Other books that might interest you

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  Human - The Science Behind What...

  Michael S. Gazzaniga

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  What happened along the evolutionary trail that made humans so unique? In his accessible style, Michael Gazzaniga pinpoints the change that made us thinking, sentient humans different from our predecessors. He explores what makes human brains special, the importance of language and art in defining the human condition, the nature of human consciousness, and even artificial intelligence.

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  The Other Side of Normal - How...

  Jordan Smoller

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  Psychiatry has ignored the normal. The focus on defining abnormal behavior has obscured what turns out to be a more fundamental question—how does the biology of the brain give rise to the mind, which in turn gives rise to everything we care about: thoughts, feelings, desires, and relationships? In The Other Side of Normal, Harvard psychiatrist Jordan Smoller shows us that understanding what the mind was designed to do in the first place demystifies mental illness and builds a new foundation for defining psychiatric disorders—from autism to depression. Smoller argues there are no bright lines between normal and abnormal. Psychiatric disorders are variations of the same brain systems that evolved to help us solve the challenges of everyday life. How do we become who we are? Smoller explains where our personalities come from, and how the temperaments we had as infants actually stay with us into adulthood. Why do we choose to date, love, and marry the people we do? Why do some of us form healthy relationships while others form unstable ones? Our relationships are shaped by the biology that drives two imperatives: maternal-child bonding and child-parent attachment. Along the way, Smoller tackles an even greater question—what do we mean by "normal"?—as he explores the puzzles behind the epidemics of multiple personalities and koro, the shocking phobia that one's penis is shrinking. He also looks at the controversial history of psychiatric classification and the explosive debates over how much early experiences influence our minds and to what degree genetics affect our temperaments, personalities, and emotional lives. Throughout this examination, Smoller explores the hidden sides of such questions as: How are trust and love rooted in biology? How much does sexual attraction stem from biology rather than culture? And what can the scientific study of normal behavior tell us about what it means to be human?Based on the author's groundbreaking research and personal experiences treating psychological disorders, The Other Side of Normal changes the way we think about the human condition.

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  Gentle and Fierce - Essays

  Vanessa Berry

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  To be gentle is to resist the privileging of command above compassion. It is a quiet voice, a persistent whisper, calm and consoling. Ferocity is an armour, a forceful expression of resolve and protection. To be fierce is to know the intensity of the edges of feeling. It is the voice that calls out, intending to be heard.  
  Gentle and Fierce focuses on the world that humans share with animals. Having spent her life in city environments, Vanessa Berry’s experiences with animals have largely been through encounters in urban settings, representations in art and the media, and as decorative ornaments or kitsch. The essays in Gentle and Fierce suggest that these encounters provide meaningful connections, at a time when our shared world is threatened by environmental destruction. Berry responds with attentiveness and empathy to her subjects, which include a stuffed Kodiak bear, a Japanese island overrun by rabbits, a porcelain otter and Georges Perec’s cat. The essays are accompanied by Berry’s illustrations, which reflect her eye for detail and her background as an artist and zine maker. 
  Who better than Vanessa Berry, with her pointillist attention and sly humour to document the surprising ways that animals enrich, inform and shadow our human natures. Whether recollecting Frank a taxidermied Kodiak bear, noting the snails that turn letters to Sylvia Plath into lace, or zipping together a personal history with flies, Berry elevates and commemorates those lives that are entangled – too often invisibly – with our own. Ethically astute, formally clever and deftly political, Gentle and Fierce evokes the work of John Berger and Jenny Odell. An urgent and poignant reminder of what we have lost and might yet gain from the more-than-human world. – Mireille Juchau

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  Spectroscopy - Science...

  Arnoud Varens

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  In the vast expanse of the cosmos, where stars twinkle in the night sky and galaxies swirl in the abyss, a remarkable dance of light and matter unfolds—a dance that has captivated the human imagination for centuries. This dance, illuminated by the science of spectroscopy, is what this book seeks to explore and explain. 
  Spectroscopy, the study of the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation, may sound complex and esoteric, but at its heart lies a simple and profound idea: the colors of light can reveal the secrets of the universe. From the examination of distant stars to the analysis of molecules in a laboratory, spectroscopy is the key that unlocks the hidden stories encoded in light. 
  This book is your guide to the fascinating world of spectroscopy, spanning from the fundamental principles that underpin this science to its myriad applications across various disciplines. We will journey together through the realms of chemistry and biology, where spectroscopy plays a vital role in unraveling the mysteries of molecules and cells. We will then venture into the realm of astronomy, where spectroscopy serves as a cosmic tool, allowing us to explore the composition, motion, and evolution of celestial objects. 
  This book is designed for curious minds seeking to understand the inner workings of the universe. Whether you are a student just beginning your scientific journey, a seasoned researcher, or simply an inquisitive reader, this book aims to provide you with a comprehensive and accessible overview of spectroscopy and its applications.

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  Bodysnatchers to Livesavers -...

  Tara Womersley

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  This book provides an illustrated history of medicine in Edinburgh in an accessible style for the general reader. Centered on the 280 year history of Edinburgh Medical School, the book showcases famous Edinburgh medical alumni through the ages including Robert Knox and others like Charles Darwin and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who studied medicine in Edinburgh but went on to make their names in other fields. The book follows the evolution of medical practice through the ages, from the dark practices of the 19th century to Dolly, the first cloned sheep in the 21st century. It highlights the key advances made by Edinburgh medics in public health, anesthesia, surgery, antiseptics and antibiotics. Edinburgh Medical School was the first to admit women, and we follow their struggles, headed by the formidable Sophia Jex-Blake.

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  The Philadelphia State Hospital...

  John Paul Webster

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  This account of the infamous asylum is “an excellent record of greed and corruption, but it is also a powerful testimonial to compassion and kindness” (Hidden City). 
   
  The Quaker City and its hospitals were pioneers in the field of mental health. Yet by the end of the nineteenth century, its institutions were crowded and patients lived in shocking conditions. The mentally ill were quartered with the dangerously criminal. By 1906, the city had purchased a vast acreage of farmland incorporated into the city, and the Philadelphia Hospital dubbed its new venture Byberry City Farms. From the start, its history was riddled with corruption and committees, investigations and inquests, appropriations and abuse. Yet it is also a story of reform and redemption, of heroes and human dignity—many dedicated staff members did their best to help patients whose mental illnesses were little understood and were stigmatized by society. 
   
  “The closed hospital’s almost forgotten story intrigued him immediately and then became his passion . . . Webster tells the hospital’s 100-year story in a brisk, easy-to-read style, and the book is illustrated with 75 photographs from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Temple University Urban Archives, the Pennsylvania State Archives, the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, PhillyHistory.org and friends.” —Northeast Times 
   
   
   
  “Webster . . . wrote his book because of his fascination with an abandoned building he discovered in 2002. He wanted to tell the story of Byberry, one he believes many people do not fully understand.” —Philadelphia Neighborhoods

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