Science
The secret lives of numbers : a hidden history of math's unsung trailblazers
Kate Kitagawa
510.9 /Kitagawa
Nonfiction, History, Science
Mathematics shapes almost everything we do. But despite its reputation as the study of fundamental truths, the stories we have been told about it are wrong--warped like the sixteenth-century map that enlarged Europe at the expense of Africa, Asia and the Americas. In The Secret Lives of Numbers, renowned math historian Kate Kitagawa and journalist Timothy Revell make the case that the history of math is infinitely deeper, broader, and richer than the narrative we think we know.
I'm not even going to pretend that I understood everything in this book (and it's literally a book that just explains numbers and mathematics, you don't even have to do any!), but I found it full of interesting facts and tidbits nonetheless. The book is written in a very friendly fashion (math jokes, anyone?), and does a great service in highlighting brilliant people who made strides in the field of math, some of whom have been more or less lost to history because they didn't make it into the formal books. Eyeopening to the nth degree! -Candice
Atlas obscura : Wild life : an explorer's guide to the world's living wonders
Cara Giaimo
570 /Giaimo
Nonfiction, Animals, Nature, Science
"From the bestselling authors of Atlas Obscura and Gastro Obscura, comes Wild Life, an over-the-top, dazzling collection of the world's most fascinating, most unusual, and least-understood natural wonders. It's more than a field guide--it's an adventure. From the curious minds of Atlas Obscura, authors of #1 New York Times bestselling Atlas Obscura and Gastro Obscura, comes an unputdownable tour through the world's most extraordinary natural wonders and curiosities. Learn how dung beetles navigate by the stars and trees communicate through their roots. Meet one of the strongest animals in the world: the puny peacock mantis shrimp. Visit a 44,000 year old shrub, float along flying rivers, and explore a garbage dump teeming with endangered storks. There are first-person interviews: hear from a honey hunter and his avian partners, a scientist working to understand the hidden language of prairie dogs, an offshore radio DJ who is at the heart of the local fishing community. Examine old examples of bird song notation written on sheet music. Featuring over 500 extraordinary plants, animals, and natural phenomena with illustrations and photos on every page, first-person interviews, and engaging infographics, the book takes readers around the globe, with stops in every continent--from Arctic deserts to lush jungles, to the deepest fathoms of the ocean, and into the heart of our densest cities. In a time where the world that feels more knowable than ever, where can access anything with the click of a mouse or a swipe of a finger, and where nature documentaries are a dime a dozen, Wild Life finds a way to reinvigorate our send of wonder about the natural world"--
This book is gorgeous! I am the lucky cataloger who got to see this book before the labels were delicately affixed and it was placed on the Hold shelf. This book is perfect for the curious, for those who love indulging in wonder. Pick this book up if you want your mind to take a walk on the wild side. -Melody
The sixth extinction : an unnatural history
Elizabeth. Kolbert
576.84 /Kolbert
History, Science
Provides a moving account of the disappearances occurring all around us and traces the evolution of extinction as concept, from its first articulation by Georges Cuvier in revolutionary Paris up through the present day. The sixth extinction is likely to be mankind's most lasting legacy, compelling us to rethink the fundamental question of what it means to be human.
Who would have thought that humans might actually be the problem? Elizabeth Kolbert, apparently. "Sixth Extinction" is a compelling, eye-opening read about the human-led "sixth extinction" event taking place before our eyes. Part-history on the evolution of the scientific understanding of extinctions, part-commentary on the extinctions actively taking place, this novel forces readers to ask the question: "What will be humankind's lasting legacy?" -Madison C
The rise and fall of the dinosaurs : a new history of a lost world
Stephen Brusatte
567.9 /Brusatte
Nature, Science
A sweeping narrative scientific history that tells the epic story of the dinosaurs, examining their origins, their habitats, their extinction, and their living legacy.
For anyone who is still a child at heart and misses being asked what their favorite dinosaur is, "The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs" is the book for you! As someone who grew up wanting to be the next Dr. Alan Grant of paleontology, I can say with confidence that Steve Brusatte's book is the perfect fit for anyone fascinated by the wonders of paleontology and golden age of dinosaur discoveries. -Madison C
Into thin air : a personal account of the Mount Everest disaster
Jon. Krakauer
796.522 /Krakauer
Science, Sports
Journalist Jon Krakauer, standing on the summit of Mt. Everest, saw nothing that "suggested that a murderous storm was bearing down." He was wrong. The storm, which claimed five lives and left countless more in guilt-ridden disarray, would also provide the impetus for this epic account of the May 1996 Mt. Everest disaster.
A first-hand account of the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster, "Into Thin Air" almost reads like a fiction novel, exploring the small decisions and unavoidable moments that led to the loss of five lives on the Nepal-side of the mountain. For readers who are drawn to stories about surviving against the odds and the unrelenting will of the human spirit, "Into Thin Air" will take you on an unforgettable journey on a quest to reach the world's highest peak, and the costs along the way. -Madison C
The language puzzle : piecing together the six-million-year story of how words evolved
Steven Mithen
417.7 /Mithen
Nonfiction, History, Science
"The emergence of language began with the apelike calls of our earliest ancestors. Today, the world is home to thousands of complex languages. Yet exactly how, when, and why this evolution occurred has been one of the most enduring--and contentiously debated--questions in science. In The Language Puzzle, renowned archaeologist Steven Mithen puts forward a groundbreaking new account of the origins of language. Scientists have gained new insights into the first humans of 2.8 million years ago, and how numerous species flourished but only one, Homo sapiens, survives today. Drawing from this work and synthesizing research across archaeology, psychology, linguistics, genetics, neuroscience, and more, Mithen details a step-by-step explanation of how our human ancestors transitioned from apelike calls to words, and from words to language as we use it today. He explores how language shaped our cognition and vice versa; how metaphor advanced Homo sapiens' ability to formulate abstract concepts, develop agriculture, and--ultimately--shape the world. The result is a master narrative that builds bridges between disciplines, stuns with its breadth and depth, and spans millennia of societal development."--Inside flap.
If you're like me, you've often lain awake at night, wondering how language came to be. As in, how did we take that step (more likely, steps) from whoops and grunts and hoots to making sounds that were intentional and imbued with meaning, and how did we get others to agree on those sounds and meanings, and how did we spread this newfound amazing ability, and how did it evolve? And so on. If you've had these thoughts, this book is for you. -Candice
Lessons in chemistry : a novel
Bonnie Garmus
FICTION Garmus, Bonnie
Fiction, Historical Fiction, Science
"Set in 1960s California, this blockbuster debut is the hilarious, idiosyncratic and uplifting story of a female scientist whose career is constantly derailed by the idea that a woman's place is in the home, only to find herself starring as the host of America's most beloved TV cooking show. Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it's the 1960s and despite the fact that she is a scientist, her peers are very unscientific when it comes to equality. The only good thing to happen to her on the road to professional fulfillment is a run-in with her super-star colleague Calvin Evans (well, she stole his beakers.) The only man who ever treated her-and her ideas-as equal, Calvin is already a legend and Nobel nominee. He's also awkward, kind and tenacious. Theirs is true chemistry. But as events are never as predictable as chemical reactions, three years later Elizabeth Zott is an unwed, single mother (did we mention it's the early 60s??) and the star of America's most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth's singular approach to cooking ('take one pint of H2O and add a pinch of sodium chloride') and independent example are proving revolutionary. Because Elizabeth isn't just teaching women how to cook, she's teaching them how to change the status quo. Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist"--
Bonnie Garmus' Lessons in Chemistry is my favorite read of this year! Readers will love Elizabeth Zott's incredible strength and sharp wit in this novel, as she perseveres against a 1960s male-dominated world that doesn't believe in her abilities. She'll prove them wrong. -Violette
A botanist's guide to parties and poisons
Kate Khavari
MYSTERY Khavari Kate
Mystery, Suspense, Adventure, Science
London, 1923. Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh attends a dinner party for the University College of London. While she expects to engage in conversations about the university's large expedition to the Amazon, she doesn't expect Mrs. Henry, one of the professors' wives to drop to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin. Dr. Maxwell, Saffron's mentor, is the main suspect, having had an explosive argument with Dr. Henry a few days prior. As evidence mounts against Dr. Maxwell and the expedition's departure draws nearer, Saffron realizes if she wants her mentor's name cleared, she'll have to do it herself.
I devoured the first two Botanist's Guide books last summer and was pleasantly surprised to find that the latest installment is here! It did not disappoint. If you have yet to try any of the Saffron Everleigh series and enjoy dark academia or murder mysteries, now might be the time to start at the beginning! -Casey
I was : the stories of animal skulls
Katherine M. Hocker
j573.7616 Hocker
Picture Books, Animals, Nonfiction, Science
"Strong, smooth domes, skulls are more than remnants of creatures that used to be. They are artifacts that allow us to travel back through time. Every ridge, hollow, and crevice of a skull reveals something about an animal's habitat, food source, and skill set. By observing the characteristics of six different animal skulls, readers can learn about the lives once led by a lynx, a deer, a beaver, a hummingbird, a wolf, and an owl. Katherine Hocker's lyrical text and Natasha Donovan's fluid artwork, paired with sound scientific data and back matter resources, will ignite a child's native curiosity and encourage mindful observation of the wonders hidden in nature-and ourselves"--
A simple, satisfying juvenile nonfiction picture book that examines several animal skulls and connects them to characteristics and behavior the animal in question utilized while they were alive. The narrative, while based firmly in scientific knowledge, uses lyrical storytelling - it's not dry facts, but a poignant, beautiful celebration of perfectly-adapted animal behavior as evidenced by bone structure. A great first examination of how our physical selves have evolved to allow us to do specific survival tasks! -Anne W
There's a new very hungry caterpillar in town, Papilio! This collaborative picture book has just enough information for young entomologists to gobble up and features a sweet story about finding your wings. Papilio is one big treat! -Casey