Other books that might interest you

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  Biology of Birds

  John Kricher

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  An esteemed professor of biology at Wheaton College, John Kricher leads a fascinating discussion of the approximately 10,000 species of birds that share our world. In these engaging lectures, Kricher expands on such topics as bird anatomy, the mechanics of flight, migration, reproduction, and song. The professor's lively presentation demonstrates how understanding the traits, life cycle, and evolution of birds is critical for an understanding of the origins and evolution of life on earth -- and why conservation plays a vital role in the  environment's delicate balance.

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  Quantum Chemistry

  IntroBooks Team

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  There are many fine scripts of quantum chemistry and physics in print at this time. So the question can be raised as to why we would write another script, especially one focusing on the smaller discipline of quantum chemistry. When we began this project years ago, we felt that we were a unique juncture in quantum chemistry and technology and that, immodestly, we had a unique perspective to offer to students. 
  Much of the mainstream of quantum chemistry is now deeply tied to quantum physics, in a cooperative endeavor called “quantum science.” At the same time, there is a large, growing, and vital community of people who use the applications of quantum chemistry to tackle wide-ranging set of problems in the biological, physical and environmental sciences, engineering, medicine and so on. 
  We thought it was important to bring together, in a single volume, a rigorous, detailed perspective on both the “pure” and “applied” aspects of quantum chemistry. As such, one might find more detail about any particular subject than one might like. We hope this encourages instructors to summarize the script material and present it in a manner most suitable to a particular audience. The amount of material contained in this book is too much for a one quarter or one semester course and a bit too little for a yearlong course. Instructors can pick and choose which material seems most suitable for their course.

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  The Left-Hander Syndrome - The...

  Stanley Coren

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  Nine out of every ten human beings are naturally right-handed. Those who were not right-handed were feared, shunned, or forcibly retrained in many periods and cultures. Indeed, some members of fundamentalist sects still regard left-handers as in league with the devil, and prejudices against left-handers are reflected in the multiple associations of right with good and left with bad that have become enshrined in everyday language and folklore. A “left-handed compliment” is actually an insult, and the dictionary definition of left-handed includes the terms “awkward,” “clumsy,” “ill-omened,” and “Illegitimate.”In his summary of scientific research into sidedness, Stanley Coren rapidly dismisses the notion of the southpaw as somehow tainted. Increasingly we are coming to understand, however, that left-handedness does have social, educational, medical, and psychological implications.Coren uses entertaining examples to illuminate the paths of research he has followed, and answers vitally important questions such as: What are the neuropsychological and behavioral implications of differences for left-handers themselves, as well as for their parents, teachers, spouses, children, counselors, and physicians? How can we determine our own patterns of sidedness? Are they encoded in our genes? And, very importantly, how can we make the world more comfortable and safer for left-handers? Coren persuasively argues that left-handers are an invisible minority who must define themselves and organize for self-protections in the same way that more visible minorities have done. Much (though not all) of the risk to which left-handers are exposed derives from the fact that the tools they use and the machines they operate are designed for right-handers, a flaw that given heightened public awareness would be easy to correct. Coren advocates a change in the way the right-handed majority treats its left-handed minority to eliminate the risks left-handers face.

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  String Theory

  IntroBooks Team

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  String theory corresponds to a theoretical (As the name implies) framework introduced in physics. This framework share similarities with particle physics, as it presents point like particles (from particle physics) as one-dimensional objects, these objects are said to be string. They are stored in the framework described above. String theory describes the behavior of these strings through space. It also determines how these strings interact with each other. It a string is observed on a larger scale than standard string scale, it may look very similar to any ordinary particle. The particle that is being observed will hold mass, charge and other string properties that are determined according t their vibrational state. Graviton is corresponded by one of many vibrational states of string theory. Graviton is simply said to be a quantum mechanical particle, which is responsible for carrying gravitational force. According to this statement, it can be said that string theory focuses mainly on quantum gravity thus it is a theory of quantum gravity. 
  The main goal of string theory is an attempt in order to address in-depth questions about fundamental physics. It is said to be a broad subject that holds a wide range of concepts. Concept of black hole, cosmology, nuclear physics, matter physics etc are some of those concepts in which string theory is applied in order to solve a variety of questions. In the field of pure mathematics, many developments are carried out successfully by the application of string theory. String theory is said to be a theory for everything, since it contains descriptive concepts of gravity and particle physics. It literally covers all fundamental forces and concept of matter physics, which makes it a self-contained mathematical structure. 
  Despite the theory being too much descriptive you may face certain challenges while trying to practically apply the theory. One of the major reasons behind these problems is that this theory does not contain a perfect definition that can be applied in all the situations and circumstances. It becomes complicated to develop particle physics theory based on string theory, since string theory describes a number of landscapes of possible universes. This fact can be determined as another limitation in application of string theory. As a response to these limitations, many communities criticize this theory for its various approaches in the field of physics. Many theorists and experts also question about the legality of the research that is being continued while using string theory as a base. 

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  Beautiful Corn - America's...

  Anthony Boutard

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  A market farmer and naturalist writes on the history, cultivation, and culture of corn, as well as his own personal experience with the remarkable crop. Cultivated from sea level to mountaintop, from parched deserts to sodden rain forests, from the rocky Gaspé Peninsula to the plains of Argentina, corn is the grain of the Americas. In terms of culinary uses, it is amazingly diverse, reflecting the breathtaking variety of the continents and environments from which it evolved. The consummate immigrant, corn is grown extensively on every continent except Antarctica. Author Anthony Boutard weaves together this unique plant’s contribution to our culture, its distinctive biology, and the practical information needed to grow and enjoy it at home. Beautiful Corn advocates a return to the nourishing whole grain that built America, in place of today’s genetically modified crops processed by industrial agriculture into synthetic sweeteners and cheap meat. Come along on this lyrical and inspiring journey through the seasons, learning about growing and using corn in the traditional way. Gardeners and market farmers can lead the way to a healthier country by restoring heritage corn varieties to our tables. An unabashed celebration of a much-maligned culinary treasure, Beautiful Corn will forever change the way you view this remarkable plant.“Part love song to an ancient grain, part elevated instruction on how to grow, cook, and consume it, part history and animated story, Beautiful Corn opens our eyes to a food plant that humans have both cultivated and been cultivated by…. Boutard’s book is as nourishing as the corn he so wonderfully describes.”—Michael Ableman, farmer, author of Street Farm and From the Good Earth

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  Empty Cages - Facing the...

  Tom Regan

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  Described by Jeffrey Masson as "the single best introduction to animal rights ever written, Tom Regan's EMPTY CAGES stands as an essential guide to the ongoing animal rights debate. In a style at once simple and elegant, Regan dispels the negative image of animal rights advocates as portrayed by the mass media, unmasks the fraudulent rhetoric of "humane treatment" favored by animal exploiters in both familiar and less well-documented contexts, and explains why existing laws function to legitimize institutional cruelty. In so doing, Regan invites readers to join the struggle for animal rights—one person at a time, one step at a time. Written by the leading philosophical spokesperson for animal rights, Tom Regan's shocking exposé of animal abuse makes an essential and lasting contribution to how animal rights is viewed in the United States and around the world. 
  "Tom Regan delivers a searing indictment of the way we treat animals in the world we have made for ourselves, and presents a trenchant case that animals have or should have rights in the same way that human beings have."—J. M. Coetzee, winner of the 2003 Nobel Prize for Literature 
  "Every so often a book is written that is destined to change the way people think. Tom Regan has written just such a book. EMPTY CAGES is compelling because it is logical, rational, and written in an elegantly simple style. Please buy this book, read it, and tell your friends about it. Everyone needs a copy on their bookshelf."—Jane Goodall 
  "Tom Regan's EMPTY CAGES is a powerful call for justice on one of the most urgent issues human society faces. Calmly, lucidly, he asks readers to confront the miserable conditions we have inflicted on animals, leaving us with three choices: find a flaw in the argument, work for change, or throw the book away and try to forget it. The indelible force of Regan's argument makes the third course very difficult."—Martha C. Nussbaum, University of Chicago

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