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Nature and Science August 2019
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The mosquito : a human history of our deadliest predator
by Timothy C. Winegard
What it is: Follows the history of the nefarious and pesky mosquito and its impact on humanity throughout the ages and around the globe. He explains how the tiny insect influenced the results of wars, colonization and the modern world order.
About the author: Dr. Timothy C. Winegard received hi MA in War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada and his PhD in History from the University of Oxford. He teaches History at Colorado Mesa College.
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Dante and the Early Astronomer : Science, Adventure, and a Victorian Woman Who Opened the Heavens
by Tracy Daugherty
What it is: The author of the best-selling ""The Last Love Song"" explores the life and achievements of trailblazing British Astronomical Association member Mary Acworth Evershed, documenting her remarkable discoveries from an Indian observatory and her important role in reshaping major scientific beliefs.
About the author: Tracy Daugherty is a Distinguished Professor of English and Creative Writing at Oregon State University. He has held fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and National Endowment of the Arts.
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Buzz, sting, bite : why we need insects
by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
What it is: An enthusiastic, witty, and informative introduction to the world of insects explains why we—and the planet we inhabit—could not survive without them.
About the author: Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson is a professor at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences near Oslo and a scientific advisor to the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. She holds a Phd in conservation biology and teaches nature management and forest ecology.
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| Underland: A Deep Time Journey by Robert MacfarlaneWhat it is: a lyrical and wide-ranging exploration of the world beneath our feet from tunnels and caves to catacombs and burial chambers to underground vaults and bunkers.
Why you might like it: Nature writer Robert Macfarlane embarks on a journey both literal and metaphorical, connecting real-world observations to representations of the underworld in mythology, art, and literature.
Want a taste? "Into the underland we have long placed that which we fear and wish to lose, and that which we love and wish to save." |
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| The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America by Margaret O'MaraWhat it is: an "accessible yet sophisticated chronicle" (New York Times) of Silicon Valley that spans seven decades and includes the U.S. military-industrial complex, Stanford University, the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965, and a sprawling cast of interesting characters.
Did you know? The name "Silicon Valley" was coined in 1971 by Electronic News writer Don Hoefler.
Try this next: Leslie Berlin's Troublemakers, another well-researched nonfiction account of the region's transformation into a tech hub. |
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| Neil Armstrong: A Life of Flight by Jay BarbreeWhat it is: an engaging biography of astronaut Neil Armstrong, who, on July 20, 1969, made history as the first person to walk on the moon.
About the author: During his 50-year career as a journalist, veteran NBC space correspondent Jay Barbree reported on every single crewed launch of the U.S. space program.
You might also like: James R. Hansen's First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong, which delves into the personal life of a very private individual. |
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| Shoot for the Moon: The Space Race and the Extraordinary Voyage of Apollo 11 by James DonovanWhat it is: a comprehensive history of the space race, beginning with the 1957 launch of Sputnik and culminating in the Apollo 11 Moon landing.
Reviewers say: "[Author James] Donovan knows how to tell a gripping story" (NPR).
Further reading: Chasing the Moon by Robert Stone and Alan Andres, American Moonshot by Douglas Brinkley, and Apollo's Legacy by Roger D. Launius. |
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American moonshot : John F. Kennedy and the great space race
by Douglas Brinkley
What it is: An award-winning historian and perennial New York Times best-selling author takes a fresh look at the space program, President John F. Kennedy’s inspiring challenge and America’s race to the moon.
About the author: Douglas Brinkley is an American author and professor of history at Rice University. Brinkley is a history commentator for CNN.
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| Apollo 8: The Thrilling Story of the First Mission to the Moon by Jeffrey KlugerWhat it is: an exciting account of the Apollo 8 mission that blends technical details of the mission with profiles of its participants.
Why you might like it: Science writer Jeffrey Kluger draws on interviews with crew members Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders, as well as materials from the NASA Oral History Project, to recreate the mission.
You might also like: Robert Poole's Earthrise, which examines the creation of the iconic photograph of Earth as seen from space. |
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| Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First... by Robert KursonIntroducing: Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders, who carried out one of NASA's most challenging missions.
What they did: Given 50-50 odds of returning safely, the trio risked their lives to complete the first crewed lunar orbit in December 1968.
Why you might like it: Rocket Men contrasts the lofty achievements of the astronauts with historical events of a turbulent period in U.S. history. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Prince George's County Memorial Library System 9601 Capital Lane Largo, Maryland 20774 301-699-3500www.pgcmls.info/ |
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