Capsule book reviews in 255 characters or fewer. Ish. A reading diary (1st Jan 2019 onwards) by Eamonn Griffin.
An overview of climate change, its consequences, and a call for urgent meaningful action to be taken. A swift, accessible, though comprehensive account of the damage being done to the planet, and of the problems that this is already causing. The message is clear: the window for taking corrective action is closing fast. Recommended.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A student and mentor discuss the logistics of a crewed mission to Mars. Detailed and accessible, this graphic novel-style approach usefully dramatizes some key questions and explains how difficult it is to mount a deep space mission. Topics range from dealing with Mars gravity to the practicalities of maintaining life support systems and mental health over long voyages. Useful and informative: recommended.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A brisk overview of ten leading topics related to astrophysics. From black holes to life on other planets, this is an accessible jargon-free primer with plenty of big ideas packed into a friendly format. Lots to support more detailed examination elsewhere.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
The story of the Apollo 11 moon mission, juxtaposed with a history of human engagements with the moon. An excellent graphic novel retelling, finding ways to add new detail and texture to a well-known story. Clear on the contexts of Apollo, and of its relationships to wider US society, while drawing on mission logs for authenticity. Recommended.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
Subtitled “The Story of Apollo 11’s Third Man”: a graphic novel biography of NASA astronaut Michael Collins. Brisk and efficient, conveyed in lovely artwork reminiscent of blueprints, concept art, and movie storyboards. A spotlight shone on a perhaps overlooked member of the Apollo mission team, and accessible to boot. Recommended for fellow lunar enthusiasts.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
Why walking is good for you, and why we should all walk more. An interdisciplinary popular science approach is offered, linking health in both physical and mental terms, town planning, social interactions, and evolutionary theory. Basically, humans are built and socialized to walk – it’s a key distinction between homo sapiens and other animals – and so we should. Takes a little time to settle into its pace, but worth your perseverance. Recommended.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A series of physics FAQs explored for non-scientists. An excellent second primer from the podcasting duo – Daniel & Jorge Explain the Universe – delving into areas such as the possibility of time travel, teleportation, the multiverse, the Big Bang theory, and the practicalities of terraforming and of interstellar exploration. Lots of fun, some good jokes, and zippy illustrations throughout. Recommended.
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My own books here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A brisk overview of a range of science topics, with a focus on both quackery and on denialism. Chapters explore subjects from homeopathy to arguments against the science on climate change: accessible and clear throughout, with complex ideas explained well, and attention given to understanding why easy lies are often a comfort. Recommended.
My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
The food journalist and restaurant critic offers ten simple rules for the good food life. A mix of personal philosophy, common sense, accessible nutritional science, and autobiography with a few decent recipes thrown in to illustrate the points being made. All good stuff, and the pork, butter bean and chorizo stew offered is a belter.
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My own books here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
As promised, a pacy and straightforward overview of the relationship between excess pancreatic fat and type 2 diabetes, and how a direct no-nonsense approach to dieting can address this health issue. Perhaps easier said than done, but the book makes a clear case for action, outlines what’s needed to be achieved and why, and tells you how to do it. That’s pretty good going. Recommended.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
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