Other books that might interest you

• 

  The Other Brain - The Scientific...

  R. Douglas Fields

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  A “detailed exploration of a major part of the brain that has been ignored for decades”—and the revolutionary treatments that glial cells could bring (Kirkus Reviews). 
   
  Despite everything that has been written about the brain, a potentially critical part of this vital organ has been overlooked—until now. The Other Brain examines the growing importance of glia, which make up approximately eighty-five percent of the cells in the brain, and the role they play in how the brain functions, malfunctions, and heals itself. 
   
  Long neglected as little more than cerebral packing material, glia (meaning “glue”) are now known to regulate the flow of information between neurons and to repair the brain and spinal cord after injury and stroke. But scientists are also discovering that diseased and damaged glia play a significant role in psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression, and in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Diseased glia cause brain cancer and multiple sclerosis and are linked to infectious diseases such as HIV and prion disease (mad cow disease, for example) and to chronic pain. The more we learn about these cells that make up the “other” brain, the more important they seem to be. 
   
  Written by a neuroscientist who is a leader in glial research, The Other Brain gives readers a much more complete understanding of how the brain works and an intriguing look at potentially revolutionary developments in brain science and medicine. 
   
  “An insightful, complex, and nuanced picture of the most interesting substance on earth: the matter inside our heads.” —The Boston Globe 
   
  “Fascinating . . . absorbing and accessible . . . Fields gives life to a potentially dry medical topic by eavesdropping on the work of other neuroscientists, past and present, and shows how penetrating glia’s secrets offers hope for breakthroughs in healing.” —Booklist

  Show book

• 

  The History of Medicine - A Very...

  William Bynum

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Against the backdrop of unprecedented concern for the future of health care, this Very Short Introduction surveys the history of medicine from classical times to the present. Taking a thematic rather than strictly chronological approach, W. F. Bynum, explores the key turning points in the history of Western medicine—such as the first surgical procedures, the advent of hospitals, the introduction of anesthesia, X-Rays, vaccinations, and many other innovations, as well as the rise of experimental medicine. The book also explores Western medicine's encounters with Chinese and Indian medicine, as well as nontraditional treatments such as homeopathy, chiropractic, and other alternative medicines. Covering a vast amount of information, this Very Short Introduction sheds new light on medicine's past, while at the same time engaging with contemporary issues, discoveries, and controversies, such as the spiraling costs of health care, lack of health insurance for millions, breakthrough treatments, and much more.

  Show book

• 

  Humans Need Not Apply - A Guide...

  Jerry Kaplan

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  An “intriguing, insightful” look at how algorithms and robots could lead to social unrest—and how to avoid it (The Economist, Books of the Year).   After decades of effort, researchers are finally cracking the code on artificial intelligence. Society stands on the cusp of unprecedented change, driven by advances in robotics, machine learning, and perception powering systems that rival or exceed human capabilities. Driverless cars, robotic helpers, and intelligent agents that promote our interests have the potential to usher in a new age of affluence and leisure—but as AI expert and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Jerry Kaplan warns, the transition may be protracted and brutal unless we address the two great scourges of the modern developed world: volatile labor markets and income inequality.   In Humans Need Not Apply, he proposes innovative, free-market adjustments to our economic system and social policies to avoid an extended period of social turmoil. His timely and accessible analysis of the promises and perils of AI is a must-read for business leaders and policy makers on both sides of the aisle.   “A reminder that AI systems don’t need red laser eyes to be dangerous.”—Times Higher Education Supplement   “Kaplan…sidesteps the usual arguments of techno-optimism and dystopia, preferring to go for pragmatic solutions to a shrinking pool of jobs.”—Financial Times

  Show book

• 

  Counting Backwards - A Doctor's...

  Henry Jay Przybylo MD

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  For many of the 40 million Americans who undergo anesthesia each year, it is a source of great fear and fascination. In Counting Backwards, Dr. Henry Jay Przybylo—an anesthesiologist with more than thirty years of experience—has written an unforgettable account of the routine procedure's daily dramas and fundamental mysteries. Przybylo has administered anesthesia more than 30,000 times in his career—erasing consciousness, denying memory, and immobilizing the body before reversing all of these effects—on newborn babies, screaming toddlers and sullen teenagers, his own son, and even a gorilla. With compassion and candor, he weaves his experiences into intimate stories that explore the nature of consciousness, the politics of pain relief, and the wonder of modern medicine.Through its intense and humane tales of mistakes, near-disasters, life-saving successes, and moments of grace, Counting Backwards shines a light on one of the most fascinating but unexplored corners of the medical world.

  Show book

• 

  Fixing the Planet - An Overview...

  Michael Norton

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Knowledge is power. Get informed and choose action over despair.
  Everything you need to know about the earth and the life it supports – right now. From the challenges we face with global environmental, health, poverty, equality, technological, political and justice issues to the pioneering places and people making a difference to our future.
  Includes 40 simple ways to support change!
  'While the hour is late, the future remains ours to make. This hugely enjoyable book is a powerful introduction to the way things are and the way things can be. Keep it by your bed.' Tim Smit, co-founder The Eden Project
  'This book gives you all the information anyone could want about the state of the world and how to save it. Michael Norton's gripping read, filled with a wealth of facts, will arm you in any discussion, teenagers and adult alike who want to make the case for rescuing the planet. This will give you hope for what can still be done, if we all act now.' Polly Toynbee, Guardian

  Show book

• 

  Yachting Start to Finish - From...

  Barry Pickthall

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Yachting Start to Finish is the perfect book for you if you are new to sailing, or if you are an experienced sailor wanting to broaden your skills and develop your techniques. This easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide takes you through the basic principles, preparing to sail, your first sail and safety at sea. It includes advice on choosing and buying a yacht, essential equipment, boat handling, tides, weather and navigation, all taken from the courses delivered by the UK's biggest sailing school, the UKSA. This book is accessible to all levels, giving those new to sailing straightforward advice, and showing experienced sailors how to take their sailing to the next level with professional tips on how to sail faster and safer. It covers day keelboats and cruising yachts. This book is packed with hundreds of illustrations and photographs, and is a great way to learn, develop and refresh your sailing skills.

  Show book