Biology Books

I purchased this book hoping to get a consolidated overview of the characteristics of bottlenose dolphins, and that's exactly what I got! I appreciated the concise descriptions of the dolphin's physical and behavioral adaptations that lead to a better understanding of the animal overall. I would recommend this book to anyone with a genuine interest in dolphins, conservation of the species, or anyone in the position of caring for this animals as a good resource to keep in their library.

Good to see Samantha successful in life. I knew her back when she was a struggling student at Eckerd College.

She is very smart.

I have read through this book while doing some research on dolphins and marine mammal conservation and must say that this has some information that I could find nowhere else. This book hits on such a large variety of information relating to dolphin biology and conservation that I cannot believe that they fit it all into one book.

The collaborators who put this book together are dedicated scientists with years of experience in the field. I admire their work. But I find on thing missing from the discussion of brain versus body size. They establish ratios of brain to body size and declare this is one method of measuring the intelligence of the animal, i.e. the larger the brain is in relationship to the body, the smarter the animal is. But they do not explain why a large body needs a large brain. After all, whale sharks of the same size as sperm whales have brains smaller than your fist while the sperm whale brain is six times larger than the human brain. Perhaps it is the large brain which requires the large body. The laws of physics would prohibit a brain developing in a very small body. Necks breaking and cortical sheering would be a problem.

The commercial use of honeybees has diverted attention from their generally larger and wilder cousins, the bumblebees. Overcoming the suspicions of his Maine neighbours, Heinrich applied modern technology and immense patience to learn about bumblebee lifestyles in local bogs and fields. What he learned overturned many assumptions about how these insects deal with the environment. He soon concluded that the life of the bumblebee is tied firmly to issues of dynamic energy balance. That balance is, in turn, related to the pollination needs of the plants they forage. In this illuminating and thoughtful presentation, the author provides a captivating picture of the bumblebee's role in Nature. In so doing, he demonstrates the interaction of different species to explain the process of co-evolution of different species.

As a "social insect", the bumblebee reflects its evolutionary roots. It also seems to provide many "lessons" humans express the wish to emulate. Being in nearly constant motion during daylight hours, it appears "industrious". It also appears "frugal" in the acquisition and preservation of resources. Heinrich stresses how evolution has conditioned these behaviour traits, using human economic scenarios to explain the seeming parallels. In order to survive a variety of environmental conditions, the bumblebee must engage in various cost-benefit scenarios. These include the individual bee's energy regulation, as well as the transfer of resources to meet the colony's needs. From the outset, the author notes how the lessons derived from bumblebee studies may be applied to broader ecological questions.

He opens with the colony cycle, with a single queen launching a new brood-site. Development of the colony follows with individual bees making specific contributions. Bumblebees, unlike their honeybee cousins, perform their role as individuals. There's no "bee dance", which would be a wasteful exercise. Instead, the bumblebee, starts its day with a self-generated "warm-up" exercise, giving it the advantage of an earlier start than honeybees, which must be warmed by sunlight. Heinrich learned about these energy-related activities through precise measurements. Bumblebees were studied in free and tethered flight, their thermoregulatory mechanisms revealing surprising new forms. He further determined how bumblebees locate prime resource providers and how the insects can identify the best nectar producers. Heinrich ably combines tightly detailed evidence with its implications for the broader scope of Nature's mechanisms.

Bumblebees are sometimes fooled by plants that have learned how to entice them to the pollen stalks without expending energy in generating a nectar reward. This revelation leads to a discussion of the likely path of bumblebee-plant coevolution. Plants, like the insects, must expend the minimal amount of energy to achieve pollination. The result is two, highly complex, interactive lifestyles each struggling to achieve the same end - reproductive success. Plant-bumblebee interactions have granted the insects a range that surpasses that of the honeybee. Bumblebees are found within 900 km of the North Pole and south into Tierra del Fuego. While the plants found in these sparse regions are few and far between, the efficient flight energy budget of the bumblebees provide the means for nectar recovery and plant pollination. It's a finely balanced system, the author notes, but works sufficiently well for both parties even in harsh environments.

Heinrich's long experience in tracking, measuring and analysing bumblebee life cycles is carefully and expressively presented in this book. The exhaustive details are smoothly integrated into the larger picture of Nature's panorama. He has no illusions about this volume being "the last word" on this fascinating creature. Much remains to be learned, and threats to bumblebee resource areas are increasing, particularly as a result of the onset of rapid climate change. An Appendix explaining how to raise bumblebees is an aid to those wishing to contribute enlargement of the information on them. Excellent graphics, including maps of foraging patterns are a useful guide for those wishing to study bumblebees in their own areas. With a list of species and their ranges, illustrated with wing and body shapes, and colouration indicators, the student of these fascinating creatures is well-launched. Maintaining the continuity of his study is the greatest compliment this author could receive. And he deserves many for this book and the work underlying it. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

The bumblebee spends its days gathering the resources needed by the hive -- honey for energy and pollen for protein. This endeavor requires expenditure of nearly all the energy resources that the bee is capable of acquiring. Living on the edge as they do, energy requirements inform every aspect of the bees' lives -- from the way they choose flowers to harvest all the way to the way that blood flow may be redirected between the muscles of the thorax and the lower abdomen. It may sound as dry as an economics text when I tell it, but the author transports you to his summer home in Maine, where he sits and watches the bees and then devises simple but elegant experiments to tease out the subtle relationships between energy, anatomy and behavior, and the energy balances between the individual and the hive, and between the adults and the newborns.

The author explains that Bumble-bee queens (which are not accompanied by a swarm of workers as are Honey-bees), must by themselves select and furnish a nest site, lay eggs and brood the resulting larva and then forage for pollen and nectar - whose sugar provides the energy needed for flying and nest warming. Heinrich brilliantly contrasts the foraging strategies of the bumble-bees with those of the plants which provide nectar and pollen and are in return cross-pollinated. He also explains how the bees control the heat flow from their thorax which contains the flight muscles, depending on whether they need to fly which requires a relatively high thorax temperature, or need merely to crawl, which allows them to dissipate less energy. The book concludes with a large set of references to the entomological literature at the time of publication, and a set of color plates to help in identifying about fifty North and Central American species of Bumble bees.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Heinrich presents relevant and well-considered research and experimental design in an accessible and easy-to-understand fashion. Having come off a bio class in which we did an extensive lab portion on population structure and evolution, I really enjoyed seeing such fascinating data on social insects. I was not, until having read Heinrich's book, familiar with the very major differences between honey and bumblebees. This book not only presents an excellent overview of how bumblebee's function (thermoregulation of flight muscles and suchforth) but also the economic factors (in pollen and nectar) that form the trade-offs that dictate behavior. Heinrich's observation that bumblebees develop 'major and minor' flower specialties that they exploit preferentially is a fascinating bit of information that synthesizes two commonly concieved as different fields.

I'd highly recommend this book as not just beach reading for scientists but as a brilliant and accessible book on a very common pollinator.

This study of the bumble bee was fascinating. (For a moment I wanted to go back to school and study entomology.) It may be of particular interest to those interested in native bee-keeping. Instructions for building a bumblebee nesting box, and how to get a colony started, is included in the appendices.

Outstanding! This is the best and most interesting book on fungi. I highly recommend it to anyone with any interest in the subject. One of the best books I have ever read on any subject.

All things black and slimy. I loved your book Dr. Money. Lets add the nasty Chaetomium next time also neurogenic fungus.
How about the politics of the wood industry and Dr.Jeff Morrell who appears to be teaching that "mold and mildew do not cause wood rot". Is this related to the wood industry and building industry not wanting mold reported in inspections and promptly forgetting about soft rots while endangering occupant health? I have this in print from the State of Washington Department of Agriculture- what fun we could have with them.

A well written book .Vary interesting and easy to understand .Great picture of Hunter The Mold Dog .

If Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) were reincarnated as a mycologist, he would have written this book. Dr. Money's liberal dose of irreverent humor makes his very detailed, erudite book on toxic mold easy and enjoyable to read.

In the preface, Dr. Money says, "Widespread fears about black-mold toxins are a product of the new millennium and deserve a critical, balanced, scientific inquirty. Though I cannot promise anything that boring, I do hope I can dispel some of the media myths about these microorganisms while identifying the real threat that can be posed by a few of these fungi."

Stachybotrys plays a key role in this book. In Chapter 5, Dr. Money discusses the 1993 outbreak of pulmonary hemmorraging (bleeding lungs) in poor children living in Cleveland. When Dr. Money began his book, he first thought that stachybotrys might be an innocent victim of media hype. However, he discovered that stachybotrys chrtarum can produce highly toxic spores. Along with the Cleveland outbreak, he discusses an outbreak of stachybotryotoxicosis in the Soviet Union in the 1940's, and illnesses linked to Stachybotrys among horticulture workers in Europe. Dr. Money also talks about the science used to evaluate the links between Stachybotrys and illnesses, and some of the political issues at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that caused the CDC to soft-pedal Stachybotrys.

This book has a thorough, although daunting, discussion of how allergic reactions are triggered in individuals. The body's allergic reaction is, as Dr. Money points out in Chapter 3 -- Carpet Monsters, an intricate mechanism. Until I read this book, I didn't realize that four types of cells primarily respond to allergens - dendritic cells, T lymphocytes (T cells). B lymphocytes (B cells) and mast cells. Dr. Money talks about each cell type's responses to allergens, and the creation of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies.

"Your Verdict, Please" (Chapter 6) is an overview of mold litigation. It has a very thorough discussion of what happened to Melinda Ballard's home, the resulting litigation, and a breakdown of what the jury awarded Ms. Ballard - and why. Dr. Money also discusses the reduction of the $32 million award to $4 million. This chapter also has a good discussion of how the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Daubert affected the Ballard case.

Dr. Money also discusses mycological warfare -- and he is not using the term as an analogy to what happens in a house with mold. He is discussing the development of mycotoxins as a weapon in armed conflicts.

Nicholas Money is an amazing writer who manages to entertain and instruct at all times. I found myself learning and laughing from cover to cover. "Carpet Monsters and Killer Spores" is a book for everyone. Not only does it provide a wonderful introduction to the study of fungi; it explores the way our lives and destinies are inextricably linked to those of the fungi. Homeowners, attorneys, and people in the insurance industry will find much to enjoy (and fear!) in this book, as will biology enthusiasts, naturalists, and readers of all persuasions.

As Money explores the "black molds" that have received so much attention in our news media, he also explores the cultural event surrounding their reception. The book is fascinating not only as a biological work, but also as a sociological study. Thorough research and diligent attention to detail provide Money with a unique, scientifically grounded perspective, and his quirky humor will have you laughing out-loud all the way through.

Importantly, Money does not provide any easy answers to the pressing questions raised by black molds. Instead, responsibly, he shows us what science knows and what it does not know, giving us a sound, factual basis for interpretation of the many wild claims we see in the media. The only negative factor involved with this book is the fact that readers everywhere have had to spend many hours (and dollars) cleaning their bathrooms like maniacs and replacing moldy shower curtains after reading it!

Good introduction for kids of all ages to viruses, germs, the body's immune system and consequently, the importance of good hygiene.

My 3 1/2 year old son loves this book! I'm forced to read it to him every day, and he now tells me: 1. "Lymphocytes are the smartest cells and make antibodies that knock out the germs...I want to be an antibody!" 2."Macrophages are garbage collectors" 3. "Virus turn my cells into virus machines" 4. "Fibroblasts pull my cut together"

He is still a little confused about the whole "blast" part of the fibroblast...thinking that they should somehow makes something explode...

I read this book for the first time when I was 3 or 4 and adored it. I explained to all of my friends how vaccines worked (because after it knows about the threat your immune system can build an to fight the real virus). It has fun and accessible metaphors.

However, don't assume that this is just a kid's book! I'm now a medical student, and I find this book useful to explain immunology to my classmates and patients. It is full of accurate and detailed information.

I bought this book for my ten year old son. He read it through in one sitting. Actually, he reread it 3 times on the same day. The simple yet interesting text and excellent drawings captured his imagination. It kept him thirsting for more! He wants me to order all of Dr. Balkwill's books which I did. What an excellent way to introduce science to the uninitiated. I hope Dr. Balkwill will continue to write more of the series!

Cell Wars is a great way to introduce science. It is written in a straightforward manner using easy to understand vocabulary. It describes, in a fun manner, the way the human body fights off bacteria and viruses and tells why we get vaccinations. The illustrations are colorful and fun. The pictures and the story make it fun for both young children and grade school students

This is an excellent book. It outlines the important issues of clinical trials well. It is understandable and thorough. A must for anyone who is interested in actually doing trials. Not a good book for a brief, superficial overview.

Covers many aspects of trials (particularly facets of design and analysis)not yet covered by other books, eg randomisation with minimisation, and meta-analysis of trial results. Readable, applicable, practical, good references, well structured.

The amount of knowledge and the scope of this book are the exact need for the first contact with clinical trials. Yet, it is not a simple or superficial text. Instead, it not only will guide the reader through the basics of trials (and there is so much that is not basic in it) but the author points the reader to hundreds of papers and books that are landmarks. I regard this book itself as one of these landmarks!

This book is very unique. Basic statistical concepts are clearly presented but only those concepts that are important in clinical trials. The author presents all the issues with clinical trials including ethical issues with some historical perspective. Principles of randomization and statistical design are clearly presented. It offers discussion of Bayesian techniques and meta-analyses, cross-over designs and group sequential methods (interim analyses). For statisticians doing clinical research like myself, this is a valuable reference source.

This book is very unique. Basic statistical concepts are clearly presented but only those concepts that are important in clinical trials. The author presents all the issues with clinical trials including ethical issues with some historical perspective. Principles of randomization and statistical design are clearly presented. It offers discussion of Bayesian techniques and meta-analyses, cross-over designs and group sequential methods (interim analyses). For statisticians doing clinical research like myself, this is a valuable reference source.

As both an author and reader of fiction, I was impressed with details and imformation in the book "Cloning: A beginner's Guide". Maybe it is because I have always enjoyed a book that could hold my attention and make me think at the same time. Give this book a try.
The Christian fiction book that I have written main story theme is about ten years in the life of a little girl who was "chosen by God" to be the next Madonna in the second coming of Christ. Yes, it has cloning in it.
Tommy Taylor
Author - The Second Virgin Birth

"Cloning: A Beginner's Guide" is more than just a mere introduction to the contentious issue of cloning. It is the best, most concise, and clearly written, summary that I have encountered (Indeed I am so impressed with Aaron Levine's skill in handling this subject, that I've recommended to a friend who teaches introductory biology at his college to consider using excerpts from Levine's book in his class.). Levine is also a fine writer who does an admirable job in discussing the issue of cloning from virtually every perspective, without clearly demonstrating any bias - pro or con - for some of its more contentious aspects. Much to my amazement, Levine has covered succinctly in less than 171 pages of text, not only the history of cloning, but its moral, and technological, implications too. In eight terse chapters, Aaron Levine discusses the history of cloning, the importance of embryonic stem cell research as a valuable new means of human therapeutic healing, the ethics of cloning, and its future. Truly, in the best sense of the term "primer", it functions admirably as such, giving readers a superb resource on cloning that they may return to frequently.

The first half of "Cloning: A Beginner's Guide" is devoted to the origins, history, and current status of (vertebrate) animal cloning. In Chapter 1 "What cloning is and why it matters", Levine explains the importance of cloning as both a future reproductive and therapeutic tool, dispelling many of the myths and misconceptions associated with it (The most notable example is one popularized by recent Hollywood films like "Multiplicity", in which adult clones are shown performing daily tasks; a fictional depiction which Levine notes correctly is biologically incorrect for obvious reasons related to normal human growth and development.). The chapter which follows is a brief introduction and history of genetics, cell biology and developmental biology. The third chapter traces the history of successful cloning of vertebrates by embryologists, culminating with the announcement of Dolly's birth in 1996. What follows next (Chapter 4) is an excellent discussion of both actual and potential usage of 21st Century cloning in animals, covering controversial issues such as the usage of cloning in preserving (or reviving in the case of extinct) species perilously close to extinction and in cloning favorite pet animals.

The second half of "Cloning: A Beginner's Guide" is devoted to the technological aspects of human cloning and stem cell research; their potential therapeutic benefits, and, of course, their ethical implications. Chapter 5 is devoted exclusively to stem cell research and the potential therapeutic benefits of human cloning. It is followed by an elegant, admirable survey on the ethical debate over human cloning itself (Chapter 6), covering every aspect, including religiously-oriented opinions expressed by leaders of several of the leading Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. The role of governments in affecting cloning - including stem cell - research is discussed in Chapter 7, comparing and contrasting American government rules and regulations with those in other countries, including the United Nations. Finally, in Chapter 8, Levine offers an eloquent exploration on cloning's future, ending on a somewhat hopefully optimistic note.

Anyone seeking a balanced, terse, yet still extensive, introduction to cloning will find Aaron Levine's book essential, required reading (The book concludes with an excellent, exhaustive glossary of terms and definitions immediately after Chapter 8; it itself is almost worth the price of the book.). Ths fine little book is one which does belong on the bookshelves of anyone - indeed everyone - interested in cloning. I know that mine will occupy an important space on my bookshelves for a long time to come.

This is a very nicely packed description of the topic. Very well written: includes all the basic information plus a thorough exploration of related issues all delivered in an easy to read, enjoyable, conversational tone. I'm impressed by the amount of information within and the accessibility of its presentation. Not only a great way to access information on the science behind cloning, but a guide to the potential cloning shopper. Read within to see whether you should plan on counting on cloning to provide a repeat pet, a customized kid, or a replacement liver.

Great information for everyone - beginner, policymaker, or scientist looking for insight into the latest on cloning science. A great choice!

This is a very carefully written, amazing piece of work and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to keep up with this fascinating issue of cloning science. It is easily accessible to those who have zero knowledge of cloning, but it is also a fun read to those who have had some courses in biotechnology. You will be amazed how many questions you had in the past will be answered in this book. Levine navigates the readers extremely well through the basics of the cloning science to the hot topics including Dolly the Sheep to the recent ethical debate over human cloning. It is also very user-friendly in that he provides a good list of further reading for those who would like to explore more. The notes, glossary as well as index at the back are also extremely helpful for quickly refreshing your memory.

This book is a must read for anyone who wants a clear description of the complex subject of cloning. Levine's account of the historical advances that eventually led to the cloning of Dolly in 1996 is highly informative and entertaining. While the common myths about cloning perpetuated in Hollywood movies are dispelled, Levine presents a balanced view of the ethical issues surrounding cloning and how various governments have responded to the potential benefits and risks associated with this research. I highly recommend this book!

Dr. Walton has done an excellent job of presenting one of the few textbooks on this topic. This is a thoroughly researched and carefully documented book containing not only Dr. Walton's expertise on the subject matter but that of several other experts in the fields of behavioral profiling, geographic profiling, forensic document examination, and forensic dentistry. The illustrations are excellent and tell much of the story visually. The last chapter, which details how investigators solved one of the oldest cold cases to date had me reading late into the night, even though I knew how it ended from reading newspaper articles at the time!

I am a retired Chief Investigator for a DA's office in California with over 30 years of criminal investigation experience. I currently operate a private investigation business, also in California. I have specialized in the investigation of violent crime for decades and have taught related courses at the college level. This textbook is by far the best homicide investigation textbook that I have ever encountered. While the title might lead one to believe it is primarily a "Cold Case Homicide" textbook, it is actually the best text on ALL homicide investigations that I've found. It's a "must have" for anyone involved in such investigations or teaching a course on any kind of homicide or other violent crime.

Richard Walton's COLD CASE HOMICIDES: Practical Investigative Techniques provides the law enforcement and forensic communities with the most important and comprehensive work to date on the subject of cold case homicide investigation. Walton has combined his thirty years of law enforcement experience and his impressive graduate work to merge theory and practice into impressive textbook. The case history format, which I find to me an excellent methodology, combined with the checklists, photographs and illustrations makes this book easy to read and comprehend.

Walton has provided the definitive roadmap for those who wish to successfully investigate cold case homicides. His innovative and time proven methods offer the reader a realistic overview of the cold case homicide and details various investigative methods to be used in this inquiry. Walton also provides practical and current information technology and advanced investigative tools, which have allowed law enforcement to re-examine cold cases with new forensic tools.

This publication is an invaluable asset to law enforcement and I am proud to have this book in my Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigation Series.

Lt. Cmdr. Vernon J. Geberth, M.S., M.P.S
Author Practical Homicide Investigation
Series Editor, Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigation
Taylor & Francis

I bought and read this book because I'm related to Walter David, accused along with Jack Ryan, in the 1925 murder Dr. Walton refers to in the introduction and throughout the book. This book is very readable, even for non-professionals. I learned a lot and can see this would be a very helpful textbook for law enforcement professionals wanting to learn more about investigating cold cases.

I wish Dr. Walton great success. His investigation became a 13 year hunt for the truth, resulting in the long overdue pardon of Jack Ryan.

Dr. Richard Walton's COLD CASE HOMICIDES is not just a textbook for cops and criminalists. His well researched, plain talking "How To" is for anyone and everyone interested in knowing how a real murder case is painstakingly put together, a fiber of trace evidence here, a reinterview of a cold case witness there, until it is solved. Its all here, from crime-scene to courtroom. This is a must have, easy reading reference book that should be in the library of every mystery fan and writer. Law enforcement professionals know the value of this book and I expect it has already been shipped to most police academies and Criminology 101 classes. But, I believe the book's greatest contribution will come from how it informs the layperson of how real cold case murder investigations should be conducted. Congratulations to Dr. Walton on a job WELL DONE.

Steve Hodel
L.A.P.D. Homicide Detective Supervisor (ret.)
Author, Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder

This book is very helpful if you are interested vitamins. I knew a decent amount before reading this book, but learned a lot more. It'll tell you what the max dosages are, the dangers of overdosing on certain ones, what each vitamin does and the myths surrounding some of the vitamins, minerals etc. Cancer runs in my family, so I'm looking to avoid that problem. I learned that soy products inhibit breast cancer. More importantly (since I don't like soy products) I found out that I can find soy tablets at the store! A lot of really good information in this book, and as I said, it's extremely easy to read. I read it within a few days

Part 1: The Vital Keys to Good Health
Part 2: The A to K of Vitamins
Part 3: Minerals: The Elements of Good Health
Part 4: Exploring Other Supplements

Appendix A: A quick reference chart for common health problems such as acne, colds and insomia
Appendix B: Resources (includes addresses and phone number of that company/organization) for Finding nutritionally oriented physicians and other health care professionals in your location, Nutrition and the elderly, Testing labs, Supplement manufacturers, Supplement infomation and regulation, Federal Regulation and Industry association & help for medical problems
Appendix C: Includes a in-depth glossary of the terms throughout the book.

This book is packed with infomation and I found this book very useful.

In its introduction, the author explains briefly on why vitamins and minerals are so important for us to stay alive. Throughout the book there are plenty of charts, including many that list good food sources for the various vitamins, minerals, and other supplements. The book also gives tips on how to get the most from your foods and supplememnts, how to avoid problems like overdoses or bad interactions with other drugs or supplements. It also includes a sidebar with a duck character letting you know what supplements don't work or what to avoid because it dosen't work.

Anyone interested in learning about nutritional supplements should read this book!

It covers all of the basics about supplements, why we need them, and what benefits they can provide us with for optimum health. You'll see all of the popular vitamins, minerals, herbs and antioxidants and a whole lot more.

I strongly recommend "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vitamins and Minerals" to anyone that has wanted to learn more about supplements, but didn't know where to find reliable information.

This book helped me to get seriously involved in the nutritional supplement field, and I make sure that I keep a copy of it readily available at all times!

It was all I expected and more. Very simple to use and yet with extensive info if you are seriously interested in health.

The book helped me to make an informed decision about what vitamin supplements to buy suitable for my personal circumstances. Took me just 4 hours of reading. I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to get too bogged down in this vitamin stuff, but just wants a quick overview of how all these vitamins can help you be more healthy.

Space and time run parallel in the universe, but in presence of matter they bend (curve) proportional to the mass of the object as predicted by theory of relativity resulting in gravitational effect. Light passing through spacetime bend wherever the spacetime dimension is bent.

Life and consciousness run parallel like space and time. Biological consciousness, at the most fundamental form of life exists in a primitive state, but evolves into complex form in the upper region of the evolutionary ladder. Consciousness is a collection, processing, storage, and communication of information in spacetime of life. Likewise life also collects, process, and communicates information in a 4D spacetime. The biochemical and biophysical processes that perform the functions of life is unique form of matter where laws of thermodynamics are intricately preserved. The Second law requiring increasing entropy, and increasing order required for a living cell is derived by the evolution of unique structure; cell compartmentization, nesting, and segregation of functions (cell organelles), membrane bound enzymes, multienzyme complexes, coupled reactions, metal mediated enzyme reactions, and use of stored chemical energy instead of electrical energy are uniquely evolved so that cell (life) could exist independently and perform its functions in coherence with consciousness. A living cell is characterized by cell division, reproduction and thus carrying the blue print of the parent in genetic code. Thus a star can not be a living being even though it is born, then grows, matures, dies, and requires fuel (hydrogen) to feed on to generate energy and for independent existence.

In this book the author presents a strange analogy between life & consciousness with the theory of relativity. In this comparison he visualizes matter and energy (gravity) referred to as inorganic universe, and the life forms referred to as organic universe, and consciousness, evolved during the course of evolution as three independent frames of references in four dimensional spacetime (4D; three space & one time dimensions). In this model of biological relativity the consciousness and life which are related to internal world of sensory experience and brain function creates reality. The 4D reality is a result of continuous information gathering, processing, storage, recollection and application; the referent system emerging from neural activity is referred to as consciousness. This book concentrates mainly on human consciousness with a discussion of structure and function of human brain and central nervous system, although there are some discussions about consciousness in other nonhuman non-primate life forms. The authors contention that biological relativity is a unique feature is little confusing. The process of sensation, perception, and emotion, learning, memory, thought, etc., are all information processing mechanisms and visualizing them as frame of reference does not make sense because they are all information processing and communicating mechanisms in 4D spacetime.

1. The 4th Dimension and Beyond: Imagining Worlds with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 Dimensions and More
2. Evolution in Four Dimensions: Genetic, Epigenetic, Behavioral, and Symbolic Variation in the History of Life (Life and Mind: Philosophical Issues in Biology and Psychology)
3. Travels in Four Dimensions: The Enigmas of Space and Time
4. Geometry Of Four Dimensions - Illustrated
5. A First Course in General Relativity
6. General Relativity
7. Quantum Gravity in Four Dimensions

The Brilliant Doctor has done it! No single philosopher, scientist or mathematician could have pulled together all the pieces that this book does. Consciousness as a frame of reference equivalent to what Einstein described for the space-time continuum. This new view will change the way I think about alot of things including where we are going in human evolution. I want more! Thank you!!

This book is the first of it's kind to actually define the physical nature of consciousness - it's evolution, limitations and uniqueness - without equivocation. From the underlying principles to the profound implications, the author presents his model with clarity and rigor. He introduces us to the principle of Biological Relativity, a seamless extension of Einstein's powerful vision of the universe, penetrating the biological world. With this insightful 4-dimensional frame-of-reference perspective the author sheds new light on the evolution of life. WITH NEW EYES we are shown the development of cellular life in terms of spatial order and time; the evolution of cellular life to multicellular organisms and the specialized cells that compose our nervous systems; the higher order functions of mammalian brains; and, finally, the development of consciousness, again, in terms of spatial order and time. A fascinating tour of our natural world! In the final chapters of the book, the author reflects on the consequences and implications of his model. Unlike most books on consciousness, the conclusions follow naturally and logically from the model and draw clear lines through age old debates about free will, animal consciousness and artificial intelligence. This work sets a new standard for books on consciousness. Finally.

What a great book!

I have never seen so clear a presentation of the mechanics of consciousness. Don't expect an explanation of qualia, but everything but that is included in this book.

Actually, the book is more original than I made it seem above. Pico makes an analogy between Einstein's allowing us to better understand gravity via his theories of relativity in 4 dimensions and the ability to see how our consciousness works by viewing the brain's functions in 4 dimensions.

His main point, I believe, was that unless one understands the proper frame of reference from which to view and analyze phenomena of consciousness we will not understand why the human brain so differs from the brains of even our nearest relatives. Further, we will not understand the narrative that we maintain that allows us to have a self. Certain brain changes have allowed a necessary holding space for afferent input (from senses and from memory stores) that holds info just long enough to allow efferent response that allows us to plod moment to moment in a line, so to speak.

One very interesting point that Pico makes is about a distinction between ape and human consciousness. He believes that the human brain alone has this ability to create a narrative, and that this new function is a SMALL change from ape brain structure. While apes may not have this similar ability to have the narrative, they almost certainly sense the qualia of the world in a way that is very similar if not identical to that of human beings. It is just that there is no moment to moment story in the ape brain. The only way that a moment to moment story to be allowed to nonhuman brains is when there is some aspect of the environment that, because of its properties, holds the context constant. Apes that know sign language, or African grays that can identify colors -- these can do these things only if there is a constant environment that can maintain a place holder, so to speak.

But the human brain has such a place keeping ability without needed a constant context.

READ THIS BOOK. NOW.

Pico's book is a welcome addition to the growing body of literature on cognative studies. He is very clear about what he proposes and what he doesn't think we know at present. His work is a good complement to approaches from evolutionary approaches. His writing is engaging - you will have to stick with it if you aren't a medical person (I'm not - physics and theology are in my background). It helps to read this over a few days so you get the whole argument at once. He did a good job of calming our fears that we are losing something by not having an elan vital.

I homeschool my elementary age children and we used this book when studying our body. It is a fun book to read and the information provided about each of the bones is suitable for elementary age level.

As an elementary school librarian, I used this book with my classes. We sang the song as we turned the pages. Then, at the end we laughed about the names of the bones and practiced ways of using the "real" names. 1) Go to the nurse after you skinned your knee on the playground and ask for a bandaid to put on your patella; 2) You stub your toe and grab it and moan, "Oh, I stubbed my phlanges", etc.

Kids from K through 5th grade enjoyed this! Lots of fun.

This book offers a wonderful introduction to the bone structure of the human body, even for very young children (my 3 year old daughter and niece just love this book). The use of fun, bright skeletons appeals to the reader and balances the use of scientific language in the text. Even mom and dad will learn a thing or two while reading it! You'll have your kids singing Dem Bones (the foot bone connected to the ankle bone, etc.) before you know it.

We bought this book because my boys thought it would be "Scary". They were delighted to find out it was about the bones of the human body. My kindergartener can't wait to share it with his teacher! The text has to be simplified at times for younger children, but the scientific names are a GREAT learning experience (even for older children). Look closely-you'll see more in the illustrations each time you look at the book.

I picked up this book for almost three year old daughter because we loved Bob Barner's Fish Wish. My daughter learned so much about the ocean from that book and I thought Dem Bones would give her an introduction to the body. The book follows an old African folk song called Dem Bones. "The ankle bone is conneced to the foot bone, the foot bone is connected to the leg bone" and so on. Since my daughter is so young I just sing the song to her and point out the bones on her body as we see the corresponding ones on the skeletons in the book. If you have an older child there is much more in depth information about the bones provided on each page. That is why I love Bob barner's books so much. My daughter can follow along the simple to read stories now and when she gets older I can go over the more informative parts with her later. She has already learned a great deal from this book and she really loves it. Bob Barner really makes learning fun.