Extinctions in the History of Life

Recognition of a biodiversity crisis, and the development of new analytical and geological techniques for studying extinction, have increased our appreciation of global change in recent years. Paul Taylor looks at the implications for plants, animals and microbes, and discusses the role of extinction in evolution. His useful reference brings together key findings from the current debate concerning extinction for students, researchers and the interested general reader.

Crocodile, Evolutions Greatest Survivor

Kelly, an Australian writer and science teacher, gives readers a thorough tour of crocodilian evolution in this lively biological biography. Kelly builds her scientific investigation on a solid cultural foundation, by introducing the crocodile through folk tales of indigenous Australians, Africans, Americans and South Asians; similarly, fossils showing crocodilies have changed very little in more than 200 million years adds relevance to the old stories and weight to the sobering fact that, ...

Heavenly Errors - Misconceptions about the Real Nature of the Universe

Does the weather get warmer in summer because the Earth moves closer to the sun? Many people believe in such Heavenly Errors, where common sense leads to the kind of misconception Neil Comins sets straight. Comins is particularly eager to stamp out errors about astronomy, his field, and in his book he explores--and corrects--over 1,500 "commonly held" astronomical beliefs. Along the way he investigates the nature of misconceptions, how and why we acquire them, and how to guard against them.

Be Expert with Map and Compass

The classic map and compass navigation guide-revised for the age of GPS
GPS devices are great, but they can break, get lost, or easily be hampered by weather conditions, making basic map and compass skills essential for anyone who spends time outdoors. This popular, easy-to-use orienteering handbook has been helping people find their way for more than fifty years. 

Animals, Gods And Humans

Ingvild Saelid Gilhus explores the transition from traditional Greek and Roman religion to Christianity in the Roman Empire and the effect of this change on the concept of animals, illustrating the main factors in the creation of a Christian conception of animals. One of the underlying assumptions of the book is that changes in the way animal motifs are used and the way human-animal relations are conceptualized serve as indicators of more general cultural shifts.