Environmental and software consultant Mulhall speculates, in a somewhat scattershot manner, on the impact of certain advanced technologies on human society and its relationship with the natural world.
Writing in plain language, Kellogg, an attorney with a degree in philosophy, draws on the ideas of six great philosophers to answer what Immanuel Kant considered the three core questions of philosophy
This very readable overview of natural history explores the dynamics that have made our planet so rich in biodiversity over time and supported the rise and dominance of our own species.Tracing the arc
Writing in accessible language for general readers, Staats (emeritus, psychology, University of Hawaii-Manoa) seeks to change the paradigm of scientific theory on the evolution of human behavior, huma
Far from being obscure and the toy solely of the mathematical, Fibonacci sequences are found in natural structures such as the arrangement of seeds on a pine cone and the branches of certain plant ste
Burger (curator emeritus, Field Museum of Natural History Department of Botany, Chicago) refers to Loren Eiseley's essay "How Flowers Changed the World" in his introduction. This book carries forward
Burger (curator emeritus, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago) ponders the likelihood that other technological civilizations exist in Earth's galaxy. He examines the critical points in the plane
Altmann, a mathematical physicist (Oxford U.) provides a philosophical framework for educated lay readers to understand the meaning of natural law, the scientific method, and causality in science. Rev
Argues against a Christian philosophical orientation, faith-based fideistic accounts, and the more traditional varieties of natural theology, and develops a naturalistic philosophical account that avo
A leading technology expert examines ways to manage the rapid proliferation of technology and come to grips with its pervasive influence.Technology--always a key driver of historical change--is now tr
The psychologist who worked with a famous amnesiac patient for fifty years explains what his studies show about how memory functions and ways to keep the brain active.This book summarizes the results
The whole story of laser weapons with a focus on its many interesting characters and sometimes bizarre schemesThe laser--a milestone invention of the mid-twentieth century--quickly captured the imagin
A sociologist explores the many ways that digital natives' interaction with technology has changed their relationship with people, places, jobs, and other stabilizing structures and created a new way
A tech-industry insider takes a critical look at the effect games are having on our short- and long-term happiness and assesses the cultural prospects of a society increasingly obsessed with gaming.Th
Oliver Heaviside (1850 -1925) may not be a household name but he was one of the great pioneers of electrical science: his work led to huge advances in communications and became the bedrock of the subject of electrical engineering as it is taught and practiced today. His ideas and original accomplishments are now so much a part of everyday electrical science that they are simply taken for granted; almost nobody wonders how they came about and Heaviside's name has been lost from view.This book tells the complete story of this extraordinary though often unappreciated scientist. The author interweaves details of Heaviside's life and personality with clear explanations of his many important contributions to the field of electrical engineering. He describes a man with an irreverent sense of fun who cared nothing for social or mathematical conventions and lived a fiercely independent life. His achievements include creating the mathematical tools that were to prove essential to the proper unde
This compelling approach to the immigration debate takes the reader behind the blaring headlines and into communities grappling with the reality of new immigrants and the changing nature of American i
Climate change is often associated with predictions of dire calamities. But in the past, heroic individuals have stepped forward to meet even the most ominous ecological challenges. This book tells an
In an alternate Australia dominated by coal power and the British empire, Clara and Tim arrive in the rebel republic of Westralia, where people are nocturnal and live underground, burrowing with machi
The only biography of Thurgood Marshall endorsed by his immediate family covers his whole life, from his upbringing to his landmark work with the NAACP and his appointment as the first African-America
Relegated to life in a wheelchair when his birth on the Moon renders him physically disabled, Jamey Barlowe is sent away with five other kids to escape a military coup d'etat and finds himself at the
Holden, a branding and research strategist who consults with organizations around the world, draws on stories from history, politics, sports, popular culture, and business and branding to show busines
A lawyer with a background in philosophy, Kellogg asks how the ancient Greek writers enrich people's lives even today, and what wisdom they teach. His topics include Homer and the heroic ideal, Aeschy
From the dawn of humanity to the present day, people always have had to contend with the unpredictable forces of nature. Vann (geography, U. of The Cumberlands) offers a somewhat different perspective
Suggests that all people should nurture their more empathetic instincts in order to understand the sources of everyone else's suffering, with the aim of improving the world and society as a whole.
Hargittai (research, Budapest U. of Technology and Economics, author) offers an interesting perspective on science in the 20th century with personality profiles of 15 scientists who made some of the m
From 1922 to 1933, during the height of his fame, Albert Einstein travelled the world with his cousin and second wife, Elsa, visiting with many notable people of the time, and keeping travel diaries.
This interesting memoir of the life and work of Peter Berger, documents the wide ranging career of this important and influential sociologist. Beginning with his introduction to the field and his work
This work of reportage by independent journalist Smucker appears mainly aimed at countering the anti-Islamic hysteria connected to much of the rhetoric associated with discussions of terrorism threats
Drawing from interviews with these individuals, Lutz, who owns a company that buys, sells, and appraises historic documents, chronicles the stories of the last people to witness famous events in histo
In a concise, lively, accessible, and witty style, the authors combine zoom-lens vignettes of religious practices with discussions of the latest research on religion's neurological effects on the brai
The thirteen colonies' War of Independence against Great Britain evokes images all Americans are familiar with: an overbearing British government tightening the chains of empire and squeezing the pock
Lichter, an Australian psychiatrist, compiles Muslim women's stories from 27 countries. Each country chapter begins with background on the country, then presents the voices of long-oppressed women as
Writing for entrepreneurs, marketers, and others in business, Newlin, a consultant with extensive experience in business strategy and marketing, discusses how certain brands create a loyal following a
The authors distill their years of experience with law enforcement and security companies in order to provide advice on how to understand and avoid predatory crimes. They cover crimes against children
Can biblical studies ever be completely disassociated with the religious beliefs of the scholar? Is the Bible relevant to modern society? Avalos (religious studies, Iowa State U.) believes that the so
Prefacing his volume with "An Open Letter to the Intelligent Machines of the Future," it is clear where Hall (a research fellow for the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing) thinks the field of artif
