Science & Technology

Salient details on selecting, planting, and nurturing more than 2700 species and cultivars of herbaceous perennials are packed into this richly illustrated volume of gardening wisdom by authors Carter, Carrie Becker, and Bob Lilly, who boast "nearly two hundred years of collective gardening experience" among them. They offer a summary of plant families and characteristics; a list of plants for special gardens; general maintenance guidelines on soil, sunlight, planting, and mulching; a glossary; recommended gardening titles; and an index. The core of the book is an A-to-Z list of perennials suitable for gardens in North America. Entries are arranged by genus and illustrated with fully captioned color photographs by Harrison (whose work is featured in Fragrance in Bloom) each features a signed paragraph offering sage advice in a friendly but confident voice, as well as lists scientific name, common name, and origin and information on preferred conditions, light, management, propagation, pests and diseases, and companion plants and design. Species and cultivars follow each perennial's entry in easy-to-use charts that indicate height and spread, hardiness zone, bloom time, and foliage. Gardeners are certain to find this an invaluable source. An essential reference tool; recommended for all public libraries.—Donna L. Davey, Tamiment Lib., New York Univ.

Following a 2006 interview on NPR to promote his book The Dogs Who Found Me: What I Learned from Pets Who Were Left Behind, Foster received a flood of letters from people who had also rescued dogs, many of them pit bulls or mixed breeds and many with medical or psychological issues. These letters form the basis of this book and give Foster the opportunity to comment on the multifaceted aspects of the human-animal bond, particularly on how allowing a rescue dog into one's life can change it. Among the stories Foster relates is that of pit bull Trap, whose adoption forced his owner to move to a dog-friendly apartment, escaping the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. He retells the story of shepherd mix Max, the hemophiliac adopted hours before euthanasia, who works as a therapy dog and touches the lives of many people similarly afflicted. With well-told, moving stories, this is a good choice for public libraries.—Florence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY

Before it was fashionable, Prince Charles (The Garden at Highgrove) was an outspoken environmentalist, creating biodiversity in his gardens. Now, with the help of Donaldson (gardening editor, Country Living magazine, UK; Peaceful Gardens), he shares the organic principles and techniques that he and his gardeners use. Such methods are briefly mentioned in his last book, above, but here they take center stage. The initial chapter explains soil management and innovative water handling, while successive chapters demonstrate the natural approaches used for over 25 years in Highgrove's produce gardens, formal ornamental gardens, and informal gardens featuring wildflowers in a meadow and ferns in a stumpery (that is, a garden designed around tree stumps). Though everyone does not have a large estate, readers will easily see how they can scale down and adapt organic methods for their own yards; a chapter illustrates how these techniques were successfully modified for very different royal gardens at Clarence House (London) and Birkhall (Scotland). The book's practical slant and personal, inspirational tone are complemented by the exquisite photographs by Andrew Lawson (The Gardener's Book of Colour), one of Britain's leading garden photographers. Recommended for public libraries.—Bonnie L. Poquette, Milwaukee

Garden writers Ondra and Cohen (Perennial Gardener's Design Primer) team up again to bring excitement and fun to fall gardening. Though many of us do not specifically plan for autumn gardens, the authors remind us that long-blooming perennials, hardy bulbs, showy seedheads and berries, and late-flowering trees and shrubs are some of the key players that combine with multiseason plants to create bursts of color that last from the spring through the "dog days" of summer and into the crisp, cooler fall. Interspersed throughout the book are full-color spreads, both photos and drawings, that vividly illustrate "Fall Techniques," with practical advice for taking cuttings and saving seeds, creating new garden sites, and using your autumn garden to provide supplemental food and shelter for birds and other wildlife. Ten well-designed garden plans with shopping lists cover a range of color themes and growing conditions while demonstrating variations on putting together the ideas and suggestions that the book offers. The crown jewel of this book is the culminating "Fall Garden Care Primer" and calendar, listing helpful tips for evaluating your garden; improving the soil; planting, transplanting, and propagating plants; preparing gardens for winter; and maintaining garden tools. This book will likely fill a gap in many library gardening collections and will be a good addition to specialized and public libraries.—Eboni A. Francis, Ohio State Univ. Libs., Columbus

Millions of healthy and adoptable dogs and cats are put to death in animal shelters every year. That their deaths are unnecessary is the premise of Winograd's unique and important book, which establishes a blueprint for the creation of no-kill shelters. Stanford Law graduate and former shelter director Winograd traces the history of animal sheltering from its original compassionate roots through today's animal control agencies and humane societies so entrenched in the status quo that they continue to kill homeless animals needlessly, ignoring successful no-kill models. The way out, he argues persuasively, is for shelters to implement comprehensive no-kill plans, which include reaching out to the community, care and rehabilitation, adoption and fostering, and sterilization of both pets and feral cats. Winograd skillfully recounts the stories of several communities that have used this "no-kill equation" to drastically reduce the killing in their animal shelters, demonstrating that, contrary to popular belief, a place can be found for every homeless pet in America. Recommended for public and academic libraries.—Leslie Patterson, Chicago P.L.

Readers who have grieved over the death of a friend from a minor surgical procedure or agonized over the hospital care of their elderly parents will experience the shock of recognition in science journalist Brownlee's book. She has mined medical journals, reports from authoritative health care organizations, and troubling personal narratives by doctors and patients to present a stunning but reasoned picture of the out-of-control, inefficient, and often ineffective U.S. health care system. Compared with those who live in other First World countries, Americans see more specialists, receive more days of hospital care, and undergo far more diagnostic procedures. Paradoxically, the result of this surfeit is frequently a less favorable—if not fatal—medical outcome. Stories of the perverse economic incentives of Medicare and private health insurers, poor oversight on the part of the Food and Drug Administration, and common medical procedures based on no more scientific evidence than bloodletting are interwoven in a compelling call for patient-centered, evidence-based health care—not a modest proposal. More optimistically, Brownlee points to institutions that already use these measures, including, surprisingly, the Veterans Health Administration. This rousing call for change, accessible to general readers, is recommended for all libraries.—Kathy Arsenault, Univ. of South Florida at St. Petersburg Lib.

After being diagnosed with epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, a rare liver cancer, at the tender age of 31, first-time author Carr employed her photographic skills to chronicle her cancer journey and those of other young women. Though she uses a light touch and fills the pages with photos, drawings, and graphics, Carr is also unexpectedly contemplative. Her guide is an informative companion for anyone facing serious disease, with its coverage of topics ranging from choosing a doctor or hospital, conducting research (e.g., Google), and undergoing therapy to building support networks, buying clothing, and retaining intimate relationships. Resources include simple recipes (most ingredient amounts are frustratingly absent), web sites, and a reading list, which lacks Ramy Gafni's Beauty Therapy: The Ultimate Guide to Looking and Feeling Great While Living with Cancer (though the book is mentioned in the text). This first entry in Globe Pequot's new Skirt! Books imprint is recommended for public libraries or health-focused special libraries; demand may be high owing to the premiere of Carr's documentary, Crazy Sexy Cancer, on the Learning Channel on August 29.—Lois K. Merry, Keene State Coll. Lib., NH

You can live to be 1000 according to embattled British researcher de Grey (cofounder, Methuselah Fdn.), who wants us all to jump on the life-extension bandwagon. The majority of his book presents his Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence (SENS), his plan to prevent human aging. He sees great possibilities in new approaches to repairing molecular-level damage, such as the shortening of telomeres (the physical ends of linear eukaryotic chromosomes), that occurs with aging. The science itself is interesting; the greater belief that we should end aging is harder to embrace. De Grey argues that those who can't grasp it are in a "pro-aging trance" and aren't open to a genuine conversation on aging as curable. He's probably right. Too technical for most public libraries and too loopy for most academic ones, this is not a necessary purchase. Recommended only for academic libraries with a specific interest in the life-extension field.—Elizabeth Williams, Washoe Cty. Lib. Syst., Reno, NV

The health care systems of France and the United States began the 20th century looking very much alike, then gradually moved in different directions while retaining a surprising number of common features. Dutton (history, Northern Arizona Univ.; Origins of the French Welfare State) believes that both countries would benefit from taking a careful look at their similarities and differences. Both systems utilize a public/private mix of financing, maintain the fee-for-service basis for physician reimbursement, and hold out the ideals of physician practice autonomy and patient choice of doctor. Dutton says that the United States is almost inadvertently expanding coverage but with little planning; at the same time, the French are adapting U.S. managed-care techniques in an attempt to keep down costs and improve efficiency in a system already offering universal coverage. More limited comparisons between the French and U.S. systems appear in works like Jonas & Kovner's Health Care Delivery in the United States. This distinctive, readable, and well-organized history is recommended for public and academic libraries, especially where health-care reform is a hot topic.—Dick Maxwell, Porter Adventist Hosp. Lib., Denver

An increasing number of politicians, policy advocacy groups, and academic economists are touting consumer-driven health care (CDHC) as the solution to America's ailing health-care system, while others believe it's only a fad—one that would inevitably fail if implemented. CDHC advocates argue that patients would be more prudent consumers if they were to purchase health care with their own money. To accomplish this, the advocates propose the widespread use of health savings accounts coupled with high-deductible health insurance plans. They believe consumers should save up for health care, rely on these savings to cover routine health expenses, and use insurance only to meet the costs of catastrophic care. Jost (law, Washington & Lee Univ. Sch. of Law; Health Care Coverage Determinations: An International Comparative Study) carefully investigates the history, evidence, and theory of CDHC, ultimately finding it to be unrealistic and unfair. He argues that CDHC would have an adverse impact on the poor and would be ineffective in controlling the total costs of care. In the last chapter, he proposes alternative ways to reform the nation's health-care system. Jost's arguments are fair, thorough, and convincing; his book is well written and well researched. Recommended for academic libraries only.—Ross Mullner, Sch. of Public Health, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago

In the latest book on aging well and reducing or minimizing degenerative disorders associated with aging, Liponis (medical director, Canyon Ranch Spa; coauthor, Ultraprevention) claims that an overactive immune system causes arthritis, diabetes, irritable-bowel disorders, asthma, and so on. C-reactive proteins (CRPs) indicate the level of immune system activity; Liponis cites studies that have shown how CRP levels can be lowered. As John Robbins did in Healthy at 100 and Sanjay Gupta in Chasing Life, Liponis focuses on ways to reduce wear and tear through healthy eating, regular exercise, social interaction, deep breathing, etc. His lengthy introduction to the immune system may be slow-going for some readers, but the program itself is easy to follow and supported by good documentation. Included are excellent recipes from the famed Canyon Ranch kitchen. Libraries that are building collections in this subject will definitely want to add this; recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/07.]—Susan B. Hagloch, formerly with Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, OH

Much is written about physical conditions that can be attributed in part to emotional stress. Likewise, we read almost daily about anxiety disorders that contribute to physical ailments. Luckily, practicing clinical therapist Livingstone (Redemption of the Shattered: A Teenager's Healing Journey Through Sandtray Therapy) offers a holistic approach to finding balance among mind, body, and emotional health. Readers are first asked to answer a series of questions designed to examine their physical and emotional well-being and family history. When the increased self-awareness that this process brings about is coupled with Livingstone's physical exercise regimens, calmness, more robust self-esteem, increased mental strength, and better overall physical health are predicted to result. Livingstone offers up case histories of his clients who have successfully used his technique. This book is sure to fly off public and academic library shelves where there are holistic medicine converts; highly recommended.—Melody Ballard, Pima Cty. P.L., Tucson, AZ

More than 21 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis—no surprise since the population is aging. Rosenstein, a certified fitness instructor specializing in water exercise, here aims to help those living with osteoarthritis improve their quality of life with exercise. As she did in her books about water exercise for Parkinson's disease, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis, Rosenstein begins by explaining osteoarthritis and how it affects the body, before telling readers why water exercises are useful in treating it—water supports the body, minimizing strain on the joints, and supplies resistance so that patients can do aerobic exercise. She follows with a series of illustrated exercises that help patients improve their range of motion, strength, and endurance. There is also information about safety, equipment, designing an exercise program, and examples of complete exercise plans. To boot, Rosenstein discusses diet and alternative remedies and encourages patients to see their physicians before adopting any of her recommendations. A useful addition to consumer health, health sciences, and public library collections.—Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L.

Silverstein's autobiography draws readers inside her mesmeric human drama of living life as a heart transplant recipient. Make no mistake: the author, an Ivy League-trained lawyer and superb writer with a wry, biting sense of humor, immediately debunks preconceptions about a transplanted heart as a "cure" for a failed one (she was 24 at the time of the procedure). Indeed, she strips away the layers of her 17-year medical "recovery" and reveals her anger toward the "white coats" (as she refers to her physicians), her desire to one day have some semblance of a "normal" life, and her unshakable love for her husband, Scott, and their son, Casey. Silverstein is a natural raconteur with a story so compelling readers won't want to put this book down. Required reading for anyone involved with patient care and essential for the shelves of all U.S. medical and nursing school libraries; highly recommended for all public, academic, consumer health, and other health science libraries.—Maura Sostack, Virtua West Jersey Hosp. Medical Lib., Voorhees

Most people agree that the U.S. health-care system must be reformed, and many proposals have been put forth. Some suggest the greater use of free markets, while others argue for more government control. Here, Terry (senior editor, Medical Economics magazine) proposes a mix of both approaches. Specifically, he urges that all primary-care physicians be made to join groups that would be financially accountable for all patient services and compete for patients, conditions that would create new, competitive health-care markets. Regional government authorities would regulate these new markets; large and costly insurance companies would be eliminated. Although the book is interesting, it suffers from several weaknesses: many of the ideas lack adequate conceptual development, and many chapters are written in a rather chatty, lightweight, magazine-like format. A much more authoritative and thoughtful book on this important subject is Arnold S. Relman's A Second Opinion. Not recommended.—Ross Mullner, Sch. of Public Health, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago

Editor Ferrari-Adler's motley assortment of 26 essays is a quick and often insightful read. Some, including Colbert Report cocreator Ben Karlin's "The Legend of Salsa Rosa" and Holly Hughes's "Luxury," are laugh-out-loud funny. Reading "Thanks, but No Thanks," Courtney Eldridge's account of her ex-husband's elitist eating habits, is like sitting down to commiserate with a particularly articulate friend. Others are strange and haunting, notably Haruki Murakami's "The Year of Spaghetti" and Rattawut Lapcharoensap's "Instant Noodles." More than half include recipes—goodies such as Amanda Hesser's (food editor, New York Times Magazine) Single Girl Salmon and Steve Almond's enticing Grill-Curried Shrimp Quesarito with Avocado Raita—while others incorporate favorite ways of preparing comfort foods, e.g., Laura Dave's "How To Cook in a New York Apartment" and Nora Ephron's "Potatoes and Love: Some Reflections." There is no obvious order to the arrangement of stories; thumbnail biographies of all of the contributors are available at the end. Many recognizable names make this a great book for literary foodies, but it is not an essential purchase for most public and academic libraries.—Rosemarie Lewis, Broward Cty. P.L., Fort Lauderdale, FL

Guides for parents of children with autism have tended to focus on educational and social goals, but as the authors of this book point out, practical self-care skills are just as important. Psychologist Anderson, psychologist Amy L. Jablonski, psychologist Marcus L. Thomeer, and behavior analyst Vicki Madaus Knapp—all affiliated with Summit Educational Resources in Tonawanda, NY—convincingly make the case that although teaching these children skills for independence is time-consuming and involved, the results in the long run benefit both parents and children. Yes, breaking into steps even the simplest task, such as hand washing, is daunting, but it makes for adults who fit into school and the greater community and experience success in their personal and work lives. Parents will appreciate the authors' patient, encouraging tone, not to mention their comprehensive coverage of eating, toileting, dressing, and personal hygiene. In addition to the illustrative case studies, there are appendixes with data sheets and instruction plans. This latest entry in the publisher's "Topics in Autism" series is recommended for public and academic libraries with autism collections.—Elizabeth Safford, Nevins Memorial Lib., Methuen, MA

Celebrated Australian chef Boetz's cookbook, first published in Australia, is filled with recipes from the kitchen of his restaurant Longrain (with locations in Sydney and Melbourne). It covers a broad range of courses and includes a thorough section on the necessary "basics"—sauces, curry pastes, spices, and side dishes required by the other, more complex recipes—as well as a section on the restaurant's signature drinks prepared by Sam Christie, the franchise's co-owner and sommelier. Instructions are clear, and for more complicated or less familiar procedures, black-and-white photographs are included. There is a glossary of ingredient information with photos, as well as a useful and informative introduction to the book and for the drinks section. Aspiring chefs will need to have access to a good Asian grocery or market to make full use of this book. Recommended for most public libraries.—Courtney Greene, DePaul Univ. Lib., Chicago

Resilient people can cope with what life throws their way; parents can help children develop a resilient mindset, an important aspect of which is self-discipline. Brooks and Goldstein (coauthors, Raising Resilient Children) write and speak often about resilience. Here, they advise parents on teaching children self-discipline, an ability to control oneself and understand the effects of actions. Like many parent educators, the authors emphasize that discipline is teaching, not punishing, and is most effective in an environment of empathy and unconditional love. Furthermore, recognizing a child's strengths, or "islands of competence," encourages success and therefore results in better behavior. They illustrate their suggestions with numerous case studies of families they have helped, right down to the details on helpful phrases to use with children in certain situations. Nothing here is groundbreaking (e.g., authoritative parenting works best, children need to learn from mistakes), but the examples of families who achieve success could reassure frustrated parents. Recommended for larger parenting collections.—Janet Clapp, Athens-Clarke Cty. Lib., GA

A title in the "Victorian Life and Times" series, this is a well-written and well-researched examination of the role of food and food preparation in England at the cusp of the Industrial Revolution. Broomfield (English, Johnson Cty. Community Coll., KS) has drawn on a wealth of primary and secondary resources, including manuscripts and period cookbooks, to provide an in-depth, fascinating, and personal look into the Victorian kitchen. There are eight chapters covering all aspects of Victorian cooking and how they differed for the various classes. Of particular note are Chapter 2, which covers breakfast and explains the importance of toast to the Victorians, and Chapter 4, which explains the role of tea. The work also includes a chronology of important dates, an appendix of a few Victorian recipes, and endnotes, as well as a complete bibliography and an index. Highly recommended for all academic and large public libraries.—Lisa A. Ennis, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham Lib., Lister Hill

Those who have ever been curious to know the path the salmon sashimi had to take before arriving on their plates will find this book appetizing; it centers on a Los Angeles sushi school and one student's trials, in particular. Journalist Corson (The Secret Life of Lobsters) manages to illustrate the complex work of the sushi chef and the equally complex natural history of the sea creatures that became what is now an incredibly popular food at a time when many fish species may be endangered. Human interest and culinary and natural history combine to make an engaging book. The author has woven together some disparate story elements into a whole that will delight readers with a variety of interests. Recommended for most public libraries, especially those with good sushi restaurants nearby!—Shelley J.M. Brown, New Westminster P.L., B.C.

We all know great kids when we meet them, but what is it, exactly, that makes them "great"? An internationally recognized leader in child psychiatry, Greenspan (psychiatry & pediatrics, George Washington Univ. Medical Sch.; The Challenging Child) worked with experts from the nonprofit organization Zero-to-Three to survey leaders in such fields as medicine, law, the arts, education, and business to identify characteristics defined as critical to success in life. Great kids, they discovered, have the following qualities: they are engaged, empathetic, curious, and good communicators; they have emotional range, self-awareness, discipline, creativity, logical thinking skills, and moral integrity. Luckily, these qualities are not hard-wired genetic attributes but are learned through experience, and there are many ways parents can help children develop them, such as throwing hurdles into imaginative play instead of directing a script of niceties; encouraging a wide range of emotions, even those considered uncomfortable; and valuing the extensive "why" conversation, which drives everyone nuts. The book is somewhat academic, offering a philosophical approach to emotional development rather than concrete parenting tips, but readers will be richly rewarded. Highly recommended for academic, consumer health, and public libraries.—Julianne J. Smith, Ypsilanti Dist. Lib., MI

Many parenting experts agree that spanking is never a good way to discipline a child. In its stead, they have recommended using methods like time-outs and grounding. Griffin (executive director, Proactive Parenting) goes further: parents should never punish their child. Yes, children misbehave, but it's probably because they don't have the skills necessary to behave acceptably. Using behavior management theory, Griffin proposes the following method: impose limits in advance of conflicts; discuss clearly with children what they can do; if the limit established is later pushed, don't argue during the conflict because children will think the limit is negotiable; instead, use simple actions to communicate the message that the behavior is unacceptable. Griffin firmly believes that parents know their children very well and can predict most of their behaviors. Therefore, parents should be proactive and build the skills their children need to behave accordingly. Although at times Griffin's message seems unrealistic, her arguments and repeated explanations will challenge parents to assert their authority differently. This book, rich in anecdotes, will make a great addition to any parenting collection. Recommended for public libraries.—Maryse Breton, Onondaga Cty. P.L., Syracuse, NY

Divided into "Freshman" through "Senior" sections, memoirist Madden's (Stolen Beauty) book is designed to be a hip and fun cookbook for the college set. Unfortunately, it misses on several marks. While the recipes supposedly increase in difficulty as they progress through the book, this doesn't seem to be the case, with easy and more challenging recipes mixed in throughout. Many of the recipes also seem to be fairly heavy in fat, and no calorie counts or nutritional information is provided; some require somewhat expensive or specialized ingredients unlikely to be on most college students' shelves (e.g., basmati rice, artichoke hearts, parchment paper). There is also heavy use of teenager slang, particularly in the introduction to each chapter, which gives it a somewhat hokey feel. On the positive side, there are a nice glossary of basic cooking terms and sample menus for various occasions (but without page numbers for the recipes). Overall, an optional purchase for most libraries.—Susan Hurst, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, OH

Volcanologists have recently discovered some ancient volcano calderas so large they didn't even realize they were volcanoes. One of these, beneath Yellowstone National Park, has a caldera about 45 miles wide. This class of volcano is called a supervolcano, a term coined only recently. The world's largest supervolcano erupted in Colorado 23 million years ago, expelling 1200 cubic miles of magma. None has erupted in 630,000 years, but when one does, warns Breining (Wild Shore: Exploring Lake Superior by Kayak), there will be global consequences. Writing for a popular audience, he gives an overview of the science and classification of supervolcanoes, emphasizing the one beneath Yellowstone, which, he warns, is still active and could erupt at any time. Breining has written several books on fishing and on Minnesota, but he lacks the credentials to write an original work on this subject, so his book is largely derivative, merely summarizing others' research. Still, the topic is fascinating. Recommended for geology collections, academic libraries, and larger public libraries.—Jeffrey Beall, Univ. of Colorado & Health Sciences Ctr., Denver

It has been ten years since Cousteau's death, but there was one book still left in the pipeline. Originally published in French in 1997 as L'homme, la pieuvre et l'orchidée, and now available for the first time in English, this is a comprehensive presentation of the conservation and preservation philosophy that inspired Cousteau to become an activist for the oceans and the earth during his lifetime. Although not by any means a biography, the book contains numerous anecdotes and an extensive introduction by coauthor and longtime Cousteau collaborator Schiefelbein that is primarily biographical. The prose is eloquent and at times almost poetical, especially in the eponymous final chapter. This worthwhile look back at the French scientist who taught us to love scuba diving and the ocean raises questions still highly relevant ten years later. Recommended for all libraries at the high school level and above.—Margaret Rioux, MBLWHOI Lib., Woods Hole, MA

Friedman (A Mind of Its Own: A Cultural History of the Penis) brings into detailed focus for the first time the relationship between famed aviator Charles Lindbergh and the Noble Prize-winning French surgeon Alexis Carrel. Driven by a desire to cure his ailing sister-in-law, Elizabeth Morrow, Lindbergh contacted Carrel in 1930 for the purpose of developing an artificial heart. What follows is the story of a world-changing friendship and scientific endeavor. Unrevealed to the public until now is that the two men had a more ambitious plan—to achieve immortality. Here Friedman elaborates on an absorbing aspect of their relationship—how belief in scientific progress and the quest for immortality fed their view for eugenics, all of which would collide into the harsh reality of Nazism. Friedman offers an insightful look into Lindbergh's mind by providing motivations for his admiration of the Nazis, and then, in contrast, his personal reckoning with the war, which resulted in his disillusionment with scientific progress and a redefinition of the meaning of immortality. Recommended for the science and history collections of academic and public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/07.]—Scott Vieira, Johnson Cty. Lib., KS

Scientific research is not orderly, neat, or clean and, like comedy, isn't always pretty. But when practiced by the 36 scientists interviewed here, it can be challenging, exciting, enlightening, and just plain fun. Editors Margulis (geosciences, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst; Acquiring Genomes) and Punset (director/host of the popular Spanish science TV series Redes and author of the The Happiness Trip) have assembled a wide array of experts in their fields, including such notables as Jane Goodall, Edward O. Wilson, Robert Sapolsky, Sydney Brenner, and Lisa Randall, and Punset's interviewing skills have teased out of them intimate portraits through fascinating discussions of their work. The interviews are grouped by broad topic (from animal behavior/psychology to biology/evolution to nanotechnology/physics), and each section is preceded by a brief introduction. Readings suggested by the scientists as well as a short biography of each are included. This book is suitable for both public and academic libraries and will appeal to readers with an interest not only in science but in the minds of scientists.—Erica Lilly, Chemistry/Physics Lib., Kent State Univ., OH

This collection of essays from the "Birdwatch" columnist of England's Guardian newspaper provides a glimpse into the life of an avid birder. Moss (A Bird in the Bush: A Social History of Birdwatching) has arranged these pieces topically, including those relating to Moss's first birdwatching experiences, birdwatching in England, birdwatching abroad, and those loosely arranged under the heading "Birds, Places and People." Employing terminology like life lists and pishing, his essays will give even the most novice birders a rudimentary understanding of the fundamentals of birdwatching; readers unfamiliar with Britain's birds may want to use the web site of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (www.rspb.org.uk) to look up images of our feathered British friends. It is also well worth a Google image search to see the more exotic species Moss describes from his worldwide birding trips to locales as diverse as Africa, Europe, and Antarctica. Recommended for natural history collections where birding books are popular.—Diana Hartle, Univ. of Georgia Science Lib., Athens

Journalist, sailor, and fiction and nonfiction writer Murphy's last book, Rounding the Horn, could be used as background to this one. In both, he employs history, scientific research, and personal experience to explore ocean movement, particularly currents, as well as the interaction of air and water and their effect on climate. As he explains clearly (and without all the formulas), "climate is an essentially unstable set of interdependent systems," and change is more likely to occur in a matter of decades rather than centuries. Though he doesn't incite panic, he does express concern. Murphy admits his thesis may be difficult to accept, but the evidence he presents is overwhelming. A lengthy bibliography of books and journal articles provides the reader with additional research, and there is some political commentary regarding the status quo and research funding issues. Many books exist on climate change but none as approachable as this. An entertaining review of the subject; recommended for public and academic libraries. (Index not seen.)—Jean E. Crampon, Science & Engineering Lib., Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles

Nordhaus and Shellenberger contend that standard environmental tactics won't solve global warming and insist that a paradigm shift in our approach to the problem is essential. Their central point is that most environmentalists see global warming narrowly, as a pollution problem to be solved by the "politics of limits," such as using less energy and cutting carbon dioxide emissions. The writers, who have had long careers in environmental organizations, sparked great debate among the environmental community with their controversial 2004 essay, "The Death of Environmentalism," which detailed how the thou-shalt-nots of current environmental tactics are less effective than more global, market-driven solutions. Their book envisions a federal program, "a new Apollo project," to develop new energy technologies that would create new jobs and world markets. The book reads like a collection of interrelated essays; too bad the authors' vision is fleshed out only in the last chapter. But their fresh view may be reason enough to include it in any public or academic library collection.—Michal Strutin, Santa Clara Univ. Lib., CA

Continuing his run of quality nature writing, accomplished naturalist Weidensaul (Living on the Wind; The Ghost with Trembling Wings) offers an engrossing survey of American birding from Colonial times until today. There is much history set forth here, beginning with accounts of the early pioneers like John and William Bartram, the Peale family, Alexander Wilson, John James Audubon, and many others. Weidensaul also describes with special vividness how ornithology in the latter part of the 19th century fell into the hands of explorers of the Southwest, especially a long line of unusual characters, many of them U.S. Army doctors posted to the frontiers. In the 20th century, the author reveals, birdwatching transformed from the province of presumed eccentrics and shotgun-toting scientists into a mainstream hobby, recreation, or avocation (sport, even), but popular citizen science surveys also made key contributions to our knowledge of the natural world. Engagingly told, Weidensaul's rich "brief history" is much more than brief. Highly recommended for all natural history and birding collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/07.]—Henry T. Armistead, formerly with Free Lib. of Philadelphia

In her first book aimed at a general readership, Wolf (director, Ctr. for Reading and Language Research, Tufts Univ.) examines reading's extraordinary evolution. Beginning with an exploration of how the human brain evolved and adapted itself to become able to read, she then offers a history of linguistic development that concludes with the progress of alphabet-based languages. Wolf's detailed description of how children learn to read examines this process from combined social, psychological, and neurological perspectives. She illustrates how specific books and activities provide fundamental catalysts for developing cognitive paths. Wolf then examines dyslexia, providing a short historical foundation and analyzing current research. Particularly interested in how to teach those with reading difficulties, she writes from a researcher's perspective and a parent's (her son is dyslexic). Throughout, Wolf's intriguing combination of linguistic history, sociology, psychology, and neuroscience is engaging and clear. The figures and illustrations as well as the wonderful literary quotes enrich her readable prose. For librarians, her text speaks to the changes the online information boom is bringing our world and provides a foundation for the importance of teaching information literacy. Recommended for academic and public libraries.—Candice Kail, Software Engineering Inst., Carnegie Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh

This readable and compelling account of commercial spaceflight opens at the Mojave Desert October 4, 2004, X Prize competition for the first private U.S. space launch, then traces the new space entrepreneurs' time line backward and forward. Freelance journalist Belfiore regularly covers spaceflight, and his passion for the topic led him to get involved in some of the enterprises (e.g., Brian Feeney's "da Vinci Project") discussed here. So, his coverage is not entirely objective, but it is exciting. The author's description of the enthusiastic D.I.Y. approach of the visionary engineers and businessmen, in contrast to the moribund state of NASA, is a theme currently echoed elsewhere (see Wired magazine's June 2007 cover story). Belfiore makes a vivid link between Peter Diamandis, Gregg Maryniak, Jim Akkerman, and the other "rocketeers" and the group of garage-based inventors like the Wright brothers who made subspace flight a reality. Belfiore can lapse into spaceflight clichés (e.g., "loosen the bounds of gravity"), but his engaging style and detailed notes make this an involving book. Highly recommended for public and academic collections.—Sara Tompson, Univ. of Southern California Lib., Los Angeles

Petroski (civil engineering & history, Duke Univ.; Pushing the Limits: New Adventures in Engineering), a prolific writer on design, engineering, and "useful things" in our culture, has found yet another story needing to be told, the late history of the toothpick. Who knew it involved colorful characters, intellectual property battles, shady marketing practices, trade secrets, and manufacturing productivity expectations 100 years before the product's time? While the toothpick has been around since the dawn of humankind in all areas of the globe, Petroski focuses on its late (19th- and 20th-century) history in the United States. He playfully teases out the story from a wealth of archival sources, using a mix of biography, business, and industrial history in exploring the toothpick both in terms of its manufacture and its usage in society. As a tale of innovation, this profile demonstrates that the more things change, the more they stay the same. A fascinating read recommended for academic and public libraries to satisfy history of technology fans or folks simply wanting to understand and appreciate better the world around them.—James A. Buczynski, Seneca Coll. of Applied Arts & Technology Lib., Toronto