Archive for the ‘Science’ Category

Stiff by Mary Roach

Thursday, February 21st, 2008

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Trade, 304 pages, 2003

Rating: 10/10

Reason for Reading: I kept seeing it mentioned on BookCrazy, so I finally scored myself a copy at a boxing day sale.

Synopsis: When we die, what happens to us…physically? Roach explores the lives of cadavers, varying from medical uses to human crash test dummies to cannibalism to just plain burial or cremation. The book looks at a lot of weird history, including body snatching; current oddities, like the science/art exhibits in Body Worlds; and possible futures in environmentally friendly burials.

(more…)

An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore

Saturday, September 30th, 2006

An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Trade, 328 pages, 2006

Rating: 8/10

Reason for Reading: I didn’t realize there was a book to go along with Gore’s movie of the same name until he was on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Synopsis: Global warming: proof that it exists; proof that we’re seeing the damage now and not just in future generations; and hope that something can be done. Gore based this book on lectures he’s been giving steadily over the past six years, and presents everything in quick snippets of photos, graphs, and accompanying explanations of what they mean to the planet, and to us.

(more…)

Struck by Lightning: The Curious World of Probabilities by Jeffrey S. Rosenthal

Thursday, October 27th, 2005

Struck by Lightning: The Curious World of Probabilities by Jeffrey S. Rosenthal

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Hardcover, 258 pages, 2005

Rating: 8/10

Reason for Reading: I love seemingly strange coincidences, so why not find out how strange they really are?

Synopsis: You’re playing poker and can’t decide whether to stay in or fold; or maybe you’re wondering how impressed you should really by be the latest medical report; or perhaps you’re wondering if that man walking behind you that matches the description of a loose serial killer actually is the serial killer. What do you do? If you’re Jeffrey Rosenthal, you turn to probability theory for answers (and more likely than not, reassurance). In Struck by Lightning, Rosenthal examines the questions that plague us in every day life, explaining what probability theory is, how it works, and why life might be a lot less frightening than you’ve been led to believe.

(more…)

Acquainted with the Night by Christopher Dewdney

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2005

Acquainted with the Night by Christopher Dewdney

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Hardcover, 314 pages, 2004

Rating: 9/10

Reason for Reading: I noticed this one while browsing

href="http://www.amazon.ca">Amazon’s best-of lists for 2004. I am far too acquainted

with the night myself, so of course I had to hear from a fellow night owl.

Synopsis: Dewdney serves as the tour guide through a typical 12-hour night, in

which he touches on what people are likely to be doing at a given hour; creatures of the

night; myths, stories and music inspired by the darkness of night; as well as a broad range

of other night-related topics.

(more…)

The Illustrated A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

Friday, September 10th, 2004

The Illustrated A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Hardcover (available in trade), 248 pages, 1988

Rating: 9/10

Reason for Reading: I’ve got to admit I found the thought of reading a book by one of the world’s greatest physicists intimidating, but I figured if it became such a widespread bestseller it had to be (more or less) accessible.

Synopsis: Renowned theoretical physicist Prof. Stephen Hawking presents a look at the universe to people who are curious about how things work and how we fit into the scheme of things, but don’t necessarily have the scientific background to deal with overly-technical terms or mathematical equations. Topics covered include the beginning and the end of the universe, black holes, the quest for a grand unified theory, and the possibility of time travel.

(more…)

The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat by Oliver Sacks

Monday, December 29th, 2003

The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat by Oliver Sacks

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Hardcover (available in trade), 233 pages, 1985

Rating: 9/10

Reason for Reading: I loved the title of this one when I saw it in the bookstore I worked at so I had to check it out.

Synopsis: In this series of case studies of neurological patients, Sacks looks at people who have lost certain neurological capacities, or gained extreme capacities, and examines how it affects them in their day-to-day living. Occasionally, Sacks explores treatments such as medication, or music, but often it is simply a recounting of the patient’s unusual neurological makeup.

(more…)

E=mc2: A Biography of the World’s Most Famous Equation by David Bodanis

Friday, September 5th, 2003

E=mc<sup>2</sup>: A Biography of the World�s Most Famous Equation by David Bodanis

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Hardcover (available in trade), 337 pages (including 117 pages of notes, guide to further reading, etc), 2000

Rating: 8/10

Reason for Reading: I was curious about what that magical equation actually means.

Synopsis: Bodanis breaks down the famous E=mc2 equation in a very accessible way. Each component of the equation gets its own chapter explaining its history and the scientists who discovered it, and then moves on to how the equation has been used in the past hundred years from the atom bomb to powering emergency exit signs to the eventual demise of the sun and the universe as we know it.

(more…)

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Friday, August 29th, 2003

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Hardcover (available in trade), 544 pages (including 65 pages of notes, bibliography and index), 2003

Rating: 9/10

Reason for Reading: In a Sunburned Country, the first book of Bryson’s I read, was full of fun science-related facts, and I loved his sense of humour. I’ve always liked science, so long as it doesn’t involve math calculations.

Synopsis: Bryson takes a detour from his usual travel literature writing and walks us through the world of science. Everything, in this case, includes biology, geology, chemistry, physics, and several other fields of science. Unlike a typical science book, however, Bryson is as interested in how we got to know what we know as much as what it is we actually know, resulting in gleefully quirky stories and the kinds of offbeat tidbits Bryson is renowned for.

(more…)


payday loan payday advance no fax payday loans online payday loans payday loan fraud washington state no teletrack payday loans payday cash loan cash advance payday loan instant payday loan no fax payday loan payday advance loans faxless payday loans payday loans online geneva roth payday loans payday cash loans savings account payday loans payday loan lenders payday loan walpole default payday loan payday loan with no credit check or no faxing bad credit debt consolidation internet payday loan student cash till payday payday candy bar instant payday loans no fax payday loans savings account tendollar payday loan payday loan software personal loans payday loans 1500dollarstoday com fast cash payday loan can you tell the payday loans to stop call you at work no fax payday loans online cash advance loan sonic cash payday loan manual cash fast loan online payday faxless payday loan payday cash advance victims of payday loans easy no fax payday loans payday loans payday loan by western union no credit check payday loan advance cash loan online payday quick no fax payday loans payday loans no fax payday loans online payday advance fast i need a payday loan immediately online instant fax payday loans military payday loans free payday loan direct payday lenders no credit checks or faxing same day payday loans how to obtain multiple faxless payday loans cheat at payday freecell texas cso payday payday no bank account fast payday loan payday loans for bad credit canada student loans payday advance genovone roth payday loans mo payday loan payday cash loans fast usa only payday loans payday loan online cashadvancesusa com payday loans online no faxing up to 241500 advance cash payday loans online cash advance loan payday loans national cash advance bad credit payday loan payday loan online bad credit no telecheck payday loans advance advance cash loan payday payday select check advance paycheck payday cash loans charlesto payday paycheck loan payday loan canada title loan florida auto and payday loans payday loans with no faxing and instant approval low rate payday loan xtra cash payday loan payday loan no fax search canadian payday loans no requirement payday loan best payday loans i need money now easy payday loan borrow fast how to get out of payday loans payday loans no fax no teletrak payday loans gold coast no fax or verification payday loans long term payday loans magnum payday loan service new jersey online payday loans indian wells payday loan payday loans online cash advance loan personal payday loans no credit check no faxing no paper payday loan franchise no credit check bad credit faxless payday loans payday loan qualifications emerengency no fax payday loans quick payday loan borrow money now cash advance simple payday loan preferred genove payday loans washington cash advance payday loans software cash advance or payday loan njfastcash personal loans online payday loan payda no teletrack or no fax payday loans stories about westbury ventures payday loans direct payday loan no fax payday loans online b cash advance b loan short term payday loans 500 cash advance payday loans bad credit payday cash advance utah payday loans auto title pay advance payday loans online paycheck advance p payday advances savings account no fax payday loans cash advance now payday loan california cash advance delaware cash advance and payday loans texas payday loan payday loan industry statistics california cash advance payday loan faxless payday loans no checking account payday loans no fax or credit check savings account payday loan payday loan bad credit oklahoma fast cash advance payday loan bad credit loans for military payday loans militar payday loan in chicago illinois payday loans with no faxing or credit check cash day fast loan pay payday quick payday cash loan online payday loans payday loan p emergency advance payday hold personal check cash loans no bank account payday loan completely instant loan payday bad credit payday loans genove roth payday loans payday lenders sonic payday cash advance 24 hoursonline payday loan faxless payday loans faxless payday loans payday l payday loan no fax fast payday loans payday cash loan scams payday loans for an active savings account payday payday payday advance loan cash payday loans 1500dollarstoday com no faxing payday loans no teletrack payday loan in florissant missouri advance cash loan payday through union western wired money no fax needed payday loan loans with no credit check that is not a payday sonic payday loan auto loans payday title no fax payday loans savings accounts no fax payday loans faxless payday advance no fax cash stories about payday loans ics payday loans advance cash faxless immediately loan payday wired loan til payday lawsuit cash advance no fax guaranteed payday loan no fax cash in 1 hour payday loans online payday loan new mexico payday loans lowest fee illinois payday loan payday loans low fee payday loan company easy payday cash advance loans online payday loans fast cheap payday loan payday advance washington minnesota cash advance payday loans software payday loan no fee advance cash loan payday help paying off payday loans credit checks payday advance cheap payday loans cash til payday in lawrenceville ga payday loans no credit check no teletrack fax free payday loans payday loan softwear government employee payday loan payday loan immediate no fax payday cash advance west end neighborhood house payday loans no fax quick guaranteed approval no fees payday loans online payday loan companies emergency cash las vegas payday loans paycheck advance instant approval payday loan payday loan online fax free payday loans no fax no hassle payday loans guaranteed western union payday advance fast payday advance choose payday loan cash advance faq advertisers advance loan minnesota payday payday loans 24 hrs cash emergency loan non payday low interest payday loan payday payday guaranteed payday loan payday loan cash advance bz credit search express payday loan colorado list of payday loans no fax payday loan payday loanonline payday loans maine payday cash advance cash loan military payday fast cash easy payday loan borrow money now payday loan affiliate recipe for payday candy bars advance application cash loan payday st augustine beach payday loan instant on line payday loans faxing loan no no payday teletrack give me the phone number of loanshop payday loan knox payday loan cash til payday loans no fax cash advance faxless payday advance faxless payday direct payday loans payday loans in shelby nc low cost payday loans cheat at payday feecell soltaire no fax no credit check payday advance netanya payday loan keywordno bank statement payday loan payday cash advance illinois can you file bankruptcy on payday loans payday loans available to military chieftan payday loans cash advance los angeles payday advance loan quick payday payday loans online quick cash advance one hour payday loans new no fax no telecheck payday loans add your site payday loan starting payday loan company no telecheck payday loan baudette payday loan payday loan everyone approved addison payday loan fax payday loan bad credit payday loan faxless payday loans free loan payday cash easy loan payday loan missouri online payday miami payday loan payday loan in chicago