Tag Archives: science

The Planets

Posted on February 19, 2020 by smellincoffee

The Planets: The Definitive Visual Guide to Our Solar System © 2014 various authors (Smithsonian Institute) 256 pages I knew the moment I laid eyes on this book that we had to have it in the library.  I was given … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science | Tagged , | 6 Comments

The Pluto Files

Posted on February 11, 2020 by smellincoffee

The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet © 2009 Neil deGrasse Tyson 224 pages   Ordinary  citizens don’t take an interest in the fine details of scientific debate, any more than they would the fine details … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Of love languages, cunning critters, epic battles, and cows

Posted on January 27, 2020 by smellincoffee

Time for some mini-reviews! Read but not reviewed in the last week or so have been: The Heart of the 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? Frans de Waal Shiloh: A … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, Reviews, science | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Why is Sex Fun?

Posted on January 16, 2020 by smellincoffee

Why is Sex Fun? The Evolution of Human Sexuality © 1997 Jared Diamond 172 pages Why is Sex Fun is a provocatively titled, slim volume on the evolution of human sexuality. Diamond never addresses the titular question, though,  instead  evaluating … Continue reading →

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Brains, cotton mills, and vanilla legal thrills

Posted on January 11, 2020 by smellincoffee

January is off to a solid reading start, largely because I’ve developed some ankle woes and my gym/hiking/cycling time has become extra reading time for three weeks running. I’m about to see an orthopedic specialist, though, so here’s hoping I … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, science | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Science, before and after

Posted on January 4, 2020 by smellincoffee

For the first time since I started doing a purposeful science survey, challenging myself to read from twelve different scientific disciplines, I didn’t quite make it last year.   I did, however, draw up a list of next year’s science prospects, … Continue reading →

Posted in General, science | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Of stars and saints

Posted on December 14, 2019 by smellincoffee

Two also-reads in recent weeks have been Brian Cox’s Wonders of the Solar System and Kevin Vost’s 12 Life Lessons from St. Augustine. I’m familiar with Cox from his many appearances in Symphony of Science videos (a YouTube series in  … Continue reading →

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The Hidden Life of Trees

Posted on October 17, 2019 by smellincoffee

The Hidden Life of Trees: What they Feel, How they Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World © 2016 Peter Wohlleben 288 pages Joyce Kilmer offered that he had never seen a poem as lovely as a tree —  and I … Continue reading →

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Spark

Posted on September 23, 2019 by smellincoffee

© 2008 308 pages Are you fat? Exercise! Are you  stressed? Depressed? Exercise! Do you have ADHD? Exercise!  Do you fear dementia? Exercise!  Do you want to learn more, and more quickly? Exercise! Do you struggle with an addiction to … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews, science | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Survival of the Sickest

Posted on September 21, 2019 by smellincoffee

© 2008 Sharon Moalem 267 pages Ask the man on the street about evolution, and assuming he doesn’t connect it to Pokemon, he’ll probably identify it as something that happened long ago.   But creation is never finished, either underground where … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews, science | Tagged , , | 6 Comments