              
Best
Australian Science writing 2011 edited by Stephen Pincock $29.95 Paperback
(New South)
|
From
the elemental forces that drive our expanding universe to the delicate
hairs on the back of your neck, science offers talented writers the kind
of scope that other subjects simply can’t match. This dynamic genre of
Australian writing has never, until now, been showcased in an anthology.
With a foreword by Nobel Prize winner Peter Doherty, The
Best Australian Science Writing 2011 is a landmark book. Showcasing
selections from the work of renowned communicators such as Tim Flannery,
Germaine Greer, Anna Funder and Paul Davies, this book is an inspiring
exploration of the most exciting, elegant, powerful, and important writing
about science and nature published in Australia and by Australians.Great
Discoveries in Medicine
Edited
by William Bynum Helen Bynum $49.95 Hardback (Thames & Hudson)
This
is the great guide to medicine’s achievements and its prospects for the 21st
century – an unrivalled account of the evolution of medical knowledge and
practice from ancient Egypt to the latest technologies. The
science and art of healing is now more necessary than ever, as our bodies face
new challenges from globalization, environmental change and increased longevity.
From letting blood to keyhole surgery, from the theory of humours to the genetic
revolution, from the stethoscope to the MRI scanner, this inspiring compendium
explains medicine’s turning points and conceptual changes in a refreshingly
accessible way.
Magic of Reality by Richard
Dawkins $39.95 Hardback (Bantam Press)
Throughout
history people all over the world have invented stories to answer profound
questions. Have you heard the tale of how the sun hatched out of an emu’s egg?
Has anyone ever told you that earthquakes are caused by a sneezing giant? These
fantastical myths are fun – but what is the real answer to such questions? The
Magic of Reality, with its explanations of space, time, evolution and more,
will inspire and amaze readers of all ages. Dawkins answers all these questions
and many more. In stunning words and pictures this book presents the real story
of the world around us, taking us on an enthralling journey through scientific
reality.
The
Reason Why by John Gribbin
Hardback $45 (Allen Lane)
Does
one planet really matter among the immensity of the Cosmos? John Gribbin is here
to persuade us that it does. He argues that we owe our existence to the impact
of a 'supercomet' with Venus 600 million years ago. For the first time, Gribbin
makes the link between the whole series of cosmic events that have affected the
Earth and given rise to our intelligent civilization - a civilization, Gribbin
argues, that is unique within our Milky Way Galaxy. If humankind can survive the
present environmental crises, the whole of the galaxy may become our home. And
if not, our demise may be an event of literally universal significance.
The Checklist Manifesto by
Today
we find ourselves in possession of stupendous know-how, which we willingly place
in the hands of the most highly skilled people. But avoidable failures are
common, and the reason is simple: the volume and complexity of our knowledge has
exceeded our ability to consistently deliver it - correctly, safely or
efficiently. In this groundbreaking book, Atul Gawande makes a compelling
argument for the checklist, which he believes to be the most promising method
available in surmounting failure.