Science Reference

 

Science Reference
General Chemistry Engineering	Mathematics Medical

 

The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan Paperback from Ballantine Books Media Published: 1997- ISBN: 0345409469 "A glorious book . . . A spirited defense of science . . . From the first page to the last, this book is a manifesto for clear thought." *Los Angeles Times "POWERFUL . . . A stirring defense of informed rationality. . . Rich in surprising information and beautiful writing." *The Washington Post Book World How can we make intelligent decisions about our increasingly technology-driven lives if we don't understand the difference between the myths of pseudoscience and the testable hypotheses of science? Pulitzer Prize-winning author and distinguished astronomer Carl Sagan argues that scientific thinking is critical not only to the pursuit of truth but to the very well-being of our democratic institutions. Casting a wide net through history and culture, Sagan examines and authoritatively debunks such celebrated fallacies of the past as witchcraft, faith healing, demons, and UFOs. And yet, disturbingly, in today's so-called information age, pseudoscience is burgeoning with stories of alien abduction, channeling past lives, and communal hallucinations commanding growing attention and respect. As Sagan demonstrates with lucid eloquence, the siren song of unreason is not just a cultural wrong turn but a dangerous plunge into darkness that threatens our most basic freedoms. "COMPELLING." *USA Today "A clear vision of what good science means and why it makes a difference. . . . A testimonial to the power of science and a warning of the dangers of unrestrained credulity." *The Sciences "PASSIONATE." *San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle Carl Sagan muses on the current state of scientific thought, which offers him marvelous opportunities to entertain us with his own childhood experiences, the newspaper morgues, UFO stories, and the assorted flotsam and jetsam of pseudoscience. Along the way he debunks alien abduction, faith-healing, and channeling; refutes the arguments that science destroys spirituality, and provides a "baloney detection kit" for thinking through political, social, religious, and other issues.

Chemistry for Changing Times, 11th Edition by John W. Hill, Doris K. Kolb Hardcover from Prentice Hall ISBN: 0132280841   This popular book is a useful and interesting read for the layperson, as it is colorful, conversational in tone, and easily understandable. Knowledge of chemistry leads to better understanding about the hazards and benefits of this world, enabling better personal decision-making. Explores the concept of green chemistry throughout. Extensively revises key subject areas such as Energy, Fitness and Health, and Drugs. Features new color photographs and diagrams throughout to help readers visualize chemical phenomena. Personalizes chemistry for today's reader, encouraging a focus on evaluating information about real-life issues rather than memorizing rigorous theory and mathematics. For anyone interested in learning about chemistry and its effect upon our everyday lives.

Cosmos by Carl Sagan Mass Market Paperback from Ballantine Books Media Published: 1985- ISBN: 0345331354 The best-selling science book ever published in the English language, COSMOS is a magnificent overview of the past, present, and future of science. Brilliant and provocative, it traces today's knowledge and scientific methods to their historical roots, blending science and philosophy in a wholly energetic and irresistible way. Cosmos was the first science TV blockbuster, and Carl Sagan was its (human) star. By the time of Sagan's death in 1996, the series had been seen by half a billion people; Sagan was perhaps the best-known scientist on the planet. Explaining how the series came about, Sagan recalled: I was positive from my own experience that an enormous global interest exists in the exploration of the planets and in many kindred scientific topics--the origin of life, the Earth, and the Cosmos, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, our connection with the universe. And I was certain that this interest could be excited through that most powerful communications medium, television. Sagan's own interest and enthusiasm for the universe were so vivid and infectious, his screen presence so engaging, that viewers and readers couldn't help but be caught up in his vision. From stars in their "billions and billions" to the amino acids in the primordial ocean, Sagan communicated a feeling for science as a process of discovery. Inevitably, some of the science in Cosmos has been outdated in the years since 1980--but Sagan's sense of wonder is ageless. --Mary Ellen Curtin

The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins Hardcover from Longman ISBN: 0582446945

Vector Calculus by Jerrold E. Marsden, Anthony J. Tromba Hardcover from W.H. Freeman & Company ISBN: 0716724324 This acclaimed course in the calculus of functions of several variables and vector analysis is aimed mainly at second-year undergraduates. Marsden and Tromba provide a concrete, student-oriented text that fosters computational skills and intuitive understanding. The Fourth Edition maintains the balance between theory, applications, optional materials and historical notes present in earlier editions, but has been refined throughout. "This is a superbly produced book, whose clear and orderly presentation and informative diagrams immediately invite closer study ...The best way to evaluate a textbook is to teach from it, and it is clear from the companion study guide by Pao and Soon that it has passed this test." The Mathematical Gazette Supplements: Student Guide/Instructor's Manual

 
 
 

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