Science & Technology

A nice palette of colors may be a top priority in garden planning, but there is also a place for plants with black flowers or foliage—they add a touch of mystery, drama, and the exotic and almost always capture attention. Bonine (co-owner, Xera Plants, Inc.) profiles 75 plants from black, dark purple, and mahogany palettes, ranging from common types like dahlias, cannas, and coleus to more obscure varieties, such as Aeonium "Zwartkop," a dramatic wine-colored succulent that originated in North Africa. Each plant is profiled with a brief description, a color photograph, and icons depicting moisture and light requirements. VERDICT Gardeners and plant lovers looking for ideas for distinct color schemes and exciting plant suggestions will appreciate this. Its small size (7" × 6") and glossy pages also make it a nice gift book.—Phillip Oliver, Univ. of North Alabama Lib., Florence

Evelyn (1620–1706), a devoted gardener, is famous for his diary, first published in 1818. Here are his Kalendarium Hortense (1664), Directions for the Gardiner (only once transcribed for private publication in 1932), and Acetaria: A Discourse of Sallets (1699). The first, a "horticultural calendar," is one of the earliest of its genre and still appeals in its simplicity. By month, Evelyn lists tasks "To be done," and "Flowers in Prime or yet lasting." His Directions, penned for the gardener on his estate, is a lovely miscellany that inspired a kind published today. Readers may not own a "Bowling-greene" in need of mowing, but Evelyn's prose entrances, even if some advice reflects the ignorance of his era (e.g., that earthworms are bad). Acetaria is a gardening cookbook, starting with an A-to-Z, numbered list of edible plants, e.g., "Sparagus," asparagus, is followed by spinach, which he did not approve of in a raw salad but relished cooked with butter. There follows much narrative on the history, preparation, and value of an "Herbaceous Diet." Campbell-Culver's (A Passion for Trees: The Legacy of John Evelyn) introduction, explanatory notes, and glossary are invaluable. VERDICT This is a lovely edition that will charm all bookish gardeners. Highly recommended.—Margaret Heilbrun, Library Journal

In his latest "best life" title, Greene, well known as Oprah Winfrey's personal trainer, focuses on three key issues for controlling diabetes: diet, exercise, and medications. The disease and its effects on the body are explained, including diagnosis, types, and complications. Personal control is heavily stressed. Phase 1 focuses on small, basic changes to diet and exercise and monitoring to control blood sugars. Phase 2 tightens the control learned in the first phase through additional nutritional and exercise changes, including supplements. Phase 3 includes maintenance for life, including managing emotional and motivational changes. Information about medications, meal plans, and recipes are given. A log upon which users can note their blood sugars and associated exercise and food intake is included, as is a limited carbohydrate counter. VERDICT Readers already versed in general diabetes information should find this useful; the writing style is warm although somewhat high in reading level, and Greene is a popular author. Rosemarie Perrin's AARP Guide to Living with Diabetes is a better basic text for those just learning about the disease.—Janet M. Schneider, James A. Haley Veterans' Hosp., Tampa, FL

This collection of essays compiled by Gore from the Healing Project (Voices of Autism; Voices of Caregiving) contains inspiring true stories by those affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). Beginning with a medical overview, the book features short essays from patients and patients' loved ones. A wife writes about her husband's diagnosis of MS two months after the birth of their daughter, describing how their love helps get them through the bad days. A patient who lost most of her vision to MS explains how the disease has inspired her to become content with her life. The book concludes with a helpful list of MS organizations and resources. VERDICT Those diagnosed with MS or who have a loved one with MS will find support in this collection of stories, which provides a nice supplement to medical information about the disease as patients can read about others dealing with how MS has impacted their lives.—Dana Ladd, Community Health Education Ctr., Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Libs. & Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Health Syst., Richmond

Anthony, writing with editor and journalist Spence, is a conservationist who owns and manages extensive property in South Africa and has taken on the daunting task of serving as a buffer between native peoples and endangered species. The title is somewhat misleading: Anthony admits that his book has nothing to do with understanding elephant habits and behaviors. In 1999, the author somewhat reluctantly agreed to foster a herd of elephants that had a longstanding reputation for breaking out of protected reserves and running amuck in the countryside. To prevent the herd from being shot, Anthony took them in to his 5000-acre game reserve. VERDICT Despite Anthony's awards and recognition for his conservation efforts, this book falls short in terms of holding reader interest. The writing doesn't do justice to Anthony's efforts to save these animals. It is drawn out and lacks the spark and engagement that descriptive writing creates in the reader. A disappointment even for those who like memoirs and African wildlife. A marginal purchase. (Photos not seen.) [Library marketing campaign.]—Edell M. Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., WI

What's behind the invention of reading? Well, for starters, brain plasticity, the evolution of neurocircuits capable of processing visual with audio information, and the expansion of the prefrontal cortex leading to a behavior described as consciousness. The evolutionary infusion of these elements along with a novel hijacking from their evolved use intersects with human culture and incites a revolution: a culture with texts and brains that read those texts. All this drives neuroscientist Dehaene's (experimental cognitive psychology, Collège de France) thesis that the invention of reading has less to do with constructs, such as alphabets, words, and sentence structures, than the mechanics and limits of our brains. Simply, our brains didn't evolve to read, but they are flexible enough to learn new tricks. Dehaene supports his thesis with references to a smorgasbord of research, traversing such subjects as anatomy, reading mechanics, primate evolution, history of linguistics, literacy, dyslexia, and brain symmetry. VERDICT This will appeal to a broad audience interested in the cognitive sciences, reading, and linguistics. Some chapters will attract those who teach reading and languages and parents of children with reading disabilities.—Scott Vieira, Johnson Cty. Lib., KS

Freelance writer and author Fraser (God's Perfect Child: Living and Dying in the Christian Science Church) takes us on a global tour of conservation efforts to save endangered species and landscapes through "rewilding." She discusses what it means to rewild an area, the importance of reestablishing animal migration routes, how to involve and educate local communities about conservation, and how these three techniques are morphing into "sustainable conservation." Fraser is to be commended for bringing to light the histories, current events, and key players of each of the geographical regions she explores; she demonstrates their interconnectedness in a readable, engaging style that laypeople and scientists will appreciate. Readers will come away better informed about the complexity of the ecosystems around us and with an increased awareness of the many factors involved in maintaining natural order and balance. VERDICT Heavily researched with endnotes for those looking for more information, this truly is an essential read for conservationists, biologists, and anyone interested in the natural world. Highly recommended for all libraries with life sciences or environmental collections.—Kyrille Goldbeck, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. & State Univ. Libs., Blacksburg

The "genius" here is Russian mathematician Grigory Perelman, who announced in 2002 a proof of the Poincaré Conjecture, a complex problem that had resisted the best efforts of the world's mathematicians for almost a full century. Strangely, since that moment of apparent triumph, Perelman has progressively withdrawn from contact with the mathematics community and with most other humans as well. Russian American journalist and author Gessen (Slate, New Republic; Blood Matters) now tells of Perelman's very unconventional life and career. Denied access to Perelman himself, she interviewed many people who knew him as a student and (later) as a researcher. Gessen details the special Russian schools for young mathematical prospects that Perelman attended and describes apparently incorrigible Russian anti-Semitism. Most important, the gist of her excellent discussion of the Poincaré Conjecture and its proof should be intelligible even to readers lacking a background in higher mathematics. VERDICT General science buffs curious about how researchers go about creating new mathematics or about the eccentric personalities in this field will be fascinated by Gessen's book. More advanced readers can also turn to Donal O'Shea's The Poincaré Conjecture: In Search of the Shape of the Universe.—Jack W. Weigel, Ann Arbor, MI

This lavishly illustrated volume traces the epoch-making path that Darwin took through Galápagos in 1835 while he was the naturalist on HMS Beagle. Both authors are intimately familiar with the Ecuadorean archipelago from years of living and studying there. Grant arrived in 1973 with her parents, when they started their famous long-term evolutionary study of Darwin's finches (described in Jonathan Weiner's The Beak of the Finch). Estes arrived nearly ten years later to lead a major expedition. They place Darwin's five weeks in Galápagos within the context of his entire voyage, the evolution of his thinking, and the intellectual climate of the times. All of that information is provided in much more detail elsewhere, so the authors' noteworthy contribution derives from their meticulous use of Darwin's notes and their intimate knowledge of the islands to reconstruct Darwin's experience there. Parallel to this narrative is a current update on the archipelago's wildlife. VERDICT This book is a must for die-hard Darwin fans and will appeal to those who enjoyed Weiner's book and those by David Quammen (e.g., The Reluctant Mr. Darwin). [For more Darwin titles, see Gregg Sapp's roundup, "Charles Darwin at 200," LJ 12/08.—Ed.]—Walter L. Cressler, West Chester Univ. Lib., PA

Ahh, to be a fly on select walls of European physics research during those heady years of the early 20th century. Ettore Majorana (1906–38) was part of that elite group of men and women tackling theoretical physics, which was more math than lab science. Theoretical physicist Magueijo (Faster Than the Speed of Light) paints the life of a twenty something math prodigy who joined Enrico Fermi, Emilio Segre, and the other "Via Panisperna Boys" who in 1934 discovered nuclear fusion. The author could have easily fallen into the jargon of his profession to describe the work of a fellow scientist, but he does not. His clear explanation of Majorana's insight into nuclear physics, often accompanied with drawings and illustrations, will appeal to a wide audience. VERDICT Like most biographers, Magueijo treats Majorana's life and mysterious disappearance at the age of 31 in 1938 with respect mixed with admiration. The result will affect both science history buffs familiar with the man and his work and general readers who may never have heard of him. Recommended for public and academic collections.—Margaret F. Dominy, Drexel Univ. Lib., Philadelphia

Perhaps the most difficult concept to grasp in evolutionary theory is the massive time frames against which it occurs. Published to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, this volume illustrates approximately six million years of evolutionary history on Earth in 100 full-color double-page spreads. With an impressive density of information, this book is much more than just a checklist of facts. Natural history illustrator Barrett's reconstructions of the natural histories of over 100 major fossil sites—from the well-known Burgess Shale in Canada to more remote places like Graphite Peak in Antarctica—bring distant epochs to life in sequential "screen grabs." Combined with a detailed section on classifications and species indexes, as well as several topical fold-out sections and time lines, this serves equally well for reference and browsing. An excellent narrative companion read would be Richard Dawkins's The Ancestors' Tale, which is a backward journey through evolution. VERDICT While more of a look-it-up than read-it book, this beautiful volume is worthy of any collector's coffee table. Recommended for natural history and reference collections. [For more Darwin titles, see Sapp's roundup, "Charles Darwin at 200," LJ 12/08.—Ed.]—Gregg Sapp, Evergreen State Coll. Lib., Olympia, WA

After 21 years, chef, food writer, and former LJ editor Judith Sutton no longer contributes our monthly Cookery column. Still, old habits die hard. Her name accidentally appeared on the 10/15/09 column instead of our new foodie, Carrie Scarr, Assistant Director, West Fargo Public Library, ND, who took over the kitchen in August.