Kenn Amdahl usually writes "funny books on dull subjects" like There Are No Electrons: Electronics for Earthlings and Calculus for Cats (with math professor Jim Loats). When a friend was diagnosed with ALS, he began casually educating himself about the disease, with no intent to write a book. It turns out, no one completely understands ALS yet. Theories about its cause have ranged from people eating fruit bats, to toxins in blue-green algae, to weed killers, to ingredients in soft drinks and processed meats, to nutritional deficiencies. The more Kenn learned, the more curious he became. Remarkably, ALS seems to share some characteristics with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's; curing one may lead to a cure for all of them. The progress is amazing and accelerating; we have good reasons to be hopeful. Kenn wound up learning many weird scientific tidbits plus some interesting medical history. Revenge of the Pond Scum is the journal of his quest. It includes many of those tidbits and side trips, as well as a few of his own brainstorms. If you're embarking on a similar quest, this book may save you a lot of time.

A lighthearted, sometimes irreverent introduction to the concepts, vocabulary and strategies of first year algebra. Designed for people who learn best by reading, it includes no exercises. Beginning with some pre algebra concepts, like working with fractions, it explains linear equations, quadratic equations and graphing in easy to understand, non frightening language. Ideal for people who think they hate math to read before they take the class or as a supplement during it. It provides an additional explanation to the confused and comfort for the fearful. For nearly twenty years this book has been helping math-phobes survive their most dreaded class.