Featured Book Review
Murder Most Foul
With the exception of most domestic dogs I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, I find no non-human animal to be more charismatic than the eight (perhaps nine; more on that to come) extant species of pangolin. To me, these fascinating gentle creatures that peacefully go about their business clad in a complete suit of scales far exceed the appeal of all the usual animals commonly cited in such a category. Not pandas, lovable goofy stoners though they be, not elephants, majestic in size and presenting a mien of sublime wisdom, not tigers, burning bright, not wolves in all their mysterious and mythological glory; none exceed the pangolins when it comes to capturing and holding my attention. For those who might not have ever seen a pangolin, either in life or on film, I would direct you to this lovely visual aid produced by BBC Earth and narrated by – who else? – Sir David.
Newly Noted Books
The Butterfly Who Dreamt He Was a Man
Boria Sax’s “The Butterfly Who Dreamt He Was A Man” may be his most eclectic book yes, an for a scholar as famous for his eclectic as Dr. Sax is, that is no small accomplishment.
Foundations of Conservation Biology
I’ve long followed the maxim “you’ll never know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been.” It’s been a guidepost for me in more or less everything I’ve ever set out to learn. And as the editors of the new “Foundations of Conservation Biology; A Guide to the Classic Literature” clearly demonstrate in their creation and organization of the book, it’s a maxim that they very much believe to be one worthy of following as well.
The Bird Guide: North America
“Great googly moogly!” … was what I exclaimed upon opening the email message from Princeton University Press that contained the announcement that they would be publishing a truly monumental new field guide to the birds of North America in the early Spring of 2027.
Cannabis; A Global History
In his recently published book “Cannabis; A Global History,” Prof. Borougerdi presents his readers with the remarkable, complex, millennia-spanning history of how humans discovered, investigated, cultivated, employed, cherished, and even worshiped with species of Cannabis plants.
Biographies
Seduced by Logic
When it comes to the spread of knowledge – particularly the communication of some of the most paradigm-shifting ideas of all time – it is Émilie Du Châtelet and Mary Somerville whose names should not only be familiar to anyone who would call her or himself educated, they should leap to mind as two of the most significant authors in the history of mathematics and physics.
The Marvelously Multifaceted Mr. Newton
Most of us likely first heard the name Isaac Newton when we were in primary school. For some, it may have been in a classroom; for others it may have been while viewing a television program – most likely a cartoon. However, in most all instances, I’d be willing to wager that the name was […]
Life Science Books
Murder Most Foul
With the exception of most domestic dogs I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, I find no non-human animal to be more charismatic than the eight (perhaps nine; more on that to come) extant species of pangolin. To me, these fascinating gentle creatures that peacefully go about their business clad in a complete suit of scales […]
The Butterfly Who Dreamt He Was a Man
Boria Sax’s “The Butterfly Who Dreamt He Was A Man” may be his most eclectic book yes, an for a scholar as famous for his eclectic as Dr. Sax is, that is no small accomplishment.
Physical Science Books
Black Gold
In his new book “Black Gold; The Rise, Reign, and Fall of American Coal,” Prof. Bob Wyss presents a detailed and multi-faceted narrative history of the industry that includes the effects it has had upon American society, organized labor, governmental policy, and U.S. natural resource management.
From This Point
In 1964, U.S. Supreme Court decided the case Jacobellis v. Ohio, involving whether the state government of Ohio could ban the showing of the Louis Malle film The Lovers (Les Amants), which the state had deemed to be obscene. In deciding the case, Justice Potter Stewart (now) famously declared, “”I shall not today attempt further […]
Interdisciplinary Natural Science Books
Elephants and Their Fossil Relatives
For those interested in discovering and learning about the truly remarkable evolutionary story of the Proboscideans, the new “Elephants and Their Fossil Relatives: A 60 Million Year Journey” by Asier Larramendi and Marco P. Ferretti is a book well worthy of note.
The Princeton Field Guide to Sauropod and Prosauropod Dinosaurs
Had a book existed such as “The Princeton Field Guide to Sauropod and Prosauropod Dinosaurs,” it very likely would have been my most prized possession, and would have increased my already elevated level of precociousness by at least an order of magnitude.
History (of Natural History, of Science, of Medicine) Books
Foundations of Conservation Biology
I’ve long followed the maxim “you’ll never know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been.” It’s been a guidepost for me in more or less everything I’ve ever set out to learn. And as the editors of the new “Foundations of Conservation Biology; A Guide to the Classic Literature” clearly demonstrate in their creation and organization of the book, it’s a maxim that they very much believe to be one worthy of following as well.
Cannabis; A Global History
In his recently published book “Cannabis; A Global History,” Prof. Borougerdi presents his readers with the remarkable, complex, millennia-spanning history of how humans discovered, investigated, cultivated, employed, cherished, and even worshiped with species of Cannabis plants.
Natural History Books
Foundations of Conservation Biology
I’ve long followed the maxim “you’ll never know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been.” It’s been a guidepost for me in more or less everything I’ve ever set out to learn. And as the editors of the new “Foundations of Conservation Biology; A Guide to the Classic Literature” clearly demonstrate in their creation and organization of the book, it’s a maxim that they very much believe to be one worthy of following as well.
Love is a Toad
Life these days is depressing, but into the darkness a bit of bright and hopeful light recently shone in the form of a recording of Lucy Lapwing discussing her new book “Love is a Toad” with Annabel Ross as they walked along on the Hebridean island of Bute.
Nature Writing
Love is a Toad
Life these days is depressing, but into the darkness a bit of bright and hopeful light recently shone in the form of a recording of Lucy Lapwing discussing her new book “Love is a Toad” with Annabel Ross as they walked along on the Hebridean island of Bute.
Wild Pavements
As my impromptu urban naturalizing activities have mostly only gained me quizzical looks and the odd hesitant question, I long thought I was the only person who did such things. Then I recently discovered the writings of Amanda Tuke.
Books for Children
In Praise of Folly Brook
B.B.’s novel “The Little Grey Men,” originally published in 1942, as it was the recipient of the Carnegie Medal that same year and was later adapted into a television series in 1975, is most likely to be his most popularly known amongst his many books. It recounts the story – as directly received from one with personal knowledge of it, as he tells it – of the last four gnomes in England who live inside an old oak tree beside Folly Brook in Warwickshire.
Meeting Your Local Spiders
When it comes to lists of common phobias, arachnophobia – the fear of spiders – almost always makes the top ten, and more often than not, the top five. Some have even argued that the fear of spiders, like the fear of snakes, is an innate fear – people are simply born with it thanks […]