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  • Love Your Local
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  • Happy New Year -Thank you all for your valued support during 2020 and we look forward to seeing you in 2021.
  1. Popular Science

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Popular Science

Large 9781788164726

The Rules of Contagion by Adam Kucharski

$32.99 NZD

Available Stock:
11

Category: Popular Science

'It is hard to imagine a more timely book ... much of the modern world will make more sense having read it.' The Times'Brilliant and authoritative' - Alex Bellos, author of Alex's Adventures in Numberland A deadly virus suddenly explodes into the population. A political movement gathers pace, and then q uickly vanishes. An idea takes off like wildfire, changing our world forever. We live in a world that's more interconnected than ever before. Our lives are shaped by outbreaks - of disease, of misinformation, even of violence - that appear, spread and fade away with bewildering speed. To understand them, we need to learn the hidden laws that govern them. From 'superspreaders' who might spark a pandemic or bring down a financial system to the social dynamics that make loneliness catch on, The Rules of Contagion offers compelling insights into human behaviour and explains how we can get better at predicting what happens next.Along the way, Adam Kucharski explores how innovations spread through friendship networks, what links computer viruses with folk stories - and why the most useful predictions aren't necessarily the ones that come true. ...Show more

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Large 9781912891474

Philosophy in 40 Ideas by The School The School of Life

$27.99 NZD

Available Stock:
5

Category: Popular Science

Philosophy is a discipline committed to helping us live wiser and less sorrowful lives. This book artfully draws together 40 of the greatest and most useful ideas found in philosophy, taking us on a journey around key concepts from both Eastern and Western cultures.We are invited to sample the distincti ve wisdom of Eastern philosophy via tea drinking ceremonies, walks in bamboo forests, contemplations of rivers and ritualised flower arranging sessions. From Western culture we seek the teachings of some of the greatest minds throughout history including Machiavellianism and Stoicism.This essential guide to philosophy reminds us of the wit, humanity and relevance of a number of great philosophers including Nietzsche, Heidegger, Confucius, Lao Tzu and Buddha. Essential thoughts about love, work, anxiety, self-knowledge andhappiness are examined, highlighted and inspiringly presented here so they can work their consoling effect where it is most needed: in our daily lives. ...Show more

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Large 9781760642808

On Pandemics Deadly Diseases from Bubonic Plague to Coronavirus by David Waltner-Towes

$37.00 NZD

Available Stock:
4

Category: Popular Science

ritten by a leading epidemiologist, this engrossing book answers our questions about animal diseases that jump to humans - called zoonoses - including why they have become more common in recent history, and what we can do about them. Almost all pandemics and epidemics - including SARS, Ebola and now COV ID-19 - have been caused by diseases that come to us from animals. In On Pandemics, David Waltner-Toews gathers the latest research to profile dozens of illnesses. Why do zoonotic diseases jump from animals to humans - and why do some hang around for good? How have governments responded to pandemics and epidemics throughout history, for better or worse? How have climate change, industrialised farming, cultural practices, biodiversity loss and globalisation made these diseases not only possible, but the inevitable outcomes of our modern lifestyles? Coronaviruses have made bats their home for centuries. Until SARS came along, we didn't know they were there, nor do we know how many other death-dealing viruses might be living undetected in wildlife. On Pandemics examines the increasing impact of animal-borne diseases on our world, and encourages us to re-examine our role in pandemics - for the health of the planet as well as our own survival. ...Show more

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Large 9780762497362

Reactions: An Illustrated Exploration of Elements, Molecules, and Change in the Universe by Theodore Gray

$34.99 NZD

Available Stock:
3

Category: Popular Science

The third book in Theodore Gray's bestselling Elements Trilogy, Reactions continues the journey through the world of chemistry that began with his two previous bestselling books The Elements and Molecules. With The Elements, Gray gave us a never-before-seen, mesmerizing photographic view of the 118 ele ments in the periodic table. In Molecules, he showed us how the elements combine to form the content that makes up our universe. With Reactions, Gray once again puts his photography and storytelling to work to demonstrate how molecules interact in ways that are essential to our very existence. The book begins with a brief recap of elements and molecules and then goes on to explain important concepts that characterize a chemical reaction, including Energy, Entropy, and Time. It is then organized by type of reaction including chapters such as "Fantastic Reactions and Where to Find Them," "On the Origin of Light and Color," "The Boring Chapter," in which we learn about reactions such as paint drying, grass growing, and water boiling, and "The Need for Speed," including topics such as weather, ignition, and fire. ...Show more

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Nophoto

You're Not Listening - What You're Missing and Why It Matters by Kate Murphy

$24.00 NZD

Available Stock:
3

Category: Popular Science

When was the last time you listened to someone, or someonereally listened to you? "If you're like most people, you don't listen as often or as well as you'd like. There's no one better qualified than a talented journalist to introduce you to the right mindset and skillset--and this book does it with sc ience and humor." -Adam Grant, #1New York Times bestselling author ofOriginals andGive and Take **Hand picked by Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, and Daniel Pink for Next Big Ideas Club** "An essential book for our times." -Lori Gottlieb,New York Times bestselling author ofMaybe You Should Talk to Someone At work, we're taught to lead the conversation. On social media, we shape our personal narratives. At parties, we talk over one another. So do our politicians. We're not listening. And no one is listening to us. Despite living in a world where technology allows constant digital communication and opportunities to connect, it seems no one is really listening or even knows how. And it's making us lonelier, more isolated, and less tolerant than ever before. A listener by trade, New York Times contributor Kate Murphy wanted to know how we got here. In this always illuminating and often humorous deep dive, Murphy explains why we're not listening, what it's doing to us, and how we can reverse the trend. She makes accessible the psychology, neuroscience, and sociology of listening while also introducing us to some of the best listeners out there (including a CIA agent, focus group moderator, bartender, radio producer, and top furniture salesman). Equal parts cultural observation, scientific exploration, and rousing call to action that's full of practical advice,You're Not Listening is to listening what Susan Cain'sQuiet was to introversion. It's time to stop talking and start listening. ...Show more

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Large 9780500295533

Dinosaurs Rediscovered - The Scientific Revolution in Paleontology by Michael J. Benton

$24.99 NZD

Available Stock:
3

Category: Popular Science

Over the past twenty years, the study of dinosaurs has transformed into a true scientific discipline. New technologies have revealed secrets locked in prehistoric bones that no one could have previously predicted. We can now work out the color of dinosaurs, the force of their bite, their top speeds, and even how they cared for their young. Remarkable new fossil discoveries--giant sauropod dinosaur skeletons in Patagonia, dinosaurs with feathers in China, and a tiny dinosaur tail in Burmese amber--remain the lifeblood of modern paleobiology. Thanks to advances in technologies and methods, however, there has been a recent revolution in the scope of new information gleaned from such fossil finds. In Dinosaurs Rediscovered, leading paleontologist Michael J. Benton gathers together all of the latest paleontological evidence, tracing the transformation of dinosaur study from its roots in antiquated natural history to an indisputably scientific field. Among other things, this book explores how dinosaur remains are found and excavated, and how paleontologists read the details of dinosaurs' lives from their fossils--their colors, their growth, and even whether we will ever be able to bring them back to life. Benton's account shows that, though extinct, dinosaurs are still very much a part of our world. ...Show more

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Large 9780552779906

The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson

$26.00 NZD

Available Stock:
3

Category: Popular Science

'We spend our whole lives in one body and yet most of us have practically no idea how it works and what goes on inside it. The idea of the book is simply to try to understand the extraordinary contraption that is us.' Bill Bryson sets off to explore the human body, how it functions and its remarkable a bility to heal itself. Full of extraordinary facts and astonishing stories The Body: A Guide for Occupants is a brilliant, often very funny attempt to understand the miracle of our physical and neurological make up. A wonderful successor to A Short History of Nearly Everything, this new book is an instant classic. It will have you marvelling at the form you occupy, and celebrating the genius of your existence, time and time again. 'What I learned is that we are infinitely more complex and wondrous, and often more mysterious, than I had ever suspected. There really is no story more amazing than the story of us.' THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'A directory of wonders.' - The Guardian 'Jaw-dropping.' - The Times 'Classic, wry, gleeful Bryson...an entertaining and absolutely fact-rammed book.' - The Sunday Times ...Show more

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Large 9781948174381

Toxic Farts, Brain-Eating Amoebas, Mosquito Assassins and More - 297 Terrifying Ways Nature Is Trying to Murder You by Editors of Media Lab Books

$26.99 NZD

Available Stock:
3

Category: Popular Science

Why does nature try to kill us? In the same way that humans "thin the herd" when a particular group of animals grow too dense or too expansive for their habitat, nature tries make sure we live in balance with the world as well, which, let's face it, we suck at. Toxic Farts, Brain-Eating Amoebas, Mosqui to Assassins & More details hundreds of the scariest, messiest, smelliest, most terrifying ways that nature works to destroy, maim or sicken humans every single day. Each page of this book examines an oddity (or two) from the natural world that is harmful to humanity. And we're not talking about car wrecks, warfare, drug overdoses or parachute accidents. We're talking about biology, chemistry, botany, invasive little critters that eat our brains, slimes that dissolve our flesh, smells that cause our throats to close up, and other environmental assassins. Provided with such information, we might just survive. That's right. It's humans vs. the world and, damn it, we're going to win if it kills us. ...Show more

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Large 9780008339074

How Innovation Works: Serendipity, Energy and the Saving of Time by Matt Ridley

$39.99 NZD

Available Stock:
3

Category: Popular Science

Ridley is spot-on when it comes to the vital ingredients for success' Sir James Dyson Building on his bestseller The Rational Optimist, Matt Ridley chronicles the history of innovation, and how we need to change our thinking on the subject. Innovation is the main event of the modern age, the reason we e xperience both dramatic improvements in our living standards and unsettling changes in our society. It is innovation that will shape the twenty-first century. Yet innovation remains a mysterious process, poorly understood by policy makers and businessmen alike. Matt Ridley argues that we need to see innovation as an incremental, bottom-up, fortuitous process that happens as a direct result of the human habit of exchange, rather than an orderly, top-down process developing according to a plan. Innovation is crucially different from invention, because it is the turning of inventions into things of practical and affordable use to people. It speeds up in some sectors and slows down in others. It is always a collective, collaborative phenomenon, involving trial and error, not a matter of lonely genius. It still cannot be modelled properly by economists, but it can easily be discouraged by politicians. Far from there being too much innovation, we may be on the brink of an innovation famine. Ridley derives these and other lessons from the lively stories of scores of innovations - from steam engines to search engines - how they started and why they succeeded or failed. Review: 'An insightful and charming exploration of questions that range from the truly profound (How does our species capture energy to stave off decay and death?) to the merely fascinating (Why did it take us so long to invent the wheeled suitcase?)' Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor, Harvard University, and author of Enlightenment Now 'From the Stone Age to smartphones and from farming to fission, Matt Ridley demonstrates with a plethora of examples how innovation has changed and, for the most part, improved the human condition, despite repeated resistance and frequent failure. Given the freedom of thought that innovation needs, he argues, we can ensure the survival of the planet. We abandon it or constrain it at our peril' Sir Tim Laurence, Chairman of English Heritage 'In this insightful and delightful book, Matt Ridley explores the wondrous causes of innovation, the force that drives our modern economy. He shows that it's a team sport, but one that features many colourful stars. It's a joy to tag along with him as he mines the history of human advances to discover nuggets of useful lessons' Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs 'A compelling case for free enterprise and free trade and the power of serendipity.' Liz Truss MP, Secretary of State for International Trade ...Show more

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Large 9780099590088

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

$30.00 NZD

Available Stock:
3

Category: Popular Science | Reading Level: near fine

#1 New York Times Bestseller From a renowned historian comes a groundbreaking narrative of humanity's creation and evolution--a #1 international bestseller--that explores the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be "human." One hundred thou sand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited Earth. Yet today there is only one--homo sapiens. What happened to the others? And what may happen to us? Most books about the history of humanity pursue either a historical or a biological approach, but Dr. Yuval Noah Harari breaks the mold with this highly original book that begins about 70,000 years ago with the appearance of modern cognition. From examining the role evolving humans have played in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, Sapiens integrates history and science to reconsider accepted narratives, connect past developments with contemporary concerns, and examine specific events within the context of larger ideas. Dr. Harari also compels us to look ahead, because over the last few decades humans have begun to bend laws of natural selection that have governed life for the past four billion years. We are acquiring the ability to design not only the world around us, but also ourselves. Where is this leading us, and what do we want to become? Featuring 27 photographs, 6 maps, and 25 illustrations/diagrams, this provocative and insightful work is sure to spark debate and is essential reading for aficionados of Jared Diamond, James Gleick, Matt Ridley, Robert Wright, and Sharon Moalem. ...Show more

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Large 9781787130616

Science Museum: Periodic Table Fridge Magnets by Science Museum

$26.99 NZD

Available Stock:
2

Category: Popular Science

Part of the periodic table inspired stationery range, this set contains 118 magnetic tiles featuring all the periodic elements plus a handful of helpful punctuation symbols to enable you to spell out a huge number of everyday words. Get a reaction by creating fun messages on your fridge while you're wai ting for the kettle to boil. ...Show more

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Large 9781454911395

500 Optical Illusions by Keith Kay

$24.99 NZD

Available Stock:
2

Category: Popular Science

This is a fun gift book to astound and surprise. You'll see, but won't believe! This amazing collection of 500 optical illusions brims with the best eye tricks and visual oddities. Try to figure out how many legs the happy hippo has; what's weird about a very unusual building; why a page with wiggly, wa vy lines can make you seasick and more! Some of the images go back hundreds of years, but they'll all astound you as they mess with your mind, your perception and your brain. ...Show more

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