Scienticity - User contributions [en] http://scienticity.net/wiki/Special:Contributions/BNEditor From Scienticity en MediaWiki 1.15.1 Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:28:45 GMT Category:MSJ http://scienticity.net/wiki/Category:MSJ <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>[[Category: Book-Note Contributors]]<br /> [[Category: Contributor's Honor Roll]]</div> Thu, 23 May 2013 23:59:28 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Category_talk:MSJ Kakalios: The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics http://scienticity.net/wiki/Kakalios:_The_Amazing_Story_of_Quantum_Mechanics <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with '{{BNR-table|scienticity=4|readability=5|hermeneutics=4|charisma=5|recommendation=4}} James Kakalios, ''The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics : A Math-Free Exploration of the Sci…'</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=4|readability=5|hermeneutics=4|charisma=5|recommendation=4}}<br /> James Kakalios, ''The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics : A Math-Free Exploration of the Science that Made Our World.'' New York, N.Y. : Gotham Books, 2010. xv + 318 pages, illustrated; includes bibliographic references and index.<br /> <br /> Kaklios has written a pretty good book for the non-scientist explaining the basics of quantum mechanics. It is, as promised, math-free, but at times does get a little deeper than one would imagine in such a book. <br /> <br /> Especially enjoyable were the different ties to golden-age comics and pulp fiction that he used to both illustrate concepts and show how prescient some of those authors truly were. At times, it seemed that the scientists were trying to keep up with the science fictionists.<br /> <br /> The book is definitely too basic for those already with a solid knowledge of the subject, but just the right amount of challenging for those without such knowledge.<br /> <br /> {{Notesby|MSJ}}<br /> <br /> {{Numbers | loc=QC174.13 .K35 2010 | dew=530.12 | isbn=978-1592404797}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]]<br /> [[Category: MSJ]]</div> Thu, 23 May 2013 23:57:57 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Kakalios:_The_Amazing_Story_of_Quantum_Mechanics Kean: The Violinist's Thumb http://scienticity.net/wiki/Kean:_The_Violinist%27s_Thumb <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with '{{BNR-table|scienticity=5|readability=5|hermeneutics=5|charisma=5|recommendation=5}} Sam Kean, ''The Violinist's Thumb : And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written…'</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=5|readability=5|hermeneutics=5|charisma=5|recommendation=5}}<br /> Sam Kean, ''The Violinist's Thumb : And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code''. New York : Little, Brown and Co., 2012. 401 pages.<br /> <br /> ''The Violinist's Thumb'' is another great work by Kean, author of ''The Disappearing Spoon''. This one focuses on DNA and, like ''Spoon'', it is chock full of good science as well as fascinating stories to illustrate such. Highly recommended!<br /> <br /> {{Notesby|MSJ}}<br /> <br /> {{Numbers | loc=QH431 .K24 2012 | dew=572.8 | isbn=978-0316182317}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]][[Category: Top-Rated Books]]<br /> [[Category: MSJ]]</div> Thu, 23 May 2013 23:49:21 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Kean:_The_Violinist%27s_Thumb Heisenberg: Physics and Philosophy http://scienticity.net/wiki/Heisenberg:_Physics_and_Philosophy <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=5|readability=3|hermeneutics=5|charisma=4|recommendation=5}}<br /> Werner Heisenberg, ''Physics &amp; Philosophy : The Revolution in Modern Science''; introduction by David Lindley. New York : Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2007 (originally published in German, 1958). xxi + 201 pages; illustrated.<br /> <br /> This is a history of physics and the philosophy of natural science, while at the same time being a defense of the Copenhagen Interpretation of quantum theory. It is grounded in the argument between classical physics and quantum physics that was then ongoing at the time of publication [in 1958].<br /> <br /> Heisenberg gives equal time to the detractors of the Copenhagen Interpretation, even as he refutes each one. It is an interesting read today, as much of the old argument has been proven obsolete. A rather difficult read, it is still very much worth the time to complete. <br /> <br /> {{Notesby|MSJ}}<br /> <br /> {{Numbers | loc=QC6 .H335 2007 | dew=306.7 | isbn=978-0061209192}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]][[Category: Top-Rated Books]]<br /> [[Category: MSJ]]</div> Thu, 23 May 2013 23:42:20 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Heisenberg:_Physics_and_Philosophy Heisenberg: Physics and Philosophy http://scienticity.net/wiki/Heisenberg:_Physics_and_Philosophy <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with '{{BNR-table|scienticity=5|readability=3|hermeneutics=5|charisma=4|recommendation=5}} Werner Heisenberg, ''Physics &amp; Philosophy : The Revolution in Modern Science''; introduction …'</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=5|readability=3|hermeneutics=5|charisma=4|recommendation=5}}<br /> Werner Heisenberg, ''Physics &amp; Philosophy : The Revolution in Modern Science''; introduction by David Lindley. New York : Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2007 (originally published in German, 1958). xxi + 201 pages; illustrated.<br /> <br /> This is a history of physics and the philosophy of natural science, while at the same time being a defense of the Copenhagen Interpretation of quantum theory. It is grounded in the argument between classical physics and quantum physics that was then ongoing at the time of publication [in 1958].<br /> <br /> Heisenberg gives equal time to the detractors of the Copenhagen Interpretation, even as he refutes each one. It is an interesting read today, as much of the old argument has been proven obsolete. A rather difficult read, it is still very much worth the time to complete. <br /> <br /> {{Notesby|MSJ}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]][[Category: Top-Rated Books]]<br /> [[Category: MSJ]]</div> Thu, 23 May 2013 23:34:27 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Heisenberg:_Physics_and_Philosophy Template:Numbers http://scienticity.net/wiki/Template:Numbers <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>Library of Congress classification : {{{loc}}} &lt;br&gt;<br /> Dewey classification number : {{{dew}}} &lt;br&gt;<br /> ISBN : {{{isbn}}} &lt;br&gt;</div> Thu, 23 May 2013 23:29:42 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Template_talk:Numbers Template:Numbers http://scienticity.net/wiki/Template:Numbers <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>Library of Congress classification : {{{loc}}} &lt;br&gt;<br /> Dewey classification number : {{{dew}}} &lt;br&gt;<br /> ISBN-13 : {{{isbn}}} &lt;br&gt;</div> Thu, 23 May 2013 23:27:33 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Template_talk:Numbers Ryan: Sex at Dawn http://scienticity.net/wiki/Ryan:_Sex_at_Dawn <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=3|readability=4|hermeneutics=4|charisma=4|recommendation=3}}<br /> Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá, ''Sex at Dawn : The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality''. New York : Harper, 2010. xiii + 400 pages, with bibliographic references and index.<br /> <br /> This is a book that gave me pause when I checked it out at the library. The book pushes two theses, one that I found persuasive, and one that I did not.<br /> <br /> The authors are on strong ground where they take on the so-called standard narrative of evolutionary biology: that human males are profligate and human females selective in choosing breeding partners. According to the standard narrative, biological imperatives lead inevitably to concealed ovulation, continuous female receptivity, and ultimately a society based on long-term male-female pairs.<br /> <br /> Looking to both other primates and at other human societies, Ryan and Jethá find plenty of evidence for other forms of societal organization that provide the same or better benefits to its members, but are not pair-based. As one example, they cite the Mosou people in China, whose society is matriarchal and matrilineal. Sons and daughters live together in extended families, raising children communally, the women taking temporary (and anonymous) lovers from other houses. Ryan and Jethá also talk about Bonobos a lot. Their purpose in gathering these examples together is to suggest that primitive human society may have been organized more along Bonobo frequent-group-sex lines than into stable pairs. Here they use sexual dimorphism, relative penis sizes, female vocalizations during sex and so on to support their case. <br /> <br /> They make a persuasive argument for their first thesis, that anthropologists and sociologists are biased towards the standard narrative because it supports the status quo. It is with their second thesis that they fail to win me over. They argue that traditional marriage is ill-suited to modern society because it is &quot;unnatural.&quot; As evidence, they cite the usual societal ills: high divorce rates, single-sex parents, lack of interest in one's long-term partner, and so on. They fail to win me over, and what's worse, the way they push their point of view diminishes their other argument. Are they presenting their evidence selectively? It makes me wonder.<br /> <br /> They also pull their punches at the end. They remember the '70's and know that wife-swapping and group marriage were a failure then. So they have an idea (everybody should have multiple sex partners) but no good suggestions on how to implement it.<br /> <br /> I wonder if I'm outgrowing pop-science books. A more rigorously-argued book might have been more convincing. But in that, I'm probably in a minority. The copy I read came from the Cambridge [MA] public library. It's only three years old, but it's already worn out and falling apart.<br /> <br /> About my ratings choices:<br /> <br /> Scienticity: 3. The authors have done extensive research and the book is well-footnoted. But as I said, I think their personal biases color their work.<br /> <br /> Readability: 4. Easy to read, lots of interesting anecdotes and asides. For the general reader.<br /> <br /> Hermeneutics: 4. Authors understood their subject well and made their arguments in a coherent fashion.<br /> <br /> Charisma: 4. It's a book about sex. You have to work to make it uninteresting.<br /> <br /> Recommendation: 3. A valuable critique of the &quot;standard narrative&quot; of evolutionary psychology, but colored by the authors' projection of their conclusions onto modern Western society.<br /> <br /> {{Notesby|RWB}}<br /> <br /> {{Numbers | loc=HQ12 .R93 2010 | dew=306.7 | isbn=978-0061707810}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]][[Category: RWB]]</div> Thu, 23 May 2013 23:26:57 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Ryan:_Sex_at_Dawn Template:Numbers http://scienticity.net/wiki/Template:Numbers <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>Library of Congress classification: {{{loc}}} &lt;br&gt;<br /> Dewey classification number: {{{dew}}} &lt;br&gt;<br /> ISBN-13: {{{isbn}}} &lt;br&gt;</div> Thu, 23 May 2013 23:26:01 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Template_talk:Numbers Template:Numbers http://scienticity.net/wiki/Template:Numbers <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>Library of Congress classification: {{{loc}}} &lt;br&gt;<br /> Dewey classification number: {{{dew}}} &lt;br&gt;<br /> ISBN-13: {{isbn}} &lt;br&gt;</div> Thu, 23 May 2013 23:25:37 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Template_talk:Numbers Alley: The Two-Mile Time Machine http://scienticity.net/wiki/Alley:_The_Two-Mile_Time_Machine <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=5|readability=5|hermeneutics=5|charisma=5|recommendation=5}}<br /> Richard B. Alley, ''The Two-Mile Time Machine : Ice Cores, Abrupt Climate Change, and Our Future''. Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton University Press, 2000. 229 pages, with appendices, &quot;Sources and Related Information&quot;, and index; illustrated.<br /> <br /> Here is a fascinating, well-written, and accessible book that sheds a great deal of light on what we know about climate change in the history of the Earth. I expect all readers will not agree with me but I thought Alley wrote with a maximum of objectivity and a minimum of emotional heat.<br /> <br /> These paragraphs from the introductory chapter indicate the author's direction:<br /> &lt;blockquote&gt;<br /> The history of this climatic craziness is written in cave formation, ocean and lake sediments, and other places. But the record is probably clearest and most convincing in the ice of Greenland. This incomparable, 110,000-year archive provides year-by-year records of how cold and snowy Greenland was, how strong the storms were that blew dust from Asia and salt from the ocean, end even how extensive the wetlands of the world were. [pp. 3—4]<br /> &lt;br&gt;[...]&lt;br&gt;<br /> This book is a progress report on abrupt climate changes. We will discuss what has been learned, how this knowledge was gained, and what it might mean to us. The existence of abrupt climate changes casts a very different light on the debate about global warming, so we will examine the greenhouse arguments under this new light. We won't find all of the answers—many are not known yet--but we will frame the questions, and we may gain some clues to our future. [p. 5]<br /> &lt;/blockquote&gt;<br /> <br /> Popular discussions of anthropogenic climate change usually refer to &quot;global warming&quot; as though that sums up the potential problems, but an increase in temperature through increasing carbon emissions and greenhouse effects in the atmosphere is only the beginning of the story, a mere trigger to possible effects. The main concerns over &quot;global warming&quot; relate to the relatively large amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide we are pouring into our atmosphere: the historic record shows that rapid and large climate shifts have occurred in our deep past accompanied by small changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide and that it looks likely that a change in atmospheric carbon dioxide can trigger shifts.<br /> <br /> It's a complicated question and, although getting a good picture of this context for climate change is not so difficult, it takes time to work through the deductions and absorb the conclusions. For my taste Alley covered all the necessary ground at just the right pace and with enough detail to give a clear understanding of the numerous scientific findings that fit together to create a remarkably complete and coherent record of climate change and many of its possible causes and effects.<br /> <br /> The author worked with pioneering scientific expeditions to Greenland that pulled two-mile long ice cores from the Greenland ice cap and then analyzed those samples to establish the history of Earth's climate changes over the past 100,00 (or so) years. Describing the massive job of understanding and decoding the clues contained in the ice is a grand scientific adventure that the author uses as the backbone to telling his larger story about the history of climate change. Along the way he exhibits an abundance of scientific rationale and deduction in an excellent example of how science works to arrive at difficult but solid deductions.<br /> <br /> After the first third of the book discussing all of the data that could be gleaned through sophisticated and clever analyses of the ice cores, Alley pauses to reflect before moving on to build the historic record of climate change from those results.<br /> <br /> &lt;blockquote&gt;<br /> By now I hope that you are convinced that a dedicated team of drillers, pilots, cooks, scientists, and other can pull a two-mil-long piece of ice out of Greenland, cut up the ice, analyze it, and tell you how and when the climate changed in Greenland and in many other places. Our friends can analyze trees and mud from other regions, and tell you much about the past climates where the threes grew and the mud settled. The stories from these studies, and what they might mean, are the reason the government paid for us to go to Greenland, and form the rest of this book. I'll give you the punch lines first, and then discuss them. There are many punch lines, and all have something to tell us. The two biggest are:<br /> &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;<br /> 1. Climate in the past has been wildly variable, with larger, faster changes than anything industrial or agricultural humans have ever faced. &lt;br&gt;<br /> 2. Climate can be rather stable if nothing is causing it to change, but when the climate is &quot;pushed&quot; or forced to change, it often jumps suddenly to very different conditions, rather than changing gradually. You might think of the climate as a drunk: When left alone, it sits, when forced to move, it staggers. &lt;br&gt;<br /> 3. The &quot;pushes&quot; that have caused climate changes is the past probably have included drifting continents, wiggles in Earth's orbit, surges of great ice sheets, sudden reversals in ocean circulation, and others. &lt;br&gt;<br /> 4. Small &quot;pushes&quot; have caused large changes because many processes in the Earth system amplify the pushes. Greenhouse gases have probably been the most important amplifiers. &lt;br&gt;<br /> 5. Humans can foul our own nest—and we can clean it up. [pp. 83—84]<br /> &lt;/blockquote&gt;<br /> Looking deep into the history of Earth's climate is exciting and filled with surprises. Perhaps it's no longer surprising that there have been numerous periods of climate fluctuations accompanied by large temperature changes in some regions, the coming and going of ice coverage, changes in rain-fall patterns, and other large-scale patterns. More surprising is to find that climate changes with rather large effects have also happened on numerous occasions over surprisingly short timescale, sometimes as little as 10 years, maybe at times 1 or 2 years. But the fluctuations are not equally distributed and our current quiescent period may give false security.<br /> &lt;blockquote&gt;<br /> With one partial exception about 8,200 years ago, the ice-core records show no similarly large, abrupt changes in snow-fall, temperature, dust, or methane since the end of the Younger Dryas [cold event, about 11,500 years ago]. The millennia over which agriculture and industry rose have been calm and constant by comparison. True, climate changes have contributed to the rise and fall of empires, lured the Vikings to Greenland and then driven them out, and otherwise affected human lives. But these changes that have affected historical humans appear as slow one-degree shifts in the ice-core records, not as abrupt ten-degree jumps. The large effects that small climate changes have had on humans, and the unequivocal records of much larger climate changes, are enough to make some people think deeply, and eve to make them a little nervous. [p. 118]<br /> &lt;/blockquote&gt;<br /> In the final chapters of the book Alley looks at consequences of the climate model as it is currently emerging, including what we know with certainty and what we surmise with less (but growing) certainty.<br /> &lt;blockquote&gt;<br /> Ice cores and other sediments show that large, rapid, and widespread climate changes have been common on Earth for most of the time for which we have good records, but have been absent during the critical few millennia during which agriculture and industry arose. At least some of those large changes appear to have been triggered by increased fresh-water delivery to the north Atlantic. Climate jumps have been especially common when changes were occurring in important parts of the climate system, including summer sunshine in the north, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and ice-sheet size.<br /> &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;<br /> The critical questions for us are: Will nature, or humans, return the climate to the &quot;normal&quot; conditions of wild jumps rather than the &quot;anomalous&quot; stability that we now enjoy? And, if such a return seems likely, is there anything we can do about it? [p. 169]<br /> &lt;/blockquote&gt;<br /> I found this book exciting to read. Exciting in that the author wrote a great tale of scientific adventure, excited for the excellent scienticity of his writing, excited about the accessibility and depth of his exposition on climate change, and excited because this book could serve as a powerful antidote to the frustrations and futility of climate-change debate by soundbite.<br /> <br /> {{Notesby|JNS}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]][[Category: Top-Rated Books]][[Category: JNS]]</div> Thu, 23 May 2013 02:55:47 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Alley:_The_Two-Mile_Time_Machine Ryan: Sex at Dawn http://scienticity.net/wiki/Ryan:_Sex_at_Dawn <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=3|readability=4|hermeneutics=4|charisma=4|recommendation=3}}<br /> Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá, ''Sex at Dawn : The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality''. New York : Harper, 2010. xiii + 400 pages, with bibliographic references and index.<br /> <br /> This is a book that gave me pause when I checked it out at the library. The book pushes two theses, one that I found persuasive, and one that I did not.<br /> <br /> The authors are on strong ground where they take on the so-called standard narrative of evolutionary biology: that human males are profligate and human females selective in choosing breeding partners. According to the standard narrative, biological imperatives lead inevitably to concealed ovulation, continuous female receptivity, and ultimately a society based on long-term male-female pairs.<br /> <br /> Looking to both other primates and at other human societies, Ryan and Jethá find plenty of evidence for other forms of societal organization that provide the same or better benefits to its members, but are not pair-based. As one example, they cite the Mosou people in China, whose society is matriarchal and matrilineal. Sons and daughters live together in extended families, raising children communally, the women taking temporary (and anonymous) lovers from other houses. Ryan and Jethá also talk about Bonobos a lot. Their purpose in gathering these examples together is to suggest that primitive human society may have been organized more along Bonobo frequent-group-sex lines than into stable pairs. Here they use sexual dimorphism, relative penis sizes, female vocalizations during sex and so on to support their case. <br /> <br /> They make a persuasive argument for their first thesis, that anthropologists and sociologists are biased towards the standard narrative because it supports the status quo. It is with their second thesis that they fail to win me over. They argue that traditional marriage is ill-suited to modern society because it is &quot;unnatural.&quot; As evidence, they cite the usual societal ills: high divorce rates, single-sex parents, lack of interest in one's long-term partner, and so on. They fail to win me over, and what's worse, the way they push their point of view diminishes their other argument. Are they presenting their evidence selectively? It makes me wonder.<br /> <br /> They also pull their punches at the end. They remember the '70's and know that wife-swapping and group marriage were a failure then. So they have an idea (everybody should have multiple sex partners) but no good suggestions on how to implement it.<br /> <br /> I wonder if I'm outgrowing pop-science books. A more rigorously-argued book might have been more convincing. But in that, I'm probably in a minority. The copy I read came from the Cambridge [MA] public library. It's only three years old, but it's already worn out and falling apart.<br /> <br /> About my ratings choices:<br /> <br /> Scienticity: 3. The authors have done extensive research and the book is well-footnoted. But as I said, I think their personal biases color their work.<br /> <br /> Readability: 4. Easy to read, lots of interesting anecdotes and asides. For the general reader.<br /> <br /> Hermeneutics: 4. Authors understood their subject well and made their arguments in a coherent fashion.<br /> <br /> Charisma: 4. It's a book about sex. You have to work to make it uninteresting.<br /> <br /> Recommendation: 3. A valuable critique of the &quot;standard narrative&quot; of evolutionary psychology, but colored by the authors' projection of their conclusions onto modern Western society.<br /> <br /> {{Notesby|RWB}}<br /> <br /> {{Numbers | loc=HQ12 .R93 2010 | dew=306.7}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]][[Category: RWB]]</div> Wed, 08 May 2013 03:50:21 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Ryan:_Sex_at_Dawn Ryan: Sex at Dawn http://scienticity.net/wiki/Ryan:_Sex_at_Dawn <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=3|readability=4|hermeneutics=4|charisma=4|recommendation=3}}<br /> Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá, ''Sex at Dawn : The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality''. New York : Harper, 2010. xiii + 400 pages, with bibliographic references and index.<br /> <br /> This is a book that gave me pause when I checked it out at the library. The book pushes two theses, one that I found persuasive, and one that I did not.<br /> <br /> The authors are on strong ground where they take on the so-called standard narrative of evolutionary biology: that human males are profligate and human females selective in choosing breeding partners. According to the standard narrative, biological imperatives lead inevitably to concealed ovulation, continuous female receptivity, and ultimately a society based on long-term male-female pairs.<br /> <br /> Looking to both other primates and at other human societies, Ryan and Jethá find plenty of evidence for other forms of societal organization that provide the same or better benefits to its members, but are not pair-based. As one example, they cite the Mosou people in China, whose society is matriarchal and matrilineal. Sons and daughters live together in extended families, raising children communally, the women taking temporary (and anonymous) lovers from other houses. Ryan and Jetha also talk about Bonobos a lot. Their purpose in gathering these examples together is to suggest that primitive human society may have been organized more along Bonobo frequent-group-sex lines than into stable pairs. Here they use sexual dimorphism, relative penis sizes, female vocalizations during sex and so on to support their case. <br /> <br /> They make a persuasive argument for their first thesis, that anthropologists and sociologists are biased towards the standard narrative because it supports the status quo. It is with their second thesis that they fail to win me over. They argue that traditional marriage is ill-suited to modern society because it is &quot;unnatural.&quot; As evidence, they cite the usual societal ills: high divorce rates, single-sex parents, lack of interest in one's long-term partner, and so on. They fail to win me over, and what's worse, the way they push their point of view diminishes their other argument. Are they presenting their evidence selectively? It makes me wonder.<br /> <br /> They also pull their punches at the end. They remember the '70's and know that wife-swapping and group marriage were a failure then. So they have an idea (everybody should have multiple sex partners) but no good suggestions on how to implement it.<br /> <br /> I wonder if I'm outgrowing pop-science books. A more rigorously-argued book might have been more convincing. But in that, I'm probably in a minority. The copy I read came from the Cambridge [MA] public library. It's only three years old, but it's already worn out and falling apart.<br /> <br /> About my ratings choices:<br /> <br /> Scienticity: 3. The authors have done extensive research and the book is well-footnoted. But as I said, I think their personal biases color their work.<br /> <br /> Readability: 4. Easy to read, lots of interesting anecdotes and asides. For the general reader.<br /> <br /> Hermeneutics: 4. Authors understood their subject well and made their arguments in a coherent fashion.<br /> <br /> Charisma: 4. It's a book about sex. You have to work to make it uninteresting.<br /> <br /> Recommendation: 3. A valuable critique of the &quot;standard narrative&quot; of evolutionary psychology, but colored by the authors' projection of their conclusions onto modern Western society.<br /> <br /> {{Notesby|RWB}}<br /> <br /> {{Numbers | loc=HQ12 .R93 2010 | dew=306.7}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]][[Category: RWB]]</div> Wed, 08 May 2013 03:47:39 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Ryan:_Sex_at_Dawn Category:RWB http://scienticity.net/wiki/Category:RWB <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with 'Category: Book-Note Contributors'</p> <hr /> <div>[[Category: Book-Note Contributors]]</div> Wed, 08 May 2013 00:44:11 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Category_talk:RWB Ryan: Sex at Dawn http://scienticity.net/wiki/Ryan:_Sex_at_Dawn <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with '{{BNR-table|scienticity=3|readability=4|hermeneutics=4|charisma=4|recommendation=3}} Christopher Ryan and Cacilda JethaÌ, ''Sex at Dawn : The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexua…'</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=3|readability=4|hermeneutics=4|charisma=4|recommendation=3}}<br /> Christopher Ryan and Cacilda JethaÌ, ''Sex at Dawn : The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality''. New York : Harper, 2010. xiii + 400 pages, with bibliographic references and index.<br /> <br /> This is a book that gave me pause when I checked it out at the library. The book pushes two theses, one that I found persuasive, and one that I did not.<br /> <br /> The authors are on strong ground where they take on the so-called standard narrative of evolutionary biology: that human males are profligate and human females selective in choosing breeding partners. According to the standard narrative, biological imperatives lead inevitably to concealed ovulation, continuous female receptivity, and ultimately a society based on long-term male-female pairs.<br /> <br /> Looking to both other primates and at other human societies, Ryan and Jetha find plenty of evidence for other forms of societal organization that provide the same or better benefits to its members, but are not pair-based. As one example, they cite the Mosou people in China, whose society is matriarchal and matrilineal. Sons and daughters live together in extended families, raising children communally, the women taking temporary (and anonymous) lovers from other houses. Ryan and Jetha also talk about Bonobos a lot. Their purpose in gathering these examples together is to suggest that primitive human society may have been organized more along Bonobo frequent-group-sex lines than into stable pairs. Here they use sexual dimorphism, relative penis sizes, female vocalizations during sex and so on to support their case. <br /> <br /> They make a persuasive argument for their first thesis, that anthropologists and sociologists are biased towards the standard narrative because it supports the status quo. It is with their second thesis that they fail to win me over. They argue that traditional marriage is ill-suited to modern society because it is &quot;unnatural.&quot; As evidence, they cite the usual societal ills: high divorce rates, single-sex parents, lack of interest in one's long-term partner, and so on. They fail to win me over, and what's worse, the way they push their point of view diminishes their other argument. Are they presenting their evidence selectively? It makes me wonder.<br /> <br /> They also pull their punches at the end. They remember the '70's and know that wife-swapping and group marriage were a failure then. So they have an idea (everybody should have multiple sex partners) but no good suggestions on how to implement it.<br /> <br /> I wonder if I'm outgrowing pop-science books. A more rigorously-argued book might have been more convincing. But in that, I'm probably in a minority. The copy I read came from the Cambridge [MA] public library. It's only three years old, but it's already worn out and falling apart.<br /> <br /> About my ratings choices:<br /> <br /> Scienticity: 3. The authors have done extensive research and the book is well-footnoted. But as I said, I think their personal biases color their work.<br /> <br /> Readability: 4. Easy to read, lots of interesting anecdotes and asides. For the general reader.<br /> <br /> Hermeneutics: 4. Authors understood their subject well and made their arguments in a coherent fashion.<br /> <br /> Charisma: 4. It's a book about sex. You have to work to make it uninteresting.<br /> <br /> Recommendation: 3. A valuable critique of the &quot;standard narrative&quot; of evolutionary psychology, but colored by the authors' projection of their conclusions onto modern Western society.<br /> <br /> {{Notesby|RWB}}<br /> <br /> {{Numbers | loc=HQ12 .R93 2010 | dew=306.7}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]][[Category: RWB]]</div> Wed, 08 May 2013 00:43:30 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Ryan:_Sex_at_Dawn Template:Numbers http://scienticity.net/wiki/Template:Numbers <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>Library of Congress classification: {{{loc}}} &lt;br&gt;<br /> Dewey classification number: {{{dew}}} &lt;br&gt;</div> Wed, 08 May 2013 00:24:23 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Template_talk:Numbers Template:Numbers http://scienticity.net/wiki/Template:Numbers <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>''Library of Congress classification: {{{loc}}}''&lt;br&gt;<br /> ''Dewey classification number: {{{dew}}}''&lt;br&gt;</div> Wed, 08 May 2013 00:22:38 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Template_talk:Numbers Template:Numbers http://scienticity.net/wiki/Template:Numbers <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with '''Library of Congress classification: {{{loc}}} Dewey classification number: {{{dew}}}'''</p> <hr /> <div>''Library of Congress classification: {{{loc}}}<br /> Dewey classification number: {{{dew}}}''</div> Wed, 08 May 2013 00:19:47 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Template_talk:Numbers Category:Book Notes http://scienticity.net/wiki/Category:Book_Notes <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>Read a book for science literacy! Join the [[Science Book Challenge 2012 | 2012 Science Book Challenge]]. <br /> <br /> Book Notes are our brief assessments of books about science and technology and their relationship with society, books that are enjoyable and enlightening--unless they're not. <br /> <br /> &quot;[[:Category: Top-Rated Books |Top-Rated Books]]&quot; collects together the titles to which our reviewers gave a 5-checkerboard recommendation.<br /> <br /> Each Book Note has a chart of [[Book-note ratings|ratings]] and accompanying notes.<br /> <br /> Contributors may wish to use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] for submissions. For others preparing their own online notes, please see the page of [[Notes on Book Notes]].</div> Fri, 26 Apr 2013 03:55:16 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Category_talk:Book_Notes Science Book Challenge 2013 http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge_2013 <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>[[image:Sbc2013.jpg|right|thumb|The image is a photograph of a Longwood hybrid water-platter ([http://longwoodgardens.wordpress.com/2010/02/03/longwood-water-platter-ready-for-flower-show-debut/ ''Victoria'' 'Longwood Hybrid'], first hybridized at Longwood Gardens), captured by [http://www.flickr.com/people/rcsj/ Rob Shenk] at Longwood Gardens, 6 July 2008 ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/rcsj/2650594017/ source]); used under an [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en Attribution-ShareAlike Creative Commons License]. Freely use this image, in your own blog or elsewhere, to publicize the 2013 Science Book Challenge.]] &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read a book for science literacy!&lt;br&gt;This is our sixth annual challenge, bigger and better than ever!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> The Science Book Challenge is easy as pi: read 3 (or 3.14!) science books during 2013, then tell us and others about the books you've read--why you liked them or didn't like them--and help spread science literacy.<br /> <br /> Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun '''and''' rewarding. We want to encourage people to read about science with this challenge. We also want to help potential readers find books they will enjoy and profit from reading; that's why we publish our [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]], which are written mostly by Science-Book Challengers.<br /> <br /> By taking the challenge and contributing your book notes to our growing and increasingly valuable collection, you're helping would-be science-book readers identify books they'd like to read. It's new knowledge for everyone! <br /> <br /> ===The 2013 Science Book Challenge===<br /> <br /> # Read three (or more!) nonfiction books in 2013 related to the theme &quot;Science &amp; Culture&quot;. Your books should have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or the relationship of science with our culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books, from the bookstore or your local library. We take a very broad view of what makes for interesting and informative science reading, looking for perspectives on science as part of culture and history.<br /> # After you've read a book, write a short note about it giving your opinions of the book. Tell us what you'd tell a friend if you wanted to convince your friend to read it--or avoid it. You can read some of the existing [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] for ideas. You might like to read our [[Book-note ratings]] for ideas about how to evaluate your books; we include ratings with every book note.<br /> # Don't worry if you find that you've read a book someone else has also read; we welcome multiple notes on one title.<br /> # Get your book note to us and we'll post it with the other notes in our Book Note section. Use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to get in touch with us.<br /> # Spread the scienticity and tell other people about the Science Book Challenge, either here, [http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge], or at our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group].<br /> <br /> Stuck for ideas about what books to read? [[Special:CommentForm | Write to us]] and we'll help you identify some books that will match your interests.<br /> <br /> ===Joining the Challenge===<br /> <br /> In truth, there's nothing you have to do to take the challenge except start reading. But when you've finished a book, please do share your book note with us and others through the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]].<br /> <br /> We'd like you to make your participation in the Science Book Challenge public by adding you to the list of challengers on this page. Send us your name (as much or as little as you want to appear) and a link to your blog, if you have one, using our [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]], or join our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group]. Putting your name here will encourage others to do the same.<br /> <br /> When you use your own blog to spread the word, make liberal use of our gorgeous Science Book Challenge 2013 graphic to make it pretty.<br /> <br /> Happy reading!<br /> <br /> ===The Science-Book Challengers===<br /> <br /> Everyone should feel free to accept the challenge any time before the end of 2013. There are no grades, just an opportunity to enjoy some science reading and tell others about it. Be spontaneous and choose your books as you go or decide on your book list at the beginning--or any combination that suits your taste.<br /> <br /> Let us know that you're taking the challenge and we'll put your name here with other challengers, along with updates about your notes as you contribute them. You can use the handy [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to reach us. You can also sign up by joining our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 SBC Facebook group]. You might find it interesting to look at previous years' list of challengers in the [[Science Book Challenge 2011]], the [[Science Book Challenge 2010]], the [[Science-Book Challenge 2009]], or the [[Science-Book Challenge 2008]].<br /> <br /> Here are the people we are aware of who have accepted the Science-Book Challenge 2013. If you're taking the Challenge, please [[Special:CommentForm | let us know]]. Your participation will inspire others to join.<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;0&quot; cellpadding=&quot;10&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Challenger <br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Link<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Titles &amp; Links to Book Notes<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melwyk&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:MK |&amp;nbsp;MK&amp;nbsp;]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://indextrious.blogspot.com/ The Indextrious Reader]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp; <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Richard&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:RRT |&amp;nbsp;RRT&amp;nbsp;]])&amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Isaac ([[:Category:SJB | SJB ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jeff ([[:Category:JNS | JNS ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://bearcastle.com/blog Bearcastle Blog]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |}</div> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:29:42 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Science_Book_Challenge_2013 MediaWiki:Sidebar http://scienticity.net/wiki/MediaWiki:Sidebar <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>* science-book challenge<br /> ** Science Book Challenge | Main Challenge Page<br /> ** Science Book Challenge 2013 | 2013 Challenge<br /> ** Science Book Challenge 2012 | 2012 Challenge<br /> ** Science Book Challenge 2011 | 2011 Challenge<br /> ** Science Book Challenge 2010 | 2010 Challenge<br /> ** Science-Book Challenge 2009 | 2009 Challenge<br /> ** Science-Book Challenge 2008 | 2008 Challenge<br /> * science-book notes<br /> ** book-notes-url|book notes<br /> ** Category:Book-Note Contributors | Contributors' Pages<br /> ** Category:Top-Rated Books | Top-Rated Books<br /> ** Special:BooknoteForm | Submission Form<br /> * science time-capsules<br /> ** Category:Time Capsules | Time-Capsule Index<br /> * meta topics<br /> ** http://scienticity.net | Scienticity Home<br /> ** mainpage|Wiki Front Page<br /> ** outline-url|Wiki Outline<br /> ** categories-url|All Categories<br /> ** commentform-url|commentform<br /> ** mailinglist-url|mailinglist<br /> ** newpages-url|newpages<br /> ** allpages-url|allpages<br /> ** recentchanges-url|recentchanges<br /> ** randompage-url|randompage<br /> ** helppage|help<br /> ** sitesupport-url|sitesupport</div> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:27:23 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/MediaWiki_talk:Sidebar Science Book Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>[[image:Sbc01.gif|right|thumb|The image is a portion of the fractal Mandelbrot set, created by [http://www.flickr.com/people/-marlith-/ Kevin Wong] ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/-marlith-/2437198527/ source]); [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License], used with permission. There is also a [[:Image: Sbc01.jpg | jpeg version]] ]] &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read a book for science literacy!&lt;/b&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;b&gt;The [[Science Book Challenge 2013 | Book Challenge for 2013]] is open and ready to announce your participation. Join us! &lt;/b&gt;<br /> &lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> The Science Book Challenge is easy: read three books about science in a year then tell others about the books you've read and help spread science literacy. By &quot;books about science&quot; we mean books written for non-specialists, and we are very broad-minded about what constitutes a &quot;book about science&quot;.<br /> <br /> Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun '''and''' rewarding. We encourage others to read about science, and then help potential readers find books that they will enjoy and profit from reading, by publishing our [[:Category:Book Notes|Science Book Notes]], which are written by Ars Hermeneutica employees, volunteers, friends, and science-book challengers.<br /> <br /> We're looking for science-book readers to help us help would-be science-book readers by sharing their own opinions about the popular science books they've read.<br /> <br /> ===The Science Book Challenge===<br /> <br /> # Read at least three nonfiction books in a calendar year. Your books should have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or science's relationship with its surrounding culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books. We take a very broad view of what makes for interesting and informative science reading.<br /> # After you've read a book, write a short note about it, giving your opinion of the book. What goes in the note? The things you would tell a friend if you wanted to convince your friend to read it--or avoid it. Naturally, you can read some of the existing [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] for ideas. You might like to read our [[Book-note ratings]] for ideas about how to evaluate your books using the ratings that will accompany your book note.<br /> # Don't worry if you find that you've read a book someone else has also read; we welcome multiple notes on one title.<br /> # Get your book note to us and we'll post it with the other notes in our Book Note section. Use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to get in touch with us.<br /> # Tell other people about the Science-Book Challenge: [http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge].<br /> <br /> Stuck for ideas about what books to read? [[Special:CommentForm | Write to us]] and we'll help you identify some books that will match your interests.<br /> <br /> If you'd like to sign up and make your participation in the Science Book Challenge public, send us your name and a link to your blog, if you have one, using our [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]]. You can also join [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 our Facebook group].<br /> <br /> Please help us tell others, too! Use your own blog to spread the word; use our Science Book Challenge graphic--there's a new one each year--to make it pretty.<br /> <br /> === Participation ===<br /> <br /> Participants in each annual science book challenge get their names listed (at their own discretion), along with a link to their blog, in a list that tracks their progress and notes their contributions. See, for instance, the challenges for [[Science Book Challenge 2011 |2011]], [[Science Book Challenge 2010 |2010]], [[Science-Book Challenge 2009 |2009]], and [[Science-Book Challenge 2008 |2008]].<br /> <br /> Every book-note contributor, challengers included, have an individual page ([[:Category: Book-Note Contributors | book-note contributors]]) that keeps track of their contributions--for themselves and for book-note visitors who like their opinions! <br /> <br /> '''Coming Soon!''' As a special incentive to science-book challengers we will soon be offering a chance to receive review copies of books for free.<br /> <br /> === Some Philosophy ===<br /> <br /> Reading about science is a great way for some people to learn about science. Writing about reading about science is Ars Hermeneutica’s way of catalyzing the interaction between potential readers and authors.<br /> <br /> Reading about science for oneself is a personal experience, an excursion into the world of ideas; helping to arrange those rewarding personal experiences is a principle part of Ars Hermeneutica’s mission in science literacy. Our goal is to help match up those who want to discover science through reading with authors who write accurately about the ideas of science in a way that matches an individual reader's abilities and interests.<br /> <br /> For the reader who is motivated but bewildered by the vast array of available books, the question is how to choose one that is trustworthy, appealing, and will provide a rewarding experience? Not every book is intended for every reader, but we believe that for every reader there are any number of books can take that reader on an exciting adventure of the mind.<br /> <br /> === Some History ===<br /> <br /> This project began in 2005 with [[:Category: Book Notes |Science Book Notes]], our collection of brief reviews of popular science books, books for all types of non-scientists readers. Thanks to our Science Book Challenge, begun in 2008, our collection of book notes is growing more diverse and more useful every month.</div> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:26:31 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Science_Book_Challenge Science Book Challenge 2013 http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge_2013 <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with '[[image:Sbc2013.jpg|right|thumb|The image is a photograph of a Longwood hybrid water-platter ([http://longwoodgardens.wordpress.com/2010/02/03/longwood-water-platter-ready-for-fl…'</p> <hr /> <div>[[image:Sbc2013.jpg|right|thumb|The image is a photograph of a Longwood hybrid water-platter ([http://longwoodgardens.wordpress.com/2010/02/03/longwood-water-platter-ready-for-flower-show-debut/ ''Victoria'' 'Longwood Hybrid'], first hybridized at Longwood Gardens;), captured by [http://www.flickr.com/people/rcsj/ Rob Shenk] at Longwood Gardens, 6 July 2008 ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/rcsj/2650594017/ source]); used under an [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en Attribution-ShareAlike Creative Commons License]. Freely use this image, in your own blog or elsewhere, to publicize the 2013 Science Book Challenge.]] &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read a book for science literacy!&lt;br&gt;This is our sixth annual challenge, bigger and better than ever!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> The Science Book Challenge is easy as pi: read 3 (or 3.14!) science books during 2013, then tell us and others about the books you've read--why you liked them or didn't like them--and help spread science literacy.<br /> <br /> Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun '''and''' rewarding. We want to encourage people to read about science with this challenge. We also want to help potential readers find books they will enjoy and profit from reading; that's why we publish our [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]], which are written mostly by Science-Book Challengers.<br /> <br /> By taking the challenge and contributing your book notes to our growing and increasingly valuable collection, you're helping would-be science-book readers identify books they'd like to read. It's new knowledge for everyone! <br /> <br /> ===The 2013 Science Book Challenge===<br /> <br /> # Read three (or more!) nonfiction books in 2013 related to the theme &quot;Science &amp; Culture&quot;. Your books should have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or the relationship of science with our culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books, from the bookstore or your local library. We take a very broad view of what makes for interesting and informative science reading, looking for perspectives on science as part of culture and history.<br /> # After you've read a book, write a short note about it giving your opinions of the book. Tell us what you'd tell a friend if you wanted to convince your friend to read it--or avoid it. You can read some of the existing [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] for ideas. You might like to read our [[Book-note ratings]] for ideas about how to evaluate your books; we include ratings with every book note.<br /> # Don't worry if you find that you've read a book someone else has also read; we welcome multiple notes on one title.<br /> # Get your book note to us and we'll post it with the other notes in our Book Note section. Use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to get in touch with us.<br /> # Spread the scienticity and tell other people about the Science Book Challenge, either here, [http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge], or at our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group].<br /> <br /> Stuck for ideas about what books to read? [[Special:CommentForm | Write to us]] and we'll help you identify some books that will match your interests.<br /> <br /> ===Joining the Challenge===<br /> <br /> In truth, there's nothing you have to do to take the challenge except start reading. But when you've finished a book, please do share your book note with us and others through the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]].<br /> <br /> We'd like you to make your participation in the Science Book Challenge public by adding you to the list of challengers on this page. Send us your name (as much or as little as you want to appear) and a link to your blog, if you have one, using our [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]], or join our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group]. Putting your name here will encourage others to do the same.<br /> <br /> When you use your own blog to spread the word, make liberal use of our gorgeous Science Book Challenge 2013 graphic to make it pretty.<br /> <br /> Happy reading!<br /> <br /> ===The Science-Book Challengers===<br /> <br /> Everyone should feel free to accept the challenge any time before the end of 2013. There are no grades, just an opportunity to enjoy some science reading and tell others about it. Be spontaneous and choose your books as you go or decide on your book list at the beginning--or any combination that suits your taste.<br /> <br /> Let us know that you're taking the challenge and we'll put your name here with other challengers, along with updates about your notes as you contribute them. You can use the handy [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to reach us. You can also sign up by joining our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 SBC Facebook group]. You might find it interesting to look at previous years' list of challengers in the [[Science Book Challenge 2011]], the [[Science Book Challenge 2010]], the [[Science-Book Challenge 2009]], or the [[Science-Book Challenge 2008]].<br /> <br /> Here are the people we are aware of who have accepted the Science-Book Challenge 2013. If you're taking the Challenge, please [[Special:CommentForm | let us know]]. Your participation will inspire others to join.<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;0&quot; cellpadding=&quot;10&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Challenger <br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Link<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Titles &amp; Links to Book Notes<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melwyk&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:MK |&amp;nbsp;MK&amp;nbsp;]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://indextrious.blogspot.com/ The Indextrious Reader]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp; <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Richard&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:RRT |&amp;nbsp;RRT&amp;nbsp;]])&amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Isaac ([[:Category:SJB | SJB ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jeff ([[:Category:JNS | JNS ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://bearcastle.com/blog Bearcastle Blog]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |}</div> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:23:15 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Science_Book_Challenge_2013 File:Sbc2013.jpg http://scienticity.net/wiki/File:Sbc2013.jpg <p>BNEditor:&#32;The image is a photograph of a Longwood hybrid water-platter ([http://longwoodgardens.wordpress.com/2010/02/03/longwood-water-platter-ready-for-flower-show-debut/ ''Victoria'' 'Longwood Hybrid'], first hybridized at Longwood Gardens;), captured by [http:/</p> <hr /> <div>The image is a photograph of a Longwood hybrid water-platter ([http://longwoodgardens.wordpress.com/2010/02/03/longwood-water-platter-ready-for-flower-show-debut/ ''Victoria'' 'Longwood Hybrid'], first hybridized at Longwood Gardens;), captured by [http://www.flickr.com/people/rcsj/ Rob Shenk] at Longwood Gardens, 6 July 2008 ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/rcsj/2650594017/ source]); used under an [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en Attribution-ShareAlike Creative Commons License]. Freely use this image, in your own blog or elsewhere, to publicize the 2013 Science Book Challenge.</div> Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:22:24 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/File_talk:Sbc2013.jpg Category:Book Notes http://scienticity.net/wiki/Category:Book_Notes <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>Read a book for science literacy! Join the [[Science Book Challenge 2012 | 2012 Science Book Challenge]]. <br /> <br /> Book Notes are our brief assessments of books about science and technology and their relationship with society, books that are enjoyable and enlightening. <br /> <br /> &quot;[[:Category: Top-Rated Books |Top-Rated Books]]&quot; collects together the titles to which our reviewers gave a 5-checkerboard recommendation.<br /> <br /> Each Book Note has a chart of [[Book-note ratings|ratings]] and accompanying notes.<br /> <br /> Contributors may wish to use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] for submissions. For others preparing their own online notes, please see the page of [[Notes on Book Notes]].</div> Fri, 09 Mar 2012 01:06:17 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Category_talk:Book_Notes Science Book Challenge 2012 http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge_2012 <p>BNEditor:&#32;/* The Science-Book Challengers */</p> <hr /> <div>[[image:Sbc2012.jpg|right|thumb|The image is a photograph of the very large van de Graff generator at the Boston Museum of Science; the woman '''not''' being killed by the large electrical discharge is demonstrating the concept of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage Faraday Cage]. The photograph is by [http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttyrtle/ Todd Tyrtle] ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttyrtle/2734669311/ source]), used under [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License]. Freely use this image, in your own blog or elsewhere, to publicize the 2012 Science Book Challenge.]] &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read a book for science literacy!&lt;br&gt;This is our fifth annual challenge, bigger and better than ever!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> The Science Book Challenge is easy as pi: read 3 (or 3.14!) science books during 2012, then tell us and others about the books you've read--why you liked them or didn't like them--and help spread science literacy.<br /> <br /> Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun '''and''' rewarding. We want to encourage people to read about science with this challenge. We also want to help potential readers find books they will enjoy and profit from reading; that's why we publish our [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]], which are written mostly by Science-Book Challengers.<br /> <br /> By taking the challenge and contributing your book notes to our growing and increasingly valuable collection, you're helping would-be science-book readers identify books they'd like to read. It's new knowledge for everyone! <br /> <br /> This year we're looking forward to more participation, more book notes, and some special incentives for challengers. We're also hoping to reorganize the [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] to make it easier to browse and more useful to our readers.<br /> <br /> ===The 2012 Science Book Challenge===<br /> <br /> # Read three (or more!) nonfiction books in 2012 related to the theme &quot;Science &amp; Culture&quot;. Your books should have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or the relationship of science with our culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books, from the bookstore or your local library. We take a very broad view of what makes for interesting and informative science reading, looking for perspectives on science as part of culture and history.<br /> # After you've read a book, write a short note about it giving your opinions of the book. Tell us what you'd tell a friend if you wanted to convince your friend to read it--or avoid it. You can read some of the existing [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] for ideas. You might like to read our [[Book-note ratings]] for ideas about how to evaluate your books; we include ratings with every book note.<br /> # Don't worry if you find that you've read a book someone else has also read; we welcome multiple notes on one title.<br /> # Get your book note to us and we'll post it with the other notes in our Book Note section. Use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to get in touch with us.<br /> # Spread the scienticity and tell other people about the Science Book Challenge, either here, [http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge], or at our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group].<br /> <br /> Stuck for ideas about what books to read? [[Special:CommentForm | Write to us]] and we'll help you identify some books that will match your interests.<br /> <br /> ===Joining the Challenge===<br /> <br /> In truth, there's nothing you have to do to take the challenge except start reading. But when you've finished a book, please do share your book note with us and others through the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]].<br /> <br /> We'd like you to make your participation in the Science Book Challenge public by adding you to the list of challengers on this page. Send us your name (as much or as little as you want to appear) and a link to your blog, if you have one, using our [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]], or join our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group]. Putting your name here will encourage others to do the same.<br /> <br /> When you use your own blog to spread the word, make liberal use of our gorgeous Science Book Challenge 2012 graphic to make it pretty.<br /> <br /> Happy reading!<br /> <br /> ===The Science-Book Challengers===<br /> <br /> Everyone should feel free to accept the challenge any time before the end of 2012. There are no grades, just an opportunity to enjoy some science reading and tell others about it. Be spontaneous and choose your books as you go or decide on your book list at the beginning--or any combination that suits your taste.<br /> <br /> Let us know that you're taking the challenge and we'll put your name here with other challengers, along with updates about your notes as you contribute them. You can use the handy [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to reach us. You can also sign up by joining our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 SBC Facebook group]. You might find it interesting to look at previous years' list of challengers in the [[Science Book Challenge 2011]], the [[Science Book Challenge 2010]], the [[Science-Book Challenge 2009]], or the [[Science-Book Challenge 2008]].<br /> <br /> Here are the people we are aware of who have accepted the Science-Book Challenge 2012. If you're taking the Challenge, please [[Special:CommentForm | let us know]]. Your participation will inspire others to join.<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;0&quot; cellpadding=&quot;10&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Challenger <br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Link<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Titles &amp; Links to Book Notes<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melwyk&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:MK |&amp;nbsp;MK&amp;nbsp;]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://indextrious.blogspot.com/ The Indextrious Reader]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp; <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Richard&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:RRT |&amp;nbsp;RRT&amp;nbsp;]])&amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Isaac ([[:Category:SJB | SJB ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jeff ([[:Category:JNS | JNS ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://bearcastle.com/blog Bearcastle Blog]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |}</div> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:54:57 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Science_Book_Challenge_2012 Science Book Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>[[image:Sbc01.gif|right|thumb|The image is a portion of the fractal Mandelbrot set, created by [http://www.flickr.com/people/-marlith-/ Kevin Wong] ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/-marlith-/2437198527/ source]); [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License], used with permission. There is also a [[:Image: Sbc01.jpg | jpeg version]] ]] &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read a book for science literacy!&lt;/b&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;b&gt;The [[Science Book Challenge 2012 | Book Challenge for 2012]] is open and ready to announce your participation. Join us! &lt;/b&gt;<br /> &lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> The Science Book Challenge is easy: read three books about science in a year then tell others about the books you've read and help spread science literacy. By &quot;books about science&quot; we mean books written for non-specialists, and we are very broad-minded about what constitutes a &quot;book about science&quot;.<br /> <br /> Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun '''and''' rewarding. We encourage others to read about science, and then help potential readers find books that they will enjoy and profit from reading, by publishing our [[:Category:Book Notes|Science Book Notes]], which are written by Ars Hermeneutica employees, volunteers, friends, and science-book challengers.<br /> <br /> We're looking for science-book readers to help us help would-be science-book readers by sharing their own opinions about the popular science books they've read.<br /> <br /> ===The Science Book Challenge===<br /> <br /> # Read at least three nonfiction books in a calendar year. Your books should have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or science's relationship with its surrounding culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books. We take a very broad view of what makes for interesting and informative science reading.<br /> # After you've read a book, write a short note about it, giving your opinion of the book. What goes in the note? The things you would tell a friend if you wanted to convince your friend to read it--or avoid it. Naturally, you can read some of the existing [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] for ideas. You might like to read our [[Book-note ratings]] for ideas about how to evaluate your books using the ratings that will accompany your book note.<br /> # Don't worry if you find that you've read a book someone else has also read; we welcome multiple notes on one title.<br /> # Get your book note to us and we'll post it with the other notes in our Book Note section. Use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to get in touch with us.<br /> # Tell other people about the Science-Book Challenge: [http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge].<br /> <br /> Stuck for ideas about what books to read? [[Special:CommentForm | Write to us]] and we'll help you identify some books that will match your interests.<br /> <br /> If you'd like to sign up and make your participation in the Science Book Challenge public, send us your name and a link to your blog, if you have one, using our [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]]. You can also join [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 our Facebook group].<br /> <br /> Please help us tell others, too! Use your own blog to spread the word; use our Science Book Challenge graphic--there's a new one each year--to make it pretty.<br /> <br /> === Participation ===<br /> <br /> Participants in each annual science book challenge get their names listed (at their own discretion), along with a link to their blog, in a list that tracks their progress and notes their contributions. See, for instance, the challenges for [[Science Book Challenge 2011 |2011]], [[Science Book Challenge 2010 |2010]], [[Science-Book Challenge 2009 |2009]], and [[Science-Book Challenge 2008 |2008]].<br /> <br /> Every book-note contributor, challengers included, have an individual page ([[:Category: Book-Note Contributors | book-note contributors]]) that keeps track of their contributions--for themselves and for book-note visitors who like their opinions! <br /> <br /> '''Coming Soon!''' As a special incentive to science-book challengers we will soon be offering a chance to receive review copies of books for free.<br /> <br /> === Some Philosophy ===<br /> <br /> Reading about science is a great way for some people to learn about science. Writing about reading about science is Ars Hermeneutica’s way of catalyzing the interaction between potential readers and authors.<br /> <br /> Reading about science for oneself is a personal experience, an excursion into the world of ideas; helping to arrange those rewarding personal experiences is a principle part of Ars Hermeneutica’s mission in science literacy. Our goal is to help match up those who want to discover science through reading with authors who write accurately about the ideas of science in a way that matches an individual reader's abilities and interests.<br /> <br /> For the reader who is motivated but bewildered by the vast array of available books, the question is how to choose one that is trustworthy, appealing, and will provide a rewarding experience? Not every book is intended for every reader, but we believe that for every reader there are any number of books can take that reader on an exciting adventure of the mind.<br /> <br /> === Some History ===<br /> <br /> This project began in 2005 with [[:Category: Book Notes |Science Book Notes]], our collection of brief reviews of popular science books, books for all types of non-scientists readers. Thanks to our Science Book Challenge, begun in 2008, our collection of book notes is growing more diverse and more useful every month.</div> Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:31:59 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Science_Book_Challenge MediaWiki:Sidebar http://scienticity.net/wiki/MediaWiki:Sidebar <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>* science-book challenge<br /> ** Science Book Challenge | Main Challenge Page<br /> ** Science Book Challenge 2012 | 2012 Challenge<br /> ** Science Book Challenge 2011 | 2011 Challenge<br /> ** Science Book Challenge 2010 | 2010 Challenge<br /> ** Science-Book Challenge 2009 | 2009 Challenge<br /> ** Science-Book Challenge 2008 | 2008 Challenge<br /> * science-book notes<br /> ** book-notes-url|book notes<br /> ** Category:Book-Note Contributors | Contributors' Pages<br /> ** Category:Top-Rated Books | Top-Rated Books<br /> ** Special:BooknoteForm | Submission Form<br /> * science time-capsules<br /> ** Category:Time Capsules | Time-Capsule Index<br /> * meta topics<br /> ** http://scienticity.net | Scienticity Home<br /> ** mainpage|Wiki Front Page<br /> ** outline-url|Wiki Outline<br /> ** categories-url|All Categories<br /> ** commentform-url|commentform<br /> ** mailinglist-url|mailinglist<br /> ** newpages-url|newpages<br /> ** allpages-url|allpages<br /> ** recentchanges-url|recentchanges<br /> ** randompage-url|randompage<br /> ** helppage|help<br /> ** sitesupport-url|sitesupport</div> Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:28:10 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/MediaWiki_talk:Sidebar Science Book Challenge 2012 http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge_2012 <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with '[[image:Sbc2012.jpg|right|thumb|The image is a photograph of the very large van de Graff generator at the Boston Museum of Science; the woman '''not''' being killed by the large …'</p> <hr /> <div>[[image:Sbc2012.jpg|right|thumb|The image is a photograph of the very large van de Graff generator at the Boston Museum of Science; the woman '''not''' being killed by the large electrical discharge is demonstrating the concept of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage Faraday Cage]. The photograph is by [http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttyrtle/ Todd Tyrtle] ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttyrtle/2734669311/ source]), used under [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License]. Freely use this image, in your own blog or elsewhere, to publicize the 2012 Science Book Challenge.]] &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read a book for science literacy!&lt;br&gt;This is our fifth annual challenge, bigger and better than ever!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> The Science Book Challenge is easy as pi: read 3 (or 3.14!) science books during 2012, then tell us and others about the books you've read--why you liked them or didn't like them--and help spread science literacy.<br /> <br /> Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun '''and''' rewarding. We want to encourage people to read about science with this challenge. We also want to help potential readers find books they will enjoy and profit from reading; that's why we publish our [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]], which are written mostly by Science-Book Challengers.<br /> <br /> By taking the challenge and contributing your book notes to our growing and increasingly valuable collection, you're helping would-be science-book readers identify books they'd like to read. It's new knowledge for everyone! <br /> <br /> This year we're looking forward to more participation, more book notes, and some special incentives for challengers. We're also hoping to reorganize the [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] to make it easier to browse and more useful to our readers.<br /> <br /> ===The 2012 Science Book Challenge===<br /> <br /> # Read three (or more!) nonfiction books in 2012 related to the theme &quot;Science &amp; Culture&quot;. Your books should have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or the relationship of science with our culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books, from the bookstore or your local library. We take a very broad view of what makes for interesting and informative science reading, looking for perspectives on science as part of culture and history.<br /> # After you've read a book, write a short note about it giving your opinions of the book. Tell us what you'd tell a friend if you wanted to convince your friend to read it--or avoid it. You can read some of the existing [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] for ideas. You might like to read our [[Book-note ratings]] for ideas about how to evaluate your books; we include ratings with every book note.<br /> # Don't worry if you find that you've read a book someone else has also read; we welcome multiple notes on one title.<br /> # Get your book note to us and we'll post it with the other notes in our Book Note section. Use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to get in touch with us.<br /> # Spread the scienticity and tell other people about the Science Book Challenge, either here, [http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge], or at our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group].<br /> <br /> Stuck for ideas about what books to read? [[Special:CommentForm | Write to us]] and we'll help you identify some books that will match your interests.<br /> <br /> ===Joining the Challenge===<br /> <br /> In truth, there's nothing you have to do to take the challenge except start reading. But when you've finished a book, please do share your book note with us and others through the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]].<br /> <br /> We'd like you to make your participation in the Science Book Challenge public by adding you to the list of challengers on this page. Send us your name (as much or as little as you want to appear) and a link to your blog, if you have one, using our [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]], or join our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group]. Putting your name here will encourage others to do the same.<br /> <br /> When you use your own blog to spread the word, make liberal use of our gorgeous Science Book Challenge 2012 graphic to make it pretty.<br /> <br /> Happy reading!<br /> <br /> ===The Science-Book Challengers===<br /> <br /> Everyone should feel free to accept the challenge any time before the end of 2012. There are no grades, just an opportunity to enjoy some science reading and help others. Be spontaneous and choose your books as you go or decide on your book list at the beginning--or any combination that suits your taste.<br /> <br /> Let us know that you're taking the challenge and we'll put your name here with other challengers, along with updates about your notes as you contribute them. You can use the handy [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to reach us. You can also sign up by joining our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 SBC Facebook group]. You might find it interesting to look at previous years' list of challengers in the [[Science Book Challenge 2011]], the [[Science Book Challenge 2010]], the [[Science-Book Challenge 2009]], or the [[Science-Book Challenge 2008]].<br /> <br /> Here are the people we are aware of who have accepted the Science-Book Challenge 2012. If you're taking the Challenge, please [[Special:CommentForm | let us know]]. Your participation will inspire others to join.<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;0&quot; cellpadding=&quot;10&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Challenger <br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Link<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Titles &amp; Links to Book Notes<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp; <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Richard&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:RRT |&amp;nbsp;RRT&amp;nbsp;]])&amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Isaac ([[:Category:SJB | SJB ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jeff ([[:Category:JNS | JNS ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://bearcastle.com/blog Bearcastle Blog]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |}</div> Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:27:24 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Science_Book_Challenge_2012 File:Sbc2012.jpg http://scienticity.net/wiki/File:Sbc2012.jpg <p>BNEditor:&#32;This is the official promotional graphic for the 2012 Science Book Challenge.</p> <hr /> <div>This is the official promotional graphic for the 2012 Science Book Challenge.</div> Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:02:32 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/File_talk:Sbc2012.jpg Science Book Challenge 2011 http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge_2011 <p>BNEditor:&#32;/* The Science-Book Challengers */</p> <hr /> <div>[[image:Sbc2011.jpg|right|thumb|The image is a photograph of the DNA from a mashed-up strawberry (red at bottom) being drawn up a propanol column, captured by [http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/ Steve Jurvetson] ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/133261764/ source]); used under [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License]. Please use this image in your own blog to publicize the 2011 Science Book Challenge.]] &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read a book for science literacy!&lt;br&gt;This is our fourth annual challenge, bigger and better than ever!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> The Science Book Challenge is easy as pi: read 3 (or 3.14!) science books during 2011, then tell us and others about the books you've read and help spread science literacy.<br /> <br /> Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun '''and''' rewarding. We want to encourage people to read about science with this challenge. We also want to help potential readers find books they will enjoy and profit from reading; that's why we publish our [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]], which are written mostly by Science-Book Challengers.<br /> <br /> By taking the challenge and contributing your book notes to our growing and increasingly valuable collection, you're helping would-be science-book readers identify books they'd like to read. It's new knowledge for everyone! <br /> <br /> This year we're looking forward to more participation, more book notes, and some special incentives for challengers. We're also hoping to reorganize the [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] to make it easier to browse and more useful to our readers.<br /> <br /> ===The 2011 Science Book Challenge===<br /> <br /> # Read at least three nonfiction books in 2011 related to the theme &quot;Science &amp; Culture&quot;. Your books should have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or the relationship of science with our culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books, from the bookstore or your local library. We take a very broad view of what makes for interesting and informative science reading, looking for perspectives on science as part of culture and history.<br /> # After you've read a book, write a short note about it giving your opinions of the book. Tell us what you'd tell a friend if you wanted to convince your friend to read it--or avoid it. You can read some of the existing [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] for ideas. You might like to read our [[Book-note ratings]] for ideas about how to evaluate your books; we include ratings with every book note.<br /> # Don't worry if you find that you've read a book someone else has also read; we welcome multiple notes on one title.<br /> # Get your book note to us and we'll post it with the other notes in our Book Note section. Use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to get in touch with us.<br /> # Spread the scienticity and tell other people about the Science Book Challenge: [http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge].<br /> <br /> Stuck for ideas about what books to read? [[Special:CommentForm | Write to us]] and we'll help you identify some books that will match your interests.<br /> <br /> ===Joining the Challenge===<br /> <br /> In truth, there's nothing you have to do to take the challenge except start reading. But when you've finished a book, please do share your book note with us and others through the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]].<br /> <br /> We'd like you to make your participation in the Science Book Challenge public by adding you to the list of challengers on this page. Send us your name and a link to your blog, if you have one, using our [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]], or join our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group]. Putting your name here will encourage others to do the same.<br /> <br /> When you use your own blog to spread the word, make liberal use of our gorgeous Science Book Challenge 2011 graphic to make it pretty.<br /> <br /> Happy reading!<br /> <br /> ===The Science-Book Challengers===<br /> <br /> Everyone should feel free to accept the challenge any time before the end of 2011. There are no grades, just an opportunity to enjoy some science reading and help others. Be spontaneous and choose your books as you go or decide on your book list at the beginning--or any combination that suits your taste.<br /> <br /> Let us know that you're taking the challenge and we'll put your name here with other challengers, along with updates about your notes as you contribute them. You can use the handy [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to reach us. You can also sign up by joining our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 SBC Facebook group]. You might find it interesting to look at previous years' list of challengers in the [[Science Book Challenge 2010]], the [[Science-Book Challenge 2009]], or the [[Science-Book Challenge 2008]].<br /> <br /> Here are the people we are aware of who have accepted the Science-Book Challenge 2011. If you're taking the Challenge, please [[Special:CommentForm | let us know]]. Your participation will inspire others to join.<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;0&quot; cellpadding=&quot;10&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Challenger <br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Link<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Titles &amp; Links to Book Notes<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nicole R ([[:Category:NR | NR ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://endlessadventuresinreading.blogspot.com/ Endless Adventures in Reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melwyk&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:MK |&amp;nbsp;MK&amp;nbsp;]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://indextrious.blogspot.com/ The Indextrious Reader]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | possibles:&lt;br&gt;John W. Moffat, ''Einstein Wrote Back''&lt;br&gt;Janet Gleeson, ''The Arcanum''&lt;br&gt;Jo Marchant, ''Decoding the Heavens''&lt;br&gt;Arthur I. Miller, ''Empire of the Stars''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Dawn Morgan Elliott ([[:Category:DME | DME ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.tampadogooder.com Tampa Do-Gooder]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[McCandless: The Visual Miscellaneum | David McCandless, ''The Visual Miscellaneum : A Colorful Guide to the World's Most Consequential Trivia'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nathalie Foy <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://nathaliefoy.wordpress.com Books About Books]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Maryanne Wolf, ''Proust and the Squid: The Story of Science and the Reading Brain''&lt;br&gt;Nick Lane, ''Ten Great Inventions of Evolution''&lt;br&gt;Ben Goldacre, ''Bad Science''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Kristen Young ([[:Category:GKY | GKY ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.geknitics.com Geknitics]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Lisa W. ([[:Category:LFW | LFW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Brown: How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming | Mike Brown, ''How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | W. Byron W. ([[:Category:WBW | WBW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Paul Milo, ''Your Flying Car Awaits''&lt;br&gt;Mary Roach, ''Packing for Mars''&lt;br&gt;Michael Belfiore, ''The Department of Mad Scientists''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Brittanie ([[:Category:BT | BT ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://abookloverforever.blogspot.com/ A Book Lover]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Mohammod Araft <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | books about neurology, physics, or quirky topics in science<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyd Melcher <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | sponaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Yvonne Langenberg <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyndi <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to begin: ''Genome: An Autobiography in 23 Chapters'', by Matt Ridley<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jacqueline Boytim <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://laboratoryliteracy.wordpress.com/ laboratory literacy]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Arestelle <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://arestelle.wordpress.com Arestelle]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | some possibles:&lt;br&gt;''Minds and Computers'', by Matt Carther&lt;br&gt;''Introducing Artificial Intelligence'', by Henry Brighton&lt;br&gt;''1089 and All That'', by David Acheson&lt;br&gt;''The Undercover Economist'', by Tim Harford<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melanie ([[:Category:MKI | MKI ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://tigermel.blogspot.com/ Cynical Optimism]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to start : Rebecca Skloot, ''The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | raidergirl3 ([[:Category:RG3 | RG3 ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/ an adventure in reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Bell: Lavoisier in the Year One | Madison Smartt Bell, Lavoisier in the Year One : the Birth of a New Science in an Age of Revolution]]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Gavin ([[:Category:GG | GG ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://page247.wordpress.com/ Page247]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Quammen: Monster of God | David Quammen, ''Monster of God : The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Chris Waigl <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Beth M ([[:Category:BM | BM ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://libraryfrog.blogspot.com/ Library Chicken]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Brian: The Curies | Denis Brian, ''The Curies : A Biography of the Most Controversial Family in Science'']]&lt;br&gt;[[Sykes: The Seven Daughters of Eve | Bryan Sykes, ''The Seven Daughters of Eve : The Science that Reveals our Genetic Ancestry'']]&lt;br&gt;[[Goldsmith: Obsessive Genius | Barbara Goldsmith, ''Obsessive Genius : The Inner World of Marie Curie'']]&lt;br&gt;[[Jurmain: The Secret of the Yellow Death | Suzanne Jurmain, The Secret of the Yellow Death : A True Story of Medical Sleuthing]]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Scout ([[:Category:MSJ | MSJ ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Zuk: Sex on Six Legs | Marlene Zuk, ''Sex on Six Legs : Lessons on Live, Love, and Language from the Insect World'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp; <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Richard&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:RRT |&amp;nbsp;RRT&amp;nbsp;]])&amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Isaac ([[:Category:SJB | SJB ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jeff ([[:Category:JNS | JNS ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://bearcastle.com/blog Bearcastle Blog]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |}</div> Fri, 21 Oct 2011 02:22:21 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Science_Book_Challenge_2011 Zuk: Sex on Six Legs http://scienticity.net/wiki/Zuk:_Sex_on_Six_Legs <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with '{{BNR-table|scienticity=4|readability=5|hermeneutics=4|charisma=5|recommendation=4}} Marlene Zuk, ''Sex on Six Legs : Lessons on Live, Love, and Language from the Insect World''.…'</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=4|readability=5|hermeneutics=4|charisma=5|recommendation=4}}<br /> Marlene Zuk, ''Sex on Six Legs : Lessons on Live, Love, and Language from the Insect World''. Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011. 272 pages.<br /> <br /> In her latest book, Marlene Zuk makes a case for some of the world'€™s smallest inhabitants: &quot;€œIf you are one of those that think insects are important, but not breathtaking, pests without inspiring passion, I want to change your mind.&quot; Zuk then proceeds to make her case for insects as fascinating objects of study. <br /> <br /> The introduction illustrates the importance of insects not only to human existence, but to human understanding as well. By studying creatures so completely different from ourselves, we can come to knowledge that is not possible otherwise. By setting aside the anthropomorphism Zuk indicates is inherent in virtually all vertebrate study, we can truly look at life from a new perspective. And what do we find when we do so? &quot;€œIt is possible to be unselfish without a moral code, sophisticated without an education, and beautiful wearing a skeleton on the outside.&quot;€ Though one could argue that latter is subjective, her point is certainly well made. <br /> <br /> She also makes the case for insects as both mirror and window to the human condition. They are mirrors in that they exhibit a lot of the same behavior: animal husbandry, language, social hierarchies, and learning. However, she adds, they do all of those things without the benefit of the advanced hardware that the vertebrate brain offers, as well as missing the software of the pituitary system and hormones so important in humans. Insects are windows because of those differences. One of the points she returns to again and again is that insects make for great study subjects because we aren'€™t them. <br /> <br /> Another ongoing theme throughout the book is the '€œobsession'€ by humans to guarantee ourselves a club of one, and only one, member. For each trait that was presumed to be unique to humanity (personality, language, the ability to learn) that has been observed in the insect world, scientists seem to get a case of the &quot;yeah buts&quot;€, in order to prove why it is not really. Barring that, the list for admission continues to add new criteria, though she also points out that &quot;€œone can detect a certain desperation in resorting to homicidal violence as a badge of distinction.&quot;€<br /> <br /> The different chapters investigate different aspects of insect life, anything from education to parenting to the altruism of ants. Do insects have personalities? Yes, Zuk argues and here's how that benefits them and us. She also has a chapter on the one topic about which she is asked most frequently, &quot;Two Fruit Flies Walk into a Bar&quot;!€<br /> <br /> In the final chapter, &quot;Six-Legged Language&quot;€, she describes language studies. Famous for dancing their communiqués, honeybees need to communicate new food sources as well as new locations when it is necessary to move the hive. When communicating the latter, in addition to where, the scout bees have to communicate desirability of the different options and come to a consensus so that the entire swarm can be moved to the new home. And that is just the beginning of the task.<br /> <br /> Overall, ''Sex on Six Legs'' is a thoroughly enjoyable book. Though she emphasizes certain themes almost to the point of redundancy (i.e., the evils of anthropomorphism and the human club of one, or that insects make great subjects of study) she also tenders a great deal of evidence for why this is so. This is a book that is certainly aimed more towards a popular audience than a scientific one, but she does not assume that audience is unintelligent. Nor does she assume the audience can'€™t take a joke, as she does spend a fair bit of time with her tongue firmly planted in cheek. It is certainly a great introduction to ethology for the lay reader and has the potential to change minds about the fascination of insects.<br /> <br /> {{Notesby|MSJ}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]]<br /> [[Category: MSJ]]</div> Fri, 21 Oct 2011 02:15:07 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Zuk:_Sex_on_Six_Legs Category:MSJ http://scienticity.net/wiki/Category:MSJ <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with 'Category: Book-Note Contributors'</p> <hr /> <div>[[Category: Book-Note Contributors]]</div> Fri, 21 Oct 2011 02:14:55 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Category_talk:MSJ Science Book Challenge 2011 http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge_2011 <p>BNEditor:&#32;/* The Science-Book Challengers */</p> <hr /> <div>[[image:Sbc2011.jpg|right|thumb|The image is a photograph of the DNA from a mashed-up strawberry (red at bottom) being drawn up a propanol column, captured by [http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/ Steve Jurvetson] ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/133261764/ source]); used under [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License]. Please use this image in your own blog to publicize the 2011 Science Book Challenge.]] &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read a book for science literacy!&lt;br&gt;This is our fourth annual challenge, bigger and better than ever!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> The Science Book Challenge is easy as pi: read 3 (or 3.14!) science books during 2011, then tell us and others about the books you've read and help spread science literacy.<br /> <br /> Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun '''and''' rewarding. We want to encourage people to read about science with this challenge. We also want to help potential readers find books they will enjoy and profit from reading; that's why we publish our [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]], which are written mostly by Science-Book Challengers.<br /> <br /> By taking the challenge and contributing your book notes to our growing and increasingly valuable collection, you're helping would-be science-book readers identify books they'd like to read. It's new knowledge for everyone! <br /> <br /> This year we're looking forward to more participation, more book notes, and some special incentives for challengers. We're also hoping to reorganize the [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] to make it easier to browse and more useful to our readers.<br /> <br /> ===The 2011 Science Book Challenge===<br /> <br /> # Read at least three nonfiction books in 2011 related to the theme &quot;Science &amp; Culture&quot;. Your books should have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or the relationship of science with our culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books, from the bookstore or your local library. We take a very broad view of what makes for interesting and informative science reading, looking for perspectives on science as part of culture and history.<br /> # After you've read a book, write a short note about it giving your opinions of the book. Tell us what you'd tell a friend if you wanted to convince your friend to read it--or avoid it. You can read some of the existing [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] for ideas. You might like to read our [[Book-note ratings]] for ideas about how to evaluate your books; we include ratings with every book note.<br /> # Don't worry if you find that you've read a book someone else has also read; we welcome multiple notes on one title.<br /> # Get your book note to us and we'll post it with the other notes in our Book Note section. Use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to get in touch with us.<br /> # Spread the scienticity and tell other people about the Science Book Challenge: [http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge].<br /> <br /> Stuck for ideas about what books to read? [[Special:CommentForm | Write to us]] and we'll help you identify some books that will match your interests.<br /> <br /> ===Joining the Challenge===<br /> <br /> In truth, there's nothing you have to do to take the challenge except start reading. But when you've finished a book, please do share your book note with us and others through the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]].<br /> <br /> We'd like you to make your participation in the Science Book Challenge public by adding you to the list of challengers on this page. Send us your name and a link to your blog, if you have one, using our [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]], or join our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group]. Putting your name here will encourage others to do the same.<br /> <br /> When you use your own blog to spread the word, make liberal use of our gorgeous Science Book Challenge 2011 graphic to make it pretty.<br /> <br /> Happy reading!<br /> <br /> ===The Science-Book Challengers===<br /> <br /> Everyone should feel free to accept the challenge any time before the end of 2011. There are no grades, just an opportunity to enjoy some science reading and help others. Be spontaneous and choose your books as you go or decide on your book list at the beginning--or any combination that suits your taste.<br /> <br /> Let us know that you're taking the challenge and we'll put your name here with other challengers, along with updates about your notes as you contribute them. You can use the handy [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to reach us. You can also sign up by joining our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 SBC Facebook group]. You might find it interesting to look at previous years' list of challengers in the [[Science Book Challenge 2010]], the [[Science-Book Challenge 2009]], or the [[Science-Book Challenge 2008]].<br /> <br /> Here are the people we are aware of who have accepted the Science-Book Challenge 2011. If you're taking the Challenge, please [[Special:CommentForm | let us know]]. Your participation will inspire others to join.<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;0&quot; cellpadding=&quot;10&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Challenger <br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Link<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Titles &amp; Links to Book Notes<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nicole R ([[:Category:NR | NR ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://endlessadventuresinreading.blogspot.com/ Endless Adventures in Reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melwyk&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:MK |&amp;nbsp;MK&amp;nbsp;]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://indextrious.blogspot.com/ The Indextrious Reader]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | possibles:&lt;br&gt;John W. Moffat, ''Einstein Wrote Back''&lt;br&gt;Janet Gleeson, ''The Arcanum''&lt;br&gt;Jo Marchant, ''Decoding the Heavens''&lt;br&gt;Arthur I. Miller, ''Empire of the Stars''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Dawn Morgan Elliott ([[:Category:DME | DME ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.tampadogooder.com Tampa Do-Gooder]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[McCandless: The Visual Miscellaneum | David McCandless, ''The Visual Miscellaneum : A Colorful Guide to the World's Most Consequential Trivia'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nathalie Foy <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://nathaliefoy.wordpress.com Books About Books]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Maryanne Wolf, ''Proust and the Squid: The Story of Science and the Reading Brain''&lt;br&gt;Nick Lane, ''Ten Great Inventions of Evolution''&lt;br&gt;Ben Goldacre, ''Bad Science''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Kristen Young ([[:Category:GKY | GKY ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.geknitics.com Geknitics]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Lisa W. ([[:Category:LFW | LFW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Brown: How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming | Mike Brown, ''How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | W. Byron W. ([[:Category:WBW | WBW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Paul Milo, ''Your Flying Car Awaits''&lt;br&gt;Mary Roach, ''Packing for Mars''&lt;br&gt;Michael Belfiore, ''The Department of Mad Scientists''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Brittanie ([[:Category:BT | BT ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://abookloverforever.blogspot.com/ A Book Lover]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Mohammod Araft <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | books about neurology, physics, or quirky topics in science<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyd Melcher <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | sponaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Yvonne Langenberg <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyndi <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to begin: ''Genome: An Autobiography in 23 Chapters'', by Matt Ridley<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jacqueline Boytim <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://laboratoryliteracy.wordpress.com/ laboratory literacy]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Arestelle <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://arestelle.wordpress.com Arestelle]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | some possibles:&lt;br&gt;''Minds and Computers'', by Matt Carther&lt;br&gt;''Introducing Artificial Intelligence'', by Henry Brighton&lt;br&gt;''1089 and All That'', by David Acheson&lt;br&gt;''The Undercover Economist'', by Tim Harford<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melanie ([[:Category:MKI | MKI ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://tigermel.blogspot.com/ Cynical Optimism]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to start : Rebecca Skloot, ''The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | raidergirl3 ([[:Category:RG3 | RG3 ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/ an adventure in reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Bell: Lavoisier in the Year One | Madison Smartt Bell, Lavoisier in the Year One : the Birth of a New Science in an Age of Revolution]]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Gavin ([[:Category:GG | GG ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://page247.wordpress.com/ Page247]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Quammen: Monster of God | David Quammen, ''Monster of God : The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Chris Waigl <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Beth M ([[:Category:BM | BM ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://libraryfrog.blogspot.com/ Library Chicken]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Brian: The Curies | Denis Brian, ''The Curies : A Biography of the Most Controversial Family in Science'']]&lt;br&gt;[[Sykes: The Seven Daughters of Eve | Bryan Sykes, ''The Seven Daughters of Eve : The Science that Reveals our Genetic Ancestry'']]&lt;br&gt;[[Goldsmith: Obsessive Genius | Barbara Goldsmith, ''Obsessive Genius : The Inner World of Marie Curie'']]&lt;br&gt;[[Jurmain: The Secret of the Yellow Death | Suzanne Jurmain, The Secret of the Yellow Death : A True Story of Medical Sleuthing]]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp; <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Richard&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:RRT |&amp;nbsp;RRT&amp;nbsp;]])&amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Isaac ([[:Category:SJB | SJB ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jeff ([[:Category:JNS | JNS ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://bearcastle.com/blog Bearcastle Blog]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |}</div> Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:30:40 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Science_Book_Challenge_2011 Science Book Challenge 2011 http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge_2011 <p>BNEditor:&#32;/* Joining the Challenge */</p> <hr /> <div>[[image:Sbc2011.jpg|right|thumb|The image is a photograph of the DNA from a mashed-up strawberry (red at bottom) being drawn up a propanol column, captured by [http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/ Steve Jurvetson] ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/133261764/ source]); used under [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License]. Please use this image in your own blog to publicize the 2011 Science Book Challenge.]] &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read a book for science literacy!&lt;br&gt;This is our fourth annual challenge, bigger and better than ever!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> The Science Book Challenge is easy as pi: read 3 (or 3.14!) science books during 2011, then tell us and others about the books you've read and help spread science literacy.<br /> <br /> Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun '''and''' rewarding. We want to encourage people to read about science with this challenge. We also want to help potential readers find books they will enjoy and profit from reading; that's why we publish our [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]], which are written mostly by Science-Book Challengers.<br /> <br /> By taking the challenge and contributing your book notes to our growing and increasingly valuable collection, you're helping would-be science-book readers identify books they'd like to read. It's new knowledge for everyone! <br /> <br /> This year we're looking forward to more participation, more book notes, and some special incentives for challengers. We're also hoping to reorganize the [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] to make it easier to browse and more useful to our readers.<br /> <br /> ===The 2011 Science Book Challenge===<br /> <br /> # Read at least three nonfiction books in 2011 related to the theme &quot;Science &amp; Culture&quot;. Your books should have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or the relationship of science with our culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books, from the bookstore or your local library. We take a very broad view of what makes for interesting and informative science reading, looking for perspectives on science as part of culture and history.<br /> # After you've read a book, write a short note about it giving your opinions of the book. Tell us what you'd tell a friend if you wanted to convince your friend to read it--or avoid it. You can read some of the existing [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] for ideas. You might like to read our [[Book-note ratings]] for ideas about how to evaluate your books; we include ratings with every book note.<br /> # Don't worry if you find that you've read a book someone else has also read; we welcome multiple notes on one title.<br /> # Get your book note to us and we'll post it with the other notes in our Book Note section. Use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to get in touch with us.<br /> # Spread the scienticity and tell other people about the Science Book Challenge: [http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge].<br /> <br /> Stuck for ideas about what books to read? [[Special:CommentForm | Write to us]] and we'll help you identify some books that will match your interests.<br /> <br /> ===Joining the Challenge===<br /> <br /> In truth, there's nothing you have to do to take the challenge except start reading. But when you've finished a book, please do share your book note with us and others through the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]].<br /> <br /> We'd like you to make your participation in the Science Book Challenge public by adding you to the list of challengers on this page. Send us your name and a link to your blog, if you have one, using our [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]], or join our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group]. Putting your name here will encourage others to do the same.<br /> <br /> When you use your own blog to spread the word, make liberal use of our gorgeous Science Book Challenge 2011 graphic to make it pretty.<br /> <br /> Happy reading!<br /> <br /> ===The Science-Book Challengers===<br /> <br /> Everyone should feel free to accept the challenge any time before the end of 2011. There are no grades, just an opportunity to enjoy some science reading and help others. Be spontaneous and choose your books as you go or decide on your book list at the beginning--or any combination that suits your taste.<br /> <br /> Let us know that you're taking the challenge and we'll put your name here with other challengers, along with updates about your notes as you contribute them. You can use the handy [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to reach us. You can also sign up by joining our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 2011 SBC Facebook group]. You might find it interesting to look at previous years' list of challengers in the [[Science Book Challenge 2010]], the [[Science-Book Challenge 2009]], or the [[Science-Book Challenge 2008]].<br /> <br /> Here are the people we are aware of who have accepted the Science-Book Challenge 2011. If you're taking the Challenge, please [[Special:CommentForm | let us know]]. Your participation will inspire others to join.<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;0&quot; cellpadding=&quot;10&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Challenger <br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Link<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Titles &amp; Links to Book Notes<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nicole R ([[:Category:NR | NR ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://endlessadventuresinreading.blogspot.com/ Endless Adventures in Reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melwyk&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:MK |&amp;nbsp;MK&amp;nbsp;]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://indextrious.blogspot.com/ The Indextrious Reader]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | possibles:&lt;br&gt;John W. Moffat, ''Einstein Wrote Back''&lt;br&gt;Janet Gleeson, ''The Arcanum''&lt;br&gt;Jo Marchant, ''Decoding the Heavens''&lt;br&gt;Arthur I. Miller, ''Empire of the Stars''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Dawn Morgan Elliott ([[:Category:DME | DME ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.tampadogooder.com Tampa Do-Gooder]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[McCandless: The Visual Miscellaneum | David McCandless, ''The Visual Miscellaneum : A Colorful Guide to the World's Most Consequential Trivia'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nathalie Foy <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://nathaliefoy.wordpress.com Books About Books]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Maryanne Wolf, ''Proust and the Squid: The Story of Science and the Reading Brain''&lt;br&gt;Nick Lane, ''Ten Great Inventions of Evolution''&lt;br&gt;Ben Goldacre, ''Bad Science''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Kristen Young ([[:Category:GKY | GKY ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.geknitics.com Geknitics]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Lisa W. ([[:Category:LFW | LFW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Brown: How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming | Mike Brown, ''How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | W. Byron W. ([[:Category:WBW | WBW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Paul Milo, ''Your Flying Car Awaits''&lt;br&gt;Mary Roach, ''Packing for Mars''&lt;br&gt;Michael Belfiore, ''The Department of Mad Scientists''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Brittanie ([[:Category:BT | BT ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://abookloverforever.blogspot.com/ A Book Lover]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Mohammod Araft <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | books about neurology, physics, or quirky topics in science<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyd Melcher <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | sponaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Yvonne Langenberg <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyndi <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to begin: ''Genome: An Autobiography in 23 Chapters'', by Matt Ridley<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jacqueline Boytim <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://laboratoryliteracy.wordpress.com/ laboratory literacy]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Arestelle <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://arestelle.wordpress.com Arestelle]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | some possibles:&lt;br&gt;''Minds and Computers'', by Matt Carther&lt;br&gt;''Introducing Artificial Intelligence'', by Henry Brighton&lt;br&gt;''1089 and All That'', by David Acheson&lt;br&gt;''The Undercover Economist'', by Tim Harford<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melanie ([[:Category:MKI | MKI ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://tigermel.blogspot.com/ Cynical Optimism]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to start : Rebecca Skloot, ''The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | raidergirl3 ([[:Category:RG3 | RG3 ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/ an adventure in reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Bell: Lavoisier in the Year One | Madison Smartt Bell, Lavoisier in the Year One : the Birth of a New Science in an Age of Revolution]]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Gavin ([[:Category:GG | GG ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://page247.wordpress.com/ Page247]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Quammen: Monster of God | David Quammen, ''Monster of God : The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Chris Waigl <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Beth M ([[:Category:BM | BM ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://libraryfrog.blogspot.com/ Library Chicken]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Brian: The Curies | Denis Brian, ''The Curies : A Biography of the Most Controversial Family in Science'']]&lt;br&gt;[[Sykes: The Seven Daughters of Eve | Bryan Sykes, ''The Seven Daughters of Eve : The Science that Reveals our Genetic Ancestry'']]&lt;br&gt;[[Goldsmith: Obsessive Genius | Barbara Goldsmith, ''Obsessive Genius : The Inner World of Marie Curie'']]&lt;br&gt;[[Jurmain: The Secret of the Yellow Death | Suzanne Jurmain, The Secret of the Yellow Death : A True Story of Medical Sleuthing]]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp; <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Richard&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:RRT |&amp;nbsp;RRT&amp;nbsp;]])&amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Isaac ([[:Category:SJB | SJB ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jeff ([[:Category:JNS | JNS ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://bearcastle.com/blog Bearcastle Blog]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |}</div> Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:30:07 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Science_Book_Challenge_2011 Science Book Challenge 2011 http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge_2011 <p>BNEditor:&#32;/* The Science-Book Challengers */</p> <hr /> <div>[[image:Sbc2011.jpg|right|thumb|The image is a photograph of the DNA from a mashed-up strawberry (red at bottom) being drawn up a propanol column, captured by [http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/ Steve Jurvetson] ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/133261764/ source]); used under [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License]. Please use this image in your own blog to publicize the 2011 Science Book Challenge.]] &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read a book for science literacy!&lt;br&gt;This is our fourth annual challenge, bigger and better than ever!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> The Science Book Challenge is easy as pi: read 3 (or 3.14!) science books during 2011, then tell us and others about the books you've read and help spread science literacy.<br /> <br /> Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun '''and''' rewarding. We want to encourage people to read about science with this challenge. We also want to help potential readers find books they will enjoy and profit from reading; that's why we publish our [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]], which are written mostly by Science-Book Challengers.<br /> <br /> By taking the challenge and contributing your book notes to our growing and increasingly valuable collection, you're helping would-be science-book readers identify books they'd like to read. It's new knowledge for everyone! <br /> <br /> This year we're looking forward to more participation, more book notes, and some special incentives for challengers. We're also hoping to reorganize the [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] to make it easier to browse and more useful to our readers.<br /> <br /> ===The 2011 Science Book Challenge===<br /> <br /> # Read at least three nonfiction books in 2011 related to the theme &quot;Science &amp; Culture&quot;. Your books should have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or the relationship of science with our culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books, from the bookstore or your local library. We take a very broad view of what makes for interesting and informative science reading, looking for perspectives on science as part of culture and history.<br /> # After you've read a book, write a short note about it giving your opinions of the book. Tell us what you'd tell a friend if you wanted to convince your friend to read it--or avoid it. You can read some of the existing [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] for ideas. You might like to read our [[Book-note ratings]] for ideas about how to evaluate your books; we include ratings with every book note.<br /> # Don't worry if you find that you've read a book someone else has also read; we welcome multiple notes on one title.<br /> # Get your book note to us and we'll post it with the other notes in our Book Note section. Use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to get in touch with us.<br /> # Spread the scienticity and tell other people about the Science Book Challenge: [http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge].<br /> <br /> Stuck for ideas about what books to read? [[Special:CommentForm | Write to us]] and we'll help you identify some books that will match your interests.<br /> <br /> ===Joining the Challenge===<br /> <br /> In truth, there's nothing you have to do to take the challenge except start reading. But when you've finished a book, please do share your book note with us and others through the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]].<br /> <br /> We'd like you to make your participation in the Science Book Challenge public by adding you to the list of challengers on this page. Send us your name and a link to your blog, if you have one, using our [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]], or join our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group] for this year's challenge. Putting your name here will encourage others to do the same.<br /> <br /> When you use your own blog to spread the word, make liberal use of our gorgeous Science Book Challenge 2011 graphic to make it pretty.<br /> <br /> Happy reading!<br /> <br /> ===The Science-Book Challengers===<br /> <br /> Everyone should feel free to accept the challenge any time before the end of 2011. There are no grades, just an opportunity to enjoy some science reading and help others. Be spontaneous and choose your books as you go or decide on your book list at the beginning--or any combination that suits your taste.<br /> <br /> Let us know that you're taking the challenge and we'll put your name here with other challengers, along with updates about your notes as you contribute them. You can use the handy [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to reach us. You can also sign up by joining our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 2011 SBC Facebook group]. You might find it interesting to look at previous years' list of challengers in the [[Science Book Challenge 2010]], the [[Science-Book Challenge 2009]], or the [[Science-Book Challenge 2008]].<br /> <br /> Here are the people we are aware of who have accepted the Science-Book Challenge 2011. If you're taking the Challenge, please [[Special:CommentForm | let us know]]. Your participation will inspire others to join.<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;0&quot; cellpadding=&quot;10&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Challenger <br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Link<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Titles &amp; Links to Book Notes<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nicole R ([[:Category:NR | NR ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://endlessadventuresinreading.blogspot.com/ Endless Adventures in Reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melwyk&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:MK |&amp;nbsp;MK&amp;nbsp;]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://indextrious.blogspot.com/ The Indextrious Reader]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | possibles:&lt;br&gt;John W. Moffat, ''Einstein Wrote Back''&lt;br&gt;Janet Gleeson, ''The Arcanum''&lt;br&gt;Jo Marchant, ''Decoding the Heavens''&lt;br&gt;Arthur I. Miller, ''Empire of the Stars''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Dawn Morgan Elliott ([[:Category:DME | DME ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.tampadogooder.com Tampa Do-Gooder]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[McCandless: The Visual Miscellaneum | David McCandless, ''The Visual Miscellaneum : A Colorful Guide to the World's Most Consequential Trivia'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nathalie Foy <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://nathaliefoy.wordpress.com Books About Books]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Maryanne Wolf, ''Proust and the Squid: The Story of Science and the Reading Brain''&lt;br&gt;Nick Lane, ''Ten Great Inventions of Evolution''&lt;br&gt;Ben Goldacre, ''Bad Science''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Kristen Young ([[:Category:GKY | GKY ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.geknitics.com Geknitics]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Lisa W. ([[:Category:LFW | LFW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Brown: How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming | Mike Brown, ''How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | W. Byron W. ([[:Category:WBW | WBW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Paul Milo, ''Your Flying Car Awaits''&lt;br&gt;Mary Roach, ''Packing for Mars''&lt;br&gt;Michael Belfiore, ''The Department of Mad Scientists''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Brittanie ([[:Category:BT | BT ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://abookloverforever.blogspot.com/ A Book Lover]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Mohammod Araft <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | books about neurology, physics, or quirky topics in science<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyd Melcher <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | sponaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Yvonne Langenberg <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyndi <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to begin: ''Genome: An Autobiography in 23 Chapters'', by Matt Ridley<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jacqueline Boytim <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://laboratoryliteracy.wordpress.com/ laboratory literacy]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Arestelle <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://arestelle.wordpress.com Arestelle]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | some possibles:&lt;br&gt;''Minds and Computers'', by Matt Carther&lt;br&gt;''Introducing Artificial Intelligence'', by Henry Brighton&lt;br&gt;''1089 and All That'', by David Acheson&lt;br&gt;''The Undercover Economist'', by Tim Harford<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melanie ([[:Category:MKI | MKI ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://tigermel.blogspot.com/ Cynical Optimism]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to start : Rebecca Skloot, ''The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | raidergirl3 ([[:Category:RG3 | RG3 ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/ an adventure in reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Bell: Lavoisier in the Year One | Madison Smartt Bell, Lavoisier in the Year One : the Birth of a New Science in an Age of Revolution]]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Gavin ([[:Category:GG | GG ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://page247.wordpress.com/ Page247]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Quammen: Monster of God | David Quammen, ''Monster of God : The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Chris Waigl <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Beth M ([[:Category:BM | BM ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://libraryfrog.blogspot.com/ Library Chicken]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Brian: The Curies | Denis Brian, ''The Curies : A Biography of the Most Controversial Family in Science'']]&lt;br&gt;[[Sykes: The Seven Daughters of Eve | Bryan Sykes, ''The Seven Daughters of Eve : The Science that Reveals our Genetic Ancestry'']]&lt;br&gt;[[Goldsmith: Obsessive Genius | Barbara Goldsmith, ''Obsessive Genius : The Inner World of Marie Curie'']]&lt;br&gt;[[Jurmain: The Secret of the Yellow Death | Suzanne Jurmain, The Secret of the Yellow Death : A True Story of Medical Sleuthing]]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp; <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Richard&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:RRT |&amp;nbsp;RRT&amp;nbsp;]])&amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Isaac ([[:Category:SJB | SJB ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jeff ([[:Category:JNS | JNS ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://bearcastle.com/blog Bearcastle Blog]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |}</div> Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:28:54 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Science_Book_Challenge_2011 Brian: The Curies http://scienticity.net/wiki/Brian:_The_Curies <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=3|readability=4|hermeneutics=4|charisma=3|recommendation=4}}<br /> Denis Brian, ''The Curies : A Biography of the Most Controversial Family in Science''. Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, 2005. ix + 438 pages; illustrated; includes bibliographic references and index.<br /> <br /> After reading ''Borrowed Names : Poems about Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madam C.J. Walker, Marie Curie, and Their Daughters'', by Jeannine Atkins, I wanted to know more about Irene and Marie Curie. So I checked the bibliography and ordered up one of the reference books.''The Curies: A Biography of the Most Controversial Family in Science'' starts with Marie and Pierre Curie and continues with daughter Irene, her husband Frederic Joliot, and daughter Eve. I think the standard of controversial science families must be rather low, since the main controversy seemed to be that Marie and Irene were both women (!! yes -- it is true!!). Well, Marie Curie was accused of having an affair with a married man once, and Frederic Joliot became a communist, but then so did most of France (both have affairs and become communist).<br /> <br /> Denis Brian does a good job establishing a narrative. He often has several strands going; he traces the families and childhood of both Marie and Pierre and then later follows both Eve Curie's travels as a journalist and Frederic Joliot's work in France during and after World War II. Joliot gets more attention than Irene from their marriage onward, which was a bit of a disappointment for me since Irene was my main interest going into the book. ''Borrowed Names'' was about the relationship between Irene and her mother, and this book gave me more of the facts behind the events mentioned in the poems. I wish there had been a bit more explanation of the actual science, especially for Irene and Frederic, because sometimes that got lost in the descriptions of the arguments between scientists. But I got a sense of the transition from the work the early Curies did in a shed to the more elaborate work of Irene, and finally the gigantic systems Frederic's late work required. And the transition from the pure science of the early discovery of radioactivity through wild enthusiasm of its potential for good to the horror of the atomic bomb.<br /> <br /> I'm interested in continuing to learn more about the Curies, perhaps with a stronger look at the science behind their work.<br /> <br /> {{Notesby|BM}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]]<br /> [[Category: BM]]</div> Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:24:29 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Brian:_The_Curies Jurmain: The Secret of the Yellow Death http://scienticity.net/wiki/Jurmain:_The_Secret_of_the_Yellow_Death <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with '{{BNR-table|scienticity=3|readability=5|hermeneutics=4|charisma=5|recommendation=4}} Suzanne Jurmain, ''The Secret of the Yellow Death : A True Story of Medical Sleuthing''. Bost…'</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=3|readability=5|hermeneutics=4|charisma=5|recommendation=4}}<br /> Suzanne Jurmain, ''The Secret of the Yellow Death : A True Story of Medical Sleuthing''. Boston : Houghton Mifflin, 2009. 104 pages; illustrated; includes bibliographic references and index.<br /> <br /> The yellow death was a virulent disease that killed thousands of people, young and old. Until the twentieth century, no one knew what caused it. In ''The Secret of the Yellow Death'', a Cybils Middle Grade and Young Adult Nonfiction Finalist, Suzanne Jurmain tells the story of the doctors hired by the American army to study and prevent the disease. Along the way they also pioneered the ethics of human experimentation, moving from using themselves as test subjects (one died during their investigation) through informally inviting men to get bit by a mosquito, through formally listing the dangers and the rewards of participating in tests.<br /> <br /> Jurmain clearly points out the risks and the scientific questions involved, building suspense as the doctors perform experiments and also fall sick to the disease they are studying. She does a good job of showing the scientific process, as well as discussing the risks involved. I was fascinated, and I hope to entice my boys into reading it as well. <br /> <br /> {{Notesby|BM}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]]<br /> [[Category: Young Adult]]<br /> [[Category: BM]]</div> Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:22:02 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Jurmain:_The_Secret_of_the_Yellow_Death Goldsmith: Obsessive Genius http://scienticity.net/wiki/Goldsmith:_Obsessive_Genius <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with '{{BNR-table|scienticity=4|readability=3|hermeneutics=4|charisma=4|recommendation=4}} Barbara Goldsmith, ''Obsessive Genius : The Inner World of Marie Curie''. New York : W.W. No…'</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=4|readability=3|hermeneutics=4|charisma=4|recommendation=4}}<br /> <br /> Barbara Goldsmith, ''Obsessive Genius : The Inner World of Marie Curie''. New York : W.W. Norton, 2005. 256 pages; illustrated; includes bibliographic references.<br /> <br /> After picking through the bibliography and sources of [[Brian: The Curies | Brian's biography of the Curie family]], I choose Barbara Goldsmith's ''Obsessive Genius'' as my next book to read in this stream. (A stream of books is a sequence where each book references the next one.) Instead of spreading itself across all the Curies, this book concentrates on Marie.<br /> <br /> Goldsmith seems a bit more willing to be critical of Marie, casting a more suspicious eye on the funding of her laboratory, her insistence on personally holding the standard setting curie of radioactive material, her complicity in promulgating the myths surrounding the discovery of radiation, and the possible estranged relationship between her and her daughters. Since my current interest in Marie Curie began with a poem about the women in the family, I found the last issue particularly interesting, as well as the different angle on her scientific achievements. <br /> <br /> Reading several biographies in a row encourages me to focus on the differences; I can see how Dennis and Goldsmith can read the same primary documents and come to different opinions. Since I've never come close to those documents, I don't yet have an opinion toward which is right, although it would be a nicer world if it were true that they all got along. As a person who did enjoy maths, I don't assume Irene was ironic or desperately trying to gain her mother's approval when she wrote asking for more problems; I also don't find it ludicrous that a child was working on what is generally considered high school math problems. But it's certainly possible that she hated it. The teasing between Eve, musical and fashionable, and the clothing oblivious scientists Marie and Irene could be read as mean and belittling, or it could be cosy and affirming. The entire family knew they were on stage; it is certain that Eve deliberately chose the image she wished to portray. The tension between the women's obvious talents and the reluctance of the world to acknowledge female intelligence makes the science and lives of the Curies fascinating; I clearly haven't finished following the connections along this theme.<br /> <br /> {{Notesby|BM}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]]<br /> [[Category: BM]]</div> Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:13:09 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Goldsmith:_Obsessive_Genius Sykes: The Seven Daughters of Eve http://scienticity.net/wiki/Sykes:_The_Seven_Daughters_of_Eve <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with '{{BNR-table|scienticity=3|readability=4|hermeneutics=4|charisma=5|recommendation=3}} Bryan Sykes, ''The Seven Daughters of Eve : The Science that Reveals our Genetic Ancestry''. …'</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=3|readability=4|hermeneutics=4|charisma=5|recommendation=3}}<br /> Bryan Sykes, ''The Seven Daughters of Eve : The Science that Reveals our Genetic Ancestry''. New York, W.W.Norton and Company, 2010. 320 pages; illustrated, maps; includes index.<br /> <br /> My book club has dabbled its toes in some nonfiction lately, mostly with pleasant results. Bryan Sykes's ''The Seven Daughters of Eve: The Science That Reveals Our Genetic Ancestry'' is an account of the development of mitochondrial DNA analysis as a tool to trace the ancestral histories of humans. Since mitochondria DNA only passes along the maternal line, it is simpler to follow and less prone to transformation. Instead of an exponentially branching family tree, it traces a single line back from the many to the one.<br /> <br /> Sykes shows how this gene helped determine relatives of the ice age man found frozen in Switzerland, the truth about claimants to the Russian throne, the path of Polynesians across the oceans (he was involved in many of these cases). He then looks farther back to prehistoric times, to the seven women almost all Europeans descend from, and imagines what their lives were like and who they were. His tone is conversational, even when explaining the science behind the gene, and he's just as interested in the politics behind labs scrambling for credit as he is in the experiments driving the discoveries. It was interesting to read about some of the protocols, especially regarding children, which just seemed so different from how I think science works in America (Sykes is English). Also, his glee in an invitation to a castle to sip wine with a lord checking on his connection to a cave man amused me.<br /> <br /> The women in my club mostly enjoyed the book, and we talked about how Sykes approached the material and presented it to the public; we pushed at some of the hints he dropped and then jokingly compared some of the more whimsical &quot;biographies&quot; of the prehistoric women to the last Clan of the Cave Bear book that recently came out. It was a fun evening.<br /> <br /> {{Notesby|BM}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]]<br /> [[Category: BM]]</div> Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:10:28 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Sykes:_The_Seven_Daughters_of_Eve Category:BM http://scienticity.net/wiki/Category:BM <p>BNEditor:&#32;</p> <hr /> <div>Beth blogs at &quot;[http://libraryfrog.blogspot.com Library Chicken]&quot;<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book-Note Contributors]]<br /> [[Category: Contributor's Honor Roll]]</div> Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:55:41 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Category_talk:BM Brian: The Curies http://scienticity.net/wiki/Brian:_The_Curies <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with '{{BNR-table|scienticity=3|readability=4|hermeneutics=4|charisma=3|recommendation=4}} Denis Brian, ''The Curies : A Biography of the Most Controversial Family in Science. Hoboken,…'</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=3|readability=4|hermeneutics=4|charisma=3|recommendation=4}}<br /> Denis Brian, ''The Curies : A Biography of the Most Controversial Family in Science. Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, 2005. ix + 438 pages; illustrated; includes bibliographic references and index.<br /> <br /> After reading ''Borrowed Names : Poems about Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madam C.J. Walker, Marie Curie, and Their Daughters'', by Jeannine Atkins, I wanted to know more about Irene and Marie Curie. So I checked the bibliography and ordered up one of the reference books.''The Curies: A Biography of the Most Controversial Family in Science'' starts with Marie and Pierre Curie and continues with daughter Irene, her husband Frederic Joliot, and daughter Eve. I think the standard of controversial science families must be rather low, since the main controversy seemed to be that Marie and Irene were both women (!! yes -- it is true!!). Well, Marie Curie was accused of having an affair with a married man once, and Frederic Joliot became a communist, but then so did most of France (both have affairs and become communist).<br /> <br /> Denis Brian does a good job establishing a narrative. He often has several strands going; he traces the families and childhood of both Marie and Pierre and then later follows both Eve Curie's travels as a journalist and Frederic Joliot's work in France during and after World War II. Joliot gets more attention than Irene from their marriage onward, which was a bit of a disappointment for me since Irene was my main interest going into the book. ''Borrowed Names'' was about the relationship between Irene and her mother, and this book gave me more of the facts behind the events mentioned in the poems. I wish there had been a bit more explanation of the actual science, especially for Irene and Frederic, because sometimes that got lost in the descriptions of the arguments between scientists. But I got a sense of the transition from the work the early Curies did in a shed to the more elaborate work of Irene, and finally the gigantic systems Frederic's late work required. And the transition from the pure science of the early discovery of radioactivity through wild enthusiasm of its potential for good to the horror of the atomic bomb.<br /> <br /> I'm interested in continuing to learn more about the Curies, perhaps with a stronger look at the science behind their work.<br /> <br /> {{Notesby|BM}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]]<br /> [[Category: BM]]</div> Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:49:03 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Brian:_The_Curies Science Book Challenge 2011 http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge_2011 <p>BNEditor:&#32;/* The Science-Book Challengers */</p> <hr /> <div>[[image:Sbc2011.jpg|right|thumb|The image is a photograph of the DNA from a mashed-up strawberry (red at bottom) being drawn up a propanol column, captured by [http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/ Steve Jurvetson] ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/133261764/ source]); used under [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License]. Please use this image in your own blog to publicize the 2011 Science Book Challenge.]] &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read a book for science literacy!&lt;br&gt;This is our fourth annual challenge, bigger and better than ever!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> The Science Book Challenge is easy as pi: read 3 (or 3.14!) science books during 2011, then tell us and others about the books you've read and help spread science literacy.<br /> <br /> Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun '''and''' rewarding. We want to encourage people to read about science with this challenge. We also want to help potential readers find books they will enjoy and profit from reading; that's why we publish our [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]], which are written mostly by Science-Book Challengers.<br /> <br /> By taking the challenge and contributing your book notes to our growing and increasingly valuable collection, you're helping would-be science-book readers identify books they'd like to read. It's new knowledge for everyone! <br /> <br /> This year we're looking forward to more participation, more book notes, and some special incentives for challengers. We're also hoping to reorganize the [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] to make it easier to browse and more useful to our readers.<br /> <br /> ===The 2011 Science Book Challenge===<br /> <br /> # Read at least three nonfiction books in 2011 related to the theme &quot;Science &amp; Culture&quot;. Your books should have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or the relationship of science with our culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books, from the bookstore or your local library. We take a very broad view of what makes for interesting and informative science reading, looking for perspectives on science as part of culture and history.<br /> # After you've read a book, write a short note about it giving your opinions of the book. Tell us what you'd tell a friend if you wanted to convince your friend to read it--or avoid it. You can read some of the existing [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] for ideas. You might like to read our [[Book-note ratings]] for ideas about how to evaluate your books; we include ratings with every book note.<br /> # Don't worry if you find that you've read a book someone else has also read; we welcome multiple notes on one title.<br /> # Get your book note to us and we'll post it with the other notes in our Book Note section. Use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to get in touch with us.<br /> # Spread the scienticity and tell other people about the Science Book Challenge: [http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge].<br /> <br /> Stuck for ideas about what books to read? [[Special:CommentForm | Write to us]] and we'll help you identify some books that will match your interests.<br /> <br /> ===Joining the Challenge===<br /> <br /> In truth, there's nothing you have to do to take the challenge except start reading. But when you've finished a book, please do share your book note with us and others through the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]].<br /> <br /> We'd like you to make your participation in the Science Book Challenge public by adding you to the list of challengers on this page. Send us your name and a link to your blog, if you have one, using our [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]], or join our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group] for this year's challenge. Putting your name here will encourage others to do the same.<br /> <br /> When you use your own blog to spread the word, make liberal use of our gorgeous Science Book Challenge 2011 graphic to make it pretty.<br /> <br /> Happy reading!<br /> <br /> ===The Science-Book Challengers===<br /> <br /> Everyone should feel free to accept the challenge any time before the end of 2011. There are no grades, just an opportunity to enjoy some science reading and help others. Be spontaneous and choose your books as you go or decide on your book list at the beginning--or any combination that suits your taste.<br /> <br /> Let us know that you're taking the challenge and we'll put your name here with other challengers, along with updates about your notes as you contribute them. You can use the handy [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to reach us. You can also sign up by joining our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 2011 SBC Facebook group]. You might find it interesting to look at previous years' list of challengers in the [[Science Book Challenge 2010]], the [[Science-Book Challenge 2009]], or the [[Science-Book Challenge 2008]].<br /> <br /> Here are the people we are aware of who have accepted the Science-Book Challenge 2011. If you're taking the Challenge, please [[Special:CommentForm | let us know]]. Your participation will inspire others to join.<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;0&quot; cellpadding=&quot;10&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Challenger <br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Link<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Titles &amp; Links to Book Notes<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nicole R ([[:Category:NR | NR ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://endlessadventuresinreading.blogspot.com/ Endless Adventures in Reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melwyk&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:MK |&amp;nbsp;MK&amp;nbsp;]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://indextrious.blogspot.com/ The Indextrious Reader]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | possibles:&lt;br&gt;John W. Moffat, ''Einstein Wrote Back''&lt;br&gt;Janet Gleeson, ''The Arcanum''&lt;br&gt;Jo Marchant, ''Decoding the Heavens''&lt;br&gt;Arthur I. Miller, ''Empire of the Stars''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Dawn Morgan Elliott ([[:Category:DME | DME ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.tampadogooder.com Tampa Do-Gooder]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[McCandless: The Visual Miscellaneum | David McCandless, ''The Visual Miscellaneum : A Colorful Guide to the World's Most Consequential Trivia'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nathalie Foy <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://nathaliefoy.wordpress.com Books About Books]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Maryanne Wolf, ''Proust and the Squid: The Story of Science and the Reading Brain''&lt;br&gt;Nick Lane, ''Ten Great Inventions of Evolution''&lt;br&gt;Ben Goldacre, ''Bad Science''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Kristen Young ([[:Category:GKY | GKY ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.geknitics.com Geknitics]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Lisa W. ([[:Category:LFW | LFW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Brown: How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming | Mike Brown, ''How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | W. Byron W. ([[:Category:WBW | WBW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Paul Milo, ''Your Flying Car Awaits''&lt;br&gt;Mary Roach, ''Packing for Mars''&lt;br&gt;Michael Belfiore, ''The Department of Mad Scientists''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Brittanie ([[:Category:BT | BT ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://abookloverforever.blogspot.com/ A Book Lover]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Mohammod Araft <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | books about neurology, physics, or quirky topics in science<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyd Melcher <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | sponaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Yvonne Langenberg <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyndi <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to begin: ''Genome: An Autobiography in 23 Chapters'', by Matt Ridley<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jacqueline Boytim <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://laboratoryliteracy.wordpress.com/ laboratory literacy]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Arestelle <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://arestelle.wordpress.com Arestelle]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | some possibles:&lt;br&gt;''Minds and Computers'', by Matt Carther&lt;br&gt;''Introducing Artificial Intelligence'', by Henry Brighton&lt;br&gt;''1089 and All That'', by David Acheson&lt;br&gt;''The Undercover Economist'', by Tim Harford<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melanie ([[:Category:MKI | MKI ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://tigermel.blogspot.com/ Cynical Optimism]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to start : Rebecca Skloot, ''The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | raidergirl3 ([[:Category:RG3 | RG3 ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/ an adventure in reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Bell: Lavoisier in the Year One | Madison Smartt Bell, Lavoisier in the Year One : the Birth of a New Science in an Age of Revolution]]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Gavin ([[:Category:GG | GG ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://page247.wordpress.com/ Page247]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Quammen: Monster of God | David Quammen, ''Monster of God : The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Chris Waigl <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | tba<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp; <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Richard&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:RRT |&amp;nbsp;RRT&amp;nbsp;]])&amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Isaac ([[:Category:SJB | SJB ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jeff ([[:Category:JNS | JNS ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://bearcastle.com/blog Bearcastle Blog]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |}</div> Thu, 20 Oct 2011 23:59:14 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Science_Book_Challenge_2011 Science Book Challenge 2011 http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge_2011 <p>BNEditor:&#32;/* The Science-Book Challengers */</p> <hr /> <div>[[image:Sbc2011.jpg|right|thumb|The image is a photograph of the DNA from a mashed-up strawberry (red at bottom) being drawn up a propanol column, captured by [http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/ Steve Jurvetson] ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/133261764/ source]); used under [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License]. Please use this image in your own blog to publicize the 2011 Science Book Challenge.]] &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read a book for science literacy!&lt;br&gt;This is our fourth annual challenge, bigger and better than ever!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> The Science Book Challenge is easy as pi: read 3 (or 3.14!) science books during 2011, then tell us and others about the books you've read and help spread science literacy.<br /> <br /> Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun '''and''' rewarding. We want to encourage people to read about science with this challenge. We also want to help potential readers find books they will enjoy and profit from reading; that's why we publish our [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]], which are written mostly by Science-Book Challengers.<br /> <br /> By taking the challenge and contributing your book notes to our growing and increasingly valuable collection, you're helping would-be science-book readers identify books they'd like to read. It's new knowledge for everyone! <br /> <br /> This year we're looking forward to more participation, more book notes, and some special incentives for challengers. We're also hoping to reorganize the [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] to make it easier to browse and more useful to our readers.<br /> <br /> ===The 2011 Science Book Challenge===<br /> <br /> # Read at least three nonfiction books in 2011 related to the theme &quot;Science &amp; Culture&quot;. Your books should have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or the relationship of science with our culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books, from the bookstore or your local library. We take a very broad view of what makes for interesting and informative science reading, looking for perspectives on science as part of culture and history.<br /> # After you've read a book, write a short note about it giving your opinions of the book. Tell us what you'd tell a friend if you wanted to convince your friend to read it--or avoid it. You can read some of the existing [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] for ideas. You might like to read our [[Book-note ratings]] for ideas about how to evaluate your books; we include ratings with every book note.<br /> # Don't worry if you find that you've read a book someone else has also read; we welcome multiple notes on one title.<br /> # Get your book note to us and we'll post it with the other notes in our Book Note section. Use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to get in touch with us.<br /> # Spread the scienticity and tell other people about the Science Book Challenge: [http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge].<br /> <br /> Stuck for ideas about what books to read? [[Special:CommentForm | Write to us]] and we'll help you identify some books that will match your interests.<br /> <br /> ===Joining the Challenge===<br /> <br /> In truth, there's nothing you have to do to take the challenge except start reading. But when you've finished a book, please do share your book note with us and others through the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]].<br /> <br /> We'd like you to make your participation in the Science Book Challenge public by adding you to the list of challengers on this page. Send us your name and a link to your blog, if you have one, using our [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]], or join our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group] for this year's challenge. Putting your name here will encourage others to do the same.<br /> <br /> When you use your own blog to spread the word, make liberal use of our gorgeous Science Book Challenge 2011 graphic to make it pretty.<br /> <br /> Happy reading!<br /> <br /> ===The Science-Book Challengers===<br /> <br /> Everyone should feel free to accept the challenge any time before the end of 2011. There are no grades, just an opportunity to enjoy some science reading and help others. Be spontaneous and choose your books as you go or decide on your book list at the beginning--or any combination that suits your taste.<br /> <br /> Let us know that you're taking the challenge and we'll put your name here with other challengers, along with updates about your notes as you contribute them. You can use the handy [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to reach us. You can also sign up by joining our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 2011 SBC Facebook group]. You might find it interesting to look at previous years' list of challengers in the [[Science Book Challenge 2010]], the [[Science-Book Challenge 2009]], or the [[Science-Book Challenge 2008]].<br /> <br /> Here are the people we are aware of who have accepted the Science-Book Challenge 2011. If you're taking the Challenge, please [[Special:CommentForm | let us know]]. Your participation will inspire others to join.<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;0&quot; cellpadding=&quot;10&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Challenger <br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Link<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Titles &amp; Links to Book Notes<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nicole R ([[:Category:NR | NR ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://endlessadventuresinreading.blogspot.com/ Endless Adventures in Reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melwyk&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:MK |&amp;nbsp;MK&amp;nbsp;]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://indextrious.blogspot.com/ The Indextrious Reader]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | possibles:&lt;br&gt;John W. Moffat, ''Einstein Wrote Back''&lt;br&gt;Janet Gleeson, ''The Arcanum''&lt;br&gt;Jo Marchant, ''Decoding the Heavens''&lt;br&gt;Arthur I. Miller, ''Empire of the Stars''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Dawn Morgan Elliott ([[:Category:DME | DME ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.tampadogooder.com Tampa Do-Gooder]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[McCandless: The Visual Miscellaneum | David McCandless, ''The Visual Miscellaneum : A Colorful Guide to the World's Most Consequential Trivia'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nathalie Foy <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://nathaliefoy.wordpress.com Books About Books]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Maryanne Wolf, ''Proust and the Squid: The Story of Science and the Reading Brain''&lt;br&gt;Nick Lane, ''Ten Great Inventions of Evolution''&lt;br&gt;Ben Goldacre, ''Bad Science''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Kristen Young ([[:Category:GKY | GKY ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.geknitics.com Geknitics]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Lisa W. ([[:Category:LFW | LFW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Brown: How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming | Mike Brown, ''How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | W. Byron W. ([[:Category:WBW | WBW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Paul Milo, ''Your Flying Car Awaits''&lt;br&gt;Mary Roach, ''Packing for Mars''&lt;br&gt;Michael Belfiore, ''The Department of Mad Scientists''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Brittanie ([[:Category:BT | BT ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://abookloverforever.blogspot.com/ A Book Lover]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Mohammod Araft <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | books about neurology, physics, or quirky topics in science<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyd Melcher <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | sponaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Yvonne Langenberg <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyndi <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to begin: ''Genome: An Autobiography in 23 Chapters'', by Matt Ridley<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jacqueline Boytim <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://laboratoryliteracy.wordpress.com/ laboratory literacy]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Arestelle <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://arestelle.wordpress.com Arestelle]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | some possibles:&lt;br&gt;''Minds and Computers'', by Matt Carther&lt;br&gt;''Introducing Artificial Intelligence'', by Henry Brighton&lt;br&gt;''1089 and All That'', by David Acheson&lt;br&gt;''The Undercover Economist'', by Tim Harford<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melanie ([[:Category:MKI | MKI ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://tigermel.blogspot.com/ Cynical Optimism]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to start : Rebecca Skloot, ''The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | raidergirl3 ([[:Category:RG3 | RG3 ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/ an adventure in reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Bell: Lavoisier in the Year One | Madison Smartt Bell, Lavoisier in the Year One : the Birth of a New Science in an Age of Revolution]]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Gavin ([[:Category:GG | GG ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://page247.wordpress.com/ Page247]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Quammen: Monster of God | David Quammen, ''Monster of God : The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp; <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Richard&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:RRT |&amp;nbsp;RRT&amp;nbsp;]])&amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Isaac ([[:Category:SJB | SJB ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jeff ([[:Category:JNS | JNS ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://bearcastle.com/blog Bearcastle Blog]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |}</div> Thu, 20 Oct 2011 04:43:14 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Science_Book_Challenge_2011 Quammen: Monster of God http://scienticity.net/wiki/Quammen:_Monster_of_God <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with '{{BNR-table|scienticity=3|readability=4|hermeneutics=4|charisma=4|recommendation=4}} David Quammen, ''Monster of God : The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the M…'</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=3|readability=4|hermeneutics=4|charisma=4|recommendation=4}}<br /> David Quammen, ''Monster of God : The Man-Eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind''. New York : W.W. Norton, 2003. 513 pages; maps; includes bibliographic references and index.<br /> <br /> David Quammen has given us an in-depth report on a great struggle in human history. What do humans do when they find themselves becoming prey and how do we learn to live with those animals who, like us, find themselves at the top of the food chain?<br /> <br /> By focusing on four top predators, visiting their home territory, and interviewing local scientists, hunters and others about human contact with those predators, the author reminds us of things we may have forgotten. What it is like to live in a place where we fear being attacked, injured, and possible eaten by the animals that live around us. How have people managed to live in balance with those animals? How can we insure their survival as more and more of their territory is destroyed by our need for control?<br /> <br /> Asiatic lions that manage to survive in a tiny area of Western India, salt-water crocodiles in Australia, brown bears in Romania, and the Amur tiger in the wilds of Eastern Russia are featured in a book that blends the history, biology, politics and culture of human-big predator interaction. <br /> <br /> {{Notesby|GG}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]]<br /> [[Category: GG]]</div> Thu, 20 Oct 2011 04:42:03 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Quammen:_Monster_of_God Science Book Challenge 2011 http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge_2011 <p>BNEditor:&#32;/* The Science-Book Challengers */</p> <hr /> <div>[[image:Sbc2011.jpg|right|thumb|The image is a photograph of the DNA from a mashed-up strawberry (red at bottom) being drawn up a propanol column, captured by [http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/ Steve Jurvetson] ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/133261764/ source]); used under [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License]. Please use this image in your own blog to publicize the 2011 Science Book Challenge.]] &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read a book for science literacy!&lt;br&gt;This is our fourth annual challenge, bigger and better than ever!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> The Science Book Challenge is easy as pi: read 3 (or 3.14!) science books during 2011, then tell us and others about the books you've read and help spread science literacy.<br /> <br /> Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun '''and''' rewarding. We want to encourage people to read about science with this challenge. We also want to help potential readers find books they will enjoy and profit from reading; that's why we publish our [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]], which are written mostly by Science-Book Challengers.<br /> <br /> By taking the challenge and contributing your book notes to our growing and increasingly valuable collection, you're helping would-be science-book readers identify books they'd like to read. It's new knowledge for everyone! <br /> <br /> This year we're looking forward to more participation, more book notes, and some special incentives for challengers. We're also hoping to reorganize the [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] to make it easier to browse and more useful to our readers.<br /> <br /> ===The 2011 Science Book Challenge===<br /> <br /> # Read at least three nonfiction books in 2011 related to the theme &quot;Science &amp; Culture&quot;. Your books should have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or the relationship of science with our culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books, from the bookstore or your local library. We take a very broad view of what makes for interesting and informative science reading, looking for perspectives on science as part of culture and history.<br /> # After you've read a book, write a short note about it giving your opinions of the book. Tell us what you'd tell a friend if you wanted to convince your friend to read it--or avoid it. You can read some of the existing [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] for ideas. You might like to read our [[Book-note ratings]] for ideas about how to evaluate your books; we include ratings with every book note.<br /> # Don't worry if you find that you've read a book someone else has also read; we welcome multiple notes on one title.<br /> # Get your book note to us and we'll post it with the other notes in our Book Note section. Use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to get in touch with us.<br /> # Spread the scienticity and tell other people about the Science Book Challenge: [http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge].<br /> <br /> Stuck for ideas about what books to read? [[Special:CommentForm | Write to us]] and we'll help you identify some books that will match your interests.<br /> <br /> ===Joining the Challenge===<br /> <br /> In truth, there's nothing you have to do to take the challenge except start reading. But when you've finished a book, please do share your book note with us and others through the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]].<br /> <br /> We'd like you to make your participation in the Science Book Challenge public by adding you to the list of challengers on this page. Send us your name and a link to your blog, if you have one, using our [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]], or join our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group] for this year's challenge. Putting your name here will encourage others to do the same.<br /> <br /> When you use your own blog to spread the word, make liberal use of our gorgeous Science Book Challenge 2011 graphic to make it pretty.<br /> <br /> Happy reading!<br /> <br /> ===The Science-Book Challengers===<br /> <br /> Everyone should feel free to accept the challenge any time before the end of 2011. There are no grades, just an opportunity to enjoy some science reading and help others. Be spontaneous and choose your books as you go or decide on your book list at the beginning--or any combination that suits your taste.<br /> <br /> Let us know that you're taking the challenge and we'll put your name here with other challengers, along with updates about your notes as you contribute them. You can use the handy [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to reach us. You can also sign up by joining our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 2011 SBC Facebook group]. You might find it interesting to look at previous years' list of challengers in the [[Science Book Challenge 2010]], the [[Science-Book Challenge 2009]], or the [[Science-Book Challenge 2008]].<br /> <br /> Here are the people we are aware of who have accepted the Science-Book Challenge 2011. If you're taking the Challenge, please [[Special:CommentForm | let us know]]. Your participation will inspire others to join.<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;0&quot; cellpadding=&quot;10&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Challenger <br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Link<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Titles &amp; Links to Book Notes<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nicole R ([[:Category:NR | NR ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://endlessadventuresinreading.blogspot.com/ Endless Adventures in Reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melwyk&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:MK |&amp;nbsp;MK&amp;nbsp;]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://indextrious.blogspot.com/ The Indextrious Reader]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | possibles:&lt;br&gt;John W. Moffat, ''Einstein Wrote Back''&lt;br&gt;Janet Gleeson, ''The Arcanum''&lt;br&gt;Jo Marchant, ''Decoding the Heavens''&lt;br&gt;Arthur I. Miller, ''Empire of the Stars''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Dawn Morgan Elliott ([[:Category:DME | DME ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.tampadogooder.com Tampa Do-Gooder]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[McCandless: The Visual Miscellaneum | David McCandless, ''The Visual Miscellaneum : A Colorful Guide to the World's Most Consequential Trivia'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nathalie Foy <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://nathaliefoy.wordpress.com Books About Books]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Maryanne Wolf, ''Proust and the Squid: The Story of Science and the Reading Brain''&lt;br&gt;Nick Lane, ''Ten Great Inventions of Evolution''&lt;br&gt;Ben Goldacre, ''Bad Science''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Kristen Young ([[:Category:GKY | GKY ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.geknitics.com Geknitics]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Lisa W. ([[:Category:LFW | LFW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Brown: How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming | Mike Brown, ''How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | W. Byron W. ([[:Category:WBW | WBW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Paul Milo, ''Your Flying Car Awaits''&lt;br&gt;Mary Roach, ''Packing for Mars''&lt;br&gt;Michael Belfiore, ''The Department of Mad Scientists''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Brittanie ([[:Category:BT | BT ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://abookloverforever.blogspot.com/ A Book Lover]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Mohammod Araft <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | books about neurology, physics, or quirky topics in science<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyd Melcher <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | sponaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Yvonne Langenberg <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyndi <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to begin: ''Genome: An Autobiography in 23 Chapters'', by Matt Ridley<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jacqueline Boytim <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://laboratoryliteracy.wordpress.com/ laboratory literacy]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Arestelle <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://arestelle.wordpress.com Arestelle]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | some possibles:&lt;br&gt;''Minds and Computers'', by Matt Carther&lt;br&gt;''Introducing Artificial Intelligence'', by Henry Brighton&lt;br&gt;''1089 and All That'', by David Acheson&lt;br&gt;''The Undercover Economist'', by Tim Harford<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melanie ([[:Category:MKI | MKI ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://tigermel.blogspot.com/ Cynical Optimism]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to start : Rebecca Skloot, ''The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | raidergirl3 ([[:Category:RG3 | RG3 ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/ an adventure in reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Bell: Lavoisier in the Year One | Madison Smartt Bell, Lavoisier in the Year One : the Birth of a New Science in an Age of Revolution]]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Gavin ([[:Category:GG | GG ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://page247.wordpress.com/ Page247]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | tba<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp; <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Richard&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:RRT |&amp;nbsp;RRT&amp;nbsp;]])&amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Isaac ([[:Category:SJB | SJB ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jeff ([[:Category:JNS | JNS ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://bearcastle.com/blog Bearcastle Blog]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |}</div> Thu, 20 Oct 2011 04:05:05 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Science_Book_Challenge_2011 Science Book Challenge 2011 http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge_2011 <p>BNEditor:&#32;/* The Science-Book Challengers */</p> <hr /> <div>[[image:Sbc2011.jpg|right|thumb|The image is a photograph of the DNA from a mashed-up strawberry (red at bottom) being drawn up a propanol column, captured by [http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/ Steve Jurvetson] ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/133261764/ source]); used under [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License]. Please use this image in your own blog to publicize the 2011 Science Book Challenge.]] &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read a book for science literacy!&lt;br&gt;This is our fourth annual challenge, bigger and better than ever!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> The Science Book Challenge is easy as pi: read 3 (or 3.14!) science books during 2011, then tell us and others about the books you've read and help spread science literacy.<br /> <br /> Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun '''and''' rewarding. We want to encourage people to read about science with this challenge. We also want to help potential readers find books they will enjoy and profit from reading; that's why we publish our [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]], which are written mostly by Science-Book Challengers.<br /> <br /> By taking the challenge and contributing your book notes to our growing and increasingly valuable collection, you're helping would-be science-book readers identify books they'd like to read. It's new knowledge for everyone! <br /> <br /> This year we're looking forward to more participation, more book notes, and some special incentives for challengers. We're also hoping to reorganize the [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] to make it easier to browse and more useful to our readers.<br /> <br /> ===The 2011 Science Book Challenge===<br /> <br /> # Read at least three nonfiction books in 2011 related to the theme &quot;Science &amp; Culture&quot;. Your books should have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or the relationship of science with our culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books, from the bookstore or your local library. We take a very broad view of what makes for interesting and informative science reading, looking for perspectives on science as part of culture and history.<br /> # After you've read a book, write a short note about it giving your opinions of the book. Tell us what you'd tell a friend if you wanted to convince your friend to read it--or avoid it. You can read some of the existing [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] for ideas. You might like to read our [[Book-note ratings]] for ideas about how to evaluate your books; we include ratings with every book note.<br /> # Don't worry if you find that you've read a book someone else has also read; we welcome multiple notes on one title.<br /> # Get your book note to us and we'll post it with the other notes in our Book Note section. Use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to get in touch with us.<br /> # Spread the scienticity and tell other people about the Science Book Challenge: [http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge].<br /> <br /> Stuck for ideas about what books to read? [[Special:CommentForm | Write to us]] and we'll help you identify some books that will match your interests.<br /> <br /> ===Joining the Challenge===<br /> <br /> In truth, there's nothing you have to do to take the challenge except start reading. But when you've finished a book, please do share your book note with us and others through the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]].<br /> <br /> We'd like you to make your participation in the Science Book Challenge public by adding you to the list of challengers on this page. Send us your name and a link to your blog, if you have one, using our [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]], or join our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group] for this year's challenge. Putting your name here will encourage others to do the same.<br /> <br /> When you use your own blog to spread the word, make liberal use of our gorgeous Science Book Challenge 2011 graphic to make it pretty.<br /> <br /> Happy reading!<br /> <br /> ===The Science-Book Challengers===<br /> <br /> Everyone should feel free to accept the challenge any time before the end of 2011. There are no grades, just an opportunity to enjoy some science reading and help others. Be spontaneous and choose your books as you go or decide on your book list at the beginning--or any combination that suits your taste.<br /> <br /> Let us know that you're taking the challenge and we'll put your name here with other challengers, along with updates about your notes as you contribute them. You can use the handy [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to reach us. You can also sign up by joining our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 2011 SBC Facebook group]. You might find it interesting to look at previous years' list of challengers in the [[Science Book Challenge 2010]], the [[Science-Book Challenge 2009]], or the [[Science-Book Challenge 2008]].<br /> <br /> Here are the people we are aware of who have accepted the Science-Book Challenge 2011. If you're taking the Challenge, please [[Special:CommentForm | let us know]]. Your participation will inspire others to join.<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;0&quot; cellpadding=&quot;10&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Challenger <br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Link<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Titles &amp; Links to Book Notes<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nicole R ([[:Category:NR | NR ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://endlessadventuresinreading.blogspot.com/ Endless Adventures in Reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melwyk&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:MK |&amp;nbsp;MK&amp;nbsp;]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://indextrious.blogspot.com/ The Indextrious Reader]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | possibles:&lt;br&gt;John W. Moffat, ''Einstein Wrote Back''&lt;br&gt;Janet Gleeson, ''The Arcanum''&lt;br&gt;Jo Marchant, ''Decoding the Heavens''&lt;br&gt;Arthur I. Miller, ''Empire of the Stars''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Dawn Morgan Elliott ([[:Category:DME | DME ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.tampadogooder.com Tampa Do-Gooder]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[McCandless: The Visual Miscellaneum | David McCandless, ''The Visual Miscellaneum : A Colorful Guide to the World's Most Consequential Trivia'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nathalie Foy <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://nathaliefoy.wordpress.com Books About Books]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Maryanne Wolf, ''Proust and the Squid: The Story of Science and the Reading Brain''&lt;br&gt;Nick Lane, ''Ten Great Inventions of Evolution''&lt;br&gt;Ben Goldacre, ''Bad Science''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Kristen Young ([[:Category:GKY | GKY ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.geknitics.com Geknitics]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Lisa W. ([[:Category:LFW | LFW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Brown: How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming | Mike Brown, ''How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | W. Byron W. ([[:Category:WBW | WBW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Paul Milo, ''Your Flying Car Awaits''&lt;br&gt;Mary Roach, ''Packing for Mars''&lt;br&gt;Michael Belfiore, ''The Department of Mad Scientists''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Brittanie ([[:Category:BT | BT ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://abookloverforever.blogspot.com/ A Book Lover]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Mohammod Araft <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | books about neurology, physics, or quirky topics in science<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyd Melcher <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | sponaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Yvonne Langenberg <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyndi <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to begin: ''Genome: An Autobiography in 23 Chapters'', by Matt Ridley<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jacqueline Boytim <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://laboratoryliteracy.wordpress.com/ laboratory literacy]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Arestelle <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://arestelle.wordpress.com Arestelle]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | some possibles:&lt;br&gt;''Minds and Computers'', by Matt Carther&lt;br&gt;''Introducing Artificial Intelligence'', by Henry Brighton&lt;br&gt;''1089 and All That'', by David Acheson&lt;br&gt;''The Undercover Economist'', by Tim Harford<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melanie ([[:Category:MKI | MKI ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://tigermel.blogspot.com/ Cynical Optimism]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to start : Rebecca Skloot, ''The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | raidergirl3 ([[:Category:RG3 | RG3 ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/ an adventure in reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Bell: Lavoisier in the Year One | Madison Smartt Bell, Lavoisier in the Year One : the Birth of a New Science in an Age of Revolution]]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp; <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Richard&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:RRT |&amp;nbsp;RRT&amp;nbsp;]])&amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Isaac ([[:Category:SJB | SJB ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jeff ([[:Category:JNS | JNS ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://bearcastle.com/blog Bearcastle Blog]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |}</div> Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:57:33 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Science_Book_Challenge_2011 Science Book Challenge 2011 http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge_2011 <p>BNEditor:&#32;/* The Science-Book Challengers */</p> <hr /> <div>[[image:Sbc2011.jpg|right|thumb|The image is a photograph of the DNA from a mashed-up strawberry (red at bottom) being drawn up a propanol column, captured by [http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/ Steve Jurvetson] ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/133261764/ source]); used under [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License]. Please use this image in your own blog to publicize the 2011 Science Book Challenge.]] &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read a book for science literacy!&lt;br&gt;This is our fourth annual challenge, bigger and better than ever!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> The Science Book Challenge is easy as pi: read 3 (or 3.14!) science books during 2011, then tell us and others about the books you've read and help spread science literacy.<br /> <br /> Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun '''and''' rewarding. We want to encourage people to read about science with this challenge. We also want to help potential readers find books they will enjoy and profit from reading; that's why we publish our [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]], which are written mostly by Science-Book Challengers.<br /> <br /> By taking the challenge and contributing your book notes to our growing and increasingly valuable collection, you're helping would-be science-book readers identify books they'd like to read. It's new knowledge for everyone! <br /> <br /> This year we're looking forward to more participation, more book notes, and some special incentives for challengers. We're also hoping to reorganize the [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] to make it easier to browse and more useful to our readers.<br /> <br /> ===The 2011 Science Book Challenge===<br /> <br /> # Read at least three nonfiction books in 2011 related to the theme &quot;Science &amp; Culture&quot;. Your books should have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or the relationship of science with our culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books, from the bookstore or your local library. We take a very broad view of what makes for interesting and informative science reading, looking for perspectives on science as part of culture and history.<br /> # After you've read a book, write a short note about it giving your opinions of the book. Tell us what you'd tell a friend if you wanted to convince your friend to read it--or avoid it. You can read some of the existing [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] for ideas. You might like to read our [[Book-note ratings]] for ideas about how to evaluate your books; we include ratings with every book note.<br /> # Don't worry if you find that you've read a book someone else has also read; we welcome multiple notes on one title.<br /> # Get your book note to us and we'll post it with the other notes in our Book Note section. Use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to get in touch with us.<br /> # Spread the scienticity and tell other people about the Science Book Challenge: [http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge].<br /> <br /> Stuck for ideas about what books to read? [[Special:CommentForm | Write to us]] and we'll help you identify some books that will match your interests.<br /> <br /> ===Joining the Challenge===<br /> <br /> In truth, there's nothing you have to do to take the challenge except start reading. But when you've finished a book, please do share your book note with us and others through the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]].<br /> <br /> We'd like you to make your participation in the Science Book Challenge public by adding you to the list of challengers on this page. Send us your name and a link to your blog, if you have one, using our [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]], or join our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group] for this year's challenge. Putting your name here will encourage others to do the same.<br /> <br /> When you use your own blog to spread the word, make liberal use of our gorgeous Science Book Challenge 2011 graphic to make it pretty.<br /> <br /> Happy reading!<br /> <br /> ===The Science-Book Challengers===<br /> <br /> Everyone should feel free to accept the challenge any time before the end of 2011. There are no grades, just an opportunity to enjoy some science reading and help others. Be spontaneous and choose your books as you go or decide on your book list at the beginning--or any combination that suits your taste.<br /> <br /> Let us know that you're taking the challenge and we'll put your name here with other challengers, along with updates about your notes as you contribute them. You can use the handy [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to reach us. You can also sign up by joining our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 2011 SBC Facebook group]. You might find it interesting to look at previous years' list of challengers in the [[Science Book Challenge 2010]], the [[Science-Book Challenge 2009]], or the [[Science-Book Challenge 2008]].<br /> <br /> Here are the people we are aware of who have accepted the Science-Book Challenge 2011. If you're taking the Challenge, please [[Special:CommentForm | let us know]]. Your participation will inspire others to join.<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;0&quot; cellpadding=&quot;10&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Challenger <br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Link<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Titles &amp; Links to Book Notes<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nicole R ([[:Category:NR | NR ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://endlessadventuresinreading.blogspot.com/ Endless Adventures in Reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melwyk&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:MK |&amp;nbsp;MK&amp;nbsp;]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://indextrious.blogspot.com/ The Indextrious Reader]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | possibles:&lt;br&gt;John W. Moffat, ''Einstein Wrote Back''&lt;br&gt;Janet Gleeson, ''The Arcanum''&lt;br&gt;Jo Marchant, ''Decoding the Heavens''&lt;br&gt;Arthur I. Miller, ''Empire of the Stars''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Dawn Morgan Elliott ([[:Category:DME | DME ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.tampadogooder.com Tampa Do-Gooder]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[McCandless: The Visual Miscellaneum | David McCandless, ''The Visual Miscellaneum : A Colorful Guide to the World's Most Consequential Trivia'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nathalie Foy <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://nathaliefoy.wordpress.com Books About Books]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Maryanne Wolf, ''Proust and the Squid: The Story of Science and the Reading Brain''&lt;br&gt;Nick Lane, ''Ten Great Inventions of Evolution''&lt;br&gt;Ben Goldacre, ''Bad Science''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Kristen Young ([[:Category:GKY | GKY ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.geknitics.com Geknitics]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Lisa W. ([[:Category:LFW | LFW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Brown: How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming | Mike Brown, ''How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | W. Byron W. ([[:Category:WBW | WBW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Paul Milo, ''Your Flying Car Awaits''&lt;br&gt;Mary Roach, ''Packing for Mars''&lt;br&gt;Michael Belfiore, ''The Department of Mad Scientists''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Brittanie ([[:Category:BT | BT ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://abookloverforever.blogspot.com/ A Book Lover]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Mohammod Araft <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | books about neurology, physics, or quirky topics in science<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyd Melcher <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | sponaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Yvonne Langenberg <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyndi <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to begin: ''Genome: An Autobiography in 23 Chapters'', by Matt Ridley<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jacqueline Boytim <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://laboratoryliteracy.wordpress.com/ laboratory literacy]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Arestelle <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://arestelle.wordpress.com Arestelle]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | some possibles:&lt;br&gt;''Minds and Computers'', by Matt Carther&lt;br&gt;''Introducing Artificial Intelligence'', by Henry Brighton&lt;br&gt;''1089 and All That'', by David Acheson&lt;br&gt;''The Undercover Economist'', by Tim Harford<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melanie ([[:Category:MKI | MKI ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://tigermel.blogspot.com/ Cynical Optimism]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to start : Rebecca Skloot, ''The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | raidergirl3 ([[:Category:RG3 | RG3 ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/ an adventure in reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp; <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Richard&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:RRT |&amp;nbsp;RRT&amp;nbsp;]])&amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Isaac ([[:Category:SJB | SJB ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jeff ([[:Category:JNS | JNS ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://bearcastle.com/blog Bearcastle Blog]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |}</div> Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:55:46 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Science_Book_Challenge_2011 Science Book Challenge 2011 http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge_2011 <p>BNEditor:&#32;/* The Science-Book Challengers */</p> <hr /> <div>[[image:Sbc2011.jpg|right|thumb|The image is a photograph of the DNA from a mashed-up strawberry (red at bottom) being drawn up a propanol column, captured by [http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/ Steve Jurvetson] ([http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/133261764/ source]); used under [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License]. Please use this image in your own blog to publicize the 2011 Science Book Challenge.]] &lt;center&gt;&lt;b&gt;Read a book for science literacy!&lt;br&gt;This is our fourth annual challenge, bigger and better than ever!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/center&gt;<br /> <br /> The Science Book Challenge is easy as pi: read 3 (or 3.14!) science books during 2011, then tell us and others about the books you've read and help spread science literacy.<br /> <br /> Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun '''and''' rewarding. We want to encourage people to read about science with this challenge. We also want to help potential readers find books they will enjoy and profit from reading; that's why we publish our [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]], which are written mostly by Science-Book Challengers.<br /> <br /> By taking the challenge and contributing your book notes to our growing and increasingly valuable collection, you're helping would-be science-book readers identify books they'd like to read. It's new knowledge for everyone! <br /> <br /> This year we're looking forward to more participation, more book notes, and some special incentives for challengers. We're also hoping to reorganize the [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] to make it easier to browse and more useful to our readers.<br /> <br /> ===The 2011 Science Book Challenge===<br /> <br /> # Read at least three nonfiction books in 2011 related to the theme &quot;Science &amp; Culture&quot;. Your books should have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or the relationship of science with our culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books, from the bookstore or your local library. We take a very broad view of what makes for interesting and informative science reading, looking for perspectives on science as part of culture and history.<br /> # After you've read a book, write a short note about it giving your opinions of the book. Tell us what you'd tell a friend if you wanted to convince your friend to read it--or avoid it. You can read some of the existing [[:Category:Book Notes|Book Notes]] for ideas. You might like to read our [[Book-note ratings]] for ideas about how to evaluate your books; we include ratings with every book note.<br /> # Don't worry if you find that you've read a book someone else has also read; we welcome multiple notes on one title.<br /> # Get your book note to us and we'll post it with the other notes in our Book Note section. Use the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to get in touch with us.<br /> # Spread the scienticity and tell other people about the Science Book Challenge: [http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge http://scienticity.net/wiki/Science_Book_Challenge].<br /> <br /> Stuck for ideas about what books to read? [[Special:CommentForm | Write to us]] and we'll help you identify some books that will match your interests.<br /> <br /> ===Joining the Challenge===<br /> <br /> In truth, there's nothing you have to do to take the challenge except start reading. But when you've finished a book, please do share your book note with us and others through the [[Special:BooknoteForm | book-note form]] or the [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]].<br /> <br /> We'd like you to make your participation in the Science Book Challenge public by adding you to the list of challengers on this page. Send us your name and a link to your blog, if you have one, using our [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]], or join our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 Facebook group] for this year's challenge. Putting your name here will encourage others to do the same.<br /> <br /> When you use your own blog to spread the word, make liberal use of our gorgeous Science Book Challenge 2011 graphic to make it pretty.<br /> <br /> Happy reading!<br /> <br /> ===The Science-Book Challengers===<br /> <br /> Everyone should feel free to accept the challenge any time before the end of 2011. There are no grades, just an opportunity to enjoy some science reading and help others. Be spontaneous and choose your books as you go or decide on your book list at the beginning--or any combination that suits your taste.<br /> <br /> Let us know that you're taking the challenge and we'll put your name here with other challengers, along with updates about your notes as you contribute them. You can use the handy [[Special:CommentForm | comment form]] to reach us. You can also sign up by joining our [http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_167376576631317 2011 SBC Facebook group]. You might find it interesting to look at previous years' list of challengers in the [[Science Book Challenge 2010]], the [[Science-Book Challenge 2009]], or the [[Science-Book Challenge 2008]].<br /> <br /> Here are the people we are aware of who have accepted the Science-Book Challenge 2011. If you're taking the Challenge, please [[Special:CommentForm | let us know]]. Your participation will inspire others to join.<br /> <br /> {| border=&quot;0&quot; cellpadding=&quot;10&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;center&quot;<br /> |-<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Challenger <br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Link<br /> ! valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Titles &amp; Links to Book Notes<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nicole R ([[:Category:NR | NR ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://endlessadventuresinreading.blogspot.com/ Endless Adventures in Reading]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melwyk&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:MK |&amp;nbsp;MK&amp;nbsp;]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://indextrious.blogspot.com/ The Indextrious Reader]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | possibles:&lt;br&gt;John W. Moffat, ''Einstein Wrote Back''&lt;br&gt;Janet Gleeson, ''The Arcanum''&lt;br&gt;Jo Marchant, ''Decoding the Heavens''&lt;br&gt;Arthur I. Miller, ''Empire of the Stars''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Dawn Morgan Elliott ([[:Category:DME | DME ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.tampadogooder.com Tampa Do-Gooder]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[McCandless: The Visual Miscellaneum | David McCandless, ''The Visual Miscellaneum : A Colorful Guide to the World's Most Consequential Trivia'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Nathalie Foy <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://nathaliefoy.wordpress.com Books About Books]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Maryanne Wolf, ''Proust and the Squid: The Story of Science and the Reading Brain''&lt;br&gt;Nick Lane, ''Ten Great Inventions of Evolution''&lt;br&gt;Ben Goldacre, ''Bad Science''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Kristen Young ([[:Category:GKY | GKY ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://www.geknitics.com Geknitics]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Lisa W. ([[:Category:LFW | LFW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [[Brown: How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming | Mike Brown, ''How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming'']]<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | W. Byron W. ([[:Category:WBW | WBW ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | planned:&lt;br&gt;Paul Milo, ''Your Flying Car Awaits''&lt;br&gt;Mary Roach, ''Packing for Mars''&lt;br&gt;Michael Belfiore, ''The Department of Mad Scientists''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Brittanie ([[:Category:BT | BT ]]) <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://abookloverforever.blogspot.com/ A Book Lover]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Mohammod Araft <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | books about neurology, physics, or quirky topics in science<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyd Melcher <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | sponaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Yvonne Langenberg <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Cyndi <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to begin: ''Genome: An Autobiography in 23 Chapters'', by Matt Ridley<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jacqueline Boytim <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://laboratoryliteracy.wordpress.com/ laboratory literacy]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Arestelle <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://arestelle.wordpress.com Arestelle]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | some possibles:&lt;br&gt;''Minds and Computers'', by Matt Carther&lt;br&gt;''Introducing Artificial Intelligence'', by Henry Brighton&lt;br&gt;''1089 and All That'', by David Acheson&lt;br&gt;''The Undercover Economist'', by Tim Harford<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Melanie ([[:Category:MKI | MKI ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://tigermel.blogspot.com/ Cynical Optimism]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | to start : Rebecca Skloot, ''The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks''<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp; <br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | &amp;nbsp;<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Richard&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;([[:Category:RRT |&amp;nbsp;RRT&amp;nbsp;]])&amp;nbsp;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#f9f9f9&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Isaac ([[:Category:SJB | SJB ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | n/a<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |-bgcolor=&quot;#ffffff&quot;<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | Jeff ([[:Category:JNS | JNS ]])<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | [http://bearcastle.com/blog Bearcastle Blog]<br /> | valign=&quot;top&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; | spontaneous<br /> |}</div> Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:40:20 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Science_Book_Challenge_2011 Brown: How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming http://scienticity.net/wiki/Brown:_How_I_Killed_Pluto_and_Why_It_Had_It_Coming <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with '{{BNR-table|scienticity=4|readability=5|hermeneutics=5|charisma=5|recommendation=5}} Mike Brown, ''How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming''. New York : Spiegel &amp; Grau, 2010.…'</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=4|readability=5|hermeneutics=5|charisma=5|recommendation=5}}<br /> Mike Brown, ''How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming''. New York : Spiegel &amp; Grau, 2010. xiii + 267 pages; includes index.<br /> <br /> I read (or more accurately, listened, since I purchased this as an unabridged audio book) because I was disappointed when Pluto was no longer listed as our ninth planet. Like many others, I grew up learning the nine planets, and while it was sometimes confusing to me about which planet was positioned where, Pluto was always easy to identify! It was always the tiny planet '''WAY OUT THERE''' away from everyone else, maybe even a bit lonely. But to be fair, I had no scientific reason for being unhappy that Pluto was now tagged as a &quot;dwarf planet&quot;; my reasons were purely emotional and sentimental. When I came upon this book, it seemed like the perfect time to get better educated on this matter, and determine if my unscientific reasons could be justified.<br /> <br /> The author, Mike Brown, is a CalTech astronomer who has been looking for and discovering new objects in our solar systems for many years. In fact, he discovered what would have been our tenth planet, Eris, had the definition of &quot;planet&quot; not been changed. Over the course of the book, we learn the process that astronomers use to search the sky using specially-designed cameras and telescopes, and how computers and software help astronomers decipher what they see. It's not all glamorous!<br /> <br /> By the end of the book, I have to admit I was convinced: Pluto should be listed as a &quot;dwarf planet&quot;. But I recommend this book to anyone who has even a passing interest in astronomy, not just an interest in the &quot;is it a planet?&quot; debate. The book is very approachable.<br /> <br /> {{Notesby|LFW}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]][[Category: Audio Books]]<br /> [[Category: Top-Rated Books]]<br /> [[Category: LFW]]</div> Fri, 09 Sep 2011 04:00:21 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Brown:_How_I_Killed_Pluto_and_Why_It_Had_It_Coming Bell: Lavoisier in the Year One http://scienticity.net/wiki/Bell:_Lavoisier_in_the_Year_One <p>BNEditor:&#32;Created page with '{{BNR-table|scienticity=4|readability=3|hermeneutics=4|charisma=3|recommendation=3}} Madison Smartt Bell, ''Lavoisier in the Year One : the Birth of a New Science in an Age of Re…'</p> <hr /> <div>{{BNR-table|scienticity=4|readability=3|hermeneutics=4|charisma=3|recommendation=3}}<br /> Madison Smartt Bell, ''Lavoisier in the Year One : the Birth of a New Science in an Age of Revolution''. New York : W.W. Norton, 2005. xi + 214 pages; includes bibliographical references and index.<br /> <br /> I know practically nothing about French history. Some things that sound familiar to me include: the Bastille, Let them eat cake!, Napoleon. And that's about it. I've heard of Lavoisier from Chemistry--the conservation of mass in chemical reactions is a pretty basic tenet in science. So, this book combines both of these aspects of Antoine Lavoisier's life--his scientific role, and his part during the time of the French Revolution and I learned a lot.<br /> <br /> The history part is kind of boring, quite honestly, but I did get a picture of what happened. Lavoisier was a quasi-noble so he had important jobs although science was also his love. He tried to stay somewhat neutral and felt his job was as a civil servant, not a politician. I liked how important his wife was to his scientific discoveries, and it was good to see a woman get some credit. Describing the background of the theory of what would become elements also was a bit boring, but also the part that I found most fascinating.<br /> <br /> Hopefully, most people who have finished high school have a model in their head of atoms, and molecules, and elements. We know that air is made up of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, plus an assortment of other gases. But imagine not knowing that, and figuring out that there were several different types of gases making up the atmosphere, as well as the extra problem of where energy comes into reactions, and connecting it to fire and heat. Lavoisier was one of the first scientists to make progress in the breakdown of the atmosphere. He debunked the phlogiston theory and isolated oxygen. He also developed a nomenclature for chemistry that is still used to this day. Plus the conservation of mass was evident due to his meticulous chemical reactions as recorded by his wife. That history and story was amazing! He battled against the scientific establishment, and scientists from other countries but seldom his own doubts. He won his battle with the scientists, but not the one with the Jacobin rebels. Ooh, bad ending for Lavoisier, but good for science.<br /> <br /> {{Notesby|RG3}}<br /> <br /> [[Category: Book Notes]]<br /> [[Category: RG3]]</div> Fri, 09 Sep 2011 03:49:45 GMT BNEditor http://scienticity.net/wiki/Talk:Bell:_Lavoisier_in_the_Year_One