Showing results by publisher "Phoenix Books" in Science & Engineering

The cod has played a vital part in livelihoods, diets, and health in general — as well as roles in national economies and international wars. Drawing on his love of food and food culture, Mark Kurlansky leaps into history and folklore to explore how this innocuous fish had such an impact over the centuries.

Based on a series of lectures given at Cambridge University, The Theory of Everything presents the most complex concepts of physics—both past and present—in a clear and accessible manner. Stephen Hawking enlightens listeners and exposes them to the rich history of scientific thought and the complexities of the universe in which we live. Using computer-assisted technology, Hawking reads from his own work.

The author of Cod and The Basque History of the World takes an extraordinary look at an ordinary substance — salt, the only rock humans eat — and how it has shaped civilization from the very beginning. Mark Kurlansky has produced a kaleidoscope of history, a multi-layered masterpiece that blends economic, scientific, political, religious, and culinary records into a rich and memorable tale.

Based on a series of lectures given at Cambridge University, The Theory of Everything presents the most complex concepts of physics—both past and present—in a clear and accessible manner. Acclaimed physicist and author of A Brief History of Time—which has sold more than 25 million copies—Stephen Hawking enlightens audiences and exposes them to the rich history of scientific thought and the complexities of the universe in which we live. Hawking presents a compelling look at our universe, its creation, and how we see ourselves within it.

Discover an alternate history to the human race as the authors of Forbidden Archeology challenge one of the most fundamental components of the modern scientific world view. Michael Cremo and Richard Thompson discuss the work of researchers who, over the past 2 centuries, have found bones and artifacts showing that people like ourselves existed on earth millions of years ago.

Here, the man who started the "food revolution" with the million-plus-selling Diet for a New America, boldly posits that, collectively, our personal diet can save ourselves and the world. If, according to chaos theory, the beating of a butterfly's wing can cause a hurricane in another part of the world, try this out for chaotic cause and effect: monarch butterflies are dying in droves due to genetically-engineered corn growing in the Midwest. There is also a direct correlation between the Big Mac in your hand and the mile-wide river now running across the North Pole.

Stephen W. Hawking's Cambridge lectures, exploring the most complex theories of physics, both past and present, remain the most important scientific theories known of time, space, and the nature of the cosmos. This 30th Anniversary remastered edition of The Cambridge Lectures offers listeners a unique opportunity to hear the full series of seven famed lectures exactly as Professor Hawking presented them during his tenure as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University.

On April 1On April 10, 1912, The RMS Titanic embarked on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. But on the night of April 14, the British passenger liner collided with an iceberg, which resulted in the loss of more than 1,500 lives. Merely one day after the Titanic survivors arrived in New York City, a United States Senate committee began an investigation into the wreck of the great "unsinkable" ship.

National Book Award winner Barry Lopez captivated the world with his bestselling books Arctic Dreams and Of Wolves and Men. Now, in this memoir, Lopez takes the listener on a literal and figurative journey through essays that provide great wisdom and insights into our times. Lopez leads listeners from Japan's beautiful Hokkaido Island to the over-explored Galapagos, to around-the-world journeys aboard air freights, offering new perspectives on nature and humankind along the way.

This landmark work—a foundational volume in the ecological canon—points to a necessary transformation of consciousness if mankind and the planet are to survive. Drawing upon the wisdom of the world's greatest thinkers, Thomas Berry forges a balanced, deeply felt declaration of planetary independence from the sociological, psychological, and intellectual conditioning that threatens the death of the Earth. Offering a path that will avert ecological catastrophe, Berry builds his case on a comprehensive review of the history of ideas.

Humans have long sought to comprehend the enormities of cosmic space and time. Here, best selling science writer Timothy Ferris tells the story of that quest. He interweaves the majestic themes of astronomy, physics, religion, and philosophy with fresh and lasting portraits of the men and women who created what has been called our society's most precious treasure - its conception of the universe at large.

In brave and unforgettable terms, Al Gore, the passionate and lifelong defender of the environment, describes how human actions and decisions can endanger or safeguard the vulnerable ecosystem that sustains us.

In this brave and provocative work, former US Vice President Al Gore asserts that only a radical rethinking of our relationship with nature will save the Earth's ecology for future generations. Gore's analysis of where we've gone wrong ranges across politics, history, science, economics, psychology, and religion. He argues that only a worldwide mobilization can save us from disaster and presents a brilliant and comprehensive plan for action that encompasses not only the Earth's ecology, but also population trends, appropriate technology, and environmental education.

Explore the secrets of the universe with selections from the works of three of the greatest scientific minds of our lifetime. Widely regarded as the most brilliant theoretical physicist since Einstein, Stephen W. Hawking has delved into today's most important scientific ideas about the cosmos, expanded upon the rich history of scientific thought, and reveled in the complexities of the universe in which we live.

For anyone who has ever looked up at the stars and wondered what it all means, Isaac Asimov's Guide to Earth and Space is indispensable. In this audio, Asimov's gift for popular and entertaining exposition has never been better deployed, with his succinct answers to the most intriguing questions about planets, stars, and galaxies. What are quasars? How was the Earth formed? Puzzled by pulsars?

From the creation of life to the exploration of the heavens and the stars—from the origins of the earth to the possibility of life on other planets, Ben Bova unveils the beauty and science behind the phenomenon of light. Bova masterfully explains how light affects us every day of our lives—from our religions to our sex drives. He examines how we use light in art, science, industry, entertainment, cosmetics, jewelry, and myriad other ways. Using accessible language, Bova provides easy-to-understand examples that explain even the most difficult and mind-bending concepts.

Our earth home is in trouble: acid rain, the greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, hazardous waste. However, we don't have to go out with a whimper. We can fight back. Even better, we can win. The battlegrounds are our homes, our schools, our workplaces, our holiday spots. By changing our actions, we can stop the downward spiral. Here are more than 365 ways to be environmentally responsible.

In this brave and provocative work, former US Vice President Al Gore asserts that only a rethinking of our relationship with nature will save the earth's ecology for future generations. Gore's analysis of where we've gone wrong ranges across politics, history, science, economics, psychology, and religion.

In Florida, there exists a very special ecosystem where sub-tropical and north-temperate vegetation meet—Bulow Hammock. Saved by conservationists, it is one of the last stands of forest on the East Coast. This hardwood grove in Florida's open marshes and pine wood is now a State Park where complex life thrives. In the tradition of Peter Matthiessen and Stephen Jay Gould, David Rains Wallace links natural history with the imagination for an intensive study of this unique and beautiful ecosystem.