New Title

1) Losos, Jonathan (Editor-in-Chief). The Princeton Guide to Evolution. 2013. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 853 pages. Price: $99.00 U.S.

PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: The Princeton Guide to Evolution is a comprehensive, concise, and authoritative reference to the major subjects and key concepts in evolutionary biology, from genes to mass extinctions. Edited by a distinguished team of evolutionary biologists, with contributions from leading researchers, the guide contains more than 100 clear, accurate, and up-to-date articles on the most important topics in seven major areas: phylogenetics and the history of life; selection and adaptation; evolutionary processes; genes, genomes, and phenotypes; speciation and macroevolution; evolution of behavior, society, and humans; and evolution and modern society. Complete with more than 100 illustrations (including eight pages in color), glossaries of key terms, suggestions for further reading on each topic, and an index, this is an essential volume for undergraduate and graduate students, scientists in related fields, and anyone else with a serious interest in evolution. This book features:

• Explains key topics in more than 100 concise and authoritative articles written by a team of leading evolutionary biologists
• Contains more than 100 illustrations, including eight pages in color
• Each article includes an outline, glossary, bibliography, and cross-references
• Covers phylogenetics and the history of life; selection and adaptation; evolutionary processes; genes, genomes, and phenotypes; speciation and macroevolution; evolution of behavior, society, and humans; and evolution and modern society

RECOMMENDATION: For anyone with a technical interest in evolution.
 

New Title

1) Sloan, Robin. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. 2013. Picador. Paperback: 288 pages. Price: $15.00 U.S.

PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY:The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon away from life as a San Francisco web-design drone and into the aisles of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after a few days on the job, Clay discovers that the store is more curious than either its name or its gnomic owner might suggest. The customers are few, and they never seem to buy anything—instead, they “check out” large, obscure volumes from strange corners of the store. Suspicious, Clay engineers an analysis of the clientele’s behavior, seeking help from his variously talented friends. But when they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, they discover the bookstore’s secrets extend far beyond its walls. Rendered with irresistible brio and dazzling intelligence, Robin Sloan's Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is exactly what it sounds like: an establishment you have to enter and will never want to leave.

RECOMMENDATION: This well received book is now available in paperback.
 

New Title

1) Anton, Mauricio. Sabertooth. 2013. Indiana University Press. Hardbound: 245 pages. Price: $50.00 U.S.

PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: With their spectacularly enlarged canines, sabertooth cats are among the most popular of prehistoric animals, yet it is surprising how little information about them is available for the curious layperson. What’s more, there were other sabertooths that were not cats, animals with exotic names like nimravids, barbourofelids, and thylacosmilids. Some were no taller than a domestic cat, others were larger than a lion, and some were as weird as their names suggest. Sabertooths continue to pose questions even for specialists. What did they look like? How did they use their spectacular canine teeth? And why did they finally go extinct? In this visual and intellectual treat of a book, Mauricio Antón tells their story in words and pictures, all scrupulously based on the latest scientific research. The book is a glorious wedding of science and art that celebrates the remarkable diversity of the life of the not-so-distant past.

RECOMMENDATION: This well illustrated book is a must have for anyone with an interest in these animals. The book trailer can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/mz1dtPK6VsU
 

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

                                             Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman


My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here: http://www.scilogs.com/maniraptora/birdbooker-report-295-296/

New Title

1) Barash, David P.. Homo Mysterious: Evolutionary Puzzles of Human Nature. 2013. Oxford University Press. Paperback: 329 pages. Price: $19.95 U.S.

PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: For all that science knows about the living world, notes David P. Barash, there are even more things that we don't know, genuine evolutionary mysteries that perplex the best minds in biology. Paradoxically, many of these mysteries are very close to home, involving some of the most personal aspects of being human.
Homo Mysterious examines a number of these evolutionary mysteries, exploring things that we don't yet know about ourselves, laying out the best current hypotheses, and pointing toward insights that scientists are just beginning to glimpse. Why do women experience orgasm? Why do men have a shorter lifespan than women? Why does homosexuality exist? Why does religion exist in virtually every culture? Why do we have a fondness for the arts? Why do we have such large brains? And why does consciousness exist? Readers are plunged into an ocean of unknowns--the blank spots on the human evolutionary map, the terra incognita of our own species--and are introduced to the major hypotheses that currently occupy scientists who are attempting to unravel each puzzle (including some solutions proposed here for the first time). Throughout the book, readers are invited to share the thrill of science at its cutting edge, a place where we know what we don't know, and, moreover, where we know enough to come up with some compelling and seductive explanations.
Homo Mysterious is a guide to creative thought and future explorations, based on the best, most current thinking by evolutionary scientists. It captures the allure of the "not-yet-known" for those interested in stretching their scientific imaginations.

RECOMMENDATION: For anyone with an interest in Human evolutionary biology.
 

New Title

1) Cranshaw, Whitney and Richard Redak. Bugs Rule! An Introduction to the World of Insects. 2013. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 480 pages. Price: $55.00 U.S.

PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: Bugs Rule! provides a lively introduction to the biology and natural history of insects and their noninsect cousins, such as spiders, scorpions, and centipedes. This richly illustrated textbook features more than 830 color photos, a concise overview of the basics of entomology, and numerous sidebars that highlight and explain key points. Detailed chapters cover each of the major insect groups, describing their physiology, behaviors, feeding habits, reproduction, human interactions, and more.

     Ideal for nonscience majors and anyone seeking to learn more about insects and their arthropod relatives, Bugs Rule! offers a one-of-a-kind gateway into the world of these amazing creatures.

     This book features:

• Places a greater emphasis on natural history than standard textbooks on the subject
• Covers the biology and natural history of all the insect orders
• Provides a thorough review of the noninsect arthropods, such as spiders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, and crustaceans
• Features more than 830 color photos
• Highlights the importance of insects and other arthropods, including their impact on human society
• An online illustration package is available to professors.

RECOMMENDATION: A well illustrated introduction to the insects.

 

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

                                                 Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman


My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here: http://www.scilogs.com/maniraptora/birdbooker-report-294/

New Title

1) Crossley, Richard and Dominic Couzens. The Crossley ID Guide: Britain & Ireland. 2013. Princeton University Press/Crossley Books. Flexicover: 301 pages. Price: $27.95 U.S.

PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: This guide is a celebration of the beauty of birds and the British and Irish countryside. Aimed at beginner and intermediate birders, yet suitable for all levels, this new volume in the groundbreaking Crossley ID Guide series is the most user-friendly guide to the birds of Britain and Ireland. Following The Crossley ID Guides' award-winning design, this book looks at all regularly occurring species in Britain and Ireland, and shows readers how to identify birds in their natural habitats using size, structure, shape, probability, and behavior--just like the experts do! Stunning images are accompanied by the colorful and compelling text of Dominic Couzens, one of Britain's leading nature writers.

      This unique book treats more than 300 species--all the regularly occurring birds likely to be encountered by observers--and the guide's attractive pages provide a real-life approach to bird identification. Beautiful, in-focus scenes present birds in various plumages and in lifelike poses set in identifiable British and Irish habitats. The plates also illustrate how a bird's appearance changes with distance. Organizing images in cohesive, easy-to-understand plates rather than as separate photographs, this book also sets itself apart by containing more images that demonstrate flight, behavior, habitat, and plumages than any other volume available. Not only is this field guide a reference book, it is also a spectacular teaching resource that makes it easy for nature enthusiasts to see and appreciate the big picture of bird identification.

       This book features:

• The most user-friendly guide to the birds of Britain and Ireland
• A close look at more than 300 regularly occurring species
• Award-winning Crossley ID Guide design
• Lifelike images of birds from near to far
• A celebration of the British and Irish countryside
• A teaching and field guide and essential reference
• Concise and compelling text by Dominic Couzens and Richard Crossley

RECOMMENDATION: Fans of the Crossley guides will enjoy this book. The overall page size is smaller than the previous books in this series.