Highlights from this season's latest releases
The Art and Politics of Science
- Harold Varmus
In his memoir, Nobel prize-winner Harold Varmus reflects on his work in cancer biology, his directorship of the US National Institutes of Health and the many political battles that he has fought over science. His ability to connect basic research and medical application is evident. “Varmus reveals a sharp, analytical intelligence as well as great enthusiasm for his work and profession”, wrote reviewer Iain Mattaj (Nature 458, 32; 2009).
Autism's False Prophets
- Paul A. Offit
Vaccine expert Paul Offit digs beneath the unproven claims of links between autism and the measles–mumps–rubella vaccination, writing with “passion, authority, bluntness and literary skill”, noted reviewer Jeff Thomas (Nature 455, 594–595; 2008).
An Orchard Invisible: A Natural History of Seeds
- Jonathan Silvertown
Seeds harbour essential aspects of the story of evolution, reveals ecologist Jonathan Silvertown. Looking beyond the familiar seeds and grains cultivated over centuries by humans for food, the book notes the unusual solutions taken by seeds to overcome survival challenges.
Imperial Nature: Joseph Hooker and the Practices of Victorian Science
- Jim Endersby
Botanist Joseph Hooker became one of the first professional scientists when research began to be funded by governments. “A refreshing record of how scientists worked during this transition,” wrote Sandra Knapp (Nature 453, 721; 2008).
The Scientific Life
- Steven Shapin
Historian Steven Shapin shatters myths about the divide between pure and commercial science by arguing that moral values are as abundant in industry as in academia. Reviewer Jerome Ravetz described it as “required reading for all scientists” (Nature 457, 662–663; 2009).
The Art Instinct
- Denis Dutton
Art appreciation has an evolutionary basis, according to philosopher Denis Dutton. The basic elements of aesthetic taste are similar across cultures and are part of our evolutionary heritage rather than being socially constructed, he claims provocatively.
Pink Brain, Blue Brain
- Lise Eliot
Neuroscientist Lise Eliot marshals the latest evidence to show that social pressures are the main cause of behaviour differences between boys and girls. Although small gender variations are apparent at birth, they grow as our plastic brains quickly become modified by experiences.
Sand: A Journey through Science and the Imagination
- Michael Welland
The world is visible in a grain of sand in geologist Michael Welland's acclaimed book. From dunes to ancient glass to electronics, he opens doors to its mysteries. “Nothing like it has been published before,” wrote Andrew Robinson in his review of the hardback edition (Nature 460, 798–799; 2009).
Why Does E=mc2? (And Why Should We Care?)
- Brian Cox &
- Jeff Forshaw
Physicists Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw provide an accessible explanation of Einstein's iconic equation. They explain the equivalence of mass and energy and look ahead to investigations of the nature of mass at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, the particle-physics lab in Switzerland.
God's Philosophers: How the Medieval World Laid the Foundations of Modern Science
- James Hannam
Historian James Hannam debunks myths about the European 'dark ages', explaining that medieval people didn't think the world was flat. Rather, the many achievements during the period fed into the later works of Galileo and Newton.
The Pythagorean Theorem: A 4,000-Year History
- Eli Maor
Pythagoras's famous geometric theorem is central to science. Mathematics historian Eli Maor describes its origins and explains how it features in every scientific field today, pointing out that the formula was known by the Babylonians 1,000 years before Pythagoras.
Origins of Human Communication
- Michael Tomasello
Developmental psychologist Michael Tomasello examines the evolutionary origins of human communication. Sharing information with and helping others, he suggests, is the main purpose of speech and gesture. Such goals require the development of complex linguistic grammars.
Six-Legged Soldiers: Using Insects as Weapons of War
- Jeffrey A. Lockwood
From scorpions used by Roman armies to beetle infestations spread in the cold war, entomologist Jeffrey Lockwood reveals insects' military uses. Reviewer Kenneth J. Linthicum described it as “an excellent account” (Nature 456, 36–37; 2008).
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New in Paperback. Nature 467, 1036 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/4671036b
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/4671036b
