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Books > Biography > Science, technology & engineering
When Charles Darwin, then age 22, first saw the HMS Beagle, he thought it looked "more like a wreck than a vessel commissioned to go round the world." But travel around the world it did, taking Darwin to South America, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, and of course the Galapagos Islands, in a journey of discovery that lasted almost five years. Now, in Fossils, Finches and Fuegians, Richard Keynes, Darwin's great grandson, offers the first modern full-length account of Darwin's epoch-making expedition. This was the great adventure of Charles Darwin's life. Indeed, it would have been a great adventure for anyone--tracking condor in Chile, surviving the great earthquake of 1835, riding across country on horseback in the company of gauchos, watching whales leaping skyward off Tierra del Fuego, hunting ostriches with a bolo, discovering prehistoric fossils and previously unknown species, and meeting primitive peoples such as the Fuegians. Keynes captures many of the natural wonders that Darwin witnessed, including an incredible swarm of butterflies a mile wide and ten miles long. Keynes also illuminates Darwin's scientific work--his important findings in geology and biology--and traces the slow revolution in Darwin's thought about species and how they might evolve. Numerous illustrations--mostly by artists who traveled with Darwin on the Beagle--grace the pages, including finely rendered drawings of many points of interest discussed in the book. There has probably been no greater or more important scientific expedition than Darwin's voyage on the Beagle. Packed with colorful details of life aboard ship and in the wild, here is a fascinating portrait of Charles Darwin and of 19th century science.
When Rick Hill, who was diagnosed at the MAyo Clinic with very aggressive embryonal cell carcinoma at a very young age, learned about a nutritional clinic in Tijuana, Mexico, that was treating terminally ill people, he journeyd south. Hill, a former stand-up comic readio talk-show host, takes you on a hilarious and poignant trip through helath food stores in the 1970s and his experiences at the Mayo Clinic. He recalls how he went from a "greaser" to a tree-hugger and food fanatic, but nothing compares with how he slipped through a rabbit hole, ended up in Mexico, and beat "The Cancer Conundrum." Praise for "The Cancer Conundrum" ""Don't let the title of this book fool you, this is laugh-out-loud funny. It also has a life-giving message."" Dr. Brent Allan, Scottsdale, AZ. ""Like my father before me, I have admired Rick's willingness to stay on his program and share with others his success."" Dr. Francisco Contreras, "Oasis of Hope," Tijuana, Baja BC www.OasisofHope.com Rick's style of humor and dedication to 'Resetting" his life daily us an inspiration " Janyce Hustwit, Ph.D
This book explores the life and scientific legacy of Manfred Schroeder through personal reflections, scientific essays and Schroeder s own memoirs. Reflecting the wide range of Schroeder s activities, the first part of the book contains thirteen articles written by his colleagues and former students. Topics discussed include his early, pioneering contributions to the understanding of statistical room acoustics and to the measurement of reverberation time; his introduction of digital signal processing methods into acoustics; his use of ray tracing methods to study sound decay in rooms and his achievements in echo and feedback suppression and in noise reduction. Other chapters cover his seminal research in speech processing including the use of predictive coding to reduce audio bandwidth which led to various code-excited linear prediction schemes, today used extensively for speech coding. Several chapters discuss Schroeder s work in low-peak factor signals, number theory, and maximum-length sequences with key applications in hearing research, diffraction gratings, artificial reverberators and de-correlation techniques for enhancing subjective envelopment in surround sound. In style, the articles range from truly scientific to conversationally personal. In all contributions, the relationship between the current research presented and Manfred Schroeder s own fields of interest is, in general, evident. The second part of the book consists of Schroeder s own memoirs, written over the final decade of his life. These recollections shed light on many aspects not only of Schroeder s life but also on that of many of his colleagues, friends and contemporaries. They portray political, social and scientific events over a period that extends from pre-war to the present. These memoirs, written in an inimitable and witty style, are full of information, entertaining and fun to read, providing key insight into the life and work of one of the greatest acousticians of the 20th century."
Some people are born to lead and destined to teach by the example of living life to the fullest, and facing death with uncommon honesty and courage. Peter Barton was that kind of person. Driven by the ideals that sparked a generation, he became an overachieving Everyman, a risk-taker who showed others what was possible. Then, in the prime of his life -- hugely successful, happily married, and the father of three children -- Peter faced the greatest of all challenges. Diagnosed with cancer, he began a journey that was not only frightening and appalling but also full of wonder and discovery. With unflinching candor and even surprising humor, Not Fade Away finds meaning and solace in Peter's confrontation with mortality. Celebrating life as it dares to stare down death, Peter's story addresses universal hopes and fears, and redefines the quietly heroic tasks of seeking clarity in the midst of pain, of breaking through to personal faith, and of achieving peace after bold and sincere questioning.
An "intriguing and accessible" (Publishers Weekly) interpretation of the life of Galileo Galilei, one of history's greatest and most fascinating scientists, that sheds new light on his discoveries and how he was challenged by science deniers. "We really need this story now, because we're living through the next chapter of science denial" (Bill McKibben). Galileo's story may be more relevant today than ever before. At present, we face enormous crises-such as minimizing the dangers of climate change-because the science behind these threats is erroneously questioned or ignored. Galileo encountered this problem 400 years ago. His discoveries, based on careful observations and ingenious experiments, contradicted conventional wisdom and the teachings of the church at the time. Consequently, in a blatant assault on freedom of thought, his books were forbidden by church authorities. Astrophysicist and bestselling author Mario Livio draws on his own scientific expertise and uses his "gifts as a great storyteller" (The Washington Post) to provide a "refreshing perspective" (Booklist) into how Galileo reached his bold new conclusions about the cosmos and the laws of nature. A freethinker who followed the evidence wherever it led him, Galileo was one of the most significant figures behind the scientific revolution. He believed that every educated person should know science as well as literature, and insisted on reaching the widest audience possible, publishing his books in Italian rather than Latin. Galileo was put on trial with his life in the balance for refusing to renounce his scientific convictions. He remains a hero and inspiration to scientists and all of those who respect science-which, as Livio reminds us in this "admirably clear and concise" (The Times, London) book, remains threatened everyday.
At the age of thirty-three, Delanie Stephenson was enjoying life with her husband, two kids, and a teaching job she loved. Blessings abounded, and Delanie thanked God for each one. But it only took a single instant to change it all. A terrible headache struck her on June 6, 2012, and no amount of ibuprofen could take care of it. Delanie had a stroke-similar to the stroke that Delanie's twenty-nine-year-old sister had suffered a year before. What were the odds of two sisters suffering the same ailment? Delanie's entire family was in a state of shock, and the news became worse when the doctors were unsure whether Delanie would walk or talk again. In her memoir, Delanie describes that summer of 2012 in detail, from those first harried days in the ICU to the tedious physical therapy as she slowly began to crawl her way back to recovery. Not only did Delanie walk and talk again; she emerged from her ordeal even stronger and decided that she would never again take life for granted. Filled with intimate details and the amazing resilience of the human spirit, The Calm before the Storm shares one woman's amazing journey from stroke victim to stroke survivor.
Since 1995, Michelle Cox has been an active participant in online chatrooms, gaming sites, and lobby activity. She is also a nurse who was a regular visitor to the Physicians Online room, a place that became more to her than just a chatroom. The people who made Physicians Online a phenomenon became a family. There, doctors, nurses, and other professionals shared their lives together. They extended their relationships beyond the keyboard, meeting for lunch, events, parties, and much more. The face-to-face parties were legendary, and now Michelle welcomes you into her memories. To protect the innocent-and the infamous-she has changed or altered the screen names of the real-life characters who populated her online haunts. Even so, each and every story is inspired by reality. The community was involved in drama, sex, outrageous parties, and even murder. Physicians Online invented the word cyber-bullying before it became a world-wide term. In this personal narrative, Michelle shares true and amazing stories about her experiences with this online group with the hope of conveying just a little of what she felt in the early days of Internet communities.
Before slim laptops that fit into briefcases, computers looked like strange vending machines, with cryptic switches and pages of encoded output. But in 1977 Steve Wozniak revolutionized the computer industry with his invention of the first personal computer. As the sole inventor of the Apple I and II computers, Wozniak has enjoyed wealth, fame, and the most coveted awards an engineer can receive, and he tells his story here for the first time.
Josefina B. Magno, M.D was the First Executive Director of the National Hospice Organization of the United States (NHO). During her lifetime, hospices and palliative care services grew to over 8000 in 100 countries - many with her help. "Jo" Magno recalls for us the inspiring stories of her childhood, marriage, becoming a widow, and surviving cancer - all steps leading her to become a hospice physician. She remembers her first patients - Ruth, Florence, Eugene and others. She recounts the struggles and obstacles she overcame with the wonderful volunteers and staff and friends she worked with in Northern Virginia, Michigan, Texas, and around the world to pioneer changes in care for the terminally ill. Jo's Catholic faith sustained her and gave her courage in her work and personal life. She attributed any success to God and the inspiration of the saints she loved- Saint Josemaria Escriva and Saint Joseph - to whom she dedicated all her work. "What an amazing story of faith and accomplishment. On Capital Hospice's 30th anniversary and on behalf of the over 50,000 patients cared for, we celebrate and appreciate Jo's inspiration." -Malene Davis, President and CEO of Capital Hospice
The prospect of dental care for many presents no problem, yet for others it does. Jeffrey A Oras, DMD, has looked beyond age old stereotypes attached to anxiety about dentistry, widening his understanding of what makes this anxiety unique both to dental care and at the same time related to how all of us, whether anxious or not about dental care, respond to life itself. Tooth Sense is meant to not only demystify what is behind all this, but also to offer practical insights and solutions so that everyone can more comfortably receive better care-whether you're going in for a complicated procedure or routine cleaning. The author's quest to develop the concept of Tooth Sense has taken him well beyond his original intentions, into the mysteries behind the evolution of the mouth and its surrounding organs and how the workings of this part of our anatomy may significantly impact the quality of all aspects of our lives. Part memoir, part practical guidebook, and part invitation to join Dr. Oras in looking more fully at what comprises these mysteries, Tooth Sense also assesses for dentists and patients alike the impact of various ways that dentistry is actually delivered, such as through dental office design or through using team based practice models. Throughout, we are encouraged to view dentistry as much more than a set of procedures and protocols.
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat . . . but 1.4 million NHS staff are heading off to work. In this perfect present for anyone who has ever set foot in a hospital, Adam Kay delves back into his diaries for a hilarious, horrifying and sometimes heartbreaking peek behind the blue curtain at Christmastime. This is a love letter to all those who spend their festive season on the front line, removing babies and baubles from the various places they get stuck, at the most wonderful time of the year.
"A masterful life story - You will read about him with abundant pleasure as he takes you on a winding journey, twisting your view of his life's many quirky turns and counterpoints to truly live up to the book's title - "Screwed: The Path of a Healer." An illuminating, forthright, and soul-searching insight into a man's journey for a better way to help and heal humans." -Ron Watson, President, American Press Association Dr. Amnon Goldstein has been a physician for over 40 years and has witnessed the harshest of both environmental and human conditions. From war time in Israel to apartheid and riots in South Africa from being a physician to the impoverished in the slums to treating the Royalty. Mixing together conventional, Western, medicine with holistic and Eastern medicine, Dr Goldstein has served as a healer in many senses of the word - From trauma and vascular surgery to hypnotherapy and past life regression; From treating and researching HIV and Cancer to spiritualism, acupuncture, holistic medicine and the power of the mind. In his new book, "SCREWED - The Path of a Healer," Dr Goldstein presents the reader with so much more than just a dry autobiography. This book keenly presents the life of an extraordinary person both gifted and cursed all at the same time. A tale that is sincere yet immensely, stunningly candid and revealing. A tale of a man who embraced all modalities of healing while himself learning to heal the deepest wounds of the human soul. As you turn the pages, you will find yourself filled with both tears and laughter and eventually, filled with a deep sense of admiration for the sheer strength of the human spirit. Press
On the afternoon of Sunday, October 5, 2003, in Alaska's Katmai
National Park, one or more brown bears killed and ate Timothy
Treadwell and his girlfriend, Amie Huguenard. The next day, park
rangers investigating the site shot and killed two bears that
threatened them; it was later determined that one of the bears had
human flesh and clothing in its stomach.
Ninety-two thousand people wait for transplants every day, and Arlene C. Swirsky was one of them from November 2001 until September 2003, a decade after she was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease. With a not-all-there elderly mother and a family simply trying to make life work, Swirsky finds herself engulfed by a confusing mixture of anxiety and guilt as she waits for a transplant organ. It isn't easy, and it certainly isn't pretty. As months become years, the waiting turns Swirsky into a new breed of modern woman, one prepared for all eventualities and all possible outcomes. Her inner bitch crawls out of hibernation to guide her-with questionable results, screaming failures, and, on the best of days, mighty miracles. With an unparalleled degree of honesty, humor, and vulnerability, Swirsky explores the gamut of thoughts and feelings that transplant patients cope with every day. Set against the lovely hills of central Massachusetts and the beaches of southern Maine, Rediscovering My Inner Bitch provides an unflinching glimpse into the soul of a woman waiting for someone to die so that she may live.
When Mollie stepped off the train in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1890,
she knew she had to start a new life. She'd left her husband and
his medical practice behind in Iowa, and with only a few hundred
dollars in her pocket and a great deal of pride, she set out to
find a new position as a physician. She was offered a job as a
doctor to the miners in Bannack, Montana, and thus began her epic
adventures as a pioneer doctor, a suffragette, and a crusader for
public health reform in the Rocky Mountain West.
A VISION GIVES PURPOSE AND ENERGIZES A BROADER VISION is a compelling glimpse into an energized and engaged life of 96 years - based on a vision of life that centered on family, community and God. It describes the world of the 20th century with details of family life, business and world events in short stories and personal reflections. John E. Burgener, a physicist, entrepreneur, writer, photographer, painter, and world traveler, has worn many hats. Born in the midst of World War I, John lived his teenage years in the Great Depression. In spite of difficult economic times he struggled to attend university. While at university, during World War II, he was singled out to solve control problems in aluminum production for airplane manufacturing. He married, raised a family and at the end of the war founded a successful international business, that had an impact on the world.
In this work, Carl Anthony shares his perspectives as an African-American child in post-World War II Philadelphia; a student and civil rights activist in 1960s Harlem; a traveling student of West African architecture; and an architect, planner, and environmental justice advocate in Berkeley. He contextualizes this within American urbanism and human origins, making profoundly personal both African American and American urban histories as well as planetary origins and environmental issues, to not only bring a new worldview to people of color, but to set forth a truly inclusive vision of our shared planetary future. The Earth, the City, and the Hidden Narrative of Race connects the logics behind slavery, community disinvestment, and environmental exploitation to address the most pressing issues of our time in a cohesive and foundational manner. Most books dealing with these topics and periods silo issues apart from one another, but this book contextualizes the connections between social movements and issues, providing tremendous insight into successful movement building. Anthony's rich narrative describes both being at the mercy of racism, urban disinvestment, and environmental injustice as well as fighting against these forces with a variety of strategies. Because this work is both a personal memoir and an exposition of ideas, it will appeal to those who appreciate thoughtful and unique writing on issues of race, including individuals exploring their own African American identity, as well as progressive audiences of organizations and community leaders and professionals interested in democratizing power and advancing equitable policies for low-income communities and historically disenfranchised communities.
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