In which I further prove I'm a nerd
In honor of the first private manned spaceflight. The books below are exciting books on science and scientists. Really.
The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan
Back cover: How can we make intelligent decisions about our increasingly technology-driven lives if we don't understand the difference between the myths of pseudoscience, New Age thinking, and fundamentalist zealotry and the testable hypotheses of science?
Notes: For many the distinction between science and pseudoscience can be murky at best. In The Demon-Haunted World Sagan illustrates the distinction between true science and those who merely pay it lip-service by discussing popular pseudoscience beliefs in an intelligent, engaging way. Also, Sagan is never condescending to his reader or his subject; he understands why people find aliens, witchcraft, astrology, etc. so interesting and comforting but never shies away from explaining how detrimental such beliefs can be to individuals and society as a whole.
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
Backcover: The Hot Zone tells this dramatic story, giving a hair-raising account of the appearance of rare and lethal viruses and their "crashes" into the human race.
The Demon In The Freezer by Richard Preston
Backcover: In one of the greatest feats of modern science, the devastating smallpox virus, the worst disease in human history, was purged from the planet in 1979. In the interest of research, two stores were kept: one at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and one at a Russian virology institute. But the demon in the freezer has been set loose.
Notes: Forget that awful movie with Dustin Hoffman. These are nonfiction. Both of these books weave modern day reality with history and science and are fascinating. I found the history of the eradication of smallpox worldwide especially interesting. My only complaint is that the long preface to The Demon In The Freezer was obviously tacked on later and isn't up to the standard of the rest of the book.
Chaos: Making a New Science by James Gleick
Backcover: Lent book and never got it back. =(
Notes: Chaos as a science didn't have a single birthplace but began in fits and starts in disparate scientific diciplines. This book describes the slow formation of this intuitively illogical field and the equally intriguing people behind it.
Ooh, look. I learned how to make lj-cut. God, I'm such a dork. =)
The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan
Back cover: How can we make intelligent decisions about our increasingly technology-driven lives if we don't understand the difference between the myths of pseudoscience, New Age thinking, and fundamentalist zealotry and the testable hypotheses of science?
Notes: For many the distinction between science and pseudoscience can be murky at best. In The Demon-Haunted World Sagan illustrates the distinction between true science and those who merely pay it lip-service by discussing popular pseudoscience beliefs in an intelligent, engaging way. Also, Sagan is never condescending to his reader or his subject; he understands why people find aliens, witchcraft, astrology, etc. so interesting and comforting but never shies away from explaining how detrimental such beliefs can be to individuals and society as a whole.
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
Backcover: The Hot Zone tells this dramatic story, giving a hair-raising account of the appearance of rare and lethal viruses and their "crashes" into the human race.
The Demon In The Freezer by Richard Preston
Backcover: In one of the greatest feats of modern science, the devastating smallpox virus, the worst disease in human history, was purged from the planet in 1979. In the interest of research, two stores were kept: one at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and one at a Russian virology institute. But the demon in the freezer has been set loose.
Notes: Forget that awful movie with Dustin Hoffman. These are nonfiction. Both of these books weave modern day reality with history and science and are fascinating. I found the history of the eradication of smallpox worldwide especially interesting. My only complaint is that the long preface to The Demon In The Freezer was obviously tacked on later and isn't up to the standard of the rest of the book.
Chaos: Making a New Science by James Gleick
Backcover: Lent book and never got it back. =(
Notes: Chaos as a science didn't have a single birthplace but began in fits and starts in disparate scientific diciplines. This book describes the slow formation of this intuitively illogical field and the equally intriguing people behind it.
Ooh, look. I learned how to make lj-cut. God, I'm such a dork. =)