Product Description

As a cardiologist, Pim van Lommel was struck by the number of his patients who claimed to have near-death experiences as a result of their heart attacks. As a scientist, this was difficult for him to accept: Wouldn't it be scientifically irresponsible of him to ignore the evidence of these stories? Faced with this dilemma, van Lommel decided to design a research study to investigate the phenomenon under the controlled environment of a cluster of hospitals with a medically trained staff.

Customer Reviews (12)

Lost in Translation? I'm gonna buy and review this!
Hello guys. Can I throw my hat into the weird corner? My two pence worth of profundity if you like! Well we need the sceptics for sure, to keep Oprah's barbarians at bay, (I consider myself an informed sceptic) but the professionl sceptics seem to enjoy tightening their intellectual thumb screws, and far too vigorously when a friendly dialogue would do just fine.

Professional sceptical guys throw the baby out with the bathwater because, well according to what iv read anyway, Pimm Lommel's credentials as a doctor are very sound indeed. Professional sceptics, you know, end up sounding like the hysterics they wish to quash. This is because of the closed minded, if it can't be measured it doesn't exist mentality. .

But if you think about it, we are but consumers of other peoples experiences, or, to put it in an old fashioned British term, we are mere armchair generals. And the sceptics too. This means that we are far from our personal obsessions, because, well look at it this way; who has ever witnessed a weird phenomenon, or worked with the sick and the dying, or personally tackled the IMF? It doesn't matter how smart we appear to be or how well read we think we are; we are forever pigeon-holed as customers of the public relations merry-go-round, and as paying consumers, we are operating on synthetic ontologies; these ontologies are excreted out of the organs of mass culture; the Raison d'être, you see, is to pick our pockets.

Now to put this in less pretentious jargon, we think we know when the opposite is more likely, because we are receiving, or to be more honest, buying second hand information. So we moan about foreign policy because we read news papers and watch the television news and think we know about the Tamil Tigers or some other backwater, or we become true believing, 'rocks of ages' types, by reading religious scripture or watching an out of body experience on YouTube. This is what is meant by a synthetic picture of the world. Its false.

Now, about the near death experience. I myself have never worked in a hospital, let alone sweated over an operating table, trying to resuscitate a dead person. So I'm forced to trust the word of others. Thus I read academic papers, by respectable persons, and these persons are making extravagant claims indeed. They can't all be lying through their teeth now, can they? (I'm not aware of anyone asking this question). Doctors, you see, and surgeons especially, are highly respected gentlemen, in all countries, and they are very educated to boot (though James Randi says that having a Phd doesn't make you smart). Surgeons are front-line workers, that is, they are getting their hands dirty by bringing people back from near oblivion. So what they say qualifies for more serious attention than the usual hysteric, and thus cannot be dismissed as the mad ravings of the New Age brigade. So what are the good doctors saying? Well, some surgeons are reporting that, after the operation, the dead (as defined by instruments used in modern hospitals) have fantastic stories to tell, stories that shouldn't happen to an individual who's brainwaves showed zero response a few hours earlier; in other words, individuals who died.

The stories sound far fetched to the rational mind, and so we as readers fall into sceptic mode; but no sceptic can know how it felt to be there, in the hospital, and to be so confronted by a scenario were the (previously dead) patient reports images of hell and heaven. Also, no consumer (you and I) can be so easily converted into seeing truth in the after death state by reading a book or watching YouTube. Thus I'm going to order this and write a review.... NOW DUCK !!

Though before I go..., just as an aside, has anyone noticed that classic out of body experience is so grounded in the egoic mechanism that it cannot have any true resonance to the after death state? Really, from what Iv read anyway, near death experiences, on the hospital trolley, are so mundane compared to the shock, of say, a DMT flash, that one is staggered by how boring the other place can get. Thus during near death experiences, the brain is still in control; it may be dreaming a troubled or glorious dream, but it is still a dream, bounded in cultural conditioning. This is why Christians see Jesus, why atheists see loved ones and why Hindus feel the breath of Brahman. This is the sign of a dreaming brain, trying to hold onto life whilst dreaming the dying process, rather than true dying. Notice that they always come back, obviously! So a near death experience on the hospital trolley is just the brain throwing out gestalts of meaning via a dream sequence. What DMT and psychedelic subjects are reporting is far stranger than these fluffy dreamy near death experiences. This is the sceptic in me talking though. I am willing to be proven wrong.

Anyway, enought of my musings. I'm ordering this book and I will throw my hat into the reviews corner soon.


1 week later..

... I was planning to write a chapter by chapter review but the first 3 chapters contain no science and seem to be saying the same thing, so I'll just scribble a few observations (I'm up to page 82).

This book is a translation and it shows. Also, the author accepts all near death experience stories at true! So he's building on suspect premises or false foundations if you like (similar to the UFO brigade; you know, people who appear on Oprah peddling books on UFO's, like the phenomenon is real). So the first two chapters are a laundry list of other people's experiences. They have fascinating stories to tell but people have been talking like this for thousands of years (though the kids stories are more believable, but who did the interviews etc, this question is never asked because the experiences really happened remember!)

There is one fascinating story about a revived patient who, when floating over his cadaver, saw a nurse take his false teeth out of his mouth. He reported this on awakening. A doctor told this story and Pim uses it in his book. But I found no critical analysis of this, I mean, maybe the doctor lied. I am sorry to be so blunt, but in this book there is no questioning the motives of others. Not one bit of suspicion about human nature. For example, there is a beautiful passage taken out of George Richies book, but Richie obviously wrote a book so did he exaggerage? A sceptic will ask this sort of intrusive question!

I'm 100 pages in and I must say, the uneducated or those looking for solace will find it in here. This chapter was fun as Pim takes us on a journey through the history of near death reports. From the Vedas to Islam, the mountains of Tibet to the 19th century Theosophists and an Indian chap by the name of Swami Rama. This Swani character can induce a seven-second arrhythmia of over three hundred beats per minute without losing consciousness, and he even performs feats of telekinesis i.e. he can "move objects through mind power" (i was left thinking, why can't we just ask this guy what happens when we die!). Dr Lommel goes on and on listing historical passages from religious scripture like a true believer. Belief is ok, I know, but it is not evidence for a post death conciousness. And poetry is fine too, in expessing the other, but that too is not proof; this is what I am saying!

Though the poetry of Ovid, The Kabala and Dante are indeed beautiful, the Muslims, to make a funny comparison, say that their holy book is a spellbindingly beautiful piece of writing (in fact, they claim that the poetry revealed in the book is all the proof you will ever need) and this is their proof for its divinity. Now by this logic, we should all believe in Islam!

I hope the book improves.... Ill write soon.

2 pages later, after a flick through to index.....There are many New Age elements in here and these elements are forever popping up in books claiming to be contenders to the title of next paradigm shifting top dog. This applies whether the discussion is about NDE's, UFO's, Big Foot, the paranormal, quantum gods, quantum cancer cures or, my favourite, channelling a long dead politician fromAtlantis!

People just buy this stuff up, and hungrily too, like starving ghosts, hungry for an escape from mundane reality. As to why they need to escape? Well perhaps modern materialism really is a vacuous void, or the idea of labouring away till death is not such a good idea after all; and, understandably, realising this can sometimes can be a bit harsh. ... Ill keep reading... Back soonish...

next week....

Skimmed the Lancet report which was interesting (already read it online) and chapter six sent me to sleep, and now I'm on the chapter on consciousness which is fascinating.

I must say that Lommel has done his homework here.Lommel is saying that if the NDE is to be valid, we are forced to adopt a new way of thinking that requires a radical view of where consciousness comes from.Lommel puts his cards on the table here; the brain does not produce consciousness but receives it! The brain is some sort of tuning mechanism, like a radio receiver. Or Lommel's example, your brain is like a computer and the way your computer receives the internet, well your brain receives consciousness or mind. So your mind is embodied in your physical brain and thus consciousness is limited and so defined by the brain and nervous system/body mechanism. Now on the operating trolley, there is leakage and your consciousness escapes the brain and looks down on the body! Psychedelic luminaries like Aldous Huxley and Terence McKenna also thought along these lines.
Lommel mentions the drug DMT, well because DMT is endogenous, that is, it's a natural human hormone; it may play a part in regulating consciousness. Interesting stuff. There are also diagrams and works by noted scientists and philosophers. So chapter nine has really impressed...Back soon...
1 week..(Just a personal aside)I have to admit though, Lommel slips into the God of the gaps reasoning that intelligent designers use to knock bricks out of evolution. Intelligent designers, you probably already know, use this technique; they find the slightest hole, or gap, in Darwinian theory and say, 'look you here, evolution by natural selection cannot explain this, so God is in the gaps, isn't it obvious, God created the stuff Darwinism cannot explain'!Lommel looks to the brain for these gaps. The chapters on the brain, and on the mind, though very interesting, just list the latest research but not the counter, and the consensus is that consciousness, amazingly, cannot possibly be 'reduced to activities and processes in the brain' (page, 193). In other words, there is a gap between godlike complicated consciousness and the lumpen machinery of brain stuff. Even my consciousness, which feels weird, is so complicated that it cannot be reduced to my brain. The box is just too small. So there is a computer expert (Simon Berkovich, page 194) cackling off an impressively long list of digits and wondering how can the meat of the brain produce such complexity (this makes us feel clever). However, I don't know about you, but I'm not that smart and, I think anyway, my consciousness can easily fit inside my scull. I'm only being honest. My brain doesn't make anything as complex as what this guys digits are concluding. I never feel like a genius and I reckon that my mind can easily fit inside my head. How about yours? Ok ill grant you; maybe Albert Einstein's or Erwin Schrodinger's (or even Stephen Hawking's) consciousness' came from the divine other place, but how about the person sitting next to you on the bus this morning, or the guy sweeping the pavements? Does the dumb crack fiends consciousnesshold equal weight, concerning the spark of reincarnation, with the hyper genius' of history?If the ideas in this book are true, then the universe really is egalitarian and we all survive our bodily death!Good stuff, back soon...

For those who wonder?
Just started this book. A little to technical but a good read I find it interesting as I had a simlar experience

WHERE'S THE EVIDENCE?
I sought reliable evidence that consciousness survives death, but found nothing but stories in this book (anecdotal evidence).

With so many people believing in UFOs, the CIA killed Kennedy, Bush bombed the WTC, etc. It's asking a lot to rely on anecdotal evidence alone.

Time will tell who is right!
According to van Lommel, the near-death experience is an authentic
experience that cannot be attributed to imagination, psychosis,
or oxygen deprivation. Furthermore, he suggests that current views on
consciousness held by most physicians, philosophers and psychologists
are too narrow for understanding the phenomenon.
Indeed, it would be convenient for ''medical orthodoxy'', if
the near-death experience were nothing more than a brief spell of
abnormal brain activity resulting from oxygen deficiency. But van Lommel
does a good job it making us doubt these
''orthodox'' views.
I.e.
A study of fighter jet pilots is often cited as a possible
explanatory model for NDE. Indeed, the fighter pilots also experience
a tunnel vision, a sensation of light and brief fragmented images from
the past. But according to van Lommel this cannot be compared to
the reports of life reviews, or out of body experiences seen in the
near-death experiences.
Electrical stimulation (or dysfunction/impairment) of the temporal
and parietal lobes have been said to cause out-of-body experiences.
But according to Lommel these experiments only gave atypical and
incomplete out-of-body experiences, where near-death experiences
involves a verifiable perception - from a position outside and
above the body.
We certainly need to hear both sides of the argument. And
at the very least the reader will be convinced that we
need more research in these areas to understand exactly what is
going on.
The book has a long section about quantum physics.
Here van Lommel tries to convince us that consciousness cannot be understood
in classical terms, but must be understood in quantum mechanical terms.
However, from our current vantage point this conclusion seems somewhat
premature. Surely, more research is needed into these phenomenons!
Whether they can explained within the current ''orthodox'' framework,
or needs a completely new framework only time can tell.

-Simon

Highly recommended for anyone interested in the nature of consciousness
This book presents a case for the authenticity of the near death experience. Based upon evidence from prospective and retrospective studies, the author argues that consciousness is not completely dependent upon the brain and that subjects are sometimes able to experience a greatly magnified awareness apart from the body. Anyone who has an open mind and is not religiously attached to materialism will probably enjoy this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Fractals and chaos are currently generating excitement across various scientific and medical disciplines. Biomedical investigators, graduate students, and undergraduates are becoming increasingly interested in applying fractals and chaos (nonlinear dynamics) to a variety of problems in biology and medicine. This accessible text lucidly explains these concepts and illustrates their uses with examples from biomedical research. The author presents the material in a very unique, straightforward manner which avoids technical jargon and does not assume a strong background in mathematics. The text uses a step-by-step approach by explaining one concept at a time in a set of facing pages, with text on the left page and graphics on the right page; the graphics pages can be copied directly onto transparencies for teaching. Ideal for courses in biostatistics, fractals, mathematical modeling of biological systems, and related courses in medicine, biology, and applied mathematics, Fractals and Chaos Simplified for the Life Sciences will also serve as a useful resource for scientists in biomedicine, physics, chemistry, and engineering. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent! Make it a permanent part of your Library!!
This book is amazing. It should be a requisite book of anybody who is interested in Fractals and Chaos Theory, whether they be a student in High School or an expert in rigorous mathematics. The book jumps right to the important points and conclusions of this beautiful area of mathematics, and develops intuition without resorting to mathematical rigor, which is a boon to any beginner.

This book makes a solid introduction to Fractals and Chaos Theory, and should allow any motivated student in this area to later jump to more mathematically/technically rigorous textbooks later. For students in biological and medical sciences, whom may only have limited mathematical training compared to students of other disciplines (Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, etc..), this should be a required book to read. More and more current research is indicating that biological systems - Immune system, Heart Dynamics, Vision - are fundamentally ruled and described by chaos and fractal based processes. The book goes over several biological applications, and does a great job of calibrating the student to the promise that this area of mathematics will revolutionize our understanding of biology and medicine in addition to highlighting specific open research questions to help focus the thoughts of the motivated student.

Overall, get this book ASAP!!!!! ... Read more

Product Description

Each chapter has three types of learning aides for students: open-ended questions, multiple-choice questions, and quantitative problems. There is an average of about 50 per chapter. There are also a number of worked examples in the chapters, averaging over 5 per chapter, and almost 600 photos and line drawings.

Customer Reviews (2)

Thanks for the book.
Everything I had wanted. Cheap shipping, well packaged, and precisely what I was looking for. Thanks!

I hope the 2nd edition is better...
Although this textbook is definitely modern and currently relevant, it lacks - A LOT:

1.No bold words!Sometimes we students don't have the time to sit and read whole chapters in one sitting.Bold words help navigate "skimming" to the best efficiency.Skimming is impossible in this book.

2.The worst - no companion material!!!I love to go online and study with an online companion to my textbooks, or study with a solutions manual.For me, it makes the information easier to understand - and understand why.I know this book is still "young," so I hope that is why there is no online companion or other book companions to this text.

3.Summaries aren't great - much of the important chapter material is left out of the chapter summaries.But hey, at least it has summaries!


What it HAS:

1.Again, I like that it has chapter summaries.Not all books do, but it's a MUST in my book!

2.LOTS of End-of-chapter questions.The more the better - I just wish there was a solutions manual.The back of the book does offer the answers, but no explanations.

3.Current and relevant material.More interesting to read than other outdated material or general physics that doesn't include biology/chemistry issues.

4.Color, diagrams and pics - almost every page has SOMETHING like this on it!


All in all...I will look forward to the 2nd edition.Let's leave it at that. ... Read more

Product Description
Model formulae represent a powerful methodology for describing, discussing, understanding, and performing the component of statistical tests known as linear statistics. It was developed for professional statisticians in the 1960s and has become increasingly available as the use of computers has grown and software has advanced. Modern Statistics for Life Scientists puts this methodology firmly within the grasp of undergraduates for the first time. The authors assume a basic knowledge of statistics--up to and including one and two sample t-tests and their non-parametric equivalents. They provide the conceptual framework needed to understand what the method does--but without mathematical proofs--and introduce the ideas in a simple and steady progression with worked examples and exercises at every stage. Students learn a single conceptual framework for a wide range of tests often introduced separately, including t-tests, oneway and multiway analysis of variance, linear and polynomial regressions, and analysis of covariance. More importantly, students learn a language in which they can frame questions and in which they also communicate with the computer that performs the analyses. All the examples and exercises are available in separate online documents in Minitab, SAS and SPSS. For students who go on to research, model formulae in linear models are the best springboard from which to reach an understanding of more advanced methods such as logistic regression and log-linear models. This book is appropriate for use in statistics courses at undergraduate and graduate levels. It is also a helpful resource for students of non-mathematics-based disciplines using statistics, such as Geography, Psychology, and Epidemiology, as well as for postgraduate researchers in the Life Sciences. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very nice.
Very nice price, and the book is really NEW! I can't tell it from those on shelves in the bookstore. It also arrived very fast. Thanks~ ... Read more

Product Description
College Algebra with Applications for Business and Life Sciences meets the demand for courses that emphasize problem solving, modeling, and real-world applications for business and the life sciences. The authors provide a firm foundation in algebraic concepts and prompt students to apply their understanding to relevant examples and applications they are likely to encounter in college or in their careers. Additional technology components available through CL MATHSpace enhance instruction and motivate learners. The program addresses the needs of students at all levels--and in particular those who may have struggled in previous algebra courses--offering an abundance of examples and exercises that reinforce concepts and make learning more dynamic. The early introduction of functions in Chapter 1 ensures compatibility with syllabi and provides a framework for student learning. Optional Discovery and Exploration activities are integrated throughout the text; instructors can also opt to use graphing technology as a tool for problem solving and review or retention. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

College Algebra with Applications for Business and the Life Sciences
After three weeks in the Math120 class, I have found this book is exceptional; clearly states the step by step process, and good variety of practice exercises for the homework assignments! I would highly recommend this book.

You could use it as a text for courses in college algebra or finite mathematics
Two decades age, the general education mathematics course for the college student weak in math was college algebra. Now, it is a hodgepodge of algebra with some applications thrown in and is called finite mathematics. This book is somewhere in the middle between them and could be used for either course. In comparing the content of this book to a textbook in finite mathematics, the differences are less than 20% and if I was to look even closer and generalize a bit, probably closer to 10%. The generalization is along the lines of more explanation of the math rather than more worked "real world" examples.
The topics are:

*) Fundamental concepts of algebra
*) Equations and inequalities
*) Functions and graphs
*) Polynomial and rational functions
*) Exponential and logarithmic functions
*) Systems of equations and inequalities
*) Matrices and determinants
*) Sequences, series and probability

There are a large number of exercises and solutions to all are included.
While there is mention of technology, the authors are to be commended for not overusing it. A graphing calculator is a useful tool, but understanding is the key to everything. The concentration on understanding at the expense of calculator use is a bog plus.
If you are in need of a text for college algebra of finite mathematics, this book could be what fills your needs.
... Read more

Product Description
The best-selling author of Stiff and Bonk explores the irresistibly strange universe of space travel and life without gravity.Space is a world devoid of the things we need to live and thrive: air, gravity, hot showers, fresh produce, privacy, beer. Space exploration is in some ways an exploration of what it means to be human. How much can a person give up? How much weirdness can they take? What happens to you when you can’t walk for a year? have sex? smell flowers? What happens if you vomit in your helmet during a space walk? Is it possible for the human body to survive a bailout at 17,000 miles per hour? To answer these questions, space agencies set up all manner of quizzical and startlingly bizarre space simulations. As Mary Roach discovers, it’s possible to preview space without ever leaving Earth. From the space shuttle training toilet to a crash test of NASA’s new space capsule (cadaver filling in for astronaut), Roach takes us on a surreally entertaining trip into the science of life in space and space on Earth.Amazon.com Review
Amazon Best Books of the Month, August 2010: With her wry humor and inextinguishable curiosity, Mary Roach has crafted her own quirky niche in the somewhat staid world of science writing, showing no fear (or shame) in the face of cadavers, ectoplasm, or sex. In Packing for Mars, Roach tackles the strange science of space travel, and the psychology, technology, and politics that go into sending a crew into orbit. Roach is unfailingly inquisitive (Why is it impolite for astronauts to float upside down during conversations? Just how smelly does a spacecraft get after a two week mission?), and she eagerly seeks out the stories that don't make it onto NASA's website--from SPCA-certified space suits for chimps, to the trial-and-error approach to crafting menus during the space program's early years (when the chefs are former livestock veterinarians, taste isn't high on the priority list). Packing for Mars is a book for grownups who still secretly dream of being astronauts, and Roach lives it up on their behalf--weightless in a C-9 aircraft, she just can't resist the opportunity to go "Supermanning" around the cabin. Her zeal for discovery, combined with her love of the absurd, amazing, and stranger-than-fiction, make Packing for Mars an uproarious trip into the world of space travel.--Lynette Mong

Customer Reviews (96)

4 stars. Good audiobook version.NOT for kids though.
Overall, I enjoyed the book; and I would recommend it to many friends, but not absolutely everyone, as I'll attempt to explain.

I 'read' the audio version, unabridged, of this book.The narration and its recording were good quality, clearly understandable. For years, friends have told me that audio books are great for getting through boring commutes or longer trips, and for getting through boring household tasks.Audio books are also great when I've got a migraine and need to rest my eyes, by the way.

The first part of the title, "Packing for Mars", may give the impression that the book is mainly about hoped-for future missions to Mars, but the book is not that specific to Mars.The second part of the title, "The Curious Science of Life in the Void" is a more accurate summary. This book goes behind the scenes of both past space missions and recent research and development.

Within the broad subject of space travel books, there are many choices out there -- both science fiction and science-based nonfiction books and documentaries.I enjoy both categories.However, this is the first book I've read that gave a gritty,unvarnished view of what astronauts experience in space. I felt I was right there.This book goes into detail of how difficult and unpleasant the most routine tasks can be in space, in addition to the very real dangers.Most of the info in this book is not things we would hear from a press release or a documentary.

I have even more respect for astronauts after this book, beyond the respect I already had for their bravery and professionalism.Also respect for the researchers and engineers who struggle to design travel vessels, space labs, spacesuits, equipment, food packaging, and supplies.It seems the current state of technology for outer-space accommodations is just barely tolerable, at best.They are kept alive, but big challenges remain for supporting health, productivity, minimum lifestyle, and (consequently) morale.The book goes into much detail about past and ongoing attempts to improve those aspects, and why it is so hard to improve those aspects.

This is a good book for people who are curious about many subjects, and don't mind an author that rambles into different tangents.I enjoy that.I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone who gets grossed out easily, or who is offended by occasional bad language or off-color anecdotes.The author seems to have interviewed many people, and some people were more candid than others.

I don't recommend buying this as a gift for a child, because there are topics that will upset parents.In particular, when the author is investigating rumors and speculation about that very adult category of activities that are typically bedroom activities.She tracks down rumors and gossip of alleged astronaut behavior; and finds -- not too surprising -- that the rumors all turn out to be silly and baseless.During the process of asking many people many questions, the author does get some laughable information, based on physics (and speculative imagination probably), of how clumsy specific aspects would be.

Ironically, there are other subjects in the book that might be more appealing to kids than adult readers -- in particular the subject of potties and their usage, which many kids find hilarious at some stage of childhood.The author spends a great deal of time discussing the challenges and ongoing problems with outer-space toilets.It was gross; sometimes it seemed like a bad case of too much information.On the other hand, there seemed valid reasons for including the topic of bathrooms; as the author explains, toilets are a major, unresolved problem area for space programs; it seems they might even be the worst source of morale problems among astronauts.By the way, I suggest the author consider writing an additional book,about life in outer space, specifically for kids.I think it would be a hit.

Hilarious book on all the don't-ask space questions
I found this book by chance in the science section at the book store. From personal hygiene to monkeys to sex in space, this is one of the funniest books on space I've ever read. Sometimes it can get technical but the author tries to keep it light. She spends many pages on discussing sex in space, which in itself has to be the best laugh out loud part of the book.

The human element of exploration
This book is an excellent compilation of the challenges which hummans face when they leave mother Earth. No atmosphere, no gravity, radaition that would kill instead of tan are all discussed in a thorough and in some cases entertaining way. Mary is well positioned to discuss this topic, living close by NASA Ames, where Life Sciences is centered for the agency. Her interviews with NASA personel are excellent. This book is a must for anyone longing to break the bounds of low Earth orbit exploration.

Put this book in your suitcase....
I LOVE Mary Roach, though probably not enough to spend months in very close (showerless) quarters with her. Her writing is informative, well-researched, and hilarious. She has the courage to tackle uncomfortable topics--even when it means tempering the amazing fact of human spaceflight with more prosaic issues, like bodily functions.

I was ten when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. During my formative years, I drank Tang and Instant Breakfast, and developed an addiction to Space Food Sticks. (When they disappeared from the shelves at Jewel, I felt like a crack user whose dealer had been arrested.) But the space race was thrilling, because 1) astronauts are cool, 2)we knew America would win and 3)jet packs for the average citizen had to be next. What more could we want? World peace?

But most of what we learned about spaceflight was a pretty sanitized, romantic version. Beyond the cute chimp youngsters, we didn't know much about the animal casualties. We didn't hear anything about bone loss or the protocol of cutting your teammate loose if he took too long getting back inside the capsule after a space walk. Creepy! And think of the millions that have been spent on solving the bathroom problem.

Which led to the greatest insight of the book, which is the perfect summation of the difference between the Soviet Union and the US. In order to "eliminate," so to speak, a potty emergency during the first crucial hours after launch, NASA started the tradition of giving the astronauts a high-protein steak and egg breakfast. The Cosmonauts, on the other hand, got a two-liter enema.

What better snapshot of the difference between Us and Them? Who would want to live under that kind of system?

All told, this was a fun read. I don't really want to experience space travel, though--my rule for visiting anywhere is that they must have Western-style bathrooms. Boring, yes, but that's me.

I would just be happy with a supply of Space Food Sticks. And my jet pack. Which I think the government owes me, to be honest.

Not normally a fan of audio books, but Mary Roach is simply amazing.
This is Mary Roach's fourth book, and her pop-science writing remains as funny, engaging, and fascinating in "Packing for Mars" as it was in her first book. In "Packing for Mars," Roach examines space travel - and the accompanying areas of interest (like the politics and social aspects of the space program). As in her other books, Roach doesn't present a sanitized view of her subject: the space program is exposed, warts and all, to the audience (which, for me, preserves the humanity of the subject, rather than simply reducing it to its scientific components). Many of the stories, facts, and events she recounts are those that aren't publicized: say, the smell of the space station after some weeks in orbit.

The audio book, which comes on nine CDs, is also excellent. I ripped all of the CDs to my mp3 player, so I could listen to the entirety of the book in a continuous file. It was good company in the car on drives, and during evening walks -- the narration is smooth and easy to pay attention to. Additionally, the convenience of skipping around to re-listen to different parts was useful and enjoyable. I'm not normally a fan of audio books, but found this one to be quite a treat and very well produced. ... Read more

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includes: key concepts in an easy to read format; interactive illustrations and reading questions; reading checks; study tips ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

An interesting first 3 chapters
I find the idea of "_____ in your everyday life" a little stale, especially when it seems somewhat forced. I think this book would have done itself a favor by focusing mostly on the different concepts presented without trying to force ideas on how this would apply to users lives.

What was interesting was the first four chapters in this book were engaging to me, and perhaps it was because I was relatively unfamiliar with the material. However, after about chapter 6, I found the book getting progressively more boring. I also felt that in these later chapters, Fisher would have done better to incorporate a broader range of thinking into his books - although he does draw from some psychologists, a lot of this thinking tends to be one dimensional and a bit rote. In particular, I had qualms with the chapter on networks, both in the way it was written and some of the assertions made on adoption theory and diffusion of innovations.

Let's Vote On It
In many ways this book is a continuation of How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer.Whereas Lehrer explores the edge between actually thinking about our choices versus going with your gut, Len Fisher's The Perfect Swarm: The Science of Complexity in Everyday Life explores some of the surprising mathematics of decision-making.If you have 100 candidates for a job, you should interview the first 37 without hiring anybody, then hire the next one that looks better than the first 37.If you're shopping for bargains, you should look at 14 items then buy the next one that seems like a good deal.Asking a group of people to answer a question is almost 30% more likely to return the right answer than asking an expert - regardless of how knowledgable the group is.

These examples, and many more, are explained and discussed.Why would jury trials be more fair if the jurors didn't deliberate but simply voted?How can asymmetrical columns prevent crushing deaths in panicked crowds?How can passing a traffic jam actually make it worse?

Locusts swarm, ants swarm, bees swarm but they do it with very different rules.It's important to know whether to behave like an ant, a locust or a bee when deciding where to go or how to get there, or why.You can know when to trust your instincts and when to consult an expert -- or a random group of strangers."Collective wisdom" such as the voters in a democracy are more likely to do the right thing than any -- repeat ANY -- single politician.Kind of restores your faith in the system, doesn't it?Unfortunately the flip side is that if there are three or more choices on a ballot, the winner is almost always the choice of a minority.And if each person has a less than 50/50 chance of coming up with the right answer, consultation is more likely to result in a disastrous "Group Think" than the correct answer (one example given: the lead-up to the Iraq invasion).

Swarm intelligence, as you can see, is a good bit more nuanced than the Toyota Production System: Beyond Large-Scale Production or What Color is Your Rainbow? would have us believe.Besides decision-making and collaborative thinking, Fisher discusses the six degrees of Kevin Bacon, military censorship, the World Wide Web, the Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Ratio, Benford's Law, Ramsey's Theorem, the 80/20 Rule, and dozens, maybe hundreds of other consequences.His writing reminds a bit of James Burke, whose mind races a million miles per hour bringing up unlikely but perfectly-logical Connections in his discussion.It's heady, brilliant and thrilling stuff.

The book proper is 172 pages followed by over 70 pages of notes, sidebars, elaborations, web links and bibliography for further reading.

Entertaining discussion of crowd and swarm intelligence
As its title suggests, this lively book often makes its points with humor and wit. Physicist and author Len Fisher draws on laboratory experiments, observations of the natural world, well-known historical events, contemporary cases and examples from his own life, making a complex subject accessible. His book covers some ground that will be familiar from other books on group intelligence, collaboration and the wisdom of crowds, but the material on "swarm intelligence" is new. Fisher's numerous examples from all facets of nature provide highly fascinating case studies of group behavior. getAbstract recommends this book to professionals in marketing and strategy, and to trainers and readers who are interested in new ways of thinking.

Ants, Locust, Bees, Crowds, Juries, Swarm particle systems, Social networks
Would Swarm networking have helped Toyota identify problems in their brakes before having to recall millions of vehicles for upgrades and fixes. Would a social network have helped NASA identify defective O rings and prevented a tragic accident and would swarm intelligence have predicted potential hazards of foam breaking up and damaging heat titles?What is the best way to solve a problem?People must be able to think for themselves and reach diverse and independent conclusions.The question must have a right answer that can be measured against reality.Large groups of people must be answering the same question.When answering a state estimation group, the group will generally outperform the individual in the group. If most of the group are moderately informed then group opinion is bound to be right, at times approximately 99 percent accuracy assuming each individual knows 60 percent of different aspects of the answer.Are jurors selected because of their unbiased views? Are jurors more accurate than judges given they accurately understand the facts.How do quorums influence decisions?How is consensus in the quorum achieved through discussion, debate, and rating? How does diverse base problems transform to consensus on agreement of course of action?In consensus, someone has to sacrifice their opinion, so the whole can benefit from its group intelligence. Example is important to consensus and wiliness to follow an example.Consensus increases steeply as the number of near neighbors have commits to the option of the group responding to positive feedback.Animals respond to speed and accuracy.Groupthink is a phenomena where a pattern of thought can put its members to "a pattern of thought that is characterized by self-deception, forced manufacture of consent, and conformity to group values and ethnics."Groupthink is delusional.

Swarm networks are open and dissipate information and feedback.Negative feedback and Positive feedback reduce error in the system.Complex systems are governed by a balance between positive and negative feedback.Complex systems have the property of self-organizing.Collective behavior works to create organized patterns in the group.Insects, such as, ants, locust, bees are studied to learn how swarms self-organize.Locust follow the rule, "keep your distance", avoid bumping, move in the average direction, keep distance from locust behind, and cluster at food sources.Locust have a serotonin induced drive for company and increases disproportionately with the number of similar inclined locust nearby.Positive feedback means more locust nearby. When your moving through a crowd, how do you choose your route?Do you look for weak areas to navigate towards?Do you say "excuse me", if you bump into someone?Do you keep pace with the group? When you travel on a highway, do you keep pace with the flow of traffic or do you follow the posted speed limits?When you walking with a crowd do you try to keep distance from the people beside and behind you?Do you keep you hands at your side and take shorter strides?Swarms do not require large numbers of leaders that know where to go or the right answer.The leaders of the swarm lead from the front and the group follows individuals to the front or left autonomously. When a bee reports food, how does the swarm know where the food is and direction to fly?Bee fly by a cascade effect with a few individuals leading a large group: avoidance, alignment, and attraction; and bee in the group navigate by simple local interactions.Swarms need a few anonymous individuals with definite goals and knowledge how to reach it, for the rest of the group to follow the goal.What causes people existing an orchestra to congest at the exists?When groups converge on a exist, how do individuals self-organize in the most efficient way to exist the building?Crowds organize into lanes.How do ants find the shortest path to a food source trying too waste little energy?The path may be the shortest distance but not necessarily the shortest time to traverse. Ants leave the colony and branch randomly; if an ant encounters another oncoming ant, it moves left or right, and returns back on course. Crowds have emerging complex structures arising from social and physical forces. The route with the strongest pheromone is the shortest route home and other ants follow that trail and the selective reinforcement of a good solution is the most efficient route to a food source.Do you eat at restaurant that have long waiting lines? Do you flock to stores with large groups looking for sales?Do you find efficiencies by observations?The Pheromones on Trails not travel by ants dissolve. How do individuals bring an issue to the group and gaining notice?Word of Mouth spread individual success or issues virally through the system.

What I want?
1. I would like the author to explain how Swarm networks could have prevented the Toyota brake problem
2. I would like the author to explain how Microsoft OS development use swarm technology to manage over 30 million elements of complexity
3. I would like to know why IBM invests over $100 million in Linux and how they make more money by providing open software?
4. I would like to know, if the author believe Google is successful because the search engine finds high quality loosely couple cellular correlated pieces of data.

Science and mathematics of the most pleasurable sort
As a glance at the "Look Inside" feature here on Amazon proves, Len Fisher writes a clear, interesting prose, raising important questions and suggesting rules that will help you make better decisions. He describes and applies 33 such rules in this latest contribution to popular science.

His basic thesis is that complex behaviors can be described by a simple rule. For example, gigantic numbers of fish seem to have a single mind -- but all a single fish has to know is to follow the fish immediately in front of it. Watching through your faceplate at gigantic schools of fish as they weave through the water -- you can see this rule in action in beautiful living color.

You can apply the same approach in trying to find a bargain, an approach that works best where there are many sellers and the products are fairly similar to each other.

The basic idea is "to estimate how many samples of the item might be available in total, and then look at a limited selection of these before choosing the next one that is at least as good (in terms of price and quality) as the best of those that we have so far seen. This procedure saves time and effort, and also reduces the possibility that we will spot a bargain, keep looking for a better one, decide on the original one, and go back only to find that it has been sold!"

Fisher explains the use of statistics in three scenarios:

"If we are going for the very best, we should look at one-third of all those available before going on to select the next one that is as good or better than the best that we have already seen (in terms of the lowest price for the same quality). This gives us a 33% chance of finding the very best bargain, and a very high chance of finding an extremely good bargain.

"If we are happy to accept a sample in the lowest 10% of prices, we need only look at 14% of the samples on offer before choosing the next one that we see which is at least as cheap as the cheapest of these. This gives us an 84% chance of settling on one among the cheapest 10%.

"If we are happy with a price in the lowest 25%, things get even better. We need only to look at 7% of the samples before choosing one that is at least as cheap as the cheapest we have seen. This gives you a whopping 92% chance of finding a bargain in your chosen range!"

Of course, if it's easy to find additional offers, or if it's fairly easy to get back to a better offer to see if it's still available, you may be able to get more/better/cheaper by spending a bit more time. Once you get the basic approach in mind, however, you'll be able to decide when to stop looking, make your choice, and get back to reading about other examples of how simple rules lead to great complexity.

Fisher's website is filled with additional examples, and his clear joy in reading and writing about science at work in our everyday life.

Robert C. Ross2009 ... Read more

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Life In Outer Space

Bears and birds, people and planets -- many things live on planet Earth. But do they live anywhere else? For a long time people have wondered about that. Maybe you have, too. Read and find out how scientists search for signs of life in outer space.

Customer Reviews (1)

Realistic and Educational
This book talks in children's words about a subject that adults learned so long ago that they may have forgotten.The artistic side of the book keeps children entertained without taking away from the subject content.My fiveyear old loves this book. ... Read more

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The Third Edition of Biology: Science for Lifewith Physiology continues to draw students into biology through engaging stories that make difficult topics more accessible and understandable. Colleen Belk and Virginia Borden strive to make teaching and learning biology a better experience from both sides of the desk. The authors draw from their teaching experiences to create a text with a flowing narrative and innovative features that require students to become more active participants in their learning. Each chapter presents the material through a story that draws from real life examples, making the reading more engaging and accessible to today's students. These stories strive to demystify topics found in biology. The Third Edition of this book features a completely re-designed art program and uses the authors' teaching experiences to create student-centered features such as the new Savvy Reader, Visualize This, and Stop and Stretch to motivate and encourage student learning. The new A Closer Look allows instructors the opportunity to expand on certain important biological topics.For instructors who do not cover topics related to physiology, an alternate edition of this book, Biology: Science for Life, is also available. ... Read more

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Great Shape, fast delivery
The book was in great shape and it came quicker than the date stated. It gave me an estimated arrival date of August 25- September 1, the book arrived on August 26. I really need the book for class.

What an easy way to get college books!
I was alittle apprehensive about ordering college course books on line but the books were in better shape than I expected like they looked new! Quick delivery ...I would have to say it was easier &less expensive then going to the college book store.

Biology: Science for Life
This textbook provides a basic overview of the biological sciences for students who do not intend to continue further with the study of biology.To draw the student in, the book is arranged around concrete situations which can be explained or understood better with certain biological knowledge.For example, the first chapter begins with a story of a student who has been getting a lot of colds and he wonders what he can do to reduce the number and severity of his colds.The authors use this example to help explain the scientific method.This pattern continues throughout, as the authors touch briefly on most of the major areas of the biological sciences.

The concept is not a poor one for reaching the intended audience, though the opening vignettes are sometimes generic and/or less compelling than they might have been.And the authors, in many places, provide good, understandable, basic instruction in biology.Unfortunately, this book is rather uneven.At times the authors fail to give their audience enough credit and drag through material that can be more quickly digested.Even more often, the authors simply throw large amounts of information and vocabulary at the student without adequate explanation, perhaps delving more deeply into topics than is warranted for a non-majors introductory biology text.Clearly one can learn a lot from this text - one can, indeed in my opinion, begin their biological studies with this book.It seems more likely to me, however, that most students will be frustrated by the alternating pace and the large amounts of inadequately explained vocabulary.It's usable, but one can do better.

Sold me an Instuctor's Copy!
The Biology book I bought was advertised to be in perfect condition, but when I received it, the covers had a couple of "used book" stickers.When I peeled them off, there were big warning labels saying, "this book is meant for instructor's use only."It seemed really sneaky to me that those labels were strategically hidden, and I returned the book because (a) I couldn't use it and (b) I'd never be able to sell it back to a bookstore here.So keep that in mind...

A little late...
Product came in good condition... Just not in a timely manner... When I bought the books, was told a est. arrival date.. Wrong... Came over a week later then the time told... Well, I guess its free shipping for a reason... ... Read more

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Turn your elementary students into super sleuths with the 60 exciting lessons and worksheets in this unique resource! All provide complete teacher background information and reproducible activity sheets that challenge students to observe carefully, organize and record data, think critically, and conduct simple tests to solve crimes ranging from theft and dog-napping to vandalism and water pollution. Organized into four sections covering Inquiry & Technology...Earth Science...Life Science...and Physical Science. ... Read more

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Book
Extremely helpful in the classroom. Activities are appropriate for students in grades 6 and under. Fun!

Great Start
This is a great book to get younger students involved in science processes.Students really get into the activities!I like that there is not much work on teachers part.If you have older students try other book. ... Read more

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Enhanced by a comprehensive cross-reference system that links various scientific disciplines, this scientific survey takes a close-up look at familiar objects and events, analyzing the underlying scientific principles. 50,000 first printing. $40,000 ad/promo. ... Read more

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excellent resource for basic information
I use this book as the resource for an adult science education course I teach at a local university.I find it an excellent base for information for people who have not had any real science exposure. My students havereacted positively to its use amd I would recommend it for middle/highschool library reference as well as for older students. ... Read more

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What are the agents of life? Central to our conception of the biological world is the idea that it contains various kinds of individuals, including genes, organisms, and species. How we conceive of these agents of life is central to our understanding of the relationship between life and mind, the place of hierarchical thinking in the biological sciences, and pluralistic views of biological agency. Genes and the Agents of Life rethinks the place of the individual in the biological sciences, drawing parallels with the cognitive and social sciences. Genes, organisms, and species are all agents of life, but how are each of these conceptualized within genetics, developmental biology, evolutionary biology, and systematics? The book includes highly accessible discussions of genetic encoding, species and natural kinds, and pluralism above the levels of selection, drawing on work from across the biological sciences. A companion to Boundaries of the Mind, (Cambridge, 2004) where the focus is on the cognitive sciences, this volume will appeal to professionals and students in philosophy, biology, and the history of science.Robert A. Wilson is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Alberta. He is the author of Cartesian Psychology and Physical Minds (Cambridge, 1995). ... Read more

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This is the second edition of Marvin N. Tolman’s bestselling book Hands-On Life Science Activities for Grades K-6. Like all the books in The Science Problem-Solving Curriculum Library series, this revised edition offers compelling activities that help teach students thinking and reasoning skills along with basic science concepts and facts. The book’s activities follow the discovery/inquiry approach and encourage students to analyze, synthesize, and infer based on their own hands-on experiences. This new edition includes an expanded “Teacher Information” section, inquiry-based models and complex cooperative learning projects using materials found around the home. Many of the activities easily become great science fair ideas, as well as lessons and activities that correlate with national standards grid. ... Read more

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Excellent Teacher Resource
This is a must have for any elementary teacher!Easy to follow experiments, including required materials.What I find most beneficial is the scientific explanation of what 'occurred' in the experiment - this is crucial if you're not sure how to explain the scientific concept to students.

Get Kids Psyched About Science.
This book is a must-have for any elementary teacher.In fact, the entireseries of "hands-on science activities" books is outstanding. Each book addresses specific areas of the science curriculum in anorganized fashion.The experiments are guaranteed to get kids interestedin science. ... Read more

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(Grades 6-8 & up). Developed by a team of experienced educators. Each book in this collection presents carefully-researched skills and sequences; and features age-appropriate, high-interest exercises which lay to rest the idea of unimaginative workbooks with dull questions. This series was designed to: introduce new skills; review and reinforce skills, concepts, and content; assess skill mastery; and encourage the use of higher-order thinking skills. Each book is 64 pages. ... Read more

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Organized Around One Central Idea, The Unity That Underlies Biological Diversity, This Book Presents Biology's Basic Concepts And Applications Through A Brilliant Interweaving Of Incisive Explanations, Imaginative Analogies, And Stunning Visual Graphics. This Book Is The Perfect Answer For Any Instructor Seeking A More Concise, Meaningful, And Flexible Alternative To The Standard Introductory Biology Text.Amazon.com Review
I can think of virtually no better book for introducingchildren or biology-impaired adults to the wonders of the machinery oflife, from the molecular to the macroevolutionary. Wonderfully written,delightfully illustrated, and sure to engage and educate.A delightful and successful cross between Larry Gonick'sclassic Cartoon Guides and Cartoon Historys (but lessflip) and David Macaulay'smany masterful books on the way things work (but more comprehensive). Highly Recommended. ... Read more

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Wonderful book
This a book that will delight anyone interested in biology, not just beginners or younger readers. I have an advanced degree in biology and find it rewarding and clarifying. It explains and depicts (biology is a very visual subject) key concepts in the organization of living things, getting to the heart of the matter in streamlined fashion, without the (as far as the aim of the book goes, unnecessary) mass of detail you'll find in a standard bio text. This might be called "fundamental biology from an advanced standpoint." It can be read multiple times, perhaps once quickly but again more deliberately, allowing time to ponder what is being conveyed. Love it.

A+ book

Fine drawings in color that capture interest. Accurate. Explains the " core stuff" well. Very good buy!

Exploring the Way Life Works The Science of Biology
I was very pleased when I received the book, it was new condition as I ordered.
Will likely buy from Amazon again.A Brand new book at the school was $85.00 I paid $12 includes shipping

Great Book
A very well written, informative, and easily readbook about a complex subject for the average reader.

biology taught functionality
Beautiful presentation of principles in life. Life saw as function. Good for biologist and no biologist ... Read more

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This book is a compact and simultaneously comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of optical spectroscopy. The author skillfully leads the reader from the basics to practical applications.

The main topics covered are:
- theory of optical spectroscopy
- components of spectrometers (light sources, filters, lenses and mirror chromators, detectors, cuvettes)
- evaluation of data and interpretation of spectra

Such important methods as absorption and luminescence spectroscopy, scattering and reflection spectroscopy and photoaccustic spectroscopy are covered in depth. A useful appendix with the addresses of pertinent equipment manufacturers rounds off the work.

Easy to understand and well illustrated, this book is suitable both as a textbook for beginners and as a reference work for the practitioner. ... Read more

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The day Richard Feynman died, students at the California Institute of Technology hung a banner across the face of its library that read, simply, "We love you, Dick." To students of physics all over the world, Feynman was living proof that to lead a life in science you do not need ice water for blood and the mind of a Cray computer. This was a man who combined practical joking, safe-cracking, and bongo-playing with superlative teaching and brilliant insights.Although everyone knows that Feynman was a great scientist, few people could tell you even the name of the work for which he is acknowledged. The name of Hawking is associated with black holes, Darwin with evolution, Einstein with relativity. But Feynman? He was just a "scientist," which is ironic since his greatest work was actually in the area of quantum electrodynamics, a subject of enormous fascination to non-scientists today.Arguably the greatest physicist of his generation--and undoubtedly one of the most eccentric--Feynman's contributions are well illustrated in Richard Feynman: A Life in Science, and readers are sure to grasp his remarkable contribution to scientific understanding through the book's friendly and accessible style.
The biographical format offers an excellent way for non specialist readers to explore one of the more complex worlds of science.
Richard Feynman's own collection of essays Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman was a national bestseller.
Amazon.com Review
Richard Feynman was something of a rarity: a sciencesuperstar. Like another superstar who preceded him, Albert Einstein,Feynman's science was ahead of his time, but it was his qualities as ahuman being that caught the imaginations of ordinary people.A wholebody of legend has grown up around the man--much of it promulgated byFeynman himself--and nearly 10 years after his death he remains apopular subject of memoirs, biographies, and even films. In RichardFeynman, respected science writers John and Mary Gribbins combinebiography with popular science in this absorbing look at the greatman's life and work.

Though there's little new information aboutFeynman's personal life and interests here--everything from hispassion for bongo drums to his fascination with the country of Tuvahas been documented many times and in many places before now--theGribbons do an exemplary job of explaining just why Feyman was such agiant among physicists. Quanatum theory is the kind of subject thatcould give the average reader a raging headache, yet the Gribbonsexplain it so well that by the end of Richard Feynman even themost non-scientific among us will be able to appreciate just what asingular contribution to our world this science superstar made. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Quantum Electrogenius
There have been multiple biographies and compendiums honoring the lovable supergenius Richard Feynman, and his mindboggling accomplishments. This one is mostly a collection of snippets and anecdotes from previous books, but it probably gives the most concise and comprehensive coverage of Feynman's life and his vast influence on science. Granted, this particular bio does have a few flaws, especially in its rather breathless idolization of Feynman and his brilliance, to the point where the reader wonders if the gentleman had any flaws at all. Also, this book keeps trying to glamorize how approachable and lovably eccentric Feynman was, but these aspects of his personality don't really come through here, as John Gribbin can't quite make Feynman's hobbies like playing drums, or his love of teaching and reaching out to the masses, seem that amazing. But in any case, this is still a perfectly enjoyable biography because Feynman's brilliance in physics, and all the other intellectual endeavors he tackled, really does shine through. Gribbin also fleshes things out with pretty good coverage of Feynman's extensive contributions to physics, such as almost single-handedly inventing quantum electrodynamics, with the necessary background knowledge into modern and historical science. Despite a few problems with the structure of the biography, the person it's about really makes an impact with the reader. That can't be said about too many Nobel-winning eccentric genius physicists. [~doomsdayer520~]

A Life in Science
I really enjoyed Richard Feynman - A Life in Science.The book is an interesting account of Feynman's life, and teaches a lot about physics as well.I feel that the author felt it was necessary to write about Feynman not only because of his scientific discoveries, but because of his view of the world, and how he brought that to science.The book is very interesting.It goes into detail about Feynman's career and life, and gives us details about all of his personality quirks.Richard Feynman is best known for his work in quantum electrodynamics, which he won a Nobel Prize for in 1965.He also worked on quark the theory of superfluidity and was a member of the Manhattan Project during World War Two.Feynman was famous for his lectures and teaching.He taught physics because he found it fun, and he conveyed this in his teachings.We should read this story because it teaches it about physics and the way the world works, but more importantly, because it presents us with Feynman's optimistic interesting view on life.I think that if we all learned a little of Feynman's philosophies, we would all be much happier and simpler people.

The Bongo Playin' Physicist
This book, written by John and Mary Gribbin, gives a great insight into the life of a truly amazing genius who was told the importance of understanding the way things work from childhood.Melville Feynman, Richard Feynman's father, raised his son to be a scientist and succeeded.Richard was inquisitive throughout his life.It is clear that his curiosity led him to work on solving problems that were new to him, even if they had been solved before.Feynman was not a social outcast like many scientists are believed to be, and the Gribbins weave in some interesting personal stories about Feynman.Richard Feynman had a wonderful life from the standpoint that everything in his scientific life worked out well, and he rarely seemed to have any major obstacles in his work.The topics that Feynman studied were difficult to understand and may be impossible to understand without having him to explain.The Gribbins do an excellent job of explaining the difficult and sometimes abstract things that Feynman worked on or discovered.Feynman had a knack for problem solving ever since he was young and magically (by thinking) could fix radios.It is clear that Feynman enjoyed the area of study he was in, and "he never knew when he was working and when he was playing" (p 250).His sister Joan said of him.Feynman did enjoy what he did and was always ready for a challenge either from a teacher or from a colleague that was stuck.Feynman lived a very interesting life and not only worked on physics but took up painting, traveling, and playing the bongos.The renown of Feynman was amazing; he knew people from all over the world that were amazing and unique.The life of this man was full of incredible discoveries that continued through his old age.Feynman was thankful for every day he had, especially after he was diagnosed with cancer.Feynman's last words were, "This dying is boring" (p 258).He loved life, and he knew his legacy would continue saying, "I've kind of spread me around all over the place.So I'm probably not going to go away when I'm dead!" (p 258).Feynman was right about his legacy because he contributed so greatly to science and society.

A job well done in explaining Feynman's life and works
John and Mary Gribbin have done a splendid job in explaining the life and works of Richard Feynman. It is a short book of only about 300 pages, but it briefly explains every important part of Feynman's life. Starting with his childhood the book shows what influenced him to become a physicist and how in an early age he learned the meaning of knowing the name of something and actually knowing something.
The book goes through Feynman's education, his career as a physicist and his contributions to science. Along with that the book gives explanations of what was going in the world of physics before, during and after Feynman. This is the part where anyone reading will have problems because there is so much physics explained that a person needs to have a prior knowledge of basic physics and an intermediate knowledge of the atom to actually understand what Feynman did that made him a legend. If one cannot understand Feynman's contribution, there is no point in reading the book. Other than this, I have no complaints about the book.
The book explains one thing most impressively, i.e. it establishes how Feynman is an unusual physicist. Most usually do their best work by their early thirties, but Feynman made major contributions until he was middle aged. He received his Nobel Prize for his work on QED, but his other major contributions are in gravity, weak interactions, strong interactions, super fluidity, atomic bomb and he also led a major role in the investigation of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Feynman enjoyed life to its full extent; he made adventurous trips, played bongos, and actually had fun in doing what he was doing.
The book establishes that Feynman was no ordinary genius. The most important thing about him was he was never too proud and never let his genius get to his head. He was one of the most down to earth and honest person. He didn't accept mistakes from others but was still willing to accept his own mistake. He was willing to share his knowledge with anyone who wanted to learn and had this `feel' about him that one could not help but get influenced by him.
It looks like John and Mary Gribbin had to give the public a taste of the life of one of the most influential physicist who throughout his life was enthusiastic, adventurous and never backed down from a challenge. If you want a basic overview of Feynman's life with insights in quantum physics, I absolutely recommend this book. But if you are the type that cannot handle physics, this book is not for you.

A thoroughly enjoyable introduction to Feynman
I can't remember ever reading a biography quite as enjoyable. The authors are to be congratulated for their perfect blend of scientific and personal anecdotes. You won't find any of Feynman's lectures here, but you will come to understand why Feynman is so revered. The author's write, "Does the world really need another book about Richard Feynman? We think so, or we wouldn't have written it." I agree with them, and I'm sure you will too. A wonderful book. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Sacred Geometry in Nature
A fascinating and comprehensive investigation into the perfect geometry of the natural world, originally published in 1914.The book studies and explores the spiral, or helix, and its mathematical expression through The Golden Ratio.The Curves of Life will excite both naturalists and mathematicians.The book should also appeal to market technicians involved with Fibonacci sequencing and Elliot Wave analysis.This is an intense read and not something most of us can pour through quickly, so while I highly recommend it to people interested in this subject, be prepared for a major commitment.Be sure to do a Look Inside to review the table of contents and verify your interest.Those who take the plunge will be well rewarded.This is a very special book.

Very Detailed, But Difficult to Read
I bought this book while researching the Logarithmic Spiral.There were only a few references to the Logarithmic Spiral, so it wasn't spot on with what I was looking for.However, I stayed away from this as a source because the text was difficult to read.

Spirals in nature and in art
This book (originally published in 1914) is a comprehensive and extraordinary description of spiral formations.It's definitive--a must for anyone interested in art and in the way nature operates. ... Read more