Science & Technology

Although parrots are often credited with astounding gifts of mimicry, these misunderstood birds are largely believed to be incapable of more. In recent years, however, scholars have attempted to quantify the emotional and intellectual capacity of parrots, both domestically bred and in the wild. Before she stopped keeping track, Craige (comparative literature, Univ. of Georgia) documented that Cosmo, her beloved six-year-old African gray, had learned to speak over 100 words and more than 200 phrases and had mastered several contextual inflections. Craige's success in socializing her bird will most assuredly contribute to the growing body of knowledge, as her results suggest that Cosmo not only can talk but also knows what she is talking about. VERDICT Craige presents an academic yet highly entertaining narrative on parrot rearing by citing numerous informative studies while also providing a thoroughly enjoyable firsthand account of life with an African gray. Readers who want an additional scientific perspective can turn to Irene Pepperberg's classic The Alex Studies; more personal accounts include Pepperberg's Alex & Me and Jenny Gardiner's Winging It: A Memoir of Caring for a Vengeful Parrot Who's Determined To Kill Me.—Judy Brink-Drescher, Molloy Coll. Lib., Rockville Centre, NY

Writing for the beginner, English takes proper care to explain what is involved in the raising of chickens for egg production. She also makes sure readers define their own goals and abilities before embarking on chicken husbandry. Scattered throughout her guide are several portraits that share poignant personal experiences. While the useful information here is also covered in Jennifer Megyesi's The Joy of Keeping Chickens, English does include more advice on diseases and ailments and a detailed look at shelter options, including coop designs and checklists of materials and supplies needed; however, she does not provide as many specifics about raising chickens for meat production. VERDICT An excellent, straightforward how-to book for those who wish to have a solid understanding of what it takes to raise chickens successfully for egg production. With degrees in both holistic nutrition and sociology, English is a member of Slow Food USA and writes a regular column for the blog Design*Sponge (www.designspongeonline.com). [See also English's Canning & Preserving with Ashley English, reviewed on p. 97.—Ed.]—Kyrille Goldbeck, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. Lib., Blacksburg

Kirby (Evidence of Harm) turns his investigative reporting skills to the human and environmental consequences of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). The first section details how three concerned citizens—a North Carolina fisherman, a mother in a small Illinois town, and a Washington State grandmother—became activists after seeing firsthand how CAFOs negatively altered the environment around them. The second section frames the public health and ecological issues surrounding CAFOs by looking at how they have been treated nationally. VERDICT Unlike recent books on this topic that advocate for a vegetarian lifestyle (e.g., Jonathan Safran Foer's Eating Animals or Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson's The Face on Your Plate), Kirby focuses on the negative impacts CAFOs are having on not only those who live near these operations but also those who may be affected by polluted water originating from waste lagoon spills at these sites. His narrative is immensely readable and should be required reading for anybody concerned with how CAFOs are changing the nature of livestock farming in the United States.—Diane Hartle, Univ. of Georgia Science Lib., Athens

There is a lot to like in this new diet book produced by the medical professionals of the Mayo Clinic. Based on the highly respected research and clinical experience of the clinic's weight-loss experts, this guide brings together some of their best recommendations and insights for us all. It is clearly organized with a detailed table of contents, which allows readers to target a particular area of interest immediately. The layout is colorful, with nicely sized type, spacious formatting, and a skillful use of inserts to draw attention to key points. The "Yes, I Can" boxes offer reframing techniques to keep motivation high. This reviewer particularly liked the "Action Guide to Weight Loss Barriers" chapter that lists common complaints and excuses that prevent healthy lifestyle changes and offers positive strategies for overcoming them. VERDICT While not presenting groundbreaking insights for dieters, this smartly organized resource does one better, with sound guidance for making positive lifestyle changes that will translate to longer-term weight loss.—Crystal Renfro, Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta

Those who feel an urge to can, have a yen for homemade pickles, or daydream about jams and jellies but fear they're too complicated to attempt will be happy to find this cheerful, straightforward manual—one of the first titles in English's new series "about the ways people are reconnecting with their food and food communities and taking up sustainable food practices." English, who writes a regular column for Design*Sponge (www.designspongeonline.com), carefully explains the equipment, nomenclature, and processes and includes recipes both for "canning classics" (e.g., apple butter) and other seasonal preparations, from the homely (apricot jam) to the unusual (Kumquat 5-Spice Marmalade). With a magazine-like layout, this title includes short profiles of canners, sidebars with relevant historical and cultural information, and troubleshooting tips. VERDICT Accessible, thorough, and visually pleasing, this is a useful primer for beginners and a helpful brief reference for the more experienced. Highly recommended. [See the review of English's other forthcoming series title, Keeping Chickens, on p. 96.—Ed.]—Courtney Greene, DePaul Univ. Lib., Chicago

These two Vietnamese culinary journeys will transport readers to the streets of small towns and large cities throughout the diverse country. In Koto, professional chef Lister and her husband, Pohl, present recipes that are indigenous to various regions of Vietnam along with the culinary delights that are blends of Vietnam's colonial French history and traditional flavors. Although this is a cookbook, the authors explain the origins of the country's many culinary traditions. The dishes might be daunting to novice American cooks, but they stay true to authentic ingredients and encourage creativity.

In Communion, Fay takes readers on a more personal culinary journey. There are a handful of recipes, but the focus is on her delicious prose, which will leave the reader yearning for an authentic taste of Vietnam. The emphasis is on not only food but also the political climate and how that has affected agriculture throughout the country. Fay's nostalgia and adoration for Vietnam is apparent in her dedication to meet a wide variety of Vietnam's notable culinary experts, chefs, horticulturalists, and farmers. VERDICT Communion is recommended for those wanting to dip their feet into the freshness and diversity that is Vietnamese food; Koto is best suited for chefs with experience who want to enter the realm of authentic Vietnamese cooking.—Claire A. Moitra, Providence

Gen. Leslie Groves wrote a history of the Manhattan Project in 1962 (Now It Can Be Told), Richard Rhodes won a Pulitzer for his 1988 The Making of the Atomic Bomb, and this timeless story continues to be the subject of various recent books (e.g., Diana Preston's Before the Fallout and Amir D. Aczel's Uranium Wars). What distinguishes this account of the creation of the bomb is its equal emphasis on science and politics. Bolstered by access to previously classified American and Soviet documents, science writer Baggott depicts the massive scientific undertaking against the backdrop of wartime geopolitics, espionage, uneasy alliances, and the start of the Cold War. Many of the key players here are physicists, of course, but there are also diplomats, generals, intelligence officers, and investigative journalists. VERDICT The first "war" of physics was a race with very high stakes. Baggott contributes a novel perspective to the story, looking at the Anglo-American, German, and Soviet atomic programs, and as such provides a broad thematic history.—Gregg Sapp, Evergreen State Coll. Lib., Olympia, WA