Reviews
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Avian Architecture: How Birds Design, Engineer, and Buildby Peter Goodfellow
A browsable, amply illustrated overview of avian construction from mere scrapes in the sand to edible structures people prize for soup. Princeton Univ. Press, 2011, 160 p., $27.95
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The Mathematics of Life by Ian Stewart
In this engaging overview, a mathematician describes how the field of biomathematics is answering key questions about the natural world and the origins of life. Basic Books, 2011, 358 p., $27.99
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Falling to Earth: An Apollo 15 Astronaut’s Journey to the Moon by Al Worden with Francis French
An astronaut offers a candid look at his trip to the moon, including the scandal that ended his spacefaring days. Smithsonian Books, 2011, 304 p., $29.95
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The Sun’s Heartbeat: And Other Stories from the Life of the Star That Powers Our Planet by Bob Berman
Light-hearted tales trace human understanding of Earth’s nearest star and of the sun’s effects on Earth. Little, Brown and Co., 2011, 304 p., $25.99
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War’s Waste: Rehabilitation in World War I America by Beth Linker
An account of how World War I influenced veteran medical treatment delves into the rise of rehabilitation therapy and the costs of supporting wounded veterans. Univ. of Chicago Press, 2011, 291 p., $35
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BOOK REVIEW: The Science of Evil: On Empathy and the Origins of Cruelty by Simon Baron-Cohen
Review by Erika Engelhaupt.
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The Stem Cell Hope: How Stem Cell Medicine Can Change Our Lives by Alice Park
A narrative account explores the history of stem cells through the stories of scientists and patients. Hudson Street Press, 2011, 318 p., $25.95
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Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life: A Psychologist Investigates How Evolution, Cognition, and Complexity are Revolutionizing our View of Human Nature by Douglas T. Kenrick
Anecdotes enliven a psychologist’s take on the role of evolution in murderous fantasies, racial prejudice and other unsavory aspects of human nature. Basic Books, 2011, 238 p., $26.99
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Saving Sea Turtles: Extraordinary Stories from the Battle against Extinction by James R. Spotila
A turtle biologist makes a plea to save sea turtles, remarkable creatures that start life buried in up to two feet of sand. Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 2011, 216 p., $24.95
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The Power of Music: Pioneering Discoveries in the New Science of Song by Elena Mannes
A music lover interviews scientists and musicians in this fun exploration of the science of music. Walker & Company, 2011, 263 p., $26
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The Quest for the Cure: The Science and Stories Behind the Next Generation of Medicines by Brent R. Stockwell
In this well-researched look into the complexities of making medicines, a chemical biologist gives a history of drug making and details innovative methods of drug discovery. Columbia Univ. Press, 2011, 265 p., $27.95
