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Nature and Science June 2018
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| The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World by Steve BrusatteWhat it is: the most up-to-date research on the amazing rise, fantastic reign, and spectacular extinction of dinosaurs, presented in a captivating and lively manner.
Why you should read it: Paleontologists discover, on average, one new dinosaur species a week(!), so there is much new information to share.
About the author: American paleontologist Steve Brusatte of the University of Edinburgh is highly respected in his field. |
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| Milk! A 10,000-Year Food Fracas by Mark KurlanskyWhat it is: As he did in works such as Paper and Salt, historian Mark Kurlansky provides an illuminating microhistory of another familiar item: milk.
Why you should read it: This sweeping history of milk is also the story of human civilization itself, reaching across continents and throughout time. (And of course, recipes are included.)
You might also like: For more microhistories of edibles, try Tea by Laura C. Martin and Spice by Jack Turner. |
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| The Plant Messiah: Adventures in Search of the World's Rarest Species by Carlos MagdalenaWhat it’s about: One man’s heroic quest to save some of the world’s rarest plant species from extinction, an endeavor that takes him into a variety of breathtaking habitats around the globe.
About the author: Spanish-born Carlos Magdalena, a horticulturalist at Kew Gardens, has been nicknamed “the plant messiah” for his work saving endangered plants.
You might also like: The collective biography The Brother Gardeners by Andrea Wulf and the historical fiction novel The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert. |
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Ruthless Tide: The Tragic Epic of the Johnstown Flood
by Al Roker
What it's about: Ruthless Tide presents a narrative history of the 1889 Johnstown Flood to chronicle key events, the damage that rendered the flood one of America's worst disasters, and the pivotal contributions of key figures, from dam engineer John Parke to American Red Cross founder Clara Barton.
Reviewers say: "An exciting, tragic story seasoned with sensitive social analysis and criticism." (Kirkus Reviews)
Also check out: The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough, or Storm of the Century, Roker's other account of a natural disaster, the great gulf hurricane of 1900.
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| Voices in the Ocean: A Journey into the Wild and Haunting World of Dolphins by Susan CaseyWhat it's about: Journalist Susan Casey (who wrote about sharks in The Devil’s Teeth) probes the astounding world of dolphins, examining their relationship with human beings (for better and for worse).
Did you know? Dolphins are highly intelligent creatures with x-ray vision who can recognize their own reflections and have been known to throw temper tantrums.
Further reading: Journey of the Pink Dolphins by Sy Montgomery. |
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Beyond the Blue Horizon: How the Earliest Mariners Unlocked the Secrets of the Oceans
by Brian M. Fagan
What it's about: Fagan looks at the early development of navigation, examining how ancient humans discovered the secrets of wind, tides, and stars that allowed them to make long voyages that profoundly changed human civilization.
Reviewers say: "Fagan paints a thoroughly fascinating portrait of the intricate interaction among ocean, climate, and humanity in the many parts of the world where seafaring cultures developed." (Library Journal)
Who should read it: Beyond the Blue Horizon will enthrall readers who enjoyed Dava Sobel's Longitude, Simon Winchester's Atlantic, and Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel.
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| The Ocean of Life: The Fate of Man and the Sea by Callum RobertsWhat it's about: Biologist Callum Roberts documents the past, present, and future of the world's oceans, which continue to undergo dramatic environmental changes.
Why you should read it: Filled with fascinating tidbits (albatross chicks eat an average of 70 pieces of plastic per meal) as well as meticulous scientific detail, The Ocean of Life makes a powerful case for ocean conservation.
About the author: Roberts has been called “the Rachel Carson of the fish world” (The New York Times). |
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| Pacific: Silicon Chips and Surfboards, Coral Reefs and Atom Bombs, Brutal Dictators... by Simon WinchesterWhat it’s about: Bestselling author Simon Winchester turns his keen eye on the Pacific Ocean, the largest body of water on Earth, mainly focusing on events after 1950.
What’s inside: Assessing not only the ocean and what lies beneath it, Winchester also discusses the countries that border it (including China and the United States) as well as the islands within it.
Reviewers say: Kirkus Reviews calls Pacific a "superb analysis of a world wonder." |
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| Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us about Ourselves by James NestorWhat it’s about: Competitive free diving is a sport in which participants plunge, unburdened by scuba gear, to depths of up to 300 feet in the span of a single breath. In Deep, author James Nestor begins training for free diving -- and in the process uncovers much about the enduring relationship between humans and the ocean.
Book buzz: Deep was a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, an Amazon Best Science Book of 2014, and a Scientific American Recommended Read. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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