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Books > Language & Literature > Biography & autobiography > Science, technology & engineering
THE NO. 1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, NOW A MAJOR NEW NETFLIX SERIES
'Reminds us that the mind is the greatest mystery in the universe'
Yuval Noah Harari, Guardian, Books of the Year Could psychedelic
drugs change our worldview? Join Michael Pollan on a journey to the
frontiers of the human mind. Diving deep into an extraordinary
world - from shamans and magic mushroom hunts to the pioneering
labs mapping our brains - and putting himself forward as a
guinea-pig, Michael Pollan has written a remarkable history of
psychedelics and a compelling portrait of the new generation of
scientists fascinated by the implications of these drugs. How to
Change Your Mind is a report from what could very well be the
future of consciousness. 'A sweeping and often thrilling chronicle
of the history of psychedelics, all interwoven with Pollan's
adventures as a psychedelic novice. This is a serious work of
history and science, but also one in which the author, under the
influence of toad venom, becomes convinced he's giving birth to
himself' Oliver Burkeman, Guardian 'A mind-altering book ... full
of transformations' Richard Godwin, Evening Standard 'An
irresistible blend of history, research and personal experience. In
terms of the psychedelic wave, the book is the big kahuna, the Big
Bang moment for a movement that is gathering force' John McKenna,
Irish Times 'Entertaining and engrossing' Paul Laity, Financial
Times 'Deeply absorbing, wise and beautifully written' Mick Brown,
Literary Review 'An astounding book' Andrew Sullivan, New York
Magazine
Professor Matthew Heddle (1828-97) was a larger-than-life
character, a renowned academic and one of Scotland's most famous
mineralogists. His rich legacy includes: Encyclopaedia Britannica
9th edition (section on Mineralogy) A fossil fish Heddleichthys A
mineral named after him (Mattheddleite) A summary of the Mineralogy
of Scotland (published posthumously) 55 scientific papers 5,700
specimens from his collection now housed in the National Museum of
Scotland and the National Museums Collection Centre. 10 children
This book, by Heddle's great-great-grandson, is not an account of
his scientific work but is about Heddle the man; it provides a much
fuller picture of him than anything that has appeared before.
A major new biography of the brilliant naturalist, traveler,
humanitarian, and codiscoverer of natural selection Alfred Russel
Wallace (1823-1913) was perhaps the most famed naturalist of the
Victorian age. His expeditions to remote Amazonia and southeast
Asia were the stuff of legend. A collector of thousands of species
new to science, he shared in the discovery of natural selection and
founded the discipline of evolutionary biogeography. Radical by
Nature tells the story of Wallace's epic life and achievements,
from his stellar rise from humble origins to his complicated
friendship with Charles Darwin and other leading scientific lights
of Britain to his devotion to social causes and movements that
threatened to alienate him from scientific society. James Costa
draws on letters, notebooks, and journals to provide a multifaceted
account of a revolutionary life in science as well as Wallace's
family life. He shows how the self-taught Wallace doggedly pursued
bold, even radical ideas that caused a seismic shift in the natural
sciences, and how he also courted controversy with nonscientific
pursuits such as spiritualism and socialism. Costa describes
Wallace's courageous social advocacy of women's rights, labor
reform, and other important issues. He also sheds light on
Wallace's complex relationship with Darwin, describing how Wallace
graciously applauded his friend and rival, becoming one of his most
ardent defenders. Weaving a revelatory narrative with the latest
scholarship, Radical by Nature paints a mesmerizing portrait of a
multifaceted thinker driven by a singular passion for science, a
commitment to social justice, and a lifelong sense of wonder.
This delightful memoir is the story of a life well lived-a Hong
Kong doctor who worked as a surgeon for over fifty years and who
later turned his hand to his other great passion, gardening. At
times amusing, at times heartbreaking, and at other times
educational and instructive, Arthur van Langenburg describes
real-life cases and the medical causes of illnesses, including many
incredible stories of life-saving operations that will keep you
riveted to your seat. Interspersing these chapters are tales from
his fascinating personal life, and reflections on his journey to
becoming an expert gardener. Throughout the book is woven the
metaphor of the author's journey to Ithaka, as described in a
moving poem of the same name that charts a path for how to live a
life 'full of adventure, full of discovery'. Beautifully written in
a lively, engaging style, this book is sure to win the hearts of
many, as van Langenberg's sparkling personality and fascinating
insight shines through on every page. Arthur van Langenberg has
lived in Hong Kong all his life except for four years in Macau
during World War II and two years in Britain undergoing medical
training. He has practised surgery for some fifty years, first at
the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, and then in
private practice. His lifelong interest in reading and gardening
has helped him morph from surgeon to gardener and writer, finding
fulfilment and a simpler way of life over the years. "Arthur van
Langenberg is well known among the gardeners in Hong Kong. However,
they may not know how respected a surgeon he is, in particular his
caring approach to patients. This book will give them a glimpse of
the medical aspect of this seasoned gardener . . . The real-life
stories that he has recorded are so captivating. I am sure that
given Arthur's writing skill, he could turn each story into a
single volume." Chow Shew Ping, Professor Emeritus, University of
Hong Kong "The real-life cases at the scalpel's edge are riveting.
Less dramatic but no less engaging are the episodes on what life
was like when learning to master the scalpel and developing the
clinical sense of when to wield it or not ... Senior colleagues
will surely recognise the characters in the book, with a smile." Dr
Rose Mak, Chairperson, Management Committee, Hong Kong Museum of
Medical Sciences Society
A Nobel Prize-winning physicist, a loving husband and father, an
enthusiastic teacher, a surprisingly accomplished bongo player, and
a genius of the highest caliber---Richard P. Feynman was all these
and more. "Perfectly Reasonable Deviations From the Beaten
Track"--collecting over forty years' worth of Feynman's
letters--offers an unprecedented look at the writer and thinker
whose scientific mind and lust for life made him a legend in his
own time. Containing missives to and from such scientific
luminaries as Victor Weisskopf, Stephen Wolfram, James Watson, and
Edward Teller, as well as a remarkable selection of letters to and
from fans, students, family, and people from around the world eager
for Feynman's advice and counsel, "Perfectly Reasonable Deviations
From the Beaten Track" not only illuminates the personal
relationships that underwrote the key developments in modern
science, but also forms the most intimate look at Feynman yet
available. Feynman was a man many felt close to but few really
knew, and this collection reveals the full wisdom and private
passion of a personality that captivated everyone it touched.
"Perfectly Reasonable Deviations From the Beaten Track" is an
eloquent testimony to the virtue of approaching the world with an
inquiring eye; it demonstrates the full extent of the Feynman
legacy like never before. Edited and with additional commentary by
his daughter Michelle, it's a must-read for Feynman fans
everywhere, and for anyone seeking to better understand one of the
towering figures--and defining personalities--of the twentieth
century.
Through Francesco Bianchini, the 'greatest Italian of his time'
this book explores the exciting meeting of science, history, and
politics in early modern Europe. Born in a time where entry into
the church granted power, privilege, and access to the most
exciting ideas of his time, the magnificent Monsignor Francesco
Bianchini was an accomplished player in the political, scientific,
and historical arenas of early modern Europe. Among his
accomplishments were writing a universal history from the creation
to the fall of Assyria; discovering, excavating, and interpreting
ancient buildings; and designing a papal collection of antiquities
that was later partially realized in the Vatican museums. He was
also responsible for confirming and publicizing Newton's theories
of light and color; discovering several comets; and building the
most beautiful and exact heliometer in the world in the basilica of
Santa Maria degli Angeli in Rome. Bianchini's international
reputation earned him election to the Academie royale des sciences
of Paris and the Royal Society of London. As a trusted servant of
Pope Clement XI, he helped to execute the difficult balancing act
the papacy practiced during the War of the Spanish Succession,
which pitted Britain, the Dutch Republic, and the Habsburg Empire
against France and Spain. One of his assignments also resulted in
attachment to the cause and person of the Old Pretender, James III,
the Stuart claimant to the thrones of England, Scotland, and
Ireland. Through the career of this eminent and adept diplomat,
astronomer, archaeologist, and historian, J. L. Heilbron introduces
a world of learning and discovery, Church and State, and politics
and power.
Recognising the contributions of female psychoanalytic pioneers has
become very popular in recent years * Thompson's original work is
very hard to find and there's little coverage of her in the
existing literature * Her ideas have become part of the
psychoanalytic mainstream, especially in the US.
Alan Turing is a patron saint of Manchester, remembered as the
Mancunian who won the war, invented the computer, and was all but
put to death for being gay. Each myth is related to a historical
story. This is not a book about the first of those stories, of
Turing at Bletchley Park. But it is about the second two, which
each unfolded here in Manchester, of Turing's involvement in the
world's first computer and of his refusal to be cowed about his
sexuality. Manchester can be proud of Turing, but can we be proud
of the city he encountered?
Dr. Drew Pinsky is best known as the cohost of the long-running
radio advice program Loveline. But his workday is spent at a major
Southern California clinic, treating the severest cases of drug
dependency and psychiatric breakdown. In this riveting book, Pinsky
reveals the intimate and often shocking stories of his patients as
they struggle with emotional trauma, sexual abuse, and a host of
chemical nemeses: alcohol, marijuana, Ecstasy, heroin, speed,
cocaine, and prescription drugs. At the center of these stories is
Pinsky himself, who immerses himself passionately, almost
obsessively, in his work. From the sexually compulsive model to the
BMW-driving soccer mom, Cracked exposes, in fast-moving, powerful
vignettes, the true scope and severity of addiction, a nationwide
epidemic.
THE TRUE CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR AND SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER
'One of the most fascinating books I have read in a long time.
Engrossing, a haunting page-turner. A book I could not put down'
The Times, BOOKS OF THE YEAR __________ Meet the forensic
pathologist, Dr Richard Shepherd. He solves the mysteries of
unexplained or sudden death. He has performed over 23,000
autopsies, including some of the most high-profile cases of recent
times; the Hungerford Massacre, the Princess Diana inquiry, and
9/11. He has faced serial killers, natural disaster, 'perfect
murders' and freak accidents. His evidence has put killers behind
bars, freed the innocent, and turned open-and-shut cases on their
heads. Yet all this has come at a huge personal cost. Unnatural
Causes tells the story of not only the cases and bodies that have
haunted him the most, but also how to live a life steeped in death.
Thoughtful, revealing, chilling and always unputdownable, if you
liked All That Remains, War Doctor and This is Going to Hurt you'll
love this. **Pre-order Dr Richard Shepherd's new book THE SEVEN
AGES OF DEATH now** __________ 'Gripping, grimly fascinating, and I
suspect I'll read it at least twice' Evening Standard 'A deeply
mesmerising memoir of forensic pathology. Human and fascinating'
Nigella Lawson 'An absolutely brilliant book. I really recommend
it, I don't often say that but it's fascinating' Jeremy Vine, BBC
Radio 2 'Puts the reader at his elbow as he wields the scalpel'
Guardian 'Fascinating, gruesome yet engrossing' Richard and Judy,
Daily Express 'Fascinating, insightful, candid, compassionate'
Observer
'Our childhood came to an end when our parents parted and from then
on Jennifer was placed in the impossible position of having to be a
parent to me, her sister. I shall always be grateful for her
protection . . .' Millions have fallen in love with Jennifer Worth
and her experiences in the East End as chronicled in Call the
Midwife, but little is known about her life outside this period.
Now, in this moving and evocative memoir, Jennifer's sister
Christine takes us from their early idyllic years to the cruelty
and neglect they suffered after their parents divorced, from
Jennifer being forced to leave home at fourteen to their training
as nurses. After leaving nursing Jennifer took up a career in
music, her first love, and Christine became a sculptor, but through
marriages and children, joy and heartbreak, their lives remained
intertwined. Absorbing and emotional, The Midwife's Sister by
Christine Lee is testimony to an enduring bond between two
extraordinary women.
Audubon Park's journey from farmland to cityscape The study of
Audubon Park's origins, maturation, and disappearance is at root
the study of a rural society evolving into an urban community, an
examination of the relationship between people and the land they
inhabit. When John James Audubon bought fourteen acres of northern
Manhattan farmland in 1841, he set in motion a chain of events that
moved forward inexorably to the streetscape that emerged seven
decades later. The story of how that happened makes up the pages of
The Neighborhood Manhattan Forgot: Audubon Park and the Families
Who Shaped It. This fully illustrated history peels back the many
layers of a rural society evolving into an urban community,
enlivened by the people who propelled it forward: property owners,
tenants, laborers, and servants. The Neighborhood Manhattan Forgot
tells the intricate tale of how individual choices in the face of
family dysfunction, economic crises, technological developments,
and the myriad daily occurrences that elicit personal reflection
and change of course pushed Audubon Park forward to the cityscape
that distinguishes the neighborhood today. A longtime evangelist
for Manhattan's Audubon Park neighborhood, author Matthew Spady
delves deep into the lives of the two families most responsible
over time for the anomalous arrangement of today's streetscape: the
Audubons and the Grinnells. Buoyed by his extensive research, Spady
reveals the darker truth behind John James Audubon (1785-1851), a
towering patriarch who consumed the lives of his family members in
pursuit of his own goals. He then narrates how fifty years after
Audubon's death, George Bird Grinnell (1849-1938) and his siblings
found themselves the owners of extensive property that was not
yielding sufficient income to pay taxes, insurance, and
maintenance. Like the Audubons, they planned an exit strategy for
controlled change that would have an unexpected ending. Beginning
with the Audubons' return to America in 1839, The Neighborhood
Manhattan Forgot follows the many twists and turns of the area's
path from forest to city, ending in the twenty-first century with
the Audubon name re-purposed in today's historic district, a
multiethnic, multi-racial urban neighborhood far removed from the
homogeneous, Eurocentric Audubon Park suburb.
CHOSEN AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE GUARDIAN, DAILY TELEGRAPH, NEW
STATESMAN AND BBC SCIENCE FOCUS 'An intimate, unique, and inspiring
perspective on the life and work of one of the greatest minds of
our time. Filled with insight, humour, and never-before-told
stories, it's a view of Stephen Hawking that few have seen and all
will appreciate' James Clear, author of Atomic Habits An icon of
the last fifty years, Stephen Hawking seems to encapsulate genius:
not since Albert Einstein has a scientific figure held such a
position in popular consciousness. In this enthralling memoir,
writer and physicist Leonard Mlodinow tells the story of his friend
and their collaboration, offering an intimate account of this giant
of science. The two met in 2003, when Stephen asked Leonard if he
would consider writing a book with him, the follow up to the
bestselling A Brief History of Time. As they spent years working on
a second book, The Grand Design, they forged a deep connection and
Leonard gained a much better understanding of Stephen's daily life
and struggles -- as well as his compassion and good humour.
Together they obsessed over the perfect sentence, debated the
physics, and occasionally punted on Cambridge's waterways with
champagne and strawberries. In time, Leonard was able to finish
Stephen's jokes, chide his sporadic mischief, and learn how the
hardships of his illness helped forge that unique perspective on
the universe. By weaving together their shared story with a
clear-sighted portrayal of Hawking's scientific achievements,
Mlodinow creates a beautiful portrait of Stephen Hawking as a
brilliant, impish and generous man whose life was not only
exceptional but also genuinely inspiring.
Ross-shire-born polymath Hugh Miller (1802-56) was famous in his
lifetime across the English-speaking world. After starting his
working life as a stonemason, he became a social commentator and
crusader and an inspiring (pre-Darwinian) writer on fossils.
Michael A. Taylor's biography - the first synoptic reassessment to
draw upon new research - was first published in 2007. It quotes
generous chunks of Miller's own still immensely readable writings
(he was known as 'the supreme poet of geology') and covers the full
range of Hugh Miller, from stonemason through geologist and editor
to private family man, with a surprising conclusion regarding his
suicide. This new edition has some minor amendments and a new
cover.
In this detailed and meticulously researched account of the life
and work of Charles Michell, the first surveyor-general and civil
engineer of the South African Cape Colony, author Gordon Richings
examines in depth, the many interests and achievements of the man,
as well as the essence of the time in which he lived, by referring
to unpublished personal diaries, sketchbooks and letters. Born in
Exeter, Devon in 1793, Michell showed artistic talent at a young
age, but due to family circumstances, joined the British Army and
served with distinction in the Napoleonic Wars in Portugal. He came
to the Cape in 1829 and for the next twenty years played a crucial
role in opening up the Cape interior to economic development and
expansion, by designing roads, bridges and mountain passes,
including Sir Lowry's, the Houw Hoek, Montagu and Michell's Passes.
He also suggested improvements to Table Bay Harbour and designed
lighthouses at Mouille Point, Cape Agulhas and Cape Recife in an
effort to protect shipping along the Cape's notorious coastline.
This first biography of Charles Michell is lavishly illustrated
with his sketches, watercolours and engravings of Cape scenery,
plants, insects and rock paintings, as well as Cape personalities,
maps of the colony and architectural plans - the majority of which
are published for the first time. New light is shed on the
socio-economic life at the Cape, particularly the Tsitsikamma
region of the southern Cape, the Frontier War of 1834-35, as well
as on the personalities of Michell's colleagues and contemporaries
in England and at the Cape.
"The son of a prominent Japanese mathematician who came to the
United States after World War II, Ken Ono was raised on a diet of
high expectations and little praise. Rebelling against his
pressure-cooker of a life, Ken determined to drop out of high
school to follow his own path. To obtain his father's approval, he
invoked the biography of the famous Indian mathematical prodigy
Srinivasa Ramanujan, whom his father revered, who had twice flunked
out of college because of his single-minded devotion to
mathematics. Ono describes his rocky path through college and
graduate school, interweaving Ramanujan's story with his own and
telling how at key moments, he was inspired by Ramanujan and guided
by mentors who encouraged him to pursue his interest in exploring
Ramanujan's mathematical legacy. Picking up where others left off,
beginning with the great English mathematician G.H. Hardy, who
brought Ramanujan to Cambridge in 1914, Ono has devoted his
mathematical career to understanding how in his short life,
Ramanujan was able to discover so many deep mathematical truths,
which Ramanujan believed had been sent to him as visions from a
Hindu goddess. And it was Ramanujan who was ultimately the source
of reconciliation between Ono and his parents. Ono's search for
Ramanujan ranges over three continents and crosses paths with
mathematicians whose lives span the globe and the entire twentieth
century and beyond. Along the way, Ken made many fascinating
discoveries. The most important and surprising one of all was his
own humanity."
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