter four.
~ The focus on the differences among the various branches of science: hard sciences (physic & chemistry) vs. moderate sciences (psychology) vs. soft sciences (sociology and anthropology)

CONs:~ Chapters five through nine
~ The writing style (too philosophical, too much time spent discussing other views as opposed to the authors)
~ Too little said about the hard sciences
~ Pushing feminist agenda
~ Critical discussion on scientific studies unpersuasive

Despite the CONs the professor (a philosophy professor with a specialization in logic) still believes that, in comparison to other books on similar topics, this one does the best job of presenting the material. The class was a little more skeptical and recommends to future readers to focus on chapters one through four and ten and pay little attention to the remainder. ... Read more

Book Description

Interesting anecdotes and engaging tales make science fun, meaningful, and accessible. Separating sense from nonsense and fact from myth, these essays cover everything from the ups of helium to the downs of drain cleaners and provide answers to numerous mysteries, such as why bug juice is used to color ice cream and how spies used secret inks. Mercury in teeth, arsenic in water, lead in the environment, and aspartame in food are discussed. Mythbusters include the fact that Edison did not invent the lightbulb and that walking on hot coals does not require paranormal powers. The secret life of bagels is revealed, and airbags, beer, and soap yield their mysteries. These and many more surprising, educational, and entertaining commentaries show the relevance of science to everyday life. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Another great book
Everything Dr Schwarz writes is a masterpiece. As a professional chemist and longtime host of various radio and television science programs, he is able to explain chemistry to the rest of us. And whats even more important is that the subject never feels dry or academic - he presents great stories first and adds the chemistry lessons once you are hooked.

Excellent Essays on Everyday Science
I picked up this book on whim, having never heard Dr. Schwarcz's radio program or seen him on television. I spent the
next few days completely engrossed in his lively tales on the chemistry involved in our daily lives.

Discussed here is the science behind ice cream, aspartame, wheat, bagels, paprika, beer and yes, cookies. Schwarcz also chimes in on the controversies over dental fillings, botulin, lead paints, DNA manipulation and genetic engineering. He shares fascinating stories about some of history's greatest scientists (of particular interest is the inventor of Nylon, who ended up committing suicide, and the man behind chemical warfare, who also saved millions of lives with his fertilizer experiments). There is also a section devoted to debunking health scams and diffusing unnecessary paranoia.

While I didn't agree with all of Schwarcz's opinions (I think he may be a little naive in regards to the dangers of genetic modification), the breadth of his scientific knowledge is impressive and his enthusiasm for science infectious. "The Way the Cookie Crumbles" is an entertaining and informative read for both the scientifically minded and those just interested in learning how to get ink stains out of their clothes (try using limonene or amyl acetate).
GRADE: A-/B+ ... Read more

Book Description

Uses an integrated approach to show the interrelationships between thermodynamics, heat transfer and fluid dynamics, stressing the physics of each. Mathematical description is included to allow the solution of simple problems in thermal sciences. New to this edition--SI and English units plus twice as many example problems which emphasize practical applications of the principles discussed. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Students View.
Its not that its a bad book, but that it was certainly not a book that I feel makes the subject easy to understand or comprehend. I feel that there must be other books, such as those in similar fields by Cengal and Boles.

If its prescribed for a paper I would reckomend getting it out from thelibrary rather than buying it. I had to buy it for an open book exam, andam now having trouble selling it, no one wants it!

If you want a book toread to learn about thermodynamics try other titles, this one wont do youreffort justice.

(I got a B in the paper anyways) ... Read more