Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.
The past fifty years have witnessed the triumph of an industrial development that has engendered great social and environmental costs. Conventional economics has too often either ignored these costs or failed to analyse them appropriately. This book constructs a framework within which the wider impacts of economic activity can be both understood and ameliorated. The framework places its emphasis on an in-depth understanding of real-life processes rather than on mathematical formalism, sressing the independence of the economy with the social, ecological and ethical dimensions of human life.
sizing in your company? Read this book! The latest offering from one half of the Clegg and Birch duo (too many of their books are only available in the UK). These guys make work fun, and actually practice what they preach. Click on Amazon.com, don't walk to your bookstore and get them all!
Average customer rating:
- truly an excellent book
- Amazing!
- Useful and worrisome features of microbes are detailed.
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Power Unseen: How microbes rule the world
Bernard Dixon
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
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Binding: Paperback
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Microbes and Man
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Microbe Hunters
ASIN: 071674550X |
Book Description
Microbes - tiny unseen bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa - pervade every aspect of human society and of the natural world. They provide all our daily food; they were the original source of the world's abundant oil supplies; their presence in soil is essential to the existence of life itself. They also cause horrendous epidemics, from the plague and smallpox of past centuries to the continuing pandemics of cholera and today's growing AIDS crisis. Microbes have vanquished armies, swinging great military campaigns even more effectively than the strategies of generals or the machinations of politicians; they now provide life-saving antibiotics and other benefits of modern biotechnology. Power Unseen portrays the many, diverse and often unexpected activities of microbes through a series of 75 vignettes, each focusing on one particular organism and its characteristic behaviour. Here, then, is a portrait gallery illustrating microbial life in its astonishing diversity. Microbes have influenced history and they are helping to shape our future. They are still springing surprises, and they continue to threaten us; yet we could not exist without them. In this fascinating and entertaining book, Bernard Dixon leaves the reader in no doubt that microbes, not macrobes, rule the world.
Customer Reviews:
truly an excellent book.......2007-03-01
This is a great book for general reading on microbes and microbiology. The short chapters make for easy and very entertaining reading, and it is one of those books that can really inspire an interest in science. Many people develop an interest microbiology after reading "The Microbe Hunters," and I agree with the previous reviewer who suggested that "Power Unseen" makes very good follow-up reading. It is more focused on the actual microbes rather than their discoverers, but the excellent storytelling and appeal to general audiences is similar. It is really a shame, and very surprising to me, that it is not currently in print. I highly recommend reading it if you have even the slightest interest in microbiology and can buy or borrow a used copy.
Amazing!.......2003-07-20
Being a junior doctor now, whenever I recall my 2nd year in the medical school I remember all these nights trying to understand what at time thought of a much more difficult course than anatomy (!)....microbiology. I never thought I would be following a microbiology career. This book changed it all. There is nothing to be afraid of microbes.....Hypochondriac as all med students are was also myself...all you must do is to consider it as part of our planet's natural history..The book correlates human history and microbes in the most exciting way! The language is readable by everyone and the new ideas jump out in every page....I could not stop thinking humanity as a microbe of the universe. There were chapters that i couldnt stop laughing and others that really put me thinking. Read it....it will make you appreciate the role of medicine and microbes in our lifes.
Useful and worrisome features of microbes are detailed........1997-04-28
With our present concerns and apprehensions about the invisible yet ubiquitous microbes which are a natural part of our environment, Bernard Dixon, the British science writer has written a series of vignettes to protray the myriad diverse and fascinating activities of some of these microscopic bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoans. Too frequently, we associate microbes with pestilence and spoilage; microbes as germs have been branded as invaders and pathogens which use and abuse their hosts. While from the human perspective, this reputation may be well deserved, the essays portray both the useful and the worrisome features of these microorganisms.
Divided into five sections, each holding fifteen delightful short stories to illustrate how microbes (1)shape our world, (2)spring surprises, (3)threaten us, (4) lead us to depend on them, and (5)shape our future; the contents combine historical background with contemporary technology. Starting with the primordial cell, where we all began - the essays cover the problems and circumstances that are associated with plague, smallpox, AIDS, rabies, yellow fever, lyme disease, typhoid, cholera along with many other appalling diseases. To balance this fearsome ensemble, useful microbes on which we depend or which we can manipulate to advantage are described; such as the nitrogen fixers, antibiotic producers, vitamin manufacturers, and the genetically engineered microrobots.
Bernard Dixon has the knack of describing the microbes both in their historical context and in our current awareness of their impact. In two essays, he relates the story of Typhoid Mary and the consequences on those infected with the bacteria along with our past helplessness to control the disease, and in the second he relates the tale of the development of a recently cultured live oral vaccine that is more successful than the dead vaccines used earlier. In fact, Vivotif, the oral typhoid vaccine was prescribed for us before embarking on an Amazon trip recently. It is a painless, oral tablet that carries a modified strain of 'Salmomella typhii'. This living ingested microbe infects the intestinal wall for a few days before it self-destructs due to 'genetic crippling'. It was gratifying to learn that the 'live' medication confers long term immunity and shows better results that the earlier painful, injected dead bacterial vaccines.
This is a delightful and practical book which will enrich the scientific background of students at the high school and college levels, as well as interested adults. Years back, the classic 'Microbe Hunters' by Paul de Kruif was the recommended outside reading for microbiology students and science afficiandos; I would strongly add "Power Unseen" to the list of exciting and relevant reading materials that present background history along with up-to-date descriptions about some of those 'microbes that rule the world'.
Average customer rating:
- A compendium of practicality
- Great stories - Great information
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The Raccoon Next Door
Gary L. Bogue
Manufacturer: Heyday Books
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Binding: Paperback
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There's an Opossum in My Backyard
ASIN: 1890771716 |
Book Description
You believe your home is your haven, but think again, for there are eyes everywhere! What is that rustle in the bushes? Where did that silver streak come from? Why does your dog bark at nothing?
For most people, urban encounters with wildlife seem accidental and precious; but a wide range of crittersfrom bats and mice to deer and owlsare among us no matter where we live, whether it be in the country, the suburbs, or even in the city. _The Raccoon Next Door_ is a guide to help us identify and get along with the neighborhood raccoon and all our other wild neighbors. Author Gary Bogue presents stories, anecdotes, and sound advice for coexisting with the common creatures that you might encounter in your front yard, backyard, and sometimes even inside your home. Chuck Todd's illuminating illustrations bring the animals to life in vivid detail.
The species discussed in the book include everything from coyotes and mountain lions to tarantulas and earwigs, newts and salamanders, songbirds and butterflies. Learn how to be a good animal neighbor using down-to-earth, practical, and homey advice that will show you how to live in harmony with those wild and crazy skunks who like to party all night long!
Customer Reviews:
A compendium of practicality.......2004-03-05
Nicely enhanced with the occasional black and white illustrations and drawings of Chuck Todd, The Raccoon Next Door: Getting Along With Urban Wildlife by Gary Bogue (former curator at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum, Walnut Creek, California) is a compilation of information and advice for people who live in urban and suburban areas and find themselves dealing with animals and birds. From the right way to attract and feed hummingbirds, to dealing with the nocturnal intrusions of raccoons, as well as the appearance of predators such as the coyote and the mountain lion. The Raccoon Next Door is a compendium of practicality ranging from how to remove the smell of skunk from a household pet, to sizing up a neighborhood in terms of what critters might be encountered, to "wild neighbors of the future". Whether you are an nature lover seeking to live in harmony with all manner of wildlife, or an urban curmudgeon wanting only to avoid things that creep or crawl or fly, The Raccoon Next Door is the perfect "how to" book for you!
Great stories - Great information.......2004-02-03
Great book, fun stories, and great information. Mr.Bogue appears to write from the heart, with a fun wit, while educating people about the wildlife that is all around us. It would be a wonderful tool to have grade school chidren read. Teaching them about the animals and how to live with them. A lot of adults could use this too. Written in such a way that we all can understand and in short stories that won't lose anyones attention. It will make you laugh as well.
Average customer rating:
- I fell in love with Woodworth's characters
- I couldn't put this one down!
- Woodworth's first is AMAZING!
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When Ratboy Lived Next Door
Chris Woodworth
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
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Binding: Hardcover
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Wing Nut
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Do You Know The Monkey Man?
ASIN: 0374346771
Release Date: 2005-02-24 |
Book Description
From the spring day in 1962 when Willis Merrill and his pet raccoon arrive in Maywood, Indiana, they are nothing but trouble for Lydia Carson. Lydia nicknames Willis "Ratboy" and wonders why he can't be more like his handsome older brother, Elliot. Life gets more complicated when Lydia alienates Elliot by insulting Willis and comes to a standoff with her mother. In her struggle to make amends with all, Lydia finds an ally in Willis and discovers the good in herself.
In her sharp, fresh voice, the author captures the flavor of a small town in Middle America and the hearts of its populace as she tells a powerful story about the resiliency - and flexibility -of family.
Customer Reviews:
I fell in love with Woodworth's characters.......2007-03-19
I loved being a fly on the wall in Woodworth's town of Maywood, watching its delightful cast of characters go about their daily lives.
Although I'm an adult, I fell in love with the characters in the book, and wish Woodworth would write a sequel (hint! hint!)
This book takes place in a laid-back small town, but it is by no means slow-paced. The characters spring to life from the beginning. Lydia, the main character, is a spunky girl coming of age and really truly growing up (maturing). Actually, all of the characters are vivid, and I particularly loved the strong female characters, like Lydia's grandma (who is such a fireball!).
The ending was so satisfying--except that it ended.
I couldn't put this one down!.......2005-05-18
I originally bought this for my daughter and ended up hiding it from her until I was done - which wasn't long since I couldn't put it down! Woodworth's sharp wit and ability to transfer the reader into a 1962 small town in Indiana make it hard to believe this is the author's first published work. I look forward to her next book and highly recommend this one!
Woodworth's first is AMAZING!.......2005-04-23
Excellent book. I couldn't put it down. Lydia is a great character who I believe people can relate to in some shape or form.
I want more.
Woodworth's first? I hope it's not the last.
BANG! BANG!
Book Description
A richly detailed guide to 30 of the best sea kayaking day trips spanning the coastline of the Old Dominion.
A veteran paddling guide offers her favorite routes and insights gleaned from years of experience. Spanning the length of the coastal plain, this guide includes the Chesapeake's tidal tributaries, the eastern shore, and the blackwater cypress swamps of the south.
Each route description goes beyond access points and paddling notes to include estuarine ecology, social and natural history, and sidebars covering a variety of topics from gear to wildlife sightings to local highlights. Beginning and experienced kayakers will appreciate the depth of information, including geographical, wind, weather, tidal, and safety issues. A brief introduction to other area trips effectively doubles the number of trip locations to pursue. 30 black & white photographs, 30 maps, index.
Customer Reviews:
Two great kayaking books for MD and VA.......2007-04-03
Sea Kayaking Maryland's Chesapeake Bay: Day Trips on the Tidal Tributaries and Coastlines of the Western and Eastern Shore
by Michael Savario and Andrea Nolan
and
Sea Kayaking Virginia: A Paddler's Guide to Day Trips from Georgetown to Chincoteague by Andrea Nolan
Savario and Nolan are professional guides who have written two delightful guidebooks for kayak day trips in the area of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The books document trips the authors have made a regular part of their itinerary and are written in a narrative style that is not only informative but makes for a great armchair tour for those nasty winter days as well. I found both these books at my local library and liked them so well they had to become part of my personal library. Enjoy!
Book Description
For those beginning their study, this volume is a comprehensive introduction to the Arabic language as spoken by educated Muslim Baghdad residents. It does not assume prior knowledge of Arabic. Transcribed and not in Arabic script, it is further enhanced by the inclusion of Iraqi-English and English-Iraqi glossaries.
The text, A BASIC COURSE IN IRAQI ARABIC, contains ten chapters of phonology, the study and identification of the meaningful sounds of Iraqi Arabic, and thirty more chapters deal with grammar and vocabulary. The phonology chapters all contain extensive drills, and the grammar chapters start with a dialogue or brief narrative, then explain the new vocabulary, points of grammar, and also conclude with drills.
Accompanying the text and drills is a bound-in CD containing audio MP3 files that aid in pronunciation and practice. As the English-speaking world has become increasingly aware of the lands and cultures where Arabic is spoken, books augmented with audio material such as A BASIC COURSE IN IRAQI ARABIC WITH MP3 AUDIO FILES have become more important and necessary--there can be no peace or concord without understanding.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent foreign language materials.......2007-03-22
This is an absolutely wonderful text and audio files. I have learned so much about Iraqi Arabic from these materials. The main thing is the excellent presentation of verb forms so that the learner becomes completely familiar with both perfect and imperfect verb forms. I have seen so many Arabic language books and materials where the imperfect "tense" (essentially the present tense) is "shied away from" (for some unknown reason,) or as if the imperfect tense were "too difficult" for the beginning learner. Here, the author is completely upfront about it, and one learns these forms right away. This is exactly what is needed! I gave up on "Modern Standard Arabic" because the authors in all the books on the subject that I read refused to discuss the imperfect tense!
Other positive aspects of these materials are: the audio files are extremely professional, and most, if not all of the exercises are not only interesting, but very useful for the learner. I originally began my study of Iraqi Arabic just to learn enough to satisfy my curiosity about the language, but I have found that once into the materials, I could not stop learning! I have been a lifelong foreign language learner, and these are some of the best language materials I have ever encountered for ANY language.
I like to write out the dialogues and exercises on big sheets of paper to help reinforce my learning, and I found the romanized Arabic system that the author uses to be excellent. There are only some slight variations in the script that I use. For example, instead of the author's more "linguistic" use of "x" for the gutteral sound, I always transpose this into "kh" which to me is a better representation of the sound. But aside from certain minor variations that I prefer, the romanization is a great asset to helping the learner learn the aural-oral aspects of the language without being encumbered by the Arabic writing system at the beginning. I feel the writing system, because it is basically phonetic, can be learned later, or separately, if need be. But for the learner, studying the language at the beginning, in particular, in a familiar orthography ensures faster progress.
I highly recommend Iraqi, in general, as a dialect choice for Arabic, and to a great extent, I owe that to these great materials.
Less accessible.......2006-04-04
I purchased both this book and the Alkalesi book and found the Alkalesi book to be much more straightforward and accessible. This book is good for doing lots of drills, but it is not an easy way to learn the basics of Iraqi Arabic.
Great Resource and Starter for an English Speaker.......2005-07-03
I am a US army Captain intent on teaching myself Arabic....What I quickly found out through discovery learning is there are many dialects. I started with several other MSA resources, but Iraqi is very different. If you are going to Iraq, you need this book or at least a book that solely focuses on the Iraqi dialect. I have a Syrian interpreter and sometimes he has difficulty with some words and phrases here. He can communicate very clearly with the Iraqi people, but even I can notice the dialectal differences. There are a lot of ways to say things in Arabic and although they can understand each they simply say things differently. It may not be that confusing for a native non-Iraqi speaker to communicate, but for the non-native speaker who is just learning, it can sound like a different language sometimes. I am currently in Iraq, 6 months into my tour and I am about half way through the book. Already I am able to have very basic conversations and I can pick out a lot of words in any conversation. The outstanding drills do eventually take hold. I'll hear a conjugation of a word and I'll know what it means. Its my lack of vocabulary that is holding me back, but that should come with some more time. The drills must be listened to, not read. You have to train you brain to hear and comprehend it. The MP3s that come with the book really make it a complete package. It takes a while to understand, but you'll start to understand it. It makes it worthwhile when you can pick up even a few words out of a conversation.
Don't expect to learn the script with this book. It isn't in it. The intent of this book is listening and understanding and responding, not reading and writing. The phonics section is outstanding, it tells you exactly how to hold you tongue to make all the sounds. BTW there are 31 consanants in Iraqi Arabic, a couple more than MSA. Not a big deal, the book will have you pronouncing the sounds almost like a native.
An outstanding learning resource........2004-07-24
Ten chapters, 77 pages, just on the phonology of the Iraqi dialect! The author is very gifted at explaining in exquisite detail how each consonant, vowel and diphthong is to be produced, and strangely enough he actually made this subject interesting and comprehensible, something no one else has done in my lifetime. No highbrow "linguist only" babble, but all of that detail in a pleasant straight forward style. A CD with 665 Megs of MP3 files covers the entire text. The grammar notes on each new pattern are extensive. All in all, this course seems far superior to others I have bought. No introduction to the Arabic script in this text.
Book Description
This handsome volume is devoted to the paintings of the Fauves, the group of French post-impressionist artists, who. like the impressionaists themselves, owed their name to a dismissive epithet by a hostile critic. Fortunately, the Fauvists had their admirers, and none more so than the Russian collectors Shchukin and the Morozov brothers, whose paintings are now divided between the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Art in Moscow. This book contains full color-reproductions of the most representative works of the leading proponents of their flamboyant style.
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