Best Climatology
1 Cosmos
RETURNING TO TELEVISION AS AN ALL-NEW MINISERIES ON FOX Cosmos is one of the bestselling science books of all time. Featuring a new Introduction by Sagan’s collaborator, Ann Druyan, full color illustrations, and a new Foreword by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos retraces the fourteen billion years of cosmic evolution that have transformed matter into consciousness, exploring such topics as the origin of life, the human brain, Egyptian hieroglyphics, spacecraft missions, the death of the Sun, the evolution of galaxies, and the forces and individuals who helped to shape modern science. With a lyrical literary style, and a range that touches almost all aspects of human knowledge, Cosmos often seems too good to be true.” — The Plain Dealer “Sagan is an astronomer with one eye on the stars, another on history, and a third—his mind’s—on the human condition.” — Newsday “Brilliant in its scope and provocative in its suggestions . He played a leading role in the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo spacecraft expeditions, for which he received the NASA Medals for Exceptional Scientific Achievement and (twice) for Distinguished Public Service.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Its contents incorporate genetics, ancient history, chemical biology, sociology, religion, human psychology and philosophy... Dr Sagan weaves these realms together in the context of the Cosmos, and raises intriguing questions about hypothetical alternate turn of events as well as where we (humankind) go from here. Sagan goes as far as to compare government spendings on military weapons with scientific research funding, and demonstrates how far will have still to go before our loyalties are united not just within nation-states, but as a species of Planet Earth. I wonder what Dr Sagan would have thought about the state of the world today… recent election results, SpaceX, virtual reality, artificial intelligence/machine learning, Kepler missions, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, instability in the Middle East, the Higgs Boson… My guess is that he would simultaneously be alarmed that we are STILL arguing whether or not climate change is a problem, and amazed at our technological achievements with the internet and a legitimate goal to visit Mars. After having read the book, one could truly dwell on what we can do to unify ourselves as citizens of Planet Earth, with a mutual interest of survival, pursuit of interplanetary/interstellar travel and constant discovery of what our universe has to offer."
"The last chapter of "Cosmos" asks "Who speaks for Earth?""
"There are also occasional earthly detours - evolution of life on earth, ancient greeks, the library of Alexandria, voyages of explorers, etc.The book also tries to bring up some philosophical questions, especially in relation to the possibility of other civilizations in the cosmos, and how a contact between us and them would happen."
"I have previously read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it."
"Modern science quickly discards old theories but it still holds truth to the narrative - of that there are many new stories yet to be told: and Sagan's Cosmos is a foundational one, connecting the blocks how the history of science propelled the age of discoveries that have culminated at his time in the shuttle program, the moon landing probes, the Voyagers program."
"Read this years ago in hard cover when first came out."
"But really, this book ignites a love for and connection to the cosmos unlike any other."
"I have not started the book so I can only go by the author's reputation so I expect to enjoy learning."
"An immersive, mildly gonzo and depressingly well-timed book about the drenching effects of global warming, and a powerful reminder that we can bury our heads in the sand about climate change for only so long before the sand itself disappears." Across the globe, scientists and civilians alike are noticing rapidly rising sea levels, and higher and higher tides pushing more water directly into the places we live, from our most vibrant, historic cities to our last remaining traditional coastal villages. "Jeff Goodell's latest contribution to the environmental cause paints an eye-opening portrait of humankind's dilemma as temperatures -- and sea levels -- continue to rise. The Water Will Come brings together compelling anecdotes from all over the globe and shocking expert assessments that should make the world's few remaining skeptics reconsider. Goodell has written a powerful call to arms that is never preachy but is a very timely reminder that we ignore how climate change is raising sea levels only at great risk to our way of life. "Even if we could halt further growth in greenhouse gas emissions today, we would remain locked into several centuries of sea level rise ahead. But this fine volume (which expands on [Goodell's] reporting in Rolling Stone) concentrates on the slower and more relentless toll that water will take on our cities and our psyches in the years to come. "[A] vivid mix of science, history and sociology... Goodell talks about climate change and what it means to every person on the planet in a way that will engage even the non- Nova crowd.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The CIA’s Center on Climate Change and National Security simply disappeared when a Congressman discovered it. Jeff Goodell has traveled the world looking at the ways people and nations are preparing for sea level rise. He has examined Venice, Rotterdam, the Marshall Islands and also New York City, the Jersey Shore, Florida, and Norfolk, where the biggest American naval base is going under, visibly. While the rest of the world is making huge changes or planning for escape, Americans are hunkering down. Globally, 145 million people live less than three feet above sea level, “creating generations of climate refugees who will make today’s Syrian war refugee crisis look like a high school drama class production“, Goodell says. There are insane conversations about raising buildings and roads, or flood insurance and dunes, as if they could make Florida livable when it’s under (salt) water. With no farms, no streets, airports or ports, there will be no food, water or electricity and no way to live, no matter how much insurance you have or how high the building is off the (former) ground. Developers sell their projects before they break ground, leaving the condos to greater fools. He has attended the conferences, met with the scientists for really in-depth conversations, and even interviewed President Obama for an hour, alone, when they were in Alaska a year ago."
"We all know this is coming at us, at least those paying attention."
"For anyone having an interest in the future, adapting to higher sea level has to be high on the “to do” list."
"I liked the way the author made a complex issue understandable."
"A must read."
"A great book about climate change."
"Excellent revelation and explanation of rising water problems."
The Fate of Rome is the first book to examine the catastrophic role that climate change and infectious diseases played in the collapse of Rome’s power―a story of nature’s triumph over human ambition. In the empire's heyday, in 160 CE, splendid cities, linked by famous roads and bustling harbors, stand waiting for the lethal pathogens of Central Africa and the highlands of Tibet. Yet, under the flickering light of a variable sun, beneath skies alternately veiled in volcanic dust or cruelly rainless, this remarkable agglomeration of human beings held firm. Harper's compelling and cautionary tale documents the deadly plagues, fevers, and other pestilences that ravaged the population time and again, resulting in far more deaths than ever caused by enemy forces. "Kyle Harper's extraordinary new account of the fall of Rome is a gripping and terrifying story of the interaction between human behavior and systems, pathogens and climate change. The Roman Empire was a remarkable connector of people and things--in towns and cities, through voluntary and enforced migration, and through networks of trade across oceans and continents--but this very connectedness fostered infectious diseases that debilitated its population.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This work is concerned with climate change and what the author feels are its positive (yes, climate change can be positive) and negative effects in the Late Holocene. The author identifies 6 causes of climate change: 1) Variations in the tilt of the earth’s axis - 41,000 year cycle. The author feels that the combination of war, plague and climate change (LALIA- Late Antique Little Ice Age) was devastating."
"I agree with all the other comments and can only add that it’s always a pleasure to discover an original thinker who illuminates things I thought I knew something about in language that pleases and moves as well as instructs."
"A very informative tour of an ancient world wracked by naturally-driven climate change and terrifying, recurring pandemics."
"very informative....well written...subject matter dealt with perplexing issues and explained factually what went on."
"Harper writes a sweeping history of Rome from 200 BCE to 700 CE with a focus on cultural life within the Roman Empire. The changes must be seen in the context of hundreds of years, but the profound effect of such changes as caused by climate and disease, in turn, affected the economic performance of the Empire."
Best Viral Diseases
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 dramatic and chilling story of an Ebola virus outbreak in a surburban Washington, D.C. laboratory, with descriptions of frightening historical epidemics of rare and lethal viruses.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'm writing this review now because, 1- the current (July 2014) outbreak of Ebola is "the deadliest in recorded history," and 2- I've NEVER forgotten the book. The thing that is so terrifying is the way the poor people who contract the disease die."
"I learned a lot about the virus. After reading this book, im able to read between the headlines of what is being said and more importantly, what's NOT being said. Medical researchers working with the virus give share their information."
"I bought this book in its hard-cover version when it first came out, quite a few years ago, and what with the recent Ebola crisis in Africa and now in the news here in the U.S., I wanted to re-read it. I am dismayed that the CDC is still "learning" how to contain this disease, when the knowledge has been in use by the U.S. Army, and various charitable organizations in Africa for many years."
"A scary, eye opening book about Ebola. He describes in detail the Ebola Reston outbreak in Maryland."
"A must read for anyone who wants the scientific truth about this disease, how it can be spread & how easily & quickly it can mutate."
"Although twenty years old, the information is timely and so. pertinent for our age when Ebola is devastating Africa and may be advancing thought the world."
"Because you will be terrified every time you have a tiny headache. Because you will want strangers to stay far away from you, especially if they are breathing. Because you will realise that your government, our government, the government will probably be unable to stop a proper Ebola virus. Because you will forgive the sometimes over detailed writing because you are completely absorbed in the horror. Because this is not fiction, this is real, this is here, this is now. And this is a gripping, interesting, well put together, well researched non-fiction book that reads like an adventure, a horror and a thriller all at once. Viruses are clever little buggers and best we be afraid."
Best Rivers in Earth Science
RETURNING TO TELEVISION AS AN ALL-NEW MINISERIES ON FOX Cosmos is one of the bestselling science books of all time. Featuring a new Introduction by Sagan’s collaborator, Ann Druyan, full color illustrations, and a new Foreword by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos retraces the fourteen billion years of cosmic evolution that have transformed matter into consciousness, exploring such topics as the origin of life, the human brain, Egyptian hieroglyphics, spacecraft missions, the death of the Sun, the evolution of galaxies, and the forces and individuals who helped to shape modern science. With a lyrical literary style, and a range that touches almost all aspects of human knowledge, Cosmos often seems too good to be true.” — The Plain Dealer “Sagan is an astronomer with one eye on the stars, another on history, and a third—his mind’s—on the human condition.” — Newsday “Brilliant in its scope and provocative in its suggestions . With a lyrical literary style, and a range that touches almost all aspects of human knowledge, Cosmos often seems too good to be true.” — The Plain Dealer. “Sagan is an astronomer with one eye on the stars, another on history, and a third—his mind’s—on the human condition.” — Newsday. shimmers with a sense of wonder.” — The Miami Herald “Sagan dazzles the mind with the miracle of our survival, framed by the stately galaxies of space.” — Cosmopolitan.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Its contents incorporate genetics, ancient history, chemical biology, sociology, religion, human psychology and philosophy... Dr Sagan weaves these realms together in the context of the Cosmos, and raises intriguing questions about hypothetical alternate turn of events as well as where we (humankind) go from here. Sagan goes as far as to compare government spendings on military weapons with scientific research funding, and demonstrates how far will have still to go before our loyalties are united not just within nation-states, but as a species of Planet Earth. I wonder what Dr Sagan would have thought about the state of the world today… recent election results, SpaceX, virtual reality, artificial intelligence/machine learning, Kepler missions, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, instability in the Middle East, the Higgs Boson… My guess is that he would simultaneously be alarmed that we are STILL arguing whether or not climate change is a problem, and amazed at our technological achievements with the internet and a legitimate goal to visit Mars. After having read the book, one could truly dwell on what we can do to unify ourselves as citizens of Planet Earth, with a mutual interest of survival, pursuit of interplanetary/interstellar travel and constant discovery of what our universe has to offer."
"The last chapter of "Cosmos" asks "Who speaks for Earth?""
"There are also occasional earthly detours - evolution of life on earth, ancient greeks, the library of Alexandria, voyages of explorers, etc.The book also tries to bring up some philosophical questions, especially in relation to the possibility of other civilizations in the cosmos, and how a contact between us and them would happen."
"I have previously read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it."
"Modern science quickly discards old theories but it still holds truth to the narrative - of that there are many new stories yet to be told: and Sagan's Cosmos is a foundational one, connecting the blocks how the history of science propelled the age of discoveries that have culminated at his time in the shuttle program, the moon landing probes, the Voyagers program."
"Read this years ago in hard cover when first came out."
"But really, this book ignites a love for and connection to the cosmos unlike any other."
"I have not started the book so I can only go by the author's reputation so I expect to enjoy learning."
Best Seismology
Simon Winchester, New York Times bestselling author of The Professor and the Madman , examines the legendary annihilation in 1883 of the volcano-island of Krakatoa, which was followed by an immense tsunami that killed nearly forty thousand people. “Brilliant...One of the best books ever written about the history and significance of a natural disaster.” (New York Times). “Supremely well told: a fine exception to the dull run of most geological writing.” starred Kirkus Review (Kirkus Review (starred review)).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Winchester's book covers the history of the region, especially as a Dutch colony and gives a good working description of plate tectonics and the history of that discovery. At times it seemed to be a bit slow paced and there were a few times I wondered why the author had chosen to spend so much effort on points that probably needed little coverage."
"Simon Winchester's style takes concentration to read."
""Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded is in essence a scientific book, but written in the style of popular science that the general public is able to understand and to enjoy. As Winchester has had experience relevant to the events described in the book, his personal experience and injections of anecdote add color and extra details, such as his discussion of his excursions in Greenland as relevant to the reversal of the poles, which relates to Krakatoa and the magnetic stripes on the bottom of the seafloor. In addition, the book effectively presents the events of August 27, 1883 not simply as the majority of people remember it - the catastrophe that slaughtered tens of thousands in one blow - but as a calculated and quantifiable result of plate tectonics as it fits within the contexts of Dutch colonization and trading."
"What clung to my mind the most was that Krakatoa is NOT gone since this is a Subduction Factory, constantly drawing in source materials for the "Next" Krakatoa, which appeared and was nicknamed Son of Krakatoa, as mentioned in "National Geographic" in their article about the Angry Gods of Indonesia. For the lastest quake reports in your area go to: [...] , click the link at the top of the page that refers to Earthquakes, then follow the top link on the next page generated. Before 2009 we were having no more than 20 quakes per day but that has gone up to as high as 200 or more quakes daily throughout the world. The fact that stone buildings that had stood across from Krakatoa for hundreds of years were devastated in ONE wave is enough to beg homage to the great Earth Mother ... the fact that the sound wave went around the planet SEVEN times is incredible ... and the tsunamis that followed were gigantic. I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in watching the current developments as 2012 comes up to speed, or is interested in the history of the Dutch and the East Indies Company, or how volcanoes are created and how Krakatoa was NOT your average volcano ... nor will be Krakatoa Jr. Buy this book and have your children read it when you are done."
Best Geology
Includes a guide to mineral collecting and a list of rock-forming minerals.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"All around encompassing book."
"Grandson loved this and will take it on our next gem mining trip."
"I'm in love with this book!"
"The best rock and mineral book around!"
"new and as good as my old one."
"Very informative."
"bedstand read, very fun to read."
"very good book ."
Best Mineralogy
A dazzling visual guide to precious and semiprecious stones, organic gems, and precious metals that showcases beautiful, specially commissioned images as well as science, natural history, mythology, and true stories of adventure and discovery. "Feast your eyes on the most beautiful encyclopedia of jewelry you will ever find."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Good prchase."
"I have done many appraisals and this is a good reference to have."
"Awesome, fun, light reference for everything jewelry."
"Love this gorgeous book and purchased more for gifts."
"Super, Super cool and interesting and fascinating book!"
"Hello, It's an amazing book!"
"Lovely photographs and great information."
"A wonderful gem reference book."
Best Cartography
From Ptolemy's world map to the Hereford's Mappa Mundi, through Mercator's map of the world to the latest maps of the Moon and Google Earth, Great Maps provides a fascinating overview of cartography through the ages. Jerry Brotton is Professor of Renaissance Studies at Queen Mary College, University of London.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great Maps, just like it says!"
"As a map lover, I dived into the stories behind each map."
"I love maps and this book is one of the best in that it breaks down large maps into smaller parts so that details can actually be seen and read."
"Really interesting book, great imagery and a lot of stuff to learn about."
"Great coffee table book."
"The volume is an exquisitely illustrated study of the development of maps."
"Just to clarify, while this book is full of colored pictures, the maps are not in great detail."
Best Weather
RETURNING TO TELEVISION AS AN ALL-NEW MINISERIES ON FOX Cosmos is one of the bestselling science books of all time. Featuring a new Introduction by Sagan’s collaborator, Ann Druyan, full color illustrations, and a new Foreword by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos retraces the fourteen billion years of cosmic evolution that have transformed matter into consciousness, exploring such topics as the origin of life, the human brain, Egyptian hieroglyphics, spacecraft missions, the death of the Sun, the evolution of galaxies, and the forces and individuals who helped to shape modern science. With a lyrical literary style, and a range that touches almost all aspects of human knowledge, Cosmos often seems too good to be true.” — The Plain Dealer “Sagan is an astronomer with one eye on the stars, another on history, and a third—his mind’s—on the human condition.” — Newsday “Brilliant in its scope and provocative in its suggestions . He played a leading role in the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo spacecraft expeditions, for which he received the NASA Medals for Exceptional Scientific Achievement and (twice) for Distinguished Public Service.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Its contents incorporate genetics, ancient history, chemical biology, sociology, religion, human psychology and philosophy... Dr Sagan weaves these realms together in the context of the Cosmos, and raises intriguing questions about hypothetical alternate turn of events as well as where we (humankind) go from here. Sagan goes as far as to compare government spendings on military weapons with scientific research funding, and demonstrates how far will have still to go before our loyalties are united not just within nation-states, but as a species of Planet Earth. I wonder what Dr Sagan would have thought about the state of the world today… recent election results, SpaceX, virtual reality, artificial intelligence/machine learning, Kepler missions, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, instability in the Middle East, the Higgs Boson… My guess is that he would simultaneously be alarmed that we are STILL arguing whether or not climate change is a problem, and amazed at our technological achievements with the internet and a legitimate goal to visit Mars. After having read the book, one could truly dwell on what we can do to unify ourselves as citizens of Planet Earth, with a mutual interest of survival, pursuit of interplanetary/interstellar travel and constant discovery of what our universe has to offer."
"The last chapter of "Cosmos" asks "Who speaks for Earth?""
"There are also occasional earthly detours - evolution of life on earth, ancient greeks, the library of Alexandria, voyages of explorers, etc.The book also tries to bring up some philosophical questions, especially in relation to the possibility of other civilizations in the cosmos, and how a contact between us and them would happen."
"I have previously read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it."
"Modern science quickly discards old theories but it still holds truth to the narrative - of that there are many new stories yet to be told: and Sagan's Cosmos is a foundational one, connecting the blocks how the history of science propelled the age of discoveries that have culminated at his time in the shuttle program, the moon landing probes, the Voyagers program."
"Read this years ago in hard cover when first came out."
"But really, this book ignites a love for and connection to the cosmos unlike any other."
"I have not started the book so I can only go by the author's reputation so I expect to enjoy learning."
Best Geography
• A New Republic Best Book of the Year • The Globalist Top Books of the Year • Winner of the Maine Literary Award for Non-fiction • Particularly relevant in understanding who voted for who in this presidential election year, this is an endlessly fascinating look at American regionalism and the eleven “nations” that continue to shape North America. —The Wall Street Journal “[ American Nations ] sets itself apart by delving deep into history to trace our current divides to ethno-cultural differences that emerged during the country’s earliest settlement.” —The New Republic , Editors’ Picks: Best Books of 2011 “Provocative reading.” —News and Observer “In American Nations , [Colin Woodard] persuasively reshapes our understanding of how the American political entity came to be. [A] fascinating new take on history.” —The Christian Science Monitor “ American Nations by journalist-historian Colin Woodard is a superb book. There is much to grapple with in this well-written book.” —The Portland Press Herald “[F]or people interested in American history and sociology, American Nations demands reading. Louis Dispatch “[I]f you want to better understand U.S. politics, history, and culture American Nations is to be required reading. By revealing this continent of rivals, American Nations will revolutionize the way Americans think about their past, their country, and themselves and is sure to spark controversy.” —The Herald Gazette “Woodard persuasively argues that since the founding of the United States, eleven distinct geographical ‘nations’ have formed within the Union, each with its own identity and set of values.” —Military History Quarterly “Colin Woodard offers up an illuminating history of North America that explodes the red state-blue state myth. Woodard’s American Nations is a revolutionary and revelatory take on America’s myriad identities, and how the conflicts between them have shaped our country’s past and mold its future.” —MaineBusiness.com “One of the most original books I read in the last year. During my five years as an Ambassador in the United States, I spent a lot of time studying the voting patterns of different states and reading American history, and I have to say I find Woodard’s thesis to be fully borne out by my own observations.” —John Bruton, former Prime Minister of Ireland “Woodard offers a fascinating way to parse American (writ large) politics and history in this excellent book.” —Kirkus (starred review) “Provocative.” —Publishers Weekly “[W]ell-researched analysis with appeal to both casual and scholarly readers.” —Library Journal.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Whereas the first two-thirds were well-reasoned and well-supported, the last third devolved into stereotypes and generalities, and contained more than a few downright errors, particularly concerning the modern Deep South and Greater Appalachia. I could list at least a half-dozen factual errors in his presentation concerning the practice and influence of Evangelical Christianity in the Bible Belt, for instance, but would rather not bog down this review with nit-picking."
"This is a case when culture and history play direct role in our today's life."
"I've lived in four of these nations (New York, Boston, Portland, Utah/Wyoming) and experienced three of them through reading the novels of James Lee Burke (New Orleans, Appalachia, Idaho). Now that I've returned to the Northeast I find the very sophisticated people living here to be also very provincial in the sense of not being able to see the other "nations" from the inside. The Catholics prominent in the Republican Party (Roger Ailes, head of Fox News; Rick Santorum, Paul Ryan would be totally alien to the Catholic-Irish-Yakee-Durch culture I knew growing up."
"I am an amateur historian so topics like this catch my attention. He backs his claims up by examining voting records and statements by government officials."
"An eye opening look at our population."
Best Geophysics
With the renowned readability of the Lutgens/Tarbuck/Tasa team, the Eleventh Edition of Essentials of Geology continues to enhance both the approach and the visual presentation that has made this text a best-seller. Lutgens and Tarbuck published their first college text, Earth Science, in 1976. Not only do Tarbuck, Lutgens, and Tasa work well together creatively; they also enjoy spending time in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Tasa’s New Mexico studio.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As a student in my first geology course, I find this book amazingly helpful. And there are a few places where technical terms that are not universally used (a problem in geology in general) could be identified with other equivalent terms that the student will encounter elsewhere."
"This book, with over 500 pages of text, is an excellent reference for all things related to geology."
"Pleasantly surprised to find an ebook access code in it, it allowed me to read either 11th or 12th edition online -- Yay!"
"It may have been the teacher, but the Geo-science class I took with this book changed my life."
"I'm taking the class simply to satisfy a lab credit, but I've found that I'm actually becoming engrossed in some of the science behind rock formations and the development of our planet."
"Helped convey the teachers lessons and provided great insight into real world scenarios."
"Comprehensive book with fluent language and high-quality images."
"Very well written and excellent illustrations."
Best Natural Disasters
Using Cline's own telegrams, letters, and reports, the testimony of scores of survivors, and our latest understanding of the science of hurricanes, Erik Larson builds a chronicle of one man's heroic struggle and fatal miscalculation in the face of a storm of unimaginable magnitude. As barometers plummet and wind gauges are plucked from their moorings, Larson (Lethal Passage) cuts cinematically from the eerie "eyewall" of the hurricane to the mundane hubbub of a lunchroom moments before it capitulates to the arriving winds, from the neat pirouette of Cline's house amid rising waters to the bridge of the steamship Pensacola, tossed like flotsam on the roiling seas.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I enjoyed reading about the story about the terrible hurricane that hit Galveston Texas in 1900. If you have an interest in learning about the history of weather forecasting, then this is the book for you. If you have an interest in the social history of the United States around 1900, then this is a good book to read."
"Extensive notes and references give sources for every word the people say or write, and for every fact stated--but there's nothing dry about this history; even if you already know about the Galveston Storm, this book is a page-turner."
"I live a short distance from Galveston and wanted to know more about the great storm."
"I would recommend this and his other books--Devil in the White City, Dead Wake, In the Garden of Beasts--whole heartedly."
"I was totally caught up in this section and "felt" the hurricane and "felt" the agony and "felt" the despair."
"Larson's ability to place the reader in the midst of a place and time is amazing, and his ability to translate the experience of being in the midst of a storm that happened before any of us were alive makes the terror, sadness and desperation come alive in a way that even today's movies can't equal."
"Isaac Cline was head of the Galveston Meteorological Bureau, nationally part of a behemoth bureaucracy tipping into corruption, hellbent on never mentioning the word "hurricane" as a threat to the great wheel of commerce."
"If one has been to Galveston they find a beautiful coastal city full of mansions and lovely Victorian houses and cottages."
Best Environmental Science
The Death and Life of the Great Lakes is prize-winning reporter Dan Egan’s compulsively readable portrait of an ecological catastrophe happening right before our eyes, blending the epic story of the lakes with an examination of the perils they face and the ways we can restore and preserve them for generations to come. In an age when dire problems like the Flint water crisis or the California drought bring ever more attention to the indispensability of safe, clean, easily available water, The Death and the Life of the Great Lakes is a powerful paean to what is arguably our most precious resource, an urgent examination of what threatens it and a convincing call to arms about the relatively simple things we need to do to protect it. “Dan Egan’s deeply researched and sharply written The Death and Life of The Great Lakes . nimbly splices together history, science, reporting and personal experiences into a taut and cautiously hopeful narrative. early acclaim, [ The Death and Life of the Great Lakes ] is easy to read, offering well-paced, intellectually stimulating arguments, bolstered by well-researched and captivating narratives.”. - Lekelia Danielle Jenkins, Science. “This book feels urgent to policymakers and laypersons alike.”. - Kerri Arsenault, Literary Hub. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes is an engaging, vitally important work of science journalism.”. - Eva Holland, The Globe and Mail. “Dan Egan has done more than any other journalist in America to chronicle the decline of this once-great ecosystem, to alert the public to new threats, and to force governments to take remedial action.”. - Grantham Prize for Excellence in Reporting on the Environment, Special Merit citation.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"He makes a cogent argument that the Great Lakes are left open to the import of more invasive species in small ship ballast tanks, which are the only ones which can still get through the St. Lawrence Seaway, and these ships bring less than 2% of foreign cargo into the United States. Bottom Line: That cargo could just as easily be off-loaded to trains and trucks at our seaports at very little extra cost."
"If you like having fresh water to drink from the Great Lakes or live near one of the "HOMES," this book is for you."
"I live near the great lakes and have been a big fan of all the shore lines."
"A well-researched book that should be required reading for every Michigander."
"Having lived,vacationed and traveled around the Great Lakes most of my life, I have gained a much deeper understanding and appreciation for these spectacular inland seas."
"Any midwesterner drawing water from the Great Lakes will appreciate this thoughtful and well-researched book."
"Sad reading about one calamity after another to the Great Lakes."
"Should be forced read for every person associated with making decisions that cover the Great Lakes."
Best Earthquakes & Volcanoes
The Great Quake: How the Biggest Earthquake in North America Changed Our Understanding of the Planet
New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice In the bestselling tradition of Erik Larson’s Isaac’s Storm , The Great Quake is a riveting narrative about the biggest earthquake in North American recorded history -- the 1964 Alaska earthquake that demolished the city of Valdez and swept away the island village of Chenega -- and the geologist who hunted for clues to explain how and why it took place. HENRY FOUNTAIN has been a reporter and editor at the New York Times for two decades, writing about science for most of that time.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Another main character is Kris Madsen, the teacher in a one-room schoolhouse in Chenega, a village that was hard hit by the earthquake. The author hints early on that much of the damage -- and most of the casualties -- were not due to the roiling landscape of the earthquake, but of the tsunamis that followed. The author recreates almost minute-by-minute where villagers in Chenega and other Alaskan coastal villages were when the earthquake hit, and what their ultimate fates were."
"A fast-paced read about one of the biggest U.S. natural disasters of the 1960s that many have never heard about or have gotten."
"It covers the history of the quake, the history of the research surrounding the quake, and the history of plate tectonics."
"Well written and scientific part is understandable for the everyday person."
"If you are interested in the personal stories of the participants-both victims and scientists it is a good read."
"Fountain builds the tension by introducing us to all the "characters" - scientists and citizens who witness or investigated the largest earthquake in modern history. The Great Quake is a fascinating mix of geology lesson and human interest, and the reader learns about not only the event, which is an earthquake so massive that it was felt across the globe, but about what it means for us and the world we live in."
"Human and scientific story told with skill."
"Very interesting book, learned much new in it."
Best Rocks & Minerals
Created in association with Smithsonian Institution, this authoritative guide features more than 500 rocks and minerals.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great book for beginner like myself."
"Both my husband and myself have enjoyed this book!"
"Good book, a little smaller then I was expecting but a nice read."
"Always a great buy!"
"A nice book for grandsons."
"Excellent book - great pictures and descriptions."
"Great photos and great book all way around."
"Rock tumbling....lots of family fun."
Best Atmospheric Sciences
Using Cline's own telegrams, letters, and reports, the testimony of scores of survivors, and our latest understanding of the science of hurricanes, Erik Larson builds a chronicle of one man's heroic struggle and fatal miscalculation in the face of a storm of unimaginable magnitude. As barometers plummet and wind gauges are plucked from their moorings, Larson (Lethal Passage) cuts cinematically from the eerie "eyewall" of the hurricane to the mundane hubbub of a lunchroom moments before it capitulates to the arriving winds, from the neat pirouette of Cline's house amid rising waters to the bridge of the steamship Pensacola, tossed like flotsam on the roiling seas.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I enjoyed reading about the story about the terrible hurricane that hit Galveston Texas in 1900. If you have an interest in learning about the history of weather forecasting, then this is the book for you. If you have an interest in the social history of the United States around 1900, then this is a good book to read."
"Extensive notes and references give sources for every word the people say or write, and for every fact stated--but there's nothing dry about this history; even if you already know about the Galveston Storm, this book is a page-turner."
"I live a short distance from Galveston and wanted to know more about the great storm."
"I would recommend this and his other books--Devil in the White City, Dead Wake, In the Garden of Beasts--whole heartedly."
"I was totally caught up in this section and "felt" the hurricane and "felt" the agony and "felt" the despair."
"Larson's ability to place the reader in the midst of a place and time is amazing, and his ability to translate the experience of being in the midst of a storm that happened before any of us were alive makes the terror, sadness and desperation come alive in a way that even today's movies can't equal."
"Isaac Cline was head of the Galveston Meteorological Bureau, nationally part of a behemoth bureaucracy tipping into corruption, hellbent on never mentioning the word "hurricane" as a threat to the great wheel of commerce."
"If one has been to Galveston they find a beautiful coastal city full of mansions and lovely Victorian houses and cottages."