"Entire industries are built on our desire to get as close as safely possible to wild tigers, bears, lions, and many other species that could kill us at whim." ~ from J.A. Mills' The Blood of the Tiger
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| In Search of Sir Thomas Browne: The Life and Afterlife of the Seventeenth Century's... by Hugh Aldersey-WilliamsA professional skeptic whose seven-volume Pseudoxia Epidemica sought to debunk (among other popular superstitions) the belief that goat's blood dissolves diamonds, 17th-century scientist and philosopher Sir Thomas Browne is the reason we attach weather vanes to rooftops instead of dead birds. Although Browne himself has fallen into relative obscurity, his writings have inspired literary luminaries such as Herman Melville, Virginia Woolf, and Jose Luis Borges -- not least by coining some 784 new words, among them "medical," "insecurity," and "hallucination." This engaging, richly detailed biography explores Browne's life and legacy by examining his obsessions: the relationship between science and religion, the meaning of life and death, and the nature of reality. |
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| Domesticated: Evolution in a Man-Made World by Richard C. FrancisScience writer Richard C. Francis draws on zooarchaeology (a combination of biology, anthropology, and natural history) to explore how the evolution of domesticated animals has influenced human history. Francis examines both genetic and behavioral changes in the evolution of domestic dogs, cats, and livestock species -- as well as rodents, camels, ferrets, and reindeer -- and evaluates their impact on us through the ages. In his comparisons on domestic animals to their wild ancestors, Francis reveals the thin line between natural and artificial selection, distinguishing between creatures that allowed themselves to be tamed and those that domesticated themselves by choosing proximity to humans. |
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Rain: A Natural and Cultural History
by Cynthia Barnett
"We long for rain especially when we've gone without," observes author Cynthia Barnett in this richly detailed exploration of precipitation. Rain has always been an important aspect of life on Earth, from the downpours of 4 billion years ago, which filled the planet's oceans, to the erratic weather wrought by climate change. In anecdotal style, Barnett combines science, history, and travel writing to cover a variety of topics, including the shape of raindrops, the cultural significance of water, and human efforts to predict and even alter rainfall patterns. A must-read for days when it's raining cats and dogs (United States), old women and walking sticks (Wales), or men (The Weather Girls).
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| The Weather Experiment: The Pioneers Who Sought to See the Future by Peter MooreWeather forecasting only date back to the 1860s. Before the 19th century, no one really understood what caused atmospheric processes, let alone how to predict them. This engaging history delves into the science of meteorology, which author Peter Moore calls the result of "one of the most notorious and daring experiments" of its time. Outlining the scientific underpinnings of natural phenomena such as wind, storms, and clouds, Moore considers the contributions of individuals who have significantly advanced our understanding of weather: navigator and "wind scale" developer Francis Beaufort, landscape artist John Constable, and astronomer George Airy, to name but a few. |
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| Of Orcas and Men: What Killer Whales Can Teach Us by David NeiwertCommonly known as "killer whales," orcas are a gentle, highly intelligent species of dolphin known for their sophisticated language and complex social structures. Revered since prehistoric times by indigenous peoples in the Pacific Northwest, Canadian Maritime provinces, New Zealand, and Siberia, orcas have recently become a fixture of marine parks all over the world -- a trend that threatens their survival as a species. In this compelling book, journalist David Neiwert introduces readers to the biology and behavior of these cetaceans, while describing the catastrophic effects of captivity on killer whale populations. For an account of wild orcas, try Alexandra Morton's Listening to Whales; if you're interested in the controversy surrounding the use of marine mammals as entertainment, check out David Kirby's Death at SeaWorld. |
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Decades of isolation from tourism and development have left Cuba s coral reefs among the most pristine in the world, an exceptionalism that stands in stark contrast to the island nation s poverty and political situation. Famed diver/photographer Robert Snorkel Bob Wintner showcases these magnificent reefs with his astounding underwater images, while also capturing terrestrial life in the cities and villages of the island nation. Reef Libre is not a travelogue, but asks the big questions after a lifetime of isolation can Cuba s reefs still thrive? Nearly 400 stills, a compelling narrative, and a DVD capture this delicate time in reef history. Reef Libre: The Movie is a mini-documentary which encompasses this pivotal moment from the streets to the reefs.
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| The Strange Case of the Rickety Cossack: And Other Cautionary Tales... by Ian TattersallLinnaeus was the first to classify humans as apes (specifically the genus Homo in the Family Hominidae of the Order Mammalia), a revolutionary move in 1758. Before and since, we have attempted to define ourselves and our place in the world with varying degrees of success. In this entertaining history of the science of human evolution, Ian Tattersall, a paleoanthropologist and Curator Emeritus for the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, explains the concept of human exceptionalism influences the way we think about our origins as a species. Combining an overview of milestones in evolutionary theory with anecdotes from his own experiences in the field, Tattersall proves a knowledgeable guide to this fascinating subject. |
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Focus on: Endangered Species
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| The Last Unicorn: A Search for One of Earth's Rarest Creatures by William DeBuysIn 2011, journalist William DeBuys accompanied field biologist William Robichaud to Nakai-Nam Theun, in Laos, to observe the saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) -- a rare, near-extinct ungulate unknown to science until 1992. DeBuys' engaging, lyrical account of the search for this elusive animal is interwoven with a frank discussion of the dangers facing the remaining members of the species, including poaching, habitat destruction, and climate change. |
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| Blood of the Tiger: A Story of Conspiracy, Greed, and the Battle to Save... by J.A. MillsAlthough there are only an estimated 3,000 tigers remaining in the wild, at least twice that number are raised on farms in China to supply wealthy consumers with luxury goods, including furs and tiger-bone wine. The result of turning tigers into livestock, argues journalist J.A. Mills, is that the practice increases demand for animal products, putting all tigers in danger. The result of 20 years spent investigating the global, multi-billion-dollar illegal wildlife trade, this impassioned account by Mills presents an eye-opening look at an evolving threat to a critically endangered species as well as a front-line dispatch on the state of global conservation efforts. For another perspective on the fraught relationship between tigers and humans, check out John Vaillant's The Tiger. |
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The Secret World of Red Wolves : the Fight to Save North America's Other Wolf by T. DeLene Beeland"Red wolves are shy, elusive, and misunderstood predators. Until the 1800s, they were common in the longleaf pine savannas and deciduous forests of the southeastern United States. But red wolves were nearly annihilated by habitat degradation, persecution, and interbreeding with the coyote. Today, reintroduced red wolves are found only on peninsular northeastern North Carolina within less than 1 percent of their former range. In "The Secret World of Red Wolves," nature writer T. DeLene Beeland shadows theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's pioneering recovery program over the course of a year to craft an intimate portrait of the red wolf, its history, and its restoration. Her engaging portrait of this top-level predator traces the intense effort of conservation personnel to restore a species that has slipped to the verge of extinction. Beeland weaves together the voices of scientists, conservationists, and local landowners while posing larger questions about human coexistence with red wolves, our understanding of what defines this animal as a distinct species and how climate change may swamp its current habitat"
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The Odyssey of KP2 : an Orphan Seal, a Marine Biologist, and The Fight to Save a Species by Terrie M. WilliamsA University of California wildlife biologist who was named by Discover magazine as one of the 50 Most Important Women in Science documents his efforts to save the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal species by rescuing a two-day-old abandoned pup, an effort that has involved controversial decisions and studies. 20,000 first printing.
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As climate change encroaches, animals and plants around the globe are having their habitats pulled out from under them. At the same time, human development has made islands out of even our largest nature reserves, stranding the biodiversity that lives within them. The Spine of the Continent introduces readers to the most ambitious conservation effort ever undertaken: to create linked protected areas extending from the Yukon to Mexico, the entire length of North America. This movement is the brainchild of Michael Soule, the founder of conservation biology and the peer of E.O. Wilson and Paul Ehrlich, who endorse his effort as necessary to saving nature on our continent. With blue-ribbon scientific foundations, the Spine is yet a grassroots, cooperative effort among conservation activists NGOs large and small -- and regular citizens. The Spine of the Continent is not only about making physical connections so that nature will persist; it is about making connections between people and the land we call home. In this fascinating, exciting, and important book, Mary Ellen Hannibal travels the length of the Spine, sharing stories and anecdotes about the passionate, idiosyncratic people she meets along the way and the critters they love."
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