Roger Highfield loves science, and he loves Christmas, too. Combining the two in The Physics of Christmas is his attempt to refute the notion that "the materialist insights of science destroy our capacity to wonder, leaving the world a more boring and predictable place." To that end, Highfield presents an amusing, eclectic, and trivia-filled collection of scientific observations about one of the Western world's most beloved holidays.
The History of the English Language, Vol. 5: English in Britain and Overseas: Origins and Development
Volume 5 of The History of the English Language looks at the dialects of England since 1776, the historical development of English in the former Celtic-speaking countries of Scotland, Wales and Ireland, and at varieties of English in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Caribbean and South Asia. This unique volume will be welcomed by all those interested in the spread of English around the world.
Modern Japanese Cuisine: Food, Power and National Identity
Over the past two decades, the popularity of Japanese food in the West has increased immeasurably—a major contribution to the evolution of Western eating habits. But Japanese cuisine itself has changed significantly since pre-modern times, and the food we eat at trendy Japanese restaurants, from tempura to sashimi, is vastly different from earlier Japanese fare. Modern Japanese Cuisine examines the origins of Japanese food from the late nineteenth century to unabashedly adulterated American favorites like today’s California roll.
Much of our understanding of the origins and early development of the Greek architectural order is based on the writings of ancient authors, such as Virtruvius, and those of modern interpreters. Traditionally, the archaeological evidence has been viewed secondarily and often made to fit within a literary context, despite contradictions that occur. Barbara Barletta's study examines both forms of evidence in an effort to reconcile the two sources
Dynamics of Gambling: Origins of Randomness in Mechanical SystemsThis monograph presents a concise discussion of the dynamics of mechanical randomizers (coin tossing, die throwing and roulette). The authors derive the equations of motion, also describing collisions and body contacts.
![The Physics of Christmas: From the Aerodynamics of Reindeer to the Thermodynamics of Turkey [Audiobook]](http://englishtips.org/uploads/posts/2010-04/1272639036_bk_rhau_000108.jpg "The Physics of Christmas: From the Aerodynamics of Reindeer to the Thermodynamics of Turkey [Audiobook]")
