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Best Geophysics

Essentials of Geology (11th Edition)
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
"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."
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Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology (10th Edition)
Featuring contributions from over 170 highly regarded geologists and geoscience educators, along with an exceptional illustration program by Dennis Tasa, Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology, Tenth Edition offers an inquiry and activities-based approach that builds skills and gives students a more complete learning experience in the lab.
Reviews
"Overall, this is a good manual."
"I work at an Engineering firm so a lot of what they talk about in every day situations at work is in this book."
"We used this lab manual sparingly as a complement to the Intro to Geology course that I took, however, I found it to be more worthwhile than the actual textbook that was required as it had more useful and more thorough information that was neither elementary or too far advanced."
"Overall, this is a good manual."
"decent quality and great source to use."
"We spent a significant amount of time on minerals and rocks in this class and it gives amazing description, pictures and tables that break down the subject well."
"Information was adequate but could have figured it out without the book."
"However, our professor makes us turn in the lab assignments straight from the pages in the lab book, and that becomes a problem with the Kindle edition."
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Exercises in Physical Geology (12th Edition)
A top-seller for over 35 years with over one million copies sold, this lab manual represents by far the best collection of photos of rocks and mineralsand one of the best compilations of exercisesavailable. With exercises using maps, aerial photos, satellite imagery, and other materials, this book provides exercises that encompass all the major geologic processes as well as the identification of rocks and minerals.
Reviews
"I was looking for the 12th edition and this was listed as a used copy of the 12th edition."
"Had to get book for college class."
"It's a required textbook but it's not bad."
"Correct book, just did not use it often in class."
"I love the rental program."
"A little used but it is still readable and useabl."
"Whoever thought that was alright for a textbook should have to go back to school and try to use it."
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Best Physical Geology

Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology Plus Mastering Geology with Pearson eText -- Access Card Package (12th Edition)
With its strong readability and engaging, instructive illustrations, this trusted bestseller returns with a hybrid and streamlined focus on core principles. The 12th Edition , Pearson Science’s first augmented reality, hybrid textbook, uses the BouncePages image recognition app (FREE on both iOS and Android stores) to connect students’ digital devices to the print textbook, enhancing their reading and learning experience. 0134074254 / 9780134074252 Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology 0134182642 / 9780134182643 Mastering Geology with Pearson eText -- ValuePack Access Card -- for Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology. 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
"Great price for renting and I recieved it right on time!"
"same thing, good books to read, use for school, better alternative to order with amazon rental."
"Needed for school."
"This is a very accessible tome for anyone interested in geology but without formal education in the subject."
"Super recommended 🖒 I bought a second hand book but it looks super new!"
"Great book of information!"
"I know the description said it may not contain access code but was hoping it would."
"i am very bothered by the fact that before ordering this i was not told that the access code was modified, and the modified version is not the one i need and there is no telling how i would have known this was modified prior to having placed my order."
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Best Geography

American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America
• 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
"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."
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Best Geology

National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals: North America (National Audubon Society Field Guides (Paperback))
Includes a guide to mineral collecting and a list of rock-forming minerals.
Reviews
"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 ."
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Best Cartography

Great Maps (Dk Smithsonian)
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
"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."
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Best Seismology

Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883
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
"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."
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Best Weather

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
"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."
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Best Atmospheric Sciences

Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History
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
"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."
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Best Mineralogy

Gem: The Definitive Visual Guide
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
"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."
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Best Climatology

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
"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."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Rocks & Minerals

Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals (Smithsonian Handbooks)
Created in association with Smithsonian Institution, this authoritative guide features more than 500 rocks and minerals.
Reviews
"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."
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Best Natural Disasters

Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History
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
"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."
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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
"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."
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Best Rivers in Earth Science

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 . 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
"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."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Environmental Science

The Death and Life of the Great Lakes
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
"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."
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