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Formerly head of the Human Genome Project, Francis Collins now directs the US National Institutes of Health. “The Language of Life is timely, current and full of moving stories ... Collins argues convincingly that your DNA can become “your personal textbook” that “could literally save your life”.” (Abdallah Daar, Nature 463, 298–299; 2010.)
The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution
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Richard Dawkins concentrates on the proof rather than the logic for evolution, showing it has passed every test. “Some will criticize him for being uncompromising, but I applaud him for taking such a categorical — and entertaining — stance.” (Laurence Hurst, Nature 461, 596; 2009.)
In Pursuit of the Gene: From Darwin to DNA
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The history of classical genetics is recounted by James Schwartz, from Charles Darwin's misguided theory of pangenesis to the discovery of DNA and the Human Genome Project. Jerry Coyne wrote: “What distinguishes Schwartz's account is his impeccable scholarship, based on many primary sources ... interweaving discoveries with the strong and eccentric personalities who made them.” (Nature 453, 1181–1182; 2008.)
Reinventing the Sacred: A New View of Science, Reason, and Religion
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Einstein and Oppenheimer: The Meaning of Genius
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Looking at Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer in their social contexts, Silvan Schweber expands our understanding of these iconic physicists and how they used the local resources available to them. He questions what is meant by genius and whether, by putting some scientists on pedestals, we overlook the achievements of the communities they came from.
Science: A Four Thousand Year History
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We Are Not Alone: Why We Have Already Found Extraterrestrial Life
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The Strangest Man: The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Quantum Genius
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Hollywood Science: Movies, Science, and the End of the World
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Why Evolution Is True
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Jerry Coyne demonstrates the strength of evolutionary biology in a clear and accessible manner. Reviewer Xu Xing wrote: “He uses multiple strands of data in such a clear and sometimes humorous way that an open-minded reader can hardly avoid learning a great deal about evolution: from feathered dinosaurs to vestigial organs.” (Nature 462, 988; 2009.)
Life Ascending: The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution
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Nick Lane picks ten of evolution's key inventions — including sex, death and photosynthesis — to discuss how they arose, what they mean and why they revolutionized the living world. Wrote Lewis Wolpert of the hardback edition: “Not everyone will agree with his choice ... similar to life itself, the book is full of surprises.” (Nature 460, 460; 2009.)
Darwin's Armada: Four Voyagers to the Southern Oceans and Their Battle for the Theory of Evolution
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Iain McCalman explores how similar seafaring episodes on scientific voyages linked Charles Darwin and fellow naturalists Joseph Hooker, Thomas Henry Huxley and Alfred Russel Wallace. “McCalman forces us to notice the similarities of the men's intellectual and emotional experiences as well as of their physical privations,” wrote Alistair Sponsel (Nature 462, 286–287; 2009).
Secrets of Women: Gender, Generation, and the Origins of Human Dissection
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Focusing on female dissections in medieval Italy, the author examines how attempts to discover proof of sainthood or cause of death had a key role in the history of anatomy and revealed the 'secrets' of reproduction and pregnancy. Rina Knoeff wrote: “A 'must read' for anyone working on the history of pre-modern medicine.” (Nature 446, 265; 2007.)
Freaks of Nature: And What They Tell Us About Evolution and Development
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Evolutionary theory, argues Mark Blumberg, must move away from the orthodox, gene-centred view of evolution. Jerry Coyne wrote: “By presenting a parade of animal 'freaks' — mutants, developmental anomalies and weird species — Blumberg imparts lessons that, although familiar to biologists, will be valuable to non-specialists.” (Nature 457, 382–383; 2009.)
Pavlov's Dogs and Schrödinger's Cat: Scenes From the Living Laboratory
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Scientists use various creatures to study life. Rom Harré takes us through 500 years of the 'living laboratory' to show how organisms have been used in scientific discovery. “This charming book is entertaining, thought-provoking and frustrating. It is worth reading for all three of those reactions.” (Andrew Read, Nature 458, 1113–1114; 2009.)
Worlds Before Adam: The Reconstruction of Geohistory in the Age of Reform
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This history of Earth science reveals that the emergence of modern geology was “comparable in its cultural impact with that of relativity or Darwinian evolution”, wrote reviewer Victor Baker. “Rudwick highlights an underappreciated, glorious advance in human thought, the documentation of which is a rather glorious achievement in itself.” (Nature 454, 406–407; 2008.)
A Blueprint for a Safer Planet: How We Can Save the World and Create Prosperity
- Nicholas Stern
Economist Nicholas Stern lays out a road map for managing the climate crisis, describing the dangers of climate change and examining possible responses. “Stern presents an up-to-date, logically argued synthesis, using a style that makes his book more intelligible than many others on the topic.” (Robert Costanza, Nature 458, 1107–1108; 2009.)
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New in Paperback. Nature 464, 1273 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/4641273b
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/4641273b
