Science & Scientists Books - Page 2

The Science of Supervillains

Lois H. Gresh, Robert Weinberg

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Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The authors of The Science of Superheroes now reveal the real genius of the most evil geniuses
Ever wonder why comic book villains, such as Spiderman's bionic archenemy Dr. Octopus or the X-Men's eternal rival Magneto, are so scary and so much fun? It's not just their diabolical talent for confounding our heroes, it's their unrivalled techno-proficiency at creating global mayhem that keeps comic book fans captivated. But is any of the science actually true? In The Science of Supervillains, authors Lois Gresh and Bob Weinberg present a highly entertaining and informative look at the mind-boggling wizardry behind the comic book world's legendary baddies. Whether it's artificial intelligence, weapons systems, anti-matter, robotics, or magnetic flux theory, this fun, fact-filled book is a fascinating excursion into the real-world science animating the genius in the comic book world's pantheon of evil geniuses.
Lois Gresh (Scottsville, NY) and Bob Weinberg (Oak Forest, IL) are the authors of the popular Science of Superheroes (cloth: 0-471-0246-0; paper: 0-471-46882-7)

The Infinite Book: A Short Guide to the Boundless, Timeless and Endless

John D. Barrow

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

An examination of Infinity — in history and science — with excursions into literature, philosophy and religion, written by one of the most successful writers of popular science.

Infinity is surely the strangest idea that humans have ever thought. Where did it come from and what is it telling us about our Universe? Can there actually be infinities? Or is infinity just a label for something that is never reached, no matter how long you go on counting? Can you do an infinite number of things in a finite amount of time? Is the universe infinite?

But infinity is also the place where things happen that don’t. All manner of strange paradoxes and fantasies characterize an infinite universe. So what is it like to live in a Universe where nothing is original, where you can live forever, where anything that can be done, is done, over and over again?

These are some of the deep questions that the idea of the Infinite pushes us to ask. Throughout history, the Infinite has been a dangerous idea. Many have lost their lives, their careers, or their freedom for talking about it. The Infinite Book will take you on a tour of these dangerous questions and the strange answers that scientists, mathematicians, philosophers, and theologians have come up with to deal with its threats to our sanity.

Coincidences, Chaos, and All That Math Jazz: Making Light of Weighty Ideas

Edward B. Burger, Michael Starbird

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

This book = Great Fun + Great Insight! 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

Who says math is boring or irrelevant?

Certainly not someone who's read this book and seen the many ways math serves as the skeleton key to life and the mysteries of the universe itself!

At the beginning of each chapter the authors skillfully say what they're going to prove in simple English and then by the end of the chapter end up proving it not only in English but math as well.

Starting simply with the subject of coincidences, the authors show how and why even in very small groups you may share a birthday with someone else. From coincidences the authors discuss choas, the reverse of coincidence where small differences ultimately make for...well...even bigger differences. Why is this so? They tell you.

Later they tackle cryptography and show how the patterns of running a lottery are in the end very similar to the patterns that govern the forms life takes. Amazingly, in twenty pages they manage to cover the same ground covered in the book "The Golden Ratio" (which by the way, is also very, good book but just a longer discussion).

Moving from the mysteries of life to the mysteries of the universe, the authors ACTUALLY MAKE YOU UNDERSTAND what the 4th dimension would be like. In this way, they manage through a brief treatment what the longer work "Flatterland" by Ian Stewart (also, by the way, a very good book, just longer) manages to do.

Finally, they plum that ultimate mystery of mathematics and creation -- infinity. Here again, they also manage in a brief treatment that which is also dealt with in a longer book, "Zero" by Charles Seife (again, also a very, good book but again just longer).

As both an introductory work to all the other books cited in this review or merely as a book read on its own, this book delivers both great fun and great insight.

Buy it now!

Editorial Review:

By starting in the familiar world and using a few simple steps of imagination, Edward B. Burger and Michael Starbird sneak up on weighty mathematical ideas. The spirals on a pineapple quickly lead to the famous Fibonacci numbers and the alluring Golden Ratio, and from there to aesthetic forms in nature, art and music. The edge of a twisted strip of paper leads to an image of the shape of the universe. Playing with the notion of probability shows that surprising coincidences such as the amazing parallels between the Lincoln and Kennedy assassinations are sure to happen. These and other foreign and familiar mysteries are all explained with great humour and clarity in this irreverent, entertaining and readable book.

The Physics of the Buffyverse

Jennifer Ouellette

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Enjoyable and Educational 4 out of 5 stars.
11 of 12 people found this review helpful.

The Physics of the Buffyverse, by Jennifer Ouellette is an in-depth look at the science behind the hit shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Ouellette pulls from a wide variety of examples of extraordinary monsters and happenings from the Buffyverse and explains how they might be possible in the real world, and how they'd work. She often compares vampires and other demons' abilities to the nature of common animals and insects in Ouellette's section on biology.

I was afraid that this might be a bit over my head, since my favorite subject wasn't physics. But Ouellette does a wonderful job of explaining the science in layman's terms, complete with the occasional illustration to drive her points. I found a lot of the facts behind "what is possible and why" pretty interesting. From how someone the size of Buffy could toss a larger man to theories on time manipulation, Ouellette covers a large range of topics and conjectures.

If you're a big fan of Buffy and Angel, and would like learning more about how things work in the Buffyverse, this book is for you.

Editorial Review:

Physics with a Buffy the Vampire Slayer pop-culture chaser

In the tradition of the bestselling The Physics of Star Trek, acclaimed science writer Jennifer Ouellette explains fundamental concepts in the physical sciences through examples culled from the hit TV shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off, Angel. The weird and wonderful world of the Buffyverse—where the melding of magic and science is an everyday occurrence—provides a fantastical jumping-off point for looking at complex theories of biology, chemistry, and theoretical physics. From surreal vampires, demons, and interdimensional portals to energy conservation, black holes, and string theory, The Physics of the Buffyverse is serious (and palatable) science for the rest of us.

The Ig Nobel Prizes 2: An All-New Collection of the World's Unlikeliest Research (Ignobel)

Marc Abrahams

List Price: $18.95 By: Dutton Adult Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $0.06

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Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The hilarious second installment of the popular humor series honoring the world’s most improbable actual research

The first volume of The Ig Nobel Prizes was celebrated as a “brainy bacchanalian” (USA Today) and “so funny you couldn’t make it up” (The Washington Post). Now, the “guru of scientific satire” (Publishers Weekly), Marc Abrahams, returns with The Ig Nobel Prizes 2, a fresh compendium of all- new unbelievable-but-true accomplishments in the sciences, arts, and humanities.

Born from the annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony at Harvard University, The Ig Nobel Prizes 2 demonstrates the incredible lengths to which people will go in the pursuit of knowledge. Winners of this prestigious award include:
-The scientists who discovered that chickens prefer beautiful humans
-The Norwegian research team that documented the impact of wearing wet underwear in the cold
-The entire nation of Liechtenstein, which rents itself out for weddings, bar mitzvahs, or other gatherings.

Featuring anecdotes from the 2004 Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony and a zany collection of all new achievements, The Ig Nobel Prizes 2 is perfect for anyone who first wants to laugh and then wants to think.

Praise for The Ig Nobel Prizes:
“[The Ig Nobel Prizes] honor achievements that are truly extraordinary, whether they be awful, wonderful, or a hopeless mixture of both.... Where others might see evil, perversion, or stupidity, Abrahams finds only admirable persistence.”
—The Boston Globe

The Ig Nobel Prizes: The Annals of Improbable Research

Marc Abrahams

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Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

A sidesplitting compendium that pays tribute to those individuals whose scientific achievements cannot or should not be reproduced.

Everyone knows about the Nobel Prizes, those prestigious awards that recognize the world's most talented and innovative minds. Unfortunately, not all of the hopeful thinkers and academics around the globe can become Nobel Laureates, but some are lucky enough to win the esteemed Ig Nobel Prize instead. Their unbelievable accomplishments are now documented in glorious detail in The Ig Nobel Prizes: The Annals of Improbable Research.

Drawn from the world's wackiest actual scientific research, The Ig Nobel Prizes demonstrates the extreme measures people will take in the quest for knowledge. Recent Ig Nobel honorees include:
* The professor who won the Ig Nobel Prize in Physics for a study proving that toast falls buttered side down more often.
* The Southern Baptist Church of Alabama, which won the Ig Nobel Prize in Mathematics for devising a formula to determine how many Alabamans will go to Hell.
* The Australian man who successfully patented the wheel, and the Australian Patent Office that granted it. For this act, they were jointly awarded the Ig Nobel Prize in Technology.

This hilarious book features these endeavors and many more, along with photographs from the annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremonies at Harvard University. An entertaining exhibition of brains and determination, The Ig Nobel Prizes is the ideal gift for anyone who first wants to laugh and then wants to think.

Einstein Atomized: More Science Cartoons

Sidney Harris

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Science is too important to take seriously. 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Maybe that's why Springer-Verlag published these cartoons. Springer (parent company of Copernicus) is generally known for highly technical books, and clearly felt that Harris' comics are a valued contribution.

Science is just another human endeavor, so it's full of humans. That means it's basically irrational at the bottom, just like the people that work in science. It looks as if Harris has devoted his life to reminding us that clear, consistent results come from silly, self-contradictory people. His cartoons tease scientists, but always with affection. That's why so many people in the sciences like his work, and even make it their own.

If you already know Harris' work, you're sure to like this. If you're not already a Harris fan, this book will fix that for you.

Editorial Review:

Sidney Harris, acclaimed Dean of Scientific Humor, presents his most recent collection of cartoons. No scientific or technical topic is safe from the scope of his humor. Harris's cartoons have appeared in American Scientist, Playboy, The New Yorker, Discover, and Science, among many other popular magazines.

Previous collections include Einstein Simplified, "You Want Proof? I'll Give You Proof!", and From Personal Ads to Cloning Labs.

Einstein Simplified: Cartoons on Science

Sidney Harris

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

good laughs 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This one's hard to write a review on -- you kinda have to see the cartoons yourself, and you'll either laugh or you won't. My bet is if you're even considering buying the book, you'll laugh at 'em. And you'll find at least a few worth passing around or pasting on your office door. They cover the gamut of science and engineering topics.

HILARIOUS Book of Science and Technology Cartoons 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I'm not a scientist and don't pretend or intend to be. Nevertheless, I thought this book was hilarious. Harris does for science and technology what Scott Adams (who created the *Dilbert* cartoon) does for the business world. He illustrates the funny sides of the scientific and technological environments in such a simple and funny way that just about everyone can enjoy it.

If you have even the remotest interest in science and/or technology . . . or even if you just think that some of what goes on in those environments can be a little wacky or bizarre at times, then this book will definitely make you laugh out loud.

Editorial Review:

Sidney Harris is America's foremost science cartoonist. He has been praised by luminaries such as Linus Pauling and Isaac Asimov, as well as countless others throughout the world, for his ability to find humour in what is traditionally regarded as a somewhat dry subject. Harris does for science what Scott Adams (creator of Dilbert) does for business: his unique perspective illustrates the scientific and technological environments in such a funny way that everyone can enjoy it. This edition of "Einstein Simplified" has been updated and revised with new cartoons.

Can You Drill a Hole Through Your Head and Survive?: 180 Fascinating Questions and Amazing Answers About Science, Health and Nature

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Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Questions You've Probably Thought About But Never Thought Someone Would Answer! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

First off let me just point out that this book is exactly the same book as How Slow Can you Waterski? and other puzzling questions.... I work in a library and many people often request the exact same book they have already read and these two are a common mistake made by readers who loved one of these titles and immediately want more by the same author unaware they are both the same book. Why do publishers do this? Who knows but to sell more books would be my guess. Anyway under either title this is a great and very interesting read! Buy whichever is cheaper.

How Slow Can You Waterski? Can You Drill a Hole in Your Own Head and Survive? Is it Dangerous to Use a Mobile Phone on a Plane or in a Hospital? Why are Giant Pandas so Bad at Mating? British newspaper The Guardian has a column which looks into these sort of weird questions that once asked by someone many people say yeah what is the answer to that. To get even more questions or maybe to appeal to the American market as well The New York Times Reality Column has also contributed questions and answers to this great book. This book is divided up into nine different sections some sections more serious such as medical related and some a lot lighter.

So if your planning a trivia night, want to pull answers to bizarre questions seeming out of the air on your next date or want to impress your colleagues at the watercooler then this is the book for you.

More samples of questions answered within are -
Is it Safe to Fire a Gun on a Plane?
Can Stress make Your Hair Go Grey?
Could Brain Implants Control People Remotely?
Can Too Much Sleep Kill You?
Can You See the Great Wall of China from Space?
How Do You Tap a Phone?
Why Do Tennis Players Check the Ball Before Serving?
How Do You Make a Nuclear Bomb?
How Can You Intercept Other People's Text Messages?
What Are My Chances of Being Stuck by Lightning in Bed?
What Should I Do if a Shark Attacks?
Should Backstroke (Swimming)be Banned?
What's the Lowest Height You Can Parachute From?
Does Grunting Help Tennis Players With Their Game?
Does Dining in the Dark Make Food Taste Different?
Will Feeding Prisoners Vitamins make Them Behave Better?
Is Eating Live Insects a Bad Idea?
Is Chocolate Good For You?
Are Cloned Animals Safe to eat?

There's heaps of other interesting questions as well. One of the best if not the best books in this genre.

Editorial Review:

For the readers who made Why Do Men Have Nipples? a bestseller comes this collection of mind-boggling answers to everyday (and not-so-everyday) questions. 
 
Can a thick pair of shoes save you in a nuclear attack?  How do you cut off your own arm? Are live insects safe to eat?  How much can you understand while you’re in a coma?  Can science prove or disprove the existence of God?  Can your iPod make you hallucinate?  Do pregnant women make better wine tasters? Can You Drill a Hole in Your Head and Survive? tackles age-old health and scientific quandaries.  Addictive and endlessly entertaining, this is the perfect gift for know-it-alls and know-nothings alike. 

Two-Fisted Science

James S. Ottaviani, Donna Barr, Guy Davis, Bernie Mireault, Colleen Doran, Steve Lieber, Rob Walton

List Price: $10.00 By: G.T. Labs Amazon Marketplace: 11 new & used starting at $4.50

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Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Two-Fisted Science is the first in a series of books in comics form telling true stories about scientists. This 128 page trade paperback features tales of famous physicists including Hans Bethe, Niels Bohr, Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, Galileo, Werner Heisenberg, Gottfried Leibniz, Isaac Newton, and Robert Oppenheimer, and Wolfgang Pauli. The stories offer a human context often missing when students learn the equations that bear the scientists' names. Readers, drawn to the book by the compelling anecdotes, will discover intriguing characters that lived real lives beyond ink on paper. End notes and references will lead them to further information on the scientists they've read about.

All stories are written by Jim Ottaviani, a former researcher and nuclear engineer -- now a reference librarian at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The illustrators include award-winning comics artists such as Paul Chadwick, Donna Barr, Bernie Mireault, and Colleen Doran.

The trade paperback is self-published with the generous assistance of a grant from the Xeric foundation. Established by Peter Laird (one of the creators of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles") each year the foundation awards a select group of comics creators money to bring their work to press. I am grateful to the foundation for their support and confident that you will consider this portion of the "Turtle" fortune well-spent!