Showing titles in Biological Sciences

In this classic work that continues to inspire its many fans, James Lovelock deftly explains his idea that life on Earth functions as a single organism. Written for the non-scientist, Gaia is a journey through time and space in search of evidence with which to support a new and radically different model of our planet. In contrast to conventional belief that living matter is passive in the face of threats to its existence, the book explores the hypothesis that the Earth's living matter - air, ocean, and land surfaces - forms a complex system that has the capacity to keep the Earth a fit place for life.

Why can humans alone invent? In The Pattern Seekers, Cambridge University psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen makes a case that autism is as crucial to our creative and cultural history as the mastery of fire. Indeed, Baron-Cohen argues that autistic people have played a key role in human progress for 70,000 years, from the first tools to the digital revolution. How? Because the same genes that cause autism enable the pattern seeking that is essential to our species' inventiveness. 

Winner of the 2014 Samuel Johnson Prize Shortlisted for the 2014 Costa Biography Award ‘In real life, goshawks resemble sparrowhawks the way leopards resemble housecats. Bigger, yes. But bulkier, bloodier, deadlier, scarier, and much, much harder to see. Birds of deep woodland, not gardens...

Brought to you by Penguin. Blending science and personal stories with practical tips, neuroscientist Dr Joseph Jebelli reveals how new research is solving the mystery of the brain at rest, with profound implications for intelligence, creativity and even life expectancy. We are constantly told to...

Humans live in landscapes of make-believe. We spin fantasies. We devour novels, films, and plays. Even sporting events and criminal trials unfold as narratives. Yet the world of story has long remained an undiscovered and unmapped country. It's easy to say that humans are "wired" for story, but why? In this delightful and original book, Jonathan Gottschall offers the first unified theory of storytelling. He argues that stories help us navigate life's complex social problems.

When lockdown led busy professional Chloe to leave the city and return to the countryside of her childhood, she never expected to find herself custodian of a newly born hare. Yet when she finds the creature, endangered, alone and no bigger than her palm, she is compelled to give it a chance at survival. Raising Hare chronicles their journey together and the challenges of caring for the leveret and preparing for its return to the wild. We witness an extraordinary relationship between human and animal, rekindling our sense of awe towards nature and wildlife.

The Singularity Paradox: Bridging the Gap Between Humanity and AI is a comprehensive exploration of how the fusion of biology, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence can lead to the creation of Artificial Human Intelligence (AHI) as a conscious response to the unconscious development of superintelligence.

G.A. Henty offers a clever and witty perspective on different animal species, especially focusing on over-looked or under-appreciated species, and how humans often view many of them unfairly or too harshly. Please note: The language and ideas in this book reflect the period in which it was written. LibriVox does not censor works recorded. Some readers and listeners may be offended. - Summary by Silas Jackson

Bird-watching - and photographing - of a particular eyrie during the span of 3 years, where we see the female falcon hunting for food, while the tiercel - the male falcon - stays behind to feed and brood the chicks. A falcon chick is also known as eyas, hence the name eyrie for their nest. The name tiercel comes from the Latin for "third", either because of the belief that one in three eggs hatches a male bird, or from the fact that the male falcon is one third smaller than the female. - Summary by Rapunzelina

How to entertain them; with chapters on the destruction of birds, their economic and aesthetic values, suggestions for dealing with their enemies and on the organization and management of bird clubs. - book subtitle. Note: Because of its length and complexity, Mr. Kennard's "sub-chapter" in Chapter 8 entitled "Trees, Shrubs, and Vines Attractive to Birds" has been omitted, but of course is available at the Gutenberg address for this work.

“Book of Monsters” by David and Marian Fairchild was published in 1914. Riveting descriptions of spiders and insects, from the perspective of both predator and prey, draw the reader into a world beyond the human perspective. Insightful accounts are given of body structures and behaviors employed by insects in their struggle to exist – a struggle which may conflict or align with that of the humans in their environment, and cause them to be viewed as enemy or ally. Additional enjoyment is provided by the explanation of innovative and elaborate photography techniques used to capture the ...

Multi-volume work on science edited by Francis Rolt-Wheeler. The sixth volume is on Zoology written by Dr. WM. D. Matthew and on Botany written by Marion E. Latham. The section on Zoology examines the development, evolution and distribution of animals. It further discusses types of animals - invertebrates and vertebrates. The section on botany touched on early development of botany and delved on structures and reproduction of plants. Development of the study of morphology and plant cell anatomy and variations were also examined. (Summary by Sienna)

This book is written by a man who loved to be around animals & birds, treating them as his friends. Published articles by him had people of his time believing him to be a wildlife showman. Once passed his ashes were scattered on Croydon Mountain near his home, which event is commemorated on a local monument inscribed: Here were scattered the ashes of Ernest Harold Baynes, lover of animals and men, and loved of them. - Summary by adr6090

The author explores the effects of condensation and evaporation as they relate to the success of a beehive. The results of various experiments and the author's thoughts are given. (Summary by SoMDbeekeeper)

This mother and son team, each distinguished in their field, collaborate to give charming portraits of a dozen of our favorite song birds. Their use of poetry and flowing prose makes each of these birds come alive in and endearing and accessible way. - Summary by Larry Wilson

An overview of bees and stinging insects - Summary by Larry Wilson

The value of the honey bee in cross pollinating the flowers of fruit trees makes it desirable that exact information be available concerning the actions of the bee when gathering and manipulating the pollen. The results recorded in this manuscript are also of value as studies in the behavior of the bee and will prove interesting and valuable to the bee keeper. The work here recorded was done by Dr. Casteel during the summers of 1911 and 1912. (Summary from introduction of manuscript)

A description of the animal world, from the smallest protozoa all the way to man eating tigers!

George Miksch Sutton was a world renowned ornithologist whose art and studies rival those of Audubon. In this volume Sutton presents brief descriptions of nearly 200 species of birds common to Pennsylvania, but whose range often covers much of the eastern United States and beyond. This book also features an invaluable introduction to the study of birds for the beginner. - Summary by Larry Wilson

A fascinating and classic Victorian ethnology of SE Asia, first published in 1869. The author was co-discoverer of evolution, together with Darwin. (Summary by Nicholas Longhurst)