Inyo County Free Library - New Acquisitions
January 2013 - February 2013
These are books and media new to the library and cataloged by the Inyo County Free Library.
Additional information about each title can be found in the catalog (click on the title). For older acquisition lists choose from Select another list. To request any of these titles please contact your local library branch.
| Non-Fiction | Computer science, information & general worksPhilosophy & psychologyReligionSocial sciencesLanguage Science TechnologyArts & recreationLiteratureHistory & geography |
1 to 17 of 17
NEW RELEASE In pursuit of the unknown: 17 equations that changed the world By Stewart, Ian Publishing Date: 2012 Classification: 500 Call Number: 511.326 STE In In Pursuit of the Unknown, celebrated mathematician Ian Stewart uses a handful of mathematical equations to explore the vitally important connections between math and human progress. We often overlook the historical link between mathematics and technological advances, says Stewart--but this connection is integral to any complete understanding of human history. Equations are modeled on the patterns we find in the world around us, says Stewart, and it is through equations that we are able to make sense of, and in turn influence, our world. Stewart locates the origins of each equation he presents--from Pythagoras's Theorem to Newton's Law of Gravity to Einstein's Theory of Relativity--within a particular historical moment, elucidating the development of mathematical and philosophical thought necessary for each equation's discovery. None of these equations emerged in a vacuum, Stewart shows; each drew, in some way, on past equations and the thinking of the day. In turn, all of these equations paved the way for major developments in mathematics, science, philosophy, and technology. Without logarithms (invented in the early 17th century by John Napier and improved by Henry Briggs), scientists would not have been able to calculate the movement of the planets, and mathematicians would not have been able to develop fractal geometry. The Wave Equation is one of the most important equations in physics, and is crucial for engineers studying the vibrations in vehicles and the response of buildings to earthquakes. And the equation at the heart of Information Theory, devised by Claude Shannon, is the basis of digital communication today. An approachable and informative guide to the equations upon which nearly every aspect of scientific and mathematical understanding depends, In Pursuit of the Unknown is also a reminder that equations have profoundly influenced our thinking and continue to make possible many of the advances that we take for granted. |
By Frazier, Kendrick Publishing Date: 1985 Classification: 500 Call Number: 523.2 FRA Contains photographs, text, and six essays on the solar system. |
By Miller, Russell Publishing Date: c1983 Classification: 500 Call Number: 551.1 MIL Presents evidence supporting Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift. Explains plate tectonics and discusses what is known of the earth's crust and upper mantle. |
By Bailey, Ronald H. Publishing Date: c1982 Classification: 500 Call Number: 551.3 BAI Discusses the theory of glaciers and of the Ice Age as propounded by Venetz and later espoused by Agassiz, and discusses modern glaciers and explorations of the polar ice cap. |
NEW RELEASE The ocean of life: the fate of man and the sea By Roberts, Callum Publishing Date: c2012 Classification: 500 Call Number: 551.46 ROB Putting our exploitation of the seas into historical context, Roberts offers a devastating account of the impact of modern fishing techniques, pollution, and climate change, and reveals what it would take to steer the right course while there is still time. |
By Clark, Champ Publishing Date: c1982 Classification: 500 Call Number: 551.48 CLA Discusses the flood control problem on such major river systems as China's Yellow River, the Mississippi, the Ganges, and the Nile. Presents some of the world's major dams, and some disastrous floods. |
By Pringle, Laurence P. Publishing Date: c1985 Classification: 500 Call Number: 551.48 PRI Describes rivers and lakes as geographical features, the plant and animal life they support, some of the uses the humans make of their water, and the problem of pollution. |
By Allen, Oliver E. Publishing Date: c1983 Classification: 500 Call Number: 551.5 ALL Discusses meteorological phenomena and the modern problems arising from pollution. Presents efforts to harness wind energy. |
By Chorlton, Windsor Publishing Date: c1983 Classification: 500 Call Number: 551.7 CHO Explores glacial action and theories about the earth's Ice Ages. Presents some of the relics of the Ice Age that have been found, including ancient art and frozen animal remains. |
By O'Neil, Paul Publishing Date: c1983 Classification: 500 Call Number: 553.8 ONE Photographs, text, and essays describe gemstones, their creation, harvest by man, and their current status in the marketplace. |
NEW RELEASE The violinist's thumb: and other lost tales of love, war, and genius, as written by our genetic code By Kean, Sam Publishing Date: 2012 Classification: 500 Call Number: 572.8 KEA An exploration of human DNA and the stories it can tell describes how genes can explain why JFK's skin was bronze, Einstein was a genius, and why people with exceptional thumb flexibility can become world-class violinists. |
Publishing Date: 1985 Classification: 500 Call Number: 574.5 Describes grasslands and tundra, and includes five essays on the topics. |
By Sackett, Russell Publishing Date: 1983 Classification: 500 Call Number: 574.5 SAC Contains photographs, text, and four essays on the areas at the edge of the sea. |
By Page, Jake Publishing Date: c1983 Classification: 500 Call Number: 582.16 PAG Contains photographs, text, and five essays on the forest environment. |
NEW RELEASE The bluebird effect: uncommon bonds with common birds By Zickefoose, Julie Publishing Date: 2012 Classification: 500 Call Number: 598.0723 ZIC A wild bird rehabilitator and nature artist describes her painstaking efforts to rescue injured birds and her experiences when those birds come back to visit, looking at the personality and quirks of individual birds of different species. |
By Chadwick, Douglas H. Publishing Date: c2010 Classification: 500 Call Number: 599.766 CHA Overview: Glutton, demon of destruction, symbol of slaughter, mightiest of wilderness villains. The wolverine comes marked with a reputation based on myth and fancy. Yet this enigmatic animal is more complex than the legends that surround it. With a shrinking wilderness and global warming, the future of the wolverine is uncertain. The Wolverine Way reveals the natural history of this species and the forces that threaten its future, engagingly told by Douglas Chadwick, who volunteered with the Glacier Wolverine Project. This five-year study in Glacier National Park - which involved dealing with blizzards, grizzlies, sheer mountain walls, and other daily challenges to survival - uncovered key missing information about the wolverine's habitat, social structure and reproduction habits. Wolverines, according to Chadwick, are the land equivalent of polar bears in regard to the impacts of global warming. The plight of wolverines adds to the call for wildlife corridors that connect existing habitat that is proposed by the Freedom to Roam coalition. |
NEW RELEASE Legacy: a genetic history of the Jewish people By Ostrer, Harry Publishing Date: c2012 Classification: 500 Call Number: 599.9892 OST The author explores the history of genetic investigation of the Jewish people. He also explains the insights that genetics has provided about the lines of origin of Jewish people. He displays how Jews from different diaspora groups are linked by the genetic threads that provide a biological base for Jewishness. These findings also flow into the debate about population genetics and the role of genetic legacy in determining our individual and group identity. |
1 to 17 of 17