Other books that might interest you

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  Superhuman - The Future of Drugs...

  Michael Bess

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  The next wave of technological change will shape not just our gizmos and gadgets, but our own bodies and minds. Join award-winning historian Michael Bess to learn what to expect from the “Superhuman Revolution.”In the near future, developments in bioenhancement technologies will not only alter how we make a living, communicate, and interact with each other, but will offer direct and precise control over our own physical and mental states. People will be able to sculpt their own selfhood over time, reshaping their bodies, augmenting their cognition, micro-managing their emotions and moods, and reconfiguring their character and personality. In this captivating audio series from Michael Bess, author of Our Grandchildren, Redesigned: Life in the Bioengineered Society of the Near Future, you’ll explore the promise and peril of tinkering with human bodies and identities. In these 28 illuminating lectures, you’ll examine the challenges posed to human civilization by developments in pharmaceuticals, bioelectronics, and genetics. Using an interdisciplinary approach, you’ll tackle a series of provocative questions, including:To what extent can human personhood be modified before it begins to break down? What would be the likely social and cultural consequences if practices of human redesign were to be widely adopted?How much can we control the direction in which science, medicine, and technology are taking our civilization?This course is part of the Learn25 collection.

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  Wild Enthusiasm - A Very British...

  Steve Wright

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  No need to travel halfway round the globe to spot iconic wildlife – it's right here on our doorstep in the UK and Steve Wright, keen amateur naturalist, travels from the Isle of Man to Norfolk, to the Orkneys, Northern Ireland and everywhere in-between on his various short holiday expeditions, clutching his specific wildlife wish-list for each trip.  
  The result is an inspiring and engaging diary of his personal encounters with white-tailed eagles, otters, bottlenose dolphins, fulmars, puffins, osprey, sand lizards, even red-necked wallabies. And the characters he meets on the way. He hears snipe drumming, watches a shrew in Wales, admires pilot whales off Lewis.  
  Steve's wildlife travel diaries give excellent practical tips, such as bird-hide etiquette, how to identify birds on the wing, how to consult local wildlife rangers about what might be spotted on each outing and where to find that species.  
  But most importantly his highly-readable wildlife travels are a call to others to book themselves in to pubs and small hotels the length and breadth of Britain and follow his example, for a series of fun British wildlife safaris.   

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  Old Mother West Wind

  Thornton W. Burgess

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  Thornton Waldo Burgess (January 14, 1874 – June 5, 1965) was a conservationist and author of children's stories. He loved the beauty of nature and its living creatures so much that he wrote about them for 50 years. By the time he retired, he had written more than 170 books.  Many of his outdoor observations in nature were used as plots for his stories. In his first book, "Old Mother West Wind," published in 1910, the reader meets many of the characters found in later books and stories. These characters include Peter Rabbit, Jimmy Skunk, Sammy Jay, Bobby Raccoon, Joe Otter, Grandfather Frog, Billy Mink, Jerry Muskrat, Spotty the Turtle and of course, Old Mother West Wind and her Merry Little Breezes.  Note to parents of very small children: in Chapter 15, little Tommy Trout gets eaten by a pickerel.  (Summary by Wikipedia and Laurie Anne Walden.)

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  Bracing for the Storm - A West...

  Brock Kingsley

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  When the skies darken and the winds pick up, what's your plan? Living in West Florida means that hurricanes are an inevitable part of life. But with the right knowledge and preparation, they don't have to be a catastrophe. Bracing for the Storm: A West Florida Hurricane Survival Guide is your all-encompassing resource, designed to help you prepare, act, and recover like a pro. Don't leave your safety to chance. Learn from the experts how to assess your risk, prepare your home, and most importantly, protect your family. This book delves deep into the science of hurricanes, breaking down complicated meteorological terms into easy-to-understand language. You'll get the inside scoop on how to read hurricane forecasts, what to expect from different categories of storms, and when it's time to hunker down or evacuate. 
   
  Did you know that preparing your home can make a significant difference in how well you fare during a storm? Our comprehensive guide walks you through home inspections, modifications, and even DIY fixes to ensure your safety. From securing windows and shutters to fortifying your roof, you'll get step-by-step instructions for making your home a fortress. Plus, we've included an emergency supplies checklist so you won't forget the essentials. Whether you're riding out the storm at home or evacuating, this book has you covered. Learn how to develop an effective evacuation plan, choose the best route, and what to pack in your evacuation kit. Special chapters focus on unique considerations for families with children, senior citizens, and pets. 
   
  Post-storm recovery can be just as challenging as the hurricane itself. You'll find invaluable advice on assessing damage safely, dealing with insurance claims, and even coping with the psychological effects of a natural disaster. Community resources and volunteer opportunities are also highlighted, empowering you to help your neighbors and rebuild stronger than ever. 

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  The Philosophy of Video Games

  Wise Wisecrack

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  From the political themes found throughout Fallout 4 and the sly references to author Ernest Hemingway and philosopher Descartes in Cyberpunk 2077, video games are deeper than you think. Listen in as Wisecrack breaks down the philosophy behind popular video game franchises like Fallout, Halo, and Final Fantasy, and more in this curated collection, available for the first time in audio.

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  Sex Itself - The Search for Male...

  Sarah S. Richardson

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  Human genomes are 99.9 percent identical—with one prominent exception. Instead of a matching pair of X chromosomes, men carry a single X, coupled with a tiny chromosome called the Y. Tracking the emergence of a new and distinctive way of thinking about sex represented by the unalterable, simple, and visually compelling binary of the X and Y chromosomes, Sex Itself examines the interaction between cultural gender norms and genetic theories of sex from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present, postgenomic age.           Using methods from history, philosophy, and gender studies of science, Sarah S. Richardson uncovers how gender has helped to shape the research practices, questions asked, theories and models, and descriptive language used in sex chromosome research. From the earliest theories of chromosomal sex determination, to the mid-century hypothesis of the aggressive XYY supermale, to the debate about Y chromosome degeneration, to the recent claim that male and female genomes are more different than those of humans and chimpanzees, Richardson shows how cultural gender conceptions influence the genetic science of sex.            Richardson shows how sexual science of the past continues to resonate, in ways both subtle and explicit, in contemporary research on the genetics of sex and gender. With the completion of the Human Genome Project, genes and chromosomes are moving to the center of the biology of sex. Sex Itself offers a compelling argument for the importance of ongoing critical dialogue on how cultural conceptions of gender operate within the science of sex.

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