Here are some new books to help you ease through the long, lazy days of summer no matter what your interests.
Trig Or Treat: An Encyclopedia of Trigonometric Identity Proofs With Intellectually Challenging Games by Y.E.O. Adrian (World Scientific, 2007)
QA537.Y46 2007
“This encyclopedia contains trigonometric identity proofs for some three hundred identities. The book is presented in the form of mathematical games for the reader s enjoyment and includes a concordance of trigonometric identities, enabling easy reference.” —Amazon.com
On Speed: The Many Lives of Amphetamine by Nicolas Rasmussen (NYU Press 2008)
RM666.A493 R37 2008
“Rasmussen, who has taught life sciences and medicine at UCLA and other universities, examines amphetamine as a case study on the place drugs occupy in our culture and our fantasies (of miracle cures and elixirs). The story begins with chemist Gordon Alles's creation of amphetamine in 1929 and continues through its use for weight loss, attention deficit disorders and today's crystal meth craze. Smith, Kline & French (now GlaxoSmithKline) bought the rights for use of the drug and marketed it to treat depression. During WWII, British and American soldiers developed an amphetamine appetite as RAF medics distributed wakey-wakey tablets to bomber crews. At the book's core is an outstanding chapter, Bootleggers, Beatniks and Benzedrine Benders, describing how Benzedrine inhalers, available without a prescription, could be cracked open for a totally new kind of amphetamine experience, exerting a potent influence on music and literature, from Charlie Parker to Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Rasmussen has mined magazines, books and newspapers in addition to extensive explorations through U.K. and American archives. He concludes by calling for strong and immediate action to curb the widespread, dangerous use and abuse of amphetamines, emphasizing treatment and harm reduction (like needle exchange) rather than punishment, and better regulation of the pharmaceutical industry.”—Amazon.com
The Formation of the Solar System: Theories Old and New by Michael Woolfson ( Imperial College Press, 2007)
QB503.W665 2007
“This book traces the development of ideas about the origin of the Solar System from ancient times to the present day. A survey of more modern ideas, covering the last 200 years or so, highlights the difficulties experienced by theories and also points the way towards the development of a more successful theory. In particular, the current standard model the Solar Nebula Theory is examined and discussed in some detail. After more than thirty years of development, this theory has still not settled down into an agreed form, as it experiences both theoretical difficulties and problems with reconciling new observations. By contrast, the Capture Theory, developed over the last forty years by the author, and supported by recent observations provides a complete description of the formation of the Solar System, including an evolutionary hypothesis that explains the detailed structure of the system. Written in an informative yet accessible manner, this book will appeal to both specialist and non-specialist readers alike.” —Amazon.com
Labeling Genetically Modified Food: The Philosophical and Legal Debate by Paul Weirich (Oxford University Press, 2008)
TP 248.65.F66 L33 2007
“Food products with genetically modified (GM) ingredients are common, yet many consumers are unaware of this. When polled, consumers say that they want to know whether their food contains GM ingredients, just as many want to know whether their food is natural or organic. Informing consumers is a major motivation for labeling. But labeling need not be mandatory. Consumers who want GM-free products will pay a premium to support voluntary labeling.
This book surveys various labeling policies and the cases for them. It is the first comprehensive, interdisciplinary treatment of the debate about labeling genetically modified food. The contributors include philosophers, bioethicists, food and agricultural scientists, attorneys/legal scholars, and economists.” —Amazon.com
Jiggle: (Re)Shaping American Women by Wendy Burns-Ardolino (Lexington Books, 2007)
TT677 .B87 2007
“Jiggle spans the fields of women's studies, cultural studies, and media studies as it examines the significance of women's embodied experience with the most intimate strictures of femininity foundation garments. Feminist theory of the body, the cultural production and consumption of fashion and beauty cultures, femininity and female subjectivity are woven together to tell the story of how women are shaped physically, culturally, socially and politically by shaping garments.” —Amazon.com
Embracing Mind: The Common Ground of Science and Spirituality
by B. Alan Wallace and Brian Hodel (Shambala, 2008)
Q175. W2618 2008
“Both science and spirituality search for “ultimate truths.” God, the Big Bang, nirvana, the theory of evolution, relativity, quantum mechanics—these are some of the concepts that have been articulated as a result of that search. But the human capacity for exploring these ultimate sources of truth—the one thing that unites science and spirituality—is often overlooked. Embracing Mind argues (1) that science has hobbled itself by ignoring its unique source of inspiration—the mind—and (2) that the schism between science and spirituality is unnecessary. In language accessible to any intelligent reader, Embracing Mind first explores the veracity of major scientific “myths,” then presents a viable science of the mind emanating from contemplative spirituality, including Hindu, Christian, Sufi, and Buddhist views.” —Amazon.com
The Eastern and Central European Kitchen: Contemporary & Classic Recipes
by Silvena Rowe and Jonathan Lovekin(Interlink Books, 2007)
TX723.5.A1 R69 2007
“Silvena Rowe turns to countries such as Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Poland, Georgia, Russia, and the Ukraine for her inspiration. She cooks game with sweet-and-sour stuffing, sauces and marinades; smoked fish; wild mushrooms; fruits such as quince, figs and pomegranates; and seeds and grains such as lentils, pearl barley and poppy seeds. She plunders the traditions of the poor and wealthy alike in her quest to bring us a taste of what is put upon the tables in these countries. The food is untamed and the flavors are strong. Alongside Silvena's recipes are photographs of the food markets, farms, homes, grand cafes and restaurants of Eastern and Central Europe by renowned photographer Jonathan Lovekin.”—Amazon.com
The Politics of Healthcare in Britain by Stephen Harrison and Ruth McDonald (Sage Publications, 2008)
RA412.5.G7H3352008
“Written by leading academics in their field this book provides a clear and considered overview of the politics of health care in Britain. Bringing together a wide range of material on both past events and recent developments, the chapters cover issues such as the politics of health professionalism, clinical knowledge, and organization and management.
Each chapter offers a unique combination of theory, historical detail and analysis of contemporary events. It features case studies to illustrate how policy has evolved and developed in recent years, and the implications these changes have for practice. Written in an accessible style the chapters also include comprehensive introductions, summaries, and further reading sections. The final chapter is based on three detailed case studies that illuminate the tensions and debates discussed throughout the book.” —Amazon.com
The Vaccination Controversy: The Rise, Reign and Fall of Compulsory Vaccination for Smallpox by Stanley Williamson (Liverpool University Press, 2007)
RA644.S6 W55 2007
“Stanley Williamson’s meticulously researched history of the British government’s smallpox vaccination program begins with Edward Jenner’s development of the vaccine at the end of the eighteenth century, charts the astonishing speed at which it became compulsory for children, and documents the decades of resistance that resulted in its repeal in 1946. Along the way Williamson examines the social, political, and ethical motivations of both factions. The power to make medical choices, including those regarding vaccination, remains a hotly contested issue today, making The Vaccination Controversy a timely contribution to our knowledge of medical history.” —Amazon.com
Insomnia: A Cultural History: Focus on Contemporary Issues by Eluned Summers- Bremner (Reaktion Books, 2008)
RC548 .S86 2008
“In today’s media-saturated and hyper connected society, increasing numbers of people are finding it hard to switch off their overstimulated brains and escape the demands of daily life. We are becoming, it seems, a world of insomniacs. But this condition of perpetual unrest has plagued people for centuries. The roots and effects of insomnia are complex, Eluned Summers-Bremner reveals in this fascinating study, and humans have employed everything from art to science to understand, explain, and mitigate this problem.” —Amazon.com
Botany, Sexuality and Women's Writing 1760-1830: From Modest Shoot to Forward Plant by Samantha George (Manchester University Press, 2008)
Qk14.5.G46 2007
“In this fascinating study, Samantha George explores the cultivation of the female mind and the feminized discourse of botanical literature in 18th century Britain. In particular, she discusses British women’s engagement with the Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus, and his unsettling discovery of plant sexuality. Previously ignored primary texts of an extraordinary nature are rescued from obscurity and assigned a proper place in the histories of science, 18th century literature, and women’s writing. The result is groundbreaking. The author explores nationality and sexuality debates in relation to botany and charts the appearance of a new literary stereotype--the sexually precocious female botanist. She uncovers an anonymous poem on Linnaean botany and subsequently traces the development of a new genre of women’s writing--the botanical poem with scientific notes.”—Amazon.com