Listopia > samm's votes on the list Holiday Books for 2011 (36 Books)
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Radioactive: Marie and Pierre Curie, A Tale of Love and Fallout
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"Sabotage! Temptation! Duels! Revelation! Redniss describes her own work as a visual book about invisible things. Love and radioactivity. It is a national book award finalist and for good reason. Redniss not only artfully tells a beautiful and love story both of science and between scientists, she also uses cyanotype printing to depict the story in a quirky and unique way."
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Science Ink: Tattoos of the Science Obsessed
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"Tattoos have always intrigued me. They can be expressive, witty, or downright strange and that can be said of the science tattoos found in the book. I especially like the neuroscience section because the neurons and the brain itself is so beautiful. Great conversation starter!"
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Self Comes to Mind: Constructing the Conscious Brain
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"I am fascinated by Damasio and recommend him to anyone interested in the scientific study of human consciousness. His previous books have discussed the role of feelings on the process of consciousness and this book delves into his radical theories on their origins as well as a more evolutionary approach to studying the mind."
samm
added it to currently-reading
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Knocking on Heaven's Door: How Physics and Scientific Thinking Illuminate the Universe and the Modern World
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"Lisa Randall is one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people and an expert in both the smallest known objects in the universe and the largest (particle physics and cosmology). The subtitle here says a lot and I agree that this is gonna be one of the best popular science books published recently. If there is anyone on your list who would appreciate an update on the Large Hadron Collider, this one is for them."
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Proust Was a Neuroscientist
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"I first discovered Jonah Lehrer through SEED magazine, which focuses on using art and culture to explore and understand it science further. Proust Was A Neuroscientist expands on this idea with short vignettes focusing on artists contribution to different fields of science. The first essay in this collection is about Walt Whitman's contribution to the field of neuroscience and the other 7 essays include Marcel Proust (on memory) and Virginia Woolf (on self)."
samm
rated it 4 stars
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Bright's Passage
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"This story takes place when a young Henry Bright returns to rural West Virginia after fighting battles in WWI. While the premise may sound simple enough, this young man embarks on a journey involving many layers. The short chapters and poignant prose read more like a novella and the story line touches on subjects like religion, war, and personal freedom without bringing them up directly."
samm
rated it 5 stars
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A Fraction of the Whole
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"Jasper Dean recounts the adventurous and sometimes unbelievable journey of his life, loves, and most importantly his father, Martin Dean. If I could have dinner with any five fictional characters, one would be Martin. He can be loved, hated, inspiring or even a cautionary tale. Toltz brings him to life as well as Jasper and every character in this book perfectly."
samm
rated it 5 stars
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The Passage (The Passage, #1)
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"This book is set in the not so distant future and spans many decades leading us to a post apocalyptic world filled with human suffering as well as unmatched courage and determination. It's definitely got a science fiction feel, premised mostly on clandestine government operations, a top secret ancient virus, and a little girl destined to save the world. The entire novel exudes a literary quality that reflects Cronin's award winning writing capabilities."
samm
rated it 5 stars
See Review |
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Feathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle
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"This book radiates intrigue—I knew the contents could not be as simple as the cover. Although Thor Hanson makes complicated subjects like evolution and aerodynamics easy to understand, I found that feathers themselves are far from simple. Their beauty, perfect design, and role in our own lives is closely examined by Hanson and conveyed with an engaging and fluid writing style."
samm
rated it 5 stars
See Review |
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The Ragged Edge of the World: Encounters at the Frontier Where Modernity, Wildlands, and Indigenous Peoples Meet
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"This is a collection of vignettes about the places that Linden has traveled and what he has seen there over time. The ragged edges he refers to are the blurry lines that form between the cultures of indigenous people and industrialization. He explores not only the environmental impact industrialization has on these people, but also how it affects their ancient knowledge."
samm
rated it 5 stars
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The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World
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"I love Pollan's voice. It is funny to me that people think that by domestication they have harnessed the power of plants. Yet who are we to say it isn't the plants who have domesticated us and harnessed our power as pollinators. The evolution between plants and people that seems so linear on first glance is much more intriguing and beautiful."
samm
rated it 5 stars
See Review |
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Plenty
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"Not only are these recipes wonderful, this cookbook is also beautiful. It's full of delicious seasonal recipes that include tasty vegetable centered recipes and recipes that include wild game and foraged fruits. Instructions are clear, ingredients are simple and I believe anyone is capable of all these recipes."
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Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void
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The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science
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West of Here
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Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1)
by See Review |
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The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
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Mr. Fox
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The Postmortal
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Seriously...I'm Kidding
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Civilization: The West and the Rest
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Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
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Guardians of Being
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Folks, This Ain't Normal: A Farmer's Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World
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Weeds: In Defense of Nature's Most Unloved Plants
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Seeing Trees: Discover the Extraordinary Secrets of Everyday Trees
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Dreams
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Aelian's On the Nature of Animals
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Your True Home: The Everyday Wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh
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The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and our Health—and a Vision for Change
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The Lost Empire of Atlantis: History's Greatest Mystery Revealed
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Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London's Ottolenghi
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Brewed Awakening: Behind the Beers and Brewers Leading the World's Craft Brewing Revolution
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They Draw and Cook: 107 Recipes Illustrated by Artists from Around the World
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Heart of the Artichoke: and Other Kitchen Journeys
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Wildwood (Wildwood Chronicles, #1)
by See Review |
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