Interesting Lives
Come back to Afghanistan : a California teenager's story by Said Hyder Akbar(2005)"Said Hyder Akbar was living an ordinary suburban life in California when the shocking events of September 11, 2001, turned his world upside down. After the fall of the Taliban, Hyder's father, a scion of an Afghan political family, sold his business - a hip-hop clothing store in Oakland - and left for Afghanistan, where he became President Hamid Karzai's chief spokesman. Obsessed since youth with a country he had never even visited, seventeen-year-old Hyder convinced his father to let him join him during three successive summer vacations. In Afghanistan, Hyder witnessed a scarred country at a time of radical change, its hope for the future marred by blood feuds, poverty, and divided loyalties. Uncommonly wise and insightful, Hyder journeys from palaces to prisons and from Kabul to the borderlands, revealing Afghanistan as we have never seen or understood it before."
--BOOK JACKET
Danica Patrick : America's hottest racer by Jonathan Ingram(2005)It didn't take long for Danica Patrick to prove she has what it takes to beat the boys. At the 2005 Indianapolis 500, this rookie driver not only became the first woman to lead a lap at the Brickyard, she was in contention to win in the last few laps of the race. Her strong race performance attracted national media attention, and drew thousands of viewers to America's Greatest Spectacle in racing.
Danica's alluring combination of striking good looks, gutsy driving talent, and the backing of one of the best race teams in the world has made her America's newest racing sensation. She has also proved that a nice manicure doesn't get in the way of being tough as nails on the track.
This book, with more than 120 images from premier racing photographer Paul Webb and others, chronicles Danica's journey from a young kart racer to becoming the darling of the American media. Award-winning racing journalist Jonathan Ingram writes about Danica's impact on the Indy Racing League, her Rahal Letterman team, and America's love affair with this up and coming young racer. Book jacket.
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Hole in my life by Jack Gantos(2002)The author relates how, as a young adult, he became a drug user and smuggler, was arrested, did time in prison, and eventually got out and went to college, all the while hoping to become a writer.
J.K. Rowling by Bradley Steffens(2007)Lucent's contemporary biography series profiles the lives and careers of some of today's most prominent newsmakers. Whether covering contributions and achievements or notorious deeds, books in this series examine why these well-known personages garnered public attention.
Lois Lowry : the giver of stories and memories by Lisa Rondinelli Albert(2008)Through this in-depth portrait of Lowry, readers will recognize similarities between her personal experiences and the events and characters in her books. This connection offers personal insight on Lowry and how she came to be one of the most successful authors for young adults of her time. Book jacket.
Michelle Wie : the making of a champion by Jennifer Mario(2006)In the first-ever Michelle Wie biography, golf writer Jennifer Mario tells the story of this inspirational golfing phenomenon, from her million-dollar endorsement deals to her rocket rise to success--from her sweet golf swing to her life as a pro golfer. Michelle Wie's young career already reads like a world-record entry: youngest player to qualify for an LPGA tournament; youngest player to win the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links championship; youngest female to play in PGA Tour events. Now Michelle Wie can add to the list being the youngest female golfer to ever turn professional. This biography will be a great read for anyone interested in the life of their favorite role model--and for readers everywhere looking for the full story behind a legend in the making.
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No end in sight : my life as a blind Iditarod racer by Rachael Scdoris(2006)"For the last eleven years, twenty-one-year-old Rachel Scdoris has been a musher - guiding teams of sled dogs through mountain ranges, across frozen rivers, and over desolate tundra. It's an extraordinary achievement for a young woman, made even more remarkable by the fact that Rachel trains the dogs and competes in races without being able to fully see the animals or the race courses." "Born legally blind, Rachel grew up amid the taunts of classmates who made fun of her, but once she tapped into her innate talent as an athlete, she went on to become captain of her school track team and later an Olympic torch carrier. When Rachel discovered her love of dog sledding, she threw herself into training and competition with all her strength and all her heart. She was the youngest athlete ever to complete a 500-mile sled dog race, and she dreamed of participating in the sport's pinnacle competition: the Iditarod Trail International Sled Dog Race across the wilderness of Alaska.BOOK JACKET
The story of my life : an Afghan girl on the other side of the sky by Farah Ahmedi(2005)Ahmedi was born just as the war between the mujahideen and the Soviets reaches its peak in Afghanistan. The sounds of gunfire and fighter planes were as normal to her as the sounds of traffic or children playing are to a schoolgirl in America. When she stepped on a land mine on her way to school, she began to learn--slowly--that ordinary people, often strangers, have immense power to save lives and restore hope. She was taken from a childhood in Afghanistan, where the classrooms are naked chambers with only chalkboards on the walls and are filled with more students than seats (and no books), to a Chicago adolescence, where teenagers struggle to decide whether to try out for school plays, whom to take to the homecoming dance, and where to go to college. This story was selected from hundreds submitted to ABC's Good Morning America.
Tiger Woods : a biography by Lawrence J. Londino(2006)Londino (broadcasting, Montclair State University) describes the life and career of the African-American golf prodigy, giving information on his early life, the influence of his parents, and the relationship between celebrity and the media. B&w photos, a timeline, and a bibliography of books, magazine and newspaper articles, videos, and Web sites are included.
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Wave of destruction : the stories of four families and history's deadliest tsunami by Erich Krauss(2006)"At just before 8:00 a.m. local time on December 26, 2004, a monstrously powerful earthquake erupted on the floor of the Indian Ocean. The quake roared across the seabed for a full ten minutes - most earthquakes last only a few seconds - and is estimated to have had a shocking magnitude of 9.15 on the Richter scale. The earthquake, felt as far away as Alaska, generated a cataclysmic tsunami, which devastated coastlines bordering the Indian Ocean. Indonesian, Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, even Somali coastal areas were all ravaged. As many as 250,000 people died in one of the most horrifying natural disasters in the modern age." "In Wave of Destruction, Erich Krauss tells the stories of four families who escaped the tsunami but not the horror it sowed. Beginning with their fight for life as a forty-foot wave ripped through their community, and ending with their slow, confusing attempt to rebuild after the last of the bodies were buried, Krauss depicts the trials of ordinary people who braved the worst of nature and exemplified the best of man. Krauss weaves these stories together to give a fuller picture of the tsunami's toll and the great resilience shown by those that survived it and rebuilt their lives in its wake."--BOOK JACKET.
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Working fire : the making of an accidental fireman by Zac Unger(2004)Zac Unger didn't feel like much of a firefighter at first. Most of his fellow recruits seemed to have planned for the job all their lives; he was an Ivy League grad responding to a help-wanted ad at an Oakland bus stop. He couldn't keep his boots shined, and he looked horrible in his uniform. Working Fire is the story of how, from this unlikely beginning, Zac Unger came to feel at home among this close-knit tribe, came to master his work's demands, and came to know what it is to see the city of Oakland through a firefighter's eyes. From the materials of his days' work -- the harrowing calls and the hilarious, the moments of triumph and of grief -- Zac Unger has forged a timeless story of finding one's path. He never takes himself too seriously, but he comes to take his job very seriously. Because he tell his story with such extraordinary empathy and wit, the fierce passion he feels for his work, his comrades, and the city he protects becomes our own. Book jacket.
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You belong in a zoo! : tales from a lifetime spent with cobras, crocs, and other creatures by Peter Brazaitis(2003)"After the teenage Peter Brazaitis brought home one creepy crawly creature too many, his stepmother declared, "You are an animal, and you belong in a zoo!" He took her at her word. He went directly from high school in Brooklyn to a job at the Reptile House at the Bronx Zoo, where he stayed for more than thirty years, eventually becoming superintendent of reptiles. He later became curator of the Central Park Zoo, and continues to work with law enforcement as a forensic specialist in the fight to stop illegal importation and slaughter of reptiles for the luxury exotic-leather industry. (His effectiveness at this would earn him the moniker "The Bald-Headed Snake Keeper in the Bronx.") You Belong in a Zoo! presents the amazing experiences Brazaitis has had in more than four decades of working with wild animals."Syndetics
Do it yourself
Car hacks & mods for dummies by David Vespremi(2004)Ever wish you'd been invited to the design and engineering meetings when your car was being created? Well, here's how to add what they forgot and change what bugs you! This handy guide steers you safely past warranty pitfalls, shows you what modifications are legal, provides performance tips, and helps you make your car look cool. Book jacket.
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Chicken soup for the teenage soul's the real deal : school, cliques, classes, clubs, and more(2005)The Real Deal series expands the Chicken Soup brand by adding exciting new features to the winning formula of for-teens-by-teens stories, including sidebars, quizzes, and cool graphics. HCI BooksSyndetics
Creating Web pages for dummies by Bud E. Smith(2007)Covers Web page publishing concepts including how to use HTML, using a text editor, creating a home page, adding links, placing graphics, adding multimedia, and Netiquette.
Dollar store decor : 100 projects for lush living that won't break the bank by Mark Montano(2005)From the most popular decorator on TLC’s hit show “While You Were Out” comes a guide to the coolest kind of decorating on the skimpiest of budgets. Just a few dollars and a bit of creativity go a long way toward adding spice to your living space without breaking the bank. Stores like Dollar Tree and 99¢ Dream are popping up in every city in America with a treasure trove of items from frames to faux flowers. With these materials―and some easy instructions from Mark―readers will learn how to create and embellish everything from lampshades to storage areas for a fraction of the cost they would pay anywhere else. These projects are so cool no one will ever guess how little was paid!
Edgy and stylish, this book is the hippest guide available on shoestring budget decorating.
Amazon
Draw your own manga : beyond the basics by Haruno Nagatomo(2005)Haruno Nagatomo and translated by Francoise White is the second book in the art instruction series recommended by the Tokyo Animation College. The cute heroine and toy squirrel are back with even more tips on how to draw like a master, and the book includes an interview with well-known manga artist Shinji Mizushima, famous for baseball manga.
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Getting started stringing beads by Jean Campbell(2005)The art of crafting beautiful string and bead creations is explained in this step-by-step guide for novice beaders. Everything the beginner needs to know, including information on selecting the appropriate beads at the store, making the beads at home, and basic stringing materials are provided, along with pointers on securing beading wires with crimps, tying knots, and working with findings. Twenty-five quick and simple projects will help build foundational technical skills and result in exiting bead creations like charm bracelets and chandelier earrings. A resource guide for more advanced beading projects is also included.
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How to hold a crocodile(2003)Readers of all ages, especially children and teens, will have fun with this color-illustrated compendium of obscure facts and instructions. Presented in no particular order, there are instructions on climbing through a playing card, keeping an octopus, making a camel-dung cigarette lighter, preparing a boar's head for a feast, and teaching a bear to dance. On the more practical side, there is information on performing CPR, growing bean sprouts, heating an ancient Roman villa, and building a log cabin. Whimsical illustrations and bordered boxes make the book accessible for even the youngest readers. How to Hold a Crocodile is an illustrated and fun-to-read guide to the practical information that is not taught in school. This book is jammed full of simple instructions for many situations in life. Need to roast an ox? Repel cavalry? Tie a bow tie? All instructions are here, clear, concise, and fully illustrated.This remarkable reference book explains how to:- Build a log cabin- Catch a cockroach- Magnetize a walnut- Play the castanets- Ride a dolphin- Drill for oil- Meet the Pope- Find a blind spot- Become a saintHard-earned experience spanning many cultures and centuries leads to creative advice and counsel. Want to prevent a nail from splitting wood? Simply wipe the nail on soap before hammering.The off-beat retro artwork and text is fun and engaging. How to Hold a Crocodile is an amazing collection of information, advice, tips, and instructions guaranteed to entertain and satisfy anyone's curiosity.
Mates, dates guide to life, love, and looking luscious by Cathy Hopkins(2005)Lucy, Nesta, Izzie and TJ get together and discuss boys, health, fashion, beauty tips, and all sorts of solutions to life's little problems.
Real U guide to bank accounts & credit cards by Ilyce R. Glink(2004)When it’s time to leave home and start paying for real life expenses on your own, you’ve got two choices: paper or plastic. This guide covers everything you need to know to open your first checking account, apply for your first credit cards, and handle both so that there’s still some money left in your wallet at the end of the month.
Amazon
Teen knitting club : chill out and knit by Jennifer Wenger(2004)From learning the basics to forming knitting clubs, firsthand stories and tips from scores of teens both advise and encourage while lively four-color photographs of their handiwork show what can be done with just a little practice. Includes 35 projects. Spiral bound.
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Teen makeup : looks to match your every mood by Linda Mason(2004)A former head makeup artist for Helena Rubenstein shows teen girls how to apply makeup to match their moods--modeled by real-life teens. Novice users get the basics of application techniques and tools, as well as ways to use color and steps for basic skin care. Full color.
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Adventure
Digging for the truth : one man's epic adventure exploring the world's greatest archaeological mysteries by Josh Bernstein(2006)The host of the History Channel's "Digging for the Truth" presents a behind-the-scenes tour of some of his most interesting and physically challenging adventures.
Getting away with murder : the true story of the Emmett Till case by Chris Crowe(2003)Presents a true account of the murder of fourteen-year-old, Emmett Till, in Mississippi, in 1955.
How to tell a secret : tips, tricks, & techniques for breaking codes and conveying covert information by P.J, Huff(2007)Discover the world's most cryptic stories-hush-hush operations, hidden agendas, and infamous secrets, both new and ancient-in this illustrated history that unveils the terms, events, people, institutions, technology, and tools of the trade. Explore secret communications in the military, daily life, world history, and popular culture as you get the low-down on cryptanalysis, military codes, secret clubs and decoder rings, invisible ink, baseball signals, spy novels, computer encryption, hobo codes, and more. You may think that nobody could hide a secret in front of your nose. If that's the case, try to crack Kryptos, a never-before-solved puzzle, reproduced on pages 234-235. Everybody has a secret. Can you find the one on this page? Book jacket.
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Ladies first : 40 daring American women who were second to none by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel(2006)Readers are introduced to 40 American women of achievement who were first in their field. A full-page portrait begins each informative three-page profile. The life stories of these women are as inspiring as they are diverse, and are just right for Women's History Month. Photos.
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The lost pet chronicles : adventures of a K-9 cop turned pet detecti by Kat Albrecht(2004)The nation's first law-enforcement-based pet detective shares her remarkable story, which combines the thrill of "CSI's" forensic detection with the warmth and charm of "All Creatures Great and Small." 8-page color insert.
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The North Pole was here : puzzles and perils at the top of the world by Andrew Revkin(2006)Discover the North Pole and the arctic ice that covers the ocean water there. Learn about historical expeditions, and the recent one the author joined and where these chapters were written.
Shadow divers : the true adventure of two Americans who risked everything to solve one of the last mysteries of World War II by Robert Kurson(2004)Two weekend scuba divers risk everything to solve a great historical mystery surrounding the wreckage of a World War II German U-boat off the coast of New Jersey, its ruined interior a macabre wasteland of twisted metal, tangled wires, and human bones. High school & older.
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Traveler's guide to the solar system by Giles Sparrow(2007)A fanciful account of travel on planets and their moons, written as a guide for tourists.
Ultimate spy by H. Keith Milton(2002)
Sports and Games
30 years of adventure : a celebration of Dungeons & dragons.(2004)A retrospective celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Dungeons & Dragons© brand. Thirty years ago, the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game made its debut on game shelves and kitchen tables everywhere. Since then, it has grown into a worldwide phenomenon encompassing roleplaying, miniatures, novels, computer and video games, movies, and music, and it has influenced the world of fantasy in ways few other brands have. This new collector's book celebrates that rich history by taking a look at the past, present, and future of the D&D© brand. The book will be filled with essays and photographs of the events, products, personalities, and art that have graced the world of Dungeons & Dragons over the years. Rich in vivid detail, each page will help tell the story of the evolution of the D&D experience and its place in our culture. Even celebrities will be part of the action, whether by sharing their fond memories of sitting around the gaming table or relating how the D&D experience has shaped their lives and their careers.
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Amped : how big air, big dollars, and a new generation took sports to the extreme by David Browne(2004)Once a Fringe Underground culture, skateboarding, snowboarding, BMX biking, and freestyle motocross are now the stuff of car commercials and Olympic competitions. How did these so-called extreme sports get there -- and how does it feel to be in the midst of it all? The first comprehensive account of the history, culture, and business of action sports, Amped is a journey into a world where deft athleticism, potential pain, and the ultimate rush commingle. In journalist David Browne's eyeopening account of a truly alternate sports universe, readers will find themselves aboard a raucous skateboarding bus tour with the iconic Tony Hawk, behind the scenes at the X Games and snowboarding contests, dropping into a summer camp devoted to these sports, on the sidelines witnessing the first-ever double backflip on a motorcycle, and in the offices of the multinational corporations that have tapped into the vast amounts of money to be made from these new American pastimes. Along the way, readers will also hear firsthand from such stars as Hawk, skaters Bob Burnquist and Mike Vallely, BMX riders Ryan Nyquist and Rick Thorne, and motocross riders Mike Metzger and Clifford Adoptante.
Based on interviews with more than one hundred athletes, pioneers, industry executives, manufacturers, and, of course, the adolescent amateurs who are the heart of this movement, Amped is not merely the story of an alternative community now four decades old. It is the tale of a flourishing culture that continues to reject old-fashioned stick-and-ball sports in favor of individualistic forms of expression -- and that culture's struggle to hold on to its integrity despite the demands of corporate sponsors. The story of action sports speaks volumes about Generations X and Y and their divergent views on life, creativity, gratification, and identity. Book jacket.
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Card & magic tricks by Eve Devereux(2004)Poof! You're a magician. Impress your family and friends with the 31 tricks in CARD & MAGIC TRICKS. The simple, step-by-step instructions and color picture diagrams make each trick easy to learn and a whole lot of fun to perform. From the basic techniques to tips on how to best present the tricks and entertain the audience, CARD & MAGIC TRICKS is an essential tool for all aspiring Houdinis.
Card tricks include:
• How to make a card magically change
• How to make a Joker disappear
• How to identify a volunteer's secret card
• How to make a card photograph a volunteer's face
Learn magic tricks such as:
• How to pull a scarf out of an empty box
• How to make a coin disappear
• How to levitate playing cards
• How to read minds
Amazon
Fire on ice : autobiography of a champion figure skater by Sasha Cohen(2005)Sasha's own story -- on and off the ice
Champion figure skater Sasha Cohen captured the world's attention with her exquisite spiral and outstanding layback spin at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Today she is the reigning queen of winter's most competitive sport and the most serious contender for the gold medal in 2006. For the first time, Sasha tells her amazing story, in her own words, including:
Her discovery of ice skating at age 7 and the coaches who trained her
Her comeback from the injury that almost ended her career
The crushing lows and miracle wins
This is the official autobiography of the world's most captivating skater, on and off the ice.
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It's not about the bike : my journey back to life by Lance Armstrong(2000)Lance Armstrong has officially won the 2001 Tour de France ! In 1996, twenty-four-year-old Lance Armstrong was ranked the number-one cyclist in the world. But that October, "The Golden Boy of American Cycling" was sidelined by excruciating pain. Tests revealed advanced testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain. His chance for recovery was as low as twenty percent. Armstrong embarked on the most aggressive form of chemotherapy available and underwent surgery to remove cancer that the treatments couldn't reach. Five months after his diagnosis, he resumed training under a cloud of uncertainty, and the path back to competition wasn't smooth. It took a ride with friends through the mountains of North Carolina for Armstrong to rediscover his genuine love of the sport, and to rededicate himself to its pursuit. Scarred physically and emotionally, Lance Armstrong considered his cancer "a special wake-up call," one that crystallized for him the blessings of good health, family, friends, and marriage. In October 1999, just months after his astonishing triumph in the Tour, his wife, Kristin, gave birth to their son, Luke David Armstrong. Filled with the nutritional, physical, emotional, and spiritual details of his recovery, It's Not About the Bike traces the wondrous journey of one of America's greatest athletes to a singularly inspiring appreciation of life lived to the fullest.
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Juggling : from start to star by Dave Finnigan(2002)Featuring more than 250 photos illustrating proper technique, this book on juggling is comprehensive, clear, and understandable for beginners yet challenging for experienced jugglers. 242 illustrations.
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Mensa brain bafflers by Philip J. Carter(2006)
NASCAR now by Timothy Miller(2004)NASCAR Now takes you behind the wheel for the inside scoop on drivers, cars and crews. Book jacket.
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Schott's sporting, gaming & idling miscellany by Ben Schott(2005)From the author of the international bestsellers "Schott's Original Miscellany" and "Schott's Food & Drink Miscellany" comes the third and most playful installment in the series: a miscellanist's wisdom from the worlds of sports, games, and idling.
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Skateboarding : new levels, tips and tricks for serious riders by Doug Werner(2002)Illustrated with 250 photos, this follow-up to "Skateboarder's Start Up" reveals what it takes to advance beyond the beginning level of skateboarding.
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Swimming to Antarctica : tales of a long-distance swimmer by Lynne Cox(2004)At age fourteen, she swam twenty-six miles from Catalina Island to the California mainland. At ages fifteen and sixteen, she broke the men's and women's world records for swimming the English Channel-a thirty-three-mile crossing in nine hours, thirty-six minutes. At eighteen, she swam the twenty-mile Cook Strait between North and South Islands of New Zealand, was caught on a massive swell, found herself after five hours farther from the finish than when she started, and still completed the swim. She was the first to swim the Strait of Magellan, the most treacherous three-mile stretch of water in the world. The first to swim the Bering Strait-the channel that forms the boundary line between the United States and Russia-from Alaska to Siberia, thereby opening the U.S.-Soviet border for the first time in forty-eight years, swimming in thirty-eight-degree water in four-foot waves without a shark cage, wet suit, or lanolin grease. The first to swim the Cape of Good Hope (a shark emerged from the kelp, its jaws wide open, and was shot as it headed straight for her). In this extraordinary book, the world's most extraordinary distance swimmer writes about her emotional and spiritual need to swim and about the almost mystical act of swimming itself. Lynne Cox trained hard from age nine, working with an Olympic coach, swimming five to twelve miles each day in the Pacific. At age eleven, she swam even when hail made the water "like cold tapioca pudding" and was told she would one day swim the English Channel. Four years later-not yet out of high school-she broke the men's and women's world records for the Channel swim. In 1987, she swam the Bering Strait from America to the Soviet Union-a feat that, according to Gorbachev, helped diminish tensions between Russia and the United States. Lynne Cox's relationship with the water is almost mystical: she describes swimming as flying, and remembers swimming at night through flocks of flying fish the size of mockingbirds, remembers being escorted by a pod of dolphins that came to her off New Zealand. She has a photographic memory of her swims. She tells us how she conceived of, planned, and trained for each, and re-creates for us the experience of swimming (almost) unswimmable bodies of water, including her most recent astonishing one-mile swim to Antarctica in thirty-two-degree water without a wet suit. She tells us how, through training and by taking advantage of her naturally plump physique, she is able to create more heat in the water than she loses. Lynne Cox has swum the Mediterranean, the three-mile Strait of Messina, under the ancient bridges of Kunning Lake, below the old summer palace of the emperor of China in Beijing. Breaking records no longer interests her. She writes about the ways in which these swims instead became vehicles for personal goals, how she sees herself as the lone swimmer among the waves, pitting her courage against the odds, drawn to dangerous places and treacherous waters that, since ancient times, have challenged sailors in ships.
Science
Chew on this: everything you don't want to know about fast food by Eric Schlosser(2006)A behind-the-scenes look at the fast food industry.
Crime scene: the ultimate guide to forensic science by Richard Platt(2003)Television writer and consultant Platt writes for the lay reader, explaining the scientific methods and procedures involved in investigating crimes. He describes such techniques as psychological profiling, DNA analysis, fingerprinting, and the review of autopsy reports. Difficult concepts are clarified with examples drawn from newsworthy cases, as well as plenty of color photographs and diagrams. The science is rather thin, but many of the illustrations are excellent. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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Death stars, weird galaxies, and a quasar-spangled universe : the discoveries of the Very Large Array telescope by Karen Taschek(2006)In 1931, Karl Jansky was hired by AT&T to search for sources of static that might interfere with radio waves for transatlantic communications. Jansky identified static from thunderstorms and random radio noise from devices on Earth, but he also found a radio hiss from the Milky Way galaxy.
After World War II, astronomers constructed more radio telescopes with greater sensitivity to faint radio signals from space. In the 1970s, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory built the Very.Large Array (VLA) radio telescope, on the plains of San Agustin, New Mexico. The VLA is well equipped to hunt for strange objects and solve astronomical mysteries. The VLA receives radio signals from outer space. Most are so faint, a blastingly strong signal would be a cell phone ringing on the moon, 238,855 miles away from Earth. The VLA has shown ice on the burning-hot planet of Mercury, has discovered a burst of brand-new star formation, and has probed dying and exploding stars.
Karen Taschek introduces young readers to the wonders revealed by the VLA. She begins with basic information on our solar system and our own Milky Way galaxy and then extends the discussion to galaxies billions of light-years from Earth. Book jacket.
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A field guide to household technology by Edwin J.C. Sobey(2007)Illustrating how a fire alarm detects smoke and what the "plasma" is in a plasma screen television, this fascinating handbook explains how everyday household devices function and operate. More than 180 different household technologies are covered, including gadgets unique to apartment buildings and houseboats. Devices are grouped according to their "habitats"--the living room, family room, den, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and basement--and feature a detailed description of what the device does and how it works, as well as a photograph for easy identification. With helpful sidebars describing related technical issues, such as why a cheap dimmer switch can interfere with radio reception, this handbook for curious readers provides carefully detailed descriptions and the history behind many of the older household technologies like toasters and faucets to newer technologies like motion detectors, TiVo, and satellite radio.
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The physics of superheroes by James Kakalios(2005)What did the Flash know about the Special Theory of Relativity that you do not? Why did Ant-Man have so much difficulty with a half- filled bathtub? Kakalios (physics and astronomy, U. of Minnesota) combines his love for comic books and the startling accurate ways they present physics with his love of explaining physics to undergraduates and those of us destined to never get beyond the comic book stage. While filling us in on why spending your allowance on x- ray glasses is a poor investment, Kakalios covers mechanics (including Newton's Law of Gravity, the properties of matter and the cube-square law) energy (including conservation and Ampere's Law), and modern physics (including quantum mechanics, solid-state physics and tunneling phenomena). In a final section, Kakalios also contemplates a series of superhero bloopers, proving that sometimes having mutant powers and three bucks is only good for a small cappuccino. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)Syndetics
Return of gonzo gizmos : more projects & devices to channel your inner geek by Simon Field(2006)This fresh collection of more than 20 science projects--from hydrogen fuel cells to computer-controlled radio transmitters--is perfect for the tireless tinkerer. Innovative activities include taking detailed plant cell photographs through a microscope using a disposable camera; building a rocket engine out of aluminum foil, paper clips, and kitchen matches; and constructing a geodesic dome out of gumdrops and barbecue skewers. Organized by scientific topic, each chapter includes explanations of the physics, chemistry, biology, or mathematics behind the projects. Most of the devices can be built using common household products or components available at hardware or electronic stores, and each experiment contains illustrated step-by-step instructions with photographs and diagrams that make construction easy. No workbench warrior, science teacher, or grown-up geek should be without this idea-filled resource.
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The science of Sherlock Holmes : from Baskerville Hall to the Valley of Fear, the real forensics behind the great detective's greatest cases by E.J. Wagner(2006)"The Science of Sherlock Holmes is a wild ride in a hansom cab along the road paved by Sherlock Holmes - a ride that leads us through medicine, law, pathology, toxicology, anatomy, blood chemistry, and the emergence of real-life forensic science during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries."--BOOK JACKET.
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The velocity of honey and more science of everyday life by Jay Ingram(2005)What's the science behind the theory of "six degrees of separation"? How do stones "skip"? When visiting a new place, why does getting there always seem to take so much longer than returning home? In The Velocity of Honey, the host of the Discovery Channel Canada's Daily Planet and best-selling author Jay Ingram muses upon these and many more mysteries that puzzle and perplex. With his trademark wit and wonderment, Ingram makes the science of our lives accessible and fascinating. From mosquitoes to the Marvel Universe, baseball to baby-holding, Ingram's topics are diverse. In some pieces, he explores the science behind many of our proverbial expressions, common sayings such as "Time flies when you're having fun" and "It's a small world after all." In others, he highlights intriguing links between the world of art and the world of science. Delightful and surprising, Jay Ingram's essays not only help to humanize and promote our understanding of science, they also remind us of the mystery that is the essence of all scientific pursuit.
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Why does a ball bounce? : 101 questions you never thought of asking by Adam Hart-Davis(2005)Thoughtfully chosen, answered, and illustrated, questions of everyday scientific interest are arranged in sections on air, earth, water, fire, light, ice and rain, math, technology, plants, animals, and health. Each question is answered in a page of clear, zesty text facing a full-page color photo by Hart-Davis, who is a passionate photographer as well as a science and technology writer (he appears on radio and television programs in Britain). An example: the first question is "How does a balloon burst?" The photo that accompanies the explanatory text is an intriquing stop-action shot of a dart going into the balloon, which causes one to wonder "how did he get that photo?" Hart-Davis graciously explains his photo techniques at the end of the book. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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Music & Film
Circuit-bending : build your own alien instruments by Reed Ghazala(2005)"We send probes into deep space to listen to alien worlds. But alien worlds aren't always that far away." — Reed Ghazala
Alien music could be inside that old Speak & Spell at your neighbor's yard sale. Circuit-bending sets it free. Start turning throw-away audio electronics into magical music engines and discover a freedom of expression that comes straight from your dreams. All you need to know about electronics is how to solder— an how to read these instructions from the guy who accidentally started it all. Limitations? Only your imagination.
Inside you'll find detailed instructions for turning ANY circuit you find into an alien music engine overnight, along with never before revealed secrets to bent instruments including: Incantor Cool Keys Casio SK-1 Casio SA-2 Harmonic Window Phone Toys Casio SK-60 Realistic MT140 Casio SA-5 The Electronic Womb Casio Sax Particle Bays Write with Light Rap Rhythm Mall Madness
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Girl director : a how-to guide for the first-time flat-broke film and video maker by Andrea Richards(2005)A guide to do-it-yourself filmmaking from a female perspective, featuring accessible expert advice and a hip history of women in film.
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How to do everything with your iPod & iTunes by Guy Hart-Davis(2006)Now fully updated, this version of the bestselling how-to guide lets readers discover that today's iPods can be used for much more than just playing music. Now they can enjoy videos, load their iPod with their calendar and contacts, transfer up-to-the-minute headlines, or even display driving directions. Whether a Windows or Mac OS X user, this easy-to-follow guide will help users take their iPod and iTunes to the absolute limit.Syndetics
I don't mean to be rude, but-- : backstage gossip from American idol & the secrets that can make you a star by Simon Cowell(2003)Since the debut of American Idol, puckish Brit judge Simon Cowell has become America's most notorious critic -- not only on account of his incredible instinct for spotting the next breakout musical stars but also for his hilarious, shockingly candid repartee with everyone who crosses his path. Now, true to form, he holds nothing back, offering you a backstage pass to America's hottest show -- the highlights, the gossip, the contestants who blew their chances -- and takes you on a whirlwind tour of the music business while sharing his own insider opinions, on everything. From his days in the mailroom at EMI Records to the creation of American Idol, Simon has always had a knack for judging talent -- and for being center stage. Here, he tells the rollicking stories of his first insult (to his mother), his first music criticism (to his first-grade teacher Mrs. Jones), and his first image makeover (on his unfortunate younger brother). And, of course, the sidesplitting backstory of the birth of American Idol -- and all the dreadful auditions, bad hair days, judges' squabbles, juicy rumors, surprise triumphs, and #1 singles that followed.
With his trademark with and brutal honesty, Simon delivers the real dish on: Who gave the best and worst performances on the show? What really goes on between the three judges (and what was it like to kiss Paula Abdul)? Who were the biggest divas when the cameras weren't rolling? And, if you're an aspiring Justin or J.Lo, you'll also learn the trade secrets that only Simon knows: how to develop an image and make the most of your talent, how to find an agent or manager, how to nail an audition, and -- should you be so lucky as to make it to the top -- how to stretch your 15 minutes into a career. Packed with razor-sharp insights into music, the fame game, and pop-music powerhouses from the Beatles to Britney Spears. I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But... is your ticket inside American Idol, and a highly amusing, no-holds-barred look at what it takes to make it big. Book jacket.
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Mythbusters : the explosive truth behind 30 of the most perplexing urban legends of all time by Keith Zimmerman(2005)The hosts of the hit television series MythBusters go behind the scenes to provide the real story of thirty of our most baffling urban legends, explaining how they use modern-day scientific principles and methods to document what is fact and what is fiction, in a volume that includes illustrations, photographs, blueprints, and interviews to document the process. Leave no urban myth untested. Could you kill someone by dropping a penny from a skyscraper? Can an unsuspecting scuba diver be sucked out of the water by a firefighting helicopter and get spit out in the middle of a forest fire? Can you save yourself in a plummeting elevator by jumping just before it hits bottom? Special effects experts Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, hosts of the Discovery Channel's top-rated MythBusters, use modern-day extreme science to show you what's real and what's fiction. With photographs, illustrations, blueprints, and exclusive interviews to document the mythbusting process, MythBusters: The Explosive Truth Behind 30 of the Most Perplexing Urban Legends of All Time will examine dozens of urban legends, from exploding toilets to being buried alive -- these guys have tested them all. Eye-opening, jaw-dropping, and even laugh-inducing, this book will delight armchair scientists, curious readers, and fans of the show alike. Keith and Kent Zimmerman are the New York Times bestselling coauthors of Hell's Angel and The Best Damn Sports Book, Period, among others
The plot thickens-- : Harry Potter investigated by fans for fans(2004)Now we know what fans are doing while awaiting the next Harry Potter adventure-they've written this book for you, their fellow fans. Authors from around the world contributed their thoughts and insights to help you form your own theories about the past, present, and future of Harry Potter. They have completed many fascinating scrolls that analyzed character profiles and Rowling's wizarding world. Book jacket.
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Special effects : an introduction to movie magic by Ron Miller(2006)
The story behind the song : 150 songs that chronicle the 20th century by Richard D. Barnet(2004)This chronologically arranged volume contains 150 entries on popular songs that, together, tell the story of American history. Each of ten chapters begins with an overview of how songs from the period reflected the culture of the decade. Song entries list the title, songwriter(s), publication information, and current availability. Included are songs that defined musical genres, patriotic songs, protest songs, and those that sparked controversy. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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The lord of the rings : the making of the movie trilogy by Brian Sibley(2002)From conceptual design to filming, this book explores the making of "The Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy, with interviews with cast members, commentary from the director, and hundreds of stunning behind-the-scenes images, many exclusive to this book.Syndetics
Random Facts
Guinness world records(2007)
The know-it-all : one man's humble quest to become the smartest person in the world by A.J. Jacobs(2004)33,000 pages 44 million words 10 billion years of history 1 obsessed man Part memoir and part education (or lack thereof), The Know-It-All chronicles NPR contributor A.J. Jacobs's hilarious, enlightening, and seemingly impossible quest to read the Encyclopaedia Britannica from A to Z. To fill the ever-widening gaps in his Ivy League education, A.J. Jacobs sets for himself the daunting task of reading all thirty-two volumes of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. His wife, Julie, tells him it's a waste of time, his friends believe he is losing his mind, and his father, a brilliant attorney who had once attempted the same feat and quit somewhere around Borneo, is encouraging but, shall we say, unconvinced. With self-deprecating wit and a disarming frankness, The Know-It-All recounts the unexpected and comically disruptive effects Operation Encyclopedia has on every part of Jacobs's life -- from his newly minted marriage to his complicated relationship with his father and the rest of his charmingly eccentric New York family to his day job as an editor at Esquire. Jacobs's project tests the outer limits of his stamina and forces him to explore the real meaning of intelligence as he endeavors to join Mensa, win a spot on Jeopardy!, and absorb 33,000 pages of learning. On his journey he stumbles upon some of the strangest, funniest, and most profound facts about every topic under the sun, all while battling fatigue, ridicule, and the paralyzing fear that attends his first real-life responsibility -- the impending birth of his first child. The Know-It-All is an ingenious, mightily entertaining memoir of one man's intellect, neuroses, and obsessions and a soul-searching, ultimately touching struggle between the all-consuming quest for factual knowledge and the undeniable gift of hard-won wisdom.
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Krakatoa : the day the world exploded, August 27, 1883 by Simon Winchester(2003)In this first US edition, the author of the The Map That Changed the World portrays the 19th-century eruption of a Javanese volcano that still has global repercussions in both historical and scientific contexts. The book includes maps and other illustrations. Published in Great Britain by Viking, 2003. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)Syndetics
The rescue artist : a true story of art, thieves, and the hunt for a missing masterpiece by Edward Dolnick(2005)In the predawn gloom of a February day in 1994, two thieves entered the National Gallery in Oslo and snatched one of the world's most famous paintings, Edvard Munch's The Scream. Baffled and humiliated, the Norwegian police called on the world's greatest art detective, a half-English, half-American undercover cop named Charley Hill. In this rollicking narrative, author Dolnick takes us inside the art underworld. The trail leads high and low, from titled aristocrats to thick-necked thugs. We meet Munch, too, a haunted misfit who spends his evenings drinking in the Black Piglet Café and his nights feverishly trying to capture in paint the visions in his head. The most compelling character of all is Charley Hill, a complicated mix of brilliance, foolhardiness, and charm.--From publisher description.
Schott's original miscellany by Ben Schott(2003)Where else can readers find, packed onto one page the 13 principles of witchcraft, the structure of military hierarchy, all of the clothing-care symbols, a list of the countries where people drive on the left, and a nursery rhyme about sneezing?
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The tough guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones(2006)
Zamba : the true story of the greatest lion that ever lived by Ralph Helfer(2005)
