Reviews

Bursts: The Hidden Pattern Behind Everything We Do by Albert-László Barabási

Mining digital data reveals patterns in seemingly spontaneous human behavior. BURSTS: THE HIDDEN PATTERN BEHIND EVERYTHING WE DO BY ALBERT-LáSZLó BARABáSI Dutton, 2010, 310 p., $26.95.

Professor Stewart’s Hoard of Mathematical Treasures by Ian Stewart

The math professor returns with more brain teasers, puzzles and facts designed to reveal the fun side of the subject. PROFESSOR STEWART’S HOARD OF MATHEMATICAL TREASURES BY IAN STEWART Basic Books, 2010, 339 p., $16.95.

Quantum: Einstein, Bohr, and the Great Debate About the Nature of Reality by Manjit Kumar

The story of quantum mechanics and the decades-long argument about how to interpret it. QUANTUM: EINSTEIN, BOHR, AND THE GREAT DEBATE ABOUT THE NATURE OF REALITY BY MANJIT KUMAR W.W. Norton & Co., 2010, 448 p., $27.95.

Dogs: Domestication and the Development of a Social Bond by Darcy F. Morey

An anthropologist describes the evolution of the dog and explores how this creature became man’s best friend. DOGS: DOMESTICATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SOCIAL BOND BY DARCY F. MOREY Cambridge Univ. Press, 2010, 356 p., $45.

Growing Patterns: Fibonacci Numbers in Nature by Sarah C. Campbell

Kids can learn about this special set of numbers from color nature photos. GROWING PATTERNS: FIBONACCI NUMBERS IN NATURE BY SARAH C. CAMPBELL Boyds Mill Press, 2010, 32 p., $17.95.

Book Review: Pandora’s Seed: The Unforeseen Cost of Civilization by Spencer Wells

Review by Nathan Seppa.

Book Review: Not Exactly: In Praise of Vagueness by Kees van Deemter

Review by Sid Perkins.

Exploring the Solar System with Binoculars by Stephen James O’Meara

Backyard observers can make the most of basic tools. EXPLORING THE SOLAR SYSTEM WITH BINOCULARS BY STEPHEN JAMES O’MEARA Cambridge Univ. Press, 2010, 156 p., $29.99.

Super Structures: The Science of Bridges, Buildings, Dams, and Other Feats of Engineering by Mark Denny

Structures stand, soar and collapse based on fundamental physics principles. SUPER STRUCTURES: THE SCIENCE OF BRIDGES, BUILDINGS, DAMS, AND OTHER FEATS OF ENGINEERING BY MARK DENNY Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 2010, 266 p., $30.

Life in the Hothouse: How a Living Planet Survives Climate Change by Melanie Lenart

A scientist explains how the planet adjusts to warming. LIFE IN THE HOTHOUSE: HOW A LIVING PLANET SURVIVES CLIMATE CHANGE BY MELANIE LENART Univ. of Arizona Press, 2010, 236 p., $22.95.

Remembering Smell: A Memoir of Losing – and Discovering – the Primal Sense by Bonnie Blodgett

The author’s experience with anosmia leads her to explore the biology and cultural context of smell. REMEMBERING SMELL: A MEMOIR OF LOSING – AND DISCOVERING – THE PRIMAL SENSE BY BONNIE BLODGETT Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010, 256 p., $24.

Explaining Research: How to Reach Key Audiences to Advance Your Work by Dennis Meredith

Scientists can use new and traditional media to communicate findings to the public. EXPLAINING RESEARCH: HOW TO REACH KEY AUDIENCES TO ADVANCE YOUR WORK BY DENNIS MEREDITH Oxford Univ. Press, 2010, 357 p., $35.