Reviews

National Geographic Concise History of Science and Invention: An Illustrated Time Line by Jolyon Goddard, ed.

Photos, illustrations and essays trace the progress of discovery from ancient times to modern days. National Geographic, 2009, 352 p., $40. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CONCISE HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND INVENTION: AN ILLUSTRATED TIME LINE EDITED BY JOLYON GODDARD

The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness by Alvaro Fernandez and Elkhonon Goldberg

Interviews with scientists offer practical advice and tips for maintaining brain function. SharpBrains, 2009, 166 p., $24.95. The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness by Alvaro Fernandez and Elkhonon Goldberg

Mathematical Amazements and Surprises: Fascinating Figures and Noteworthy Numbers by Alfred S. Posamentier and Ingmar Lehmann

A book by two math professors presents number trivia that highlights math’s “gee, wow!” factor. MATHEMATICAL AMAZEMENTS AND SURPRISES: FASCINATING FIGURES AND NOTEWORTHY NUMBERS BY ALFRED S. POSAMENTIER AND INGMAR LEHMANN Prometheus Books, 2009, 269 p., $20.98.

Botanical Medicine: From Bench to Bedside, Raymond Cooper and Fredi Kronenberg, eds.

Researchers are looking to plants to treat ailments from diabetes to dermatological problems. Botanical Medicine: From Bench to Bedside, Raymond Cooper and Fredi Kronenberg, eds. Mary Ann Liebert Inc., 2009, 237 p., $99.

Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future by Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum

A journalist and a scientist lament ignorance of science and propose ways to fix the problem. UNSCIENTIFIC AMERICA: HOW SCIENTIFIC ILLITERACY THREATENS OUR FUTURE BY CHRIS MOONEY AND SHERIL KIRSHENBAUM Basic Books, 2009, 209 p., $24.

The Migration of Birds: Seasons on the Wing by Janice M. Hughes

A biologist reviews the latest research on bird migration and includes high-quality photos of discussed species. THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS: SEASONS ON THE WING BY JANICE M. HUGHES Firefly Books, 2009, 207 p., $40.

How NASA Builds Teams by Charles J. Pellerin

A former NASA scientist describes how the agency puts together the teams on which lives and budgets depend and relates tips for team management. HOW NASA BUILDS TEAMS BY CHARLES J. PELLERIN John Wiley & Sons, 2009, 261 p., $39.95.

No Small Matter: Science on the Nanoscale by Felice C. Frankel and George M. Whitesides

Seemingly invisible objects such as viruses and molecules are imaged in rich detail through high-powered microscopes and photography. NO SMALL MATTER: SCIENCE ON THE NANOSCALE BY FELICE C. FRANKEL AND GEORGE M. WHITESIDES Belknap Press, 2009, 182 p., $35.

Quantum Mechanics in a Nutshell by Gerald D. Mahan

A physicist presents an introduction to quantum mechanics for college and graduate-level readers. QUANTUM MECHANICS IN A NUTSHELL BY GERALD D. MAHAN Princeton Univ. Press, 2009, 399 p., $65.

The Rising Sea by Orrin H. Pilkey and Rob Young

Coastal scientists describe the threat that higher sea levels pose to people around the world and what can be done. THE RISING SEA BY ORRIN H. PILKEY AND ROB YOUNG Island Press, 2009, 203 p., $25.95.

3-D Explorer Oceans: A Journey from the Surface to the Seafloor by Jen Green

3-D Explorer Oceans: A Journey from the Surface to the Seafloor by Jen Green Pop-up scenes, photos and illustrations portray colorful life in the sea’s depths. Silver Dolphin Books, 2009, 32 p., $17.95. 3-D EXPLORER OCEANS: A JOURNEY FROM THE SURFACE TO THE SEAFLOOR BY JEN GREEN

Ornamental Origami: Exploring 3D Geometric Designs by Meenakshi Mukerji

Ornamental Origami: Exploring 3D Geometric Designs by Meenakshi Mukerji Older children can learn origami techniques to create beautiful and varied geometric shapes. AK Peters, 2009, 145 p., $24.95. ORNAMENTAL ORIGAMI: EXPLORING 3D GEOMETRIC DESIGNS BY MEENAKSHI MUKERJI