Science Exoplanets : Diamond Worlds,
The Greatest Story Ever Told—So Far :
Super Earths, Pulsar Planets, and the New Search for Life Beyond Our Solar System
Why Are We Here?
by Lawrence M. Krauss
by Michael Summers and James Trefil available in March, hardcover, Smithsonian Books
available in March, hardcover, Atria Books
Astronomer Michael Summers and physicist James Trefil explore these remarkable recent discoveries: planets revolving around pulsars, planets made of diamond, planets that are mostly water, and numerous rogue planets wandering through the emptiness of space. This captivating book reveals the latest discoveries and argues that the richness and complexity we are finding necessitates a change in our questions and mental paradigms.
Internationally renowned, award-winning theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss leads us to the furthest reaches of space and time, to scales so small they are invisible to microscopes, to the birth and rebirth of light, and into the natural forces that govern our existence. The Greatest Story challenges us to re-envision ourselves and our place within the universe, as it appears that ”God” does play dice with the universe.
Bad Singer:
Wild Nights : How Taming Sleep Created Our Restless World
The Surprising Science of Tone Deafness and How We Hear Music
by Tim Falconer
by Benjamin Reiss
available now, hardcover, House of Anansi Press
available in March, hardcover, Basic Books
Author Tim Falconer is one of only 2.5 percent of the population that has amusia. In other words, he is scientifically tone-deaf. Here he chronicles his quest to understand the brain science behind tone-deafness and to search for ways to retrain the adult brain. He is tested by numerous scientists who are as fascinated with him as he is with them. He also investigates why we love music and deconstructs what we are really hearing when we listen to it. This is a fascinating, insightful, and highly entertaining journey.
Mouthfeel :
Written by an English literature professor interested in cultural and social changes expressed in writing, this is a fascinating look at how the social concepts and regulation of sleep have changed over the last 400 years. I was shocked to find out that much of what we think is 'scientific fact' about how and when we sleep is in fact made up and imposed upon us by industrial needs to have a work force available at scheduled times. This is a fun read, and I came away with a sense of relief and greater flexibility in my own sleeping habits. –Jonica
Deviate : The Science of Seeing Differently
How Texture Makes Taste
by Ole Mouritsen and Klaus Styrbaek
by Beau Lotto
available now, hardcover, Columbia University Press
Distinguishing flavor from taste, the authors suggest that what we call taste is actually interconnected to the sensation of having the food in our mouths as well as on our taste buds. They look at taste tests involving cheese, breads, fruits (a crisp apple vs. a mealy apple), and prepared foods (crispy duck skin, calcified tomatoes, French fries). From the perspective of a scientist and a chef, they look at the ways in which mouthfeel can be a greater factor in the preparation and enjoyment of food.
available in April, hardcover, Hachette
"This is a neuroscience book that explores the deeply personal issue of perception. Lotto's insights constitute a real breakthrough in our understanding of how we perceive (and react to, and imagine ourselves within) reality. And his capacity to make complex scientific concepts and research results easy to understand, and to explain their relevance to our life, makes this an utterly readable book."—Bruno Giussani, European director, TED
Don't Forget... Village Books also offers a wide variety of used and bargain books.
52
Spring 2017
Fairhaven Store Hours: Monday-Saturday 9am-9pm • Sunday 10am-7pm