2008 University Press Books
Selected for Public and Secondary School Libraries
|
2008 University Press Books |
|
|
Selected for Public and Secondary School Libraries |
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
500-599 Pure Science
|
|
500-549 Math, Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry
508 Amazing Rare Things: The Art of Natural History in the Age of Discovery 244 pp., 7 5/8” x 9 7/8”, 160 color illus., bibliog., index, $37.50 cloth July 2007 Yale University Press A gorgeously illustrated volume devoted to the natural history art of the Age of Discovery. “This historical overview of scientific illustrators between the late 1400s and the mid-1700s includes beautiful, intricate specimens...A true feast for anyone interested in natural history.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review). “The essays and...Attenborough’s introduction are written for a general audience. The paper and print quality is superb...Recommended for public and academic libraries.”—Library Journal. “A book to savor in your favorite chair.”—The Washington Post Book World. LC 2006938185, ISBN 978-0-300-12547-4 AASL: not reviewed PLA: G 508 22 Planet Earth: As You’ve Never Seen It Before 312 pp., 10” x 11”, 400 color illus., index, $39.95 cloth March 2007 University of California Press Companion to the Discovery Channel series. “I just love this, this is my favorite gift to give.”—Oprah Winfrey. “A superb wake-up call to protect the treasures of the planet that sustain and enrich us, Planet Earth is a feast for the eyes and soul presented with the best and latest technology.”—Booklist. “The photos and compelling text help us see and understand the workings of our planet...Everyone who has the means, and every library, should have a copy of Planet Earth.”—The New Orleans Times-Picayune. “A wonderful way in which to reintroduce students to books as rich and enjoyable sources of information.”—NSTA Recommends® LC 2006050073, ISBN 978-0-520-25054-3 AASL: O/EM-HS, P PLA: O 515 The Calculus Lifesaver: All the Tools You Need to Excel at Calculus 752 pp., 7” x 10”, 350 line illus., index, $60.00 cloth, $24.95 paper May 2007 Princeton University Press “This rather lengthy book serves as an excellent resource as well as a text for a refresher course in single-variable calculus, and as a study guide for anyone who needs or is required to know basic calculus concepts...Readers will find this book written for them, as calculus is presented in a very casual conversational tone; certainly, students who are not mathematics majors will benefit greatly.” —Choice. “Because of its unique approach, The Calculus Lifesaver is a welcome addition to the arsenal of calculus teaching aids.” —MAA Online LC 2006939343, ISBN 978-0-691-13153-5 (c.), ISBN 978-0-691-13088-0 (p.) AASL: G/HS PLA: G 516.22 The Pythagorean Theorem: A 4,000-Year History 259 pp., 6 1/8” x 9 1/4”, 8 color illus., 141 line illus., 2 tables, bibliog., index, $24.95 cloth, CIP included July 2007 Princeton University Press “Based on this recent book, Maor just keeps getting better. Already recognized for his excellent books on infinity, the number e, and trigonometry, Maor offers this new work as a comprehensive overview of the Pythagorean Theorem...If one has never read a book by Eli Maor, this book is a great place to start.”—Choice. “[An] excellent biography of the theorem...There is something intoxicating about seeing one truth revealed in so many ways. It all makes for hours of glorious mathematical distraction.”—New Scientist LC 2006050969, ISBN 978-0-691-12526-8 AASL: O/HS, P PLA: G 520 The Sun Kings: The Unexpected Tragedy of Richard Carrington and the Tale of How Modern Astronomy Began 224 pp., 6 1/8” x 9 1/4”, 15 halftones, bibliog., index, $24.95 cloth May 2007 Princeton University Press “In this well-researched and very well-written book, Clark tells the embattled, little-known history of modern astronomy, a spry tale full of intrigue, jealousy, spite, dedication and perseverance.”—Publishers Weekly. “Well paced and well chosen, Clark’s history will delight science readers.”—Booklist. “Simply telling the history of scientific solar observations and the beginnings of modern astronomy and making the writing a page-turner would be a difficult feat, but Clark does it superbly. This is not a dry scientific chronology...Well-written and well-researched with a thorough bibliography and index.”—Choice LC 2006940123, ISBN 978-0-691-12660-9 AASL: O/HS, P PLA: G 530.092 Einstein on Politics: His Private Thoughts and Public Stands on Nationalism, Zionism, War, Peace, and the Bomb 576 pp., 6 1/8” x 9 1/4”, 24 halftones, bibliog., index, $29.95 cloth, CIP included June 2007 Princeton University Press “To enhance understanding of Einstein’s humanism and activism, Rowe and Schulmann have gathered, organized, and explicated a full spectrum of his reflections, allowing the reader direct access to Einstein’s reasoning as he confronts a world of violence rendered exponentially more catastrophic by virtue of his own scientific breakthroughs. Powerful in its personal and political disclosures, this is an essential primary source.”—Booklist. “A goldmine for readers interested in Einstein as an engaged intellectual of his era.”—Nature LC 2006100303, ISBN 978-0-691-12094-2 AASL: O/P PLA: S 530.11 Very Special Relativity: An Illustrated Guide 144 pp., 8 7/16” x 8 7/16”, 150 color illus., $20.95 cloth, CIP included October 2007 Harvard University Press Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, first published in 1905, radically changed our understanding of the world. Familiar notions of space and time and energy were turned on their head, and our struggle with Einstein’s counterintuitive explanation of these concepts was under way. The task is no easier today than it was a hundred years ago, but in this book Sander Bais has found an original and uniquely effective way to convey the fundamental ideas of Einstein’s Special Theory. LC 2007009144, ISBN 978-0-674-02611-7 AASL: O/HS, P PLA: G
550-599 Earth and Life Science, Plants, Animals
551.22 Richter’s Scale: Measure of an Earthquake, Measure of a Man 352 pp., 6 1/8” x 9 1/4”, 45 halftones, bibliog., index, $27.95 cloth, CIP included February 2007 Princeton University Press “Written by a seismologist about the most famous seismologist, this biography of Charles Richter (1900-85) is the first researched from Richter’s papers... Hough’s inspections of Richter’s psyche may expand her readership beyond that interested in earthquakes...Richter, however difficult to like in life—he had few friends, according to Hough—proves to have had the turbulent inner life and struggles with the external world of which compelling biographies are made.”—Booklist LC 2006016480, ISBN 978-0-691-12807-8 AASL: G/P PLA: O 551.41 Supercontinent: Ten Billion Years in the Life of our Planet 304 pp., 6 1/8” x 9 1/4”, 31 halftones, $29.95 cloth, CIP included May 2007 Harvard University Press Explores the Supercontinent Cycle from scientists’ earliest inkling of the phenomenon to the geological discoveries of today—and from the most recent fusing of all of Earth’s landmasses, Pangaea, on which dinosaurs evolved, to the next. Chronicling a 500-million-year cycle, Nield introduces readers to some of the most exciting science of our time. He describes how, long before plate tectonics were understood, geologists first guessed at these vanishing landmasses and came to appreciate the significance of the fusing and fragmenting of supercontinents. LC 2007008205, ISBN 978-0-674-02659-9 AASL: G/P PLA: G 551.622 With Speed and Violence: Why Scientists Fear Tipping Points in Climate Change 278 pp., 6” x 9”, $24.95 cloth, $15.00 paper, CIP included March 2007 Beacon Press In this groundbreaking book, veteran science correspondent Fred Pearce travels to more than thirty countries to examine the current state of crucial water sources. Deftly weaving together the complicated scientific, economic, and historic dimensions of the world water crisis, he provides our most complete portrait yet of this growing danger and its ramifications for us all. With Speed and Violence is the most up-to-date and readable book yet about the growing evidence for global warming and the large climatic effects it may unleash. LC 2006019901, ISBN 978-0-8070-8576-9 (c.), ISBN 978-0-8070-8577-6 (p.) AASL: G/P PLA: O 551.697 The Climate of Alaska 223 pp., 6” x 9”, 82 (est) maps, graphs, photo, bibliog., index, $21.95 paper, CIP included December 2007 University of Alaska Press Provides an updated climatology atlas of Alaska, illustrating the diverse range of climate in this vast state. It includes charts and figures with thorough explanations. The concepts are clearly presented, easily understood by most non-specialists, and organized in a logical order. Contains a narrative discussion along with maps, tables and charts for various climatological parameters across the state. Chapters are outlined according to climatological parameter and include temperature and humidity, precipitation, clouds and radiation, atmospheric pressure and wind, regional topics (covering thunderstorms and wildfire, air quality, and sea ice), and climate change. LC 2007003678, ISBN 978-1-60223-007-1 AASL: RG/HS, P PLA: RG 560.971 Deep Alberta: Fossil Facts and Dinosaur Digs 200 pp., 6” x 9”, color photos, map, index, $26.95 paper, CIP included February 2007 The University of Alberta Press Alberta is well known for its fossil treasures, and author John Acorn is as keen on the long-dead creatures of Alberta as he is on the living. Here, he features 80 of the most noteworthy fossils, fossil locations, and fossil hunters from this most palaeontological of places. There is more to the story of “deep Alberta” than dinosaurs, but dinosaur fans will find all their favorite beasts here as well-from Edmontosaurus to Tyrannosaurus rex, and everything in-between. Prepared with the collaboration of the world-renowned Royal Tyrrell Museum, this is a book that deserves a place on everyone’s bookshelf. LC 20069069166, ISBN 978-0-88864-481-7 AASL: O/MS, HS, P PLA: RG 571.318 The Inner Bird: Anatomy and Evolution 464 pp., 6 1/2” x 9 1/2”, 11 tables, 64 figures, $85.00 cloth, CIP included March 2007 University of British Columbia Press Kaiser examines the challenges scientists face in understanding avian evolution—even recent advances in biomolecular genetics have failed to provide a clear evolutionary story. Examples from recently discovered fossils of birds and near-birds describe an avian history based on the gradual abandonment of dinosaur-like characteristics, and the acquisition of avian characteristics such as sophisticated flight techniques and the production of large eggs. While ornithology is a complex discipline that draws on many fields, it is nevertheless burdened with obsolete assumptions and archaic terminology. This book offers a modern interpretation of those ideas and links them to contemporary research. LC 20079002404, ISBN 978-0-7748-1343-3 AASL: G/P PLA: S 576.8 The Evolving World: Evolution in Everyday Life 352 pp., 6 1/8” x 8 1/4”, 5 halftones, 30 line drawings and illus., $24.95 cloth, $16.95 paper, CIP included October 2007 Harvard University Press David P. Mindell makes undeniably clear in The Evolving World, evolutionary biology is much more than an explanatory concept. It is indispensable to the world we live in. This book provides the first truly accessible and balanced account of how evolution has become a tool with applications that are thoroughly integrated, and deeply useful, in our everyday lives and our societies, often in ways that we do not realize. LC 2005058131, ISBN 978-0-674-02191-4 (c.), ISBN 978-0-674-02558-5 (p.) AASL: G/P PLA: G 581.63 Ancient Herbs 108 pp., 8” x 9”, 55 color illus., $19.95 cloth, CIP included March 2007 Getty Publications Ancient Herbs presents the forty most important plants used for culinary, medicinal, and religious purposes in classical antiquity. Olive and pomegranate, myrtle and rose join coriander and marjoram, garlic and thyme. In the introduction, the author draws on her extensive knowledge of ancient practices to paint an intriguing image of the uses of and myths about plants from Greek and particularly Roman kitchen gardens. Quotes from classical authors testify to ancient practices, some curious, some still standard today. The delightful illustrations reproduce drawings from early nineteenth-century botanical publications, which often show the plants at various stages of growth, from seeds through ripe fruits. LC 2006030770, ISBN 978-0-89236-884-6 AASL: G/MS, HS, P PLA: S 591.709 The Smaller Majority: The Hidden World of the Animals That Dominate the Tropics 288 pp., 9 1/4” x 9 5/16”, 450 color illus., $35.00 cloth, $24.95 paper, CIP included October 2007 Harvard University Press/Belknap Press Smaller, on average, than a human finger, creatures climbing, scampering, and flying out of sight make up 99 percent of all animal life visible to the naked eye. This is the “smaller majority” that we meet eye-to-eye, often for the first time and as never before, in Piotr Naskrecki’s spectacular book. A large-format volume of over 400 exquisite, full-color photographs, some depicting animals never before captured with a camera, The Smaller Majority takes us on a visual journey into the remote world of organisms that, however little known, overlooked, or even reviled, are critical to the biodiversity of the tropics, and to the life of our planet. LC 2005046060, ISBN 978-0-674-01915-7 (c.), ISBN 978-0-674-02562-2 (p.) AASL: G/P PLA: O 591.97 Wild Caribbean: The Hidden Wonders of the World’s Most Famous Islands 224 pp., 7 1/2” x 9 3/4”, 116 color illus., index, $25.00 paper September 2007 Yale University Press (co-published with BBC Books) This book is a gorgeously illustrated exploration and celebration of the wildlife and wild places of the Caribbean. It spans all the principal islands and mainland areas bordering the Sea, introduces exotic creatures and flora in their habitats, and features tips for traveling to the most exciting natural locations. “Bright has done it again with a beautiful photograph-laden book displaying the natural highlights of the Caribbean... Surveying each of the islands, he eloquently describes their awe-inspiring beauty and unique wildlife...Highly recommended for all public library natural history and travel collections.” —Library Journal LC 2007920724, ISBN 978-0-300-12549-8 AASL: not reviewed PLA: G 595.714 Secret Weapons: Defenses of Insects, Spiders, Scorpions, and Other Many-Legged Creatures 384 pp., 6” x 9”, 350 color illus., 150 chemical formulas, $29.95 cloth, $18.95 paper, CIP included April 2007 Harvard University Press/Belknap Press Part handbook, part field guide, part photo album, Secret Weapons chronicles the diverse and often astonishing defensive strategies that have allowed insects, spiders, scorpions, and other many-legged creatures not just to survive, but to thrive. In sixty-nine chapters, each brilliantly illustrated with photographs culled from Thomas Eisner’s legendary collection, we meet a largely North American cast of arthropods—as well as a few of their kin from Australia, Europe, and Asia—and observe at firsthand the nature and extent of the defenses that lie at the root of their evolutionary success. LC 2005041042, ISBN 978-0-674-01882-2 (c.), ISBN 978-0-674-02403-8 (p.) AASL: G/P PLA: G 595.789 100 Butterflies and Moths: Portraits from the Tropical Forests of Costa Rica 272 pp., 9 1/2” x 8 1/2”, 221 color illus., $39.95 cloth, CIP included April 2007 Harvard University Press/Belknap Press Gathered by biologists Daniel Janzen and Winifred Hallwachs in the forests of northwestern Costa Rica, 100 tropical butterflies and moths represent the diversity in large-format photographs by Jeffrey Miller that document the dizzying variety of shapes, colors, and markings. The photographs are accompanied by species accounts and images of the corresponding caterpillar. The authors recount these insects’ feats of mimicry and migration, lift the veil on their courtship, and show how the new technology of DNA barcoding is changing the picture of Lepidopteran biodiversity. LC 2006051111, ISBN 978-0-674-02334-5 AASL: G/HS, P PLA: G 597.9 The New Encyclopedia of Snakes 272 pp., 8 1/2” x 11”, 200 color illus., bibliog., index, $35.00 cloth October 2007 Princeton University Press “This revised and updated edition of The Encyclopedia of Snakes delivers three new snake families and 400 new species. [As] the most comprehensive of Mattison’s herpetology texts this edition covers all aspects of snake biology and habitat...The work contains a wealth of information about our scaled friends, including patterns of distribution and matters relating to evolution and morphology, feeding, reproduction, and defensive strategies...Full of some 200 marvelous color photographs, this captivating work will appeal to students and snake lovers everywhere. Scholarly enough to serve as a core resource for herpetologists but also readable, it deserves a wide audience.”—Library Journal LC 2007922951, ISBN 978-0-691-13295-2 AASL: G/MS, HS, P PLA: G 597.9 Boas and Pythons of the World 160 pp., 9 1/2” x 12 1/2”, 155 color illus., 2 maps, bibliog., index, $29.95 cloth April 2007 Princeton University Press Renowned snake expert Mark O’Shea takes readers on an exciting continent-by-continent journey to look at these snakes in their native habitats. Stunning color photographs and intriguing stories from O’Shea’s encounters with these snakes in the wild bring these reptiles to life. “These well-known species and their more obscure cousins are all magnificently illustrated with beautiful color photos, with short write-ups of their life histories, range, size, prey, and other natural history. This excellent book is highly recommended.”—Booklist. “Arranged geographically, with a nice introduction regarding snake classifications, myths, and conservation, this book will either give you the willies or make you smile in delight.”—Juneau Empire. LC 2006932790, ISBN 978-0-691-13100-9 AASL: G/MS, HS, P PLA: G 598.092 Roger Tory Peterson: A Biography 308 pp., 6” x 9”, 15 b&w illus., $24.95 cloth, CIP included October 2007 University of Texas Press The first authoritative biography of one of the 20th century’s foremost ornithologists, whose 1934 Field Guide to the Birds helped launch the environmental movement. Douglas Carlson creates a fascinating portrait of the complex man behind the brand name. He describes how Peterson’s obsession with birds began in boyhood and continued throughout a multifaceted career as a painter, writer, educator, environmentalist, and photographer. Carlson traces Peterson’s long struggle to become both an accomplished bird artist and a scientific naturalist-competing goals that drove Peterson to work to the point of exhaustion and that deprived him of many aspects of a normal personal life. LC 2007017838, ISBN 978-0-292-71680-3 AASL: G/HS, P PLA: G 599 Mammals of Madagascar: A Complete Guide 304 pp., 6 1/8” x 9 1/4”, 320 illus., maps, index, $39.95 paper July 2007 Yale University Press (in association with Christopher Helm/A&C Black Publishers Ltd.) This beautifully illustrated guide offers a full survey and classification of all the Malagasy mammals, both endemic and introduced, including many new species only recently identified. With vivid color photographs, line illustrations, and maps, this is an essential volume for any tourist or biologist who visits the island—or wishes to. Nick Garbutt, an award-winning wildlife photographer and author, has visited virtually all of the major wildlife locations in Madagascar. He contributes to publications worldwide, including National Geographic, Africa Geographic, Outdoor Photography, and BBC Wildlife, and has twice been the winner of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. LC 2006939964, ISBN 978-0-300-12550-4 AASL: not reviewed PLA: G 599.773 The Last Wild Wolves: Ghosts of the Rain Forest 192 pp., 10” x 11”, 120 color photos, bibliog., index, DVD, $39.95 cloth October 2007 University of California Press “McAllister has had the great fortune to witness an ecosystem of incredible mystery. I am grateful to him for his efforts to help preserve this unique landscape and read with great engagement of his experiences among a nation of wolves like no others.”—Rick Bass, author of The New Wolves and Caribou Rising. “It is here, among the wildest archipelagos of coastal British Columbia, that we witness, through McAllister’s exquisite photos and essays, a window into an ancient, more magical world...The observational detail is unparalleled.”—Doug Peacock, author of Grizzly Years and The Essential Grizzly LC 2007010887, ISBN 978-0-520-25473-2 AASL: O/EM-HS, P PLA: O 599.78 Bears: A Brief History 272 pp., 4 3/4” x 8”, 105 b&w illus., bibliog., index, $25.00 cloth, CIP included October 2007 Yale University Press A delightfully illustrated history of the complex relations between people and bears that contains quirky anecdotes, scientific information on bears and extinction, a discussion of the phenomenon of “bearanoia,” and more than one hundred historical illustrations. “Covering tales, mythology, and legends from around the world, Brunner recounts stories of humans turning into bears, of feral children raised by bears, and of various peoples who trace their lineage back to bears...The author spices his narrative with numerous anecdotes, and the period illustrations throughout exemplify the bear’s dual role in human history.”—Booklist. “A fascinating exploration.”—Philadelphia Inquirer LC 2007021322, ISBN 978-0-300-12299-2 AASL: G/HS, P PLA: G
AAUP Home | Bibliography Home | Bibliography Contents |