Other books that might interest you

• 

  Why Geese Don't Get Obese - (and...

  Eric P. Widmaier

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Imagine being able to consume 250,000 calories daily without gaining weight. 
  If you had the metabolism of a shrew you could. And while most of us can't hold our breath for more than a few minutes, the Weddell seal can remain under water for a full 75 minutes! 
  Through many amazing examples, Why Geese Don't Get Obese discusses the mechanisms humans and other creatures have evolved to gauge their need for food; gather water and oxygen; circulate blood; regulate body temperature; respond to stressful situations; and maintain other survival needs. 
  Peppy prose and just the right amount of detail make this audio-book a delight and a fitting ode to the remarkable resilience of nature!

  Show book

• 

  Holding Back the Sea - The...

  Christopher Hallowell

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Katrina's arrival on the Gulf Coast was a long time in coming. But it was assured. Since 1965, when Hurricane Betsy struck New Orleans, breached a levee, and flooded part of the city, everyone was waiting and talking about when the Big One would strike and do even more damage. Katrina was that hurricane, predictedand imagined before she struck, but so much worse in her reality.Holding Back the Sea is about the consequences of ignoring the warning signs that nature provides and the struggle to convince the rest of the country that South Louisiana lay in the path of destruction. The signs were not subtle; there were Hurricanes Andrew in 1992, George and Mitch in 1998, and Ivan in 2004, among others. At one time or another in their journeys north, they all threatened New Orleans. Some had headed right for the city before veering to the east and west, sparing the Big Easy and reinforcing the nickname. But the Big Easy ended -- at least in reputation -- on August 29, 2005, when the Big One came ashore as Katrina.

  Show book

• 

  The Filter Bubble - What the...

  Eli Pariser

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  In December 2009, Google began customizing its search results for each user. Instead of giving you the most broadly popular result, Google now tries to predict what you are most likely to click on. According to MoveOn.org board president Eli Pariser, Google's change in policy is symptomatic of the most significant shift to take place on the Web in recent years-the rise of personalization. In this groundbreaking investigation of the new hidden Web, Pariser uncovers how this growing trend threatens to control how we consume and share information as a society-and reveals what we can do about it.Though the phenomenon has gone largely undetected until now, personalized filters are sweeping the Web, creating individual universes of information for each of us. Facebook-the primary news source for an increasing number of Americans-prioritizes the links it believes will appeal to you so that if you are a liberal, you can expect to see only progressive links. Even an old-media bastion like The Washington Post devotes the top of its home page to a news feed with the links your Facebook friends are sharing. Behind the scenes, a burgeoning industry of data companies is tracking your personal information to sell to advertisers, from your political leanings to the color you painted your living room to the hiking boots you just browsed on Zappos.In a personalized world, we will increasingly be typed and fed only news that is pleasant, familiar, and confirms our beliefs-and because these filters are invisible, we won't know what is being hidden from us. Our past interests will determine what we are exposed to in the future, leaving less room for the unexpected encounters that spark creativity, innovation, and the democratic exchange of ideas.While we all worry that the Internet is eroding privacy or shrinking our attention spans, Pariser uncovers a more pernicious and far-reaching trend and shows how we can-and must-change course. With vivid detail and remarkable scope, The Filter Bubble reveals how personalization undermines the Internet's original purpose as an open platform for the spread of ideas and could leave us all in an isolated, echoing world.

  Show book

• 

  Tales from the Ant World

  Edward O. Wilson

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Edward O. Wilson recalls his lifetime with ants, from his first boyhood encounters in the woods of Alabamato perilous journeys into the Brazilian rainforest.“Ants are the most warlike of all animals, with colony pitted against colony,” writes Edward O. Wilson, one ofthe world’s most beloved scientists. “Their clashes dwarf Waterloo and Gettysburg.” In Tales from the Ant World, twotime Pulitzer Prize winner Wilson takes us on a myrmecological tour to such far-flung destinations as Mozambiqueand New Guinea, the Gulf of Mexico’s Dauphin Island, and even his parent’s overgrown urban backyard, thrillinglyrelating his nine-decade-long scientific obsession with many of the Earth’s more than 15,000 ant species.Animating his scientific observations with illuminating personal stories, Wilson homes in on twenty-five antspecies to explain how these genetically superior creatures talk, smell, and taste, and more significantly, belong tocolonies that fight to determine dominance. Wryly observing that “males are little more than flying sperm missiles” orthat ants send their “old ladies” into battle, Wilson eloquently relays his brushes with fire, army, and leafcutter ants, aswell as more exotic species. Among them are the very rare matabele, Africa’s fiercest warrior ants, whose female hunterscan carry up to fifteen termites in their jaw (and, as Wilson reports from personal experience, have an incrediblypainful stinger); Costa Rica’s Basiceros, the slowest of all ants; and New Caledonia’s bull ants, the most endangered ofthem all, which Wilson discovered in 2011 after over twenty years of presumed extinction.Tales from the Ant World is a fascinating, if not occasionally hair-raising, personal account by one of our greatestscientists and a necessary volume for any lover of the natural world

  Show book

• 

  How to Be a YouTube Star

  Lucas Mann

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  How to Be a YouTube Star: From Aspiring Creator to YouTube Sensation. Learn Strategies on How Ignite Your Channel and Catapult to YouTube StardomWelcome to the captivating world of YouTube, where dreams are turned into reality and stars are born. If you aspire to be a YouTube sensation, look no further than "How to Be a YouTube Star: From Aspiring Creator to YouTube Sensation." This audiobook is your ultimate guide, providing you with the strategies and insights to ignite your channel and catapult yourself to YouTube stardom.Discover the secrets of crafting compelling content that captivates your audience and leaves them wanting more. Unleash your creativity and explore different video formats, storytelling techniques, and trends that will set your channel apart from the rest.But it's not just about creating great content—it's about understanding the YouTube ecosystem and leveraging the platform's algorithms to your advantage. Dive deep into the world of channel optimization, mastering the art of metadata, keywords, and thumbnails to maximize your visibility and attract a growing subscriber base. Learn the strategies that successful creators use to promote their videos, collaborate with others, and harness the power of social media to expand their reach.But becoming a YouTube star is not just about numbers—it's about building a genuine connection with your audience and fostering a loyal community. Learn how to engage with your viewers, respond to comments, and create meaningful interactions that will turn casual viewers into passionate fans."How to Be a YouTube Star: From Aspiring Creator to YouTube Sensation" is your roadmap to YouTube stardom. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your channel to the next level, this audiobook is packed with practical strategies and expert guidance to help you achieve your goals. So, grab your camera, let your creativity soar, and get ready to embark on an extraordinary journey toward becoming a YouTube se

  Show book

• 

  #futuregen - Lessons from a...

  Jane Davidson

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  "What Wales is doing today, the world will do tomorrow.”—Nikhil Seth, UN Assistant Secretary General
   
  The story of how one small nation responded to global climate issues by radically rethinking public policy for future generations
   
  In #futuregen, Jane Davidson explains how, as Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing in Wales, she proposed the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015—the first piece of legislation on Earth to place regenerative and sustainable practice at the heart of government. Unparalleled in its scope and vision, the Act connects environmental and social health and looks to solve complex issues such as poverty, education and unemployment.
   
  Davidson reveals how and why such groundbreaking legislation was forged in Wales—once reliant on its coal, iron and steel industries—and explores how the shift from economic growth to sustainable growth is creating new opportunities for communities and governments all over the world.
   
  #futuregen is the inspiring story of a small, pioneering nation discovering prosperity through its vast natural beauty, renewable energy resources and resilient communities. It’s a living, breathing prototype for local and global leaders as proof of what is possible in the fight for a sustainable future.

  Show book