Books By And For Members

Ruth Winter

BOOKS BY AND FOR MEMBERS

by Ruth Winter

Super Vision: A New View of Nature by Ivan Amato (NASW), published by Harry N. Abrams.

This book’s more than 200 images range from the realm of subatomic particles to the entire universe. Amato, a Maryland freelance specializing in technology, says he has always been smitten by the stunning visual appeal of scientific data: “In the 15 years since I have been writing about science, the aesthetic values of imagery emanating from almost any particular field has multiplied manyfold. To leaf through the covers of Science and Nature is to experience what amounts to an art gallery distributed over time.” By writing this book, Amato hopes to make this particularly appealing and accessible aspect of science available to a much wider audience: “In a sense, I have chosen to be an unsolicited curator of found art while meandering around the scientific landscape.” He says another motivation for writing his book stems from a paradox: “Our sensory experience of the world seems complete and gapless. For example, we normally are perfectly unaware that the rainbow of colors we see is a mere sliver of the electromagnetic spectrum whose invisible colors far outnumber the visible ones. Yet, throughout the history of science at an accelerating pace, clever investigators and tinkerers have invented tools that enable us to transcend our sensory limitations.” Amato can be reached at 301-585-5514 or amato@erols.com. Publicist for the book is Jessica Napp, 212-229-7107 or jnapp@abramsbooks.com.

New Formulas For America’s Workforce: Girls In Science by Pat McNees (NASW), published by the National Science Foundation.

This book contains findings from 225 NSF-funded projects to encourage more girls (and women) to study science, math, technology, and engineering. It provides insight into differences in how girls and boys learn, why and when girls begin to drop out of math and science courses, how science is taught, and how it should be taught. McNees, a Maryland freelance, says parents, educators, and those concerned with the long-term growth of the U.S. economy should be interested because part of the reason for the serious shortfall in engineering workers is the way science and engineering are presented and taught. She asks: “Would you have loved physics more if you started the course by having to devise a catapult that would get the head of a Barbie doll over the castle wall during a mock medieval siege?” There are sections on all levels of education in the book from primary school through graduate school. It also includes informal educational opportunities in museums and after school programs. Both the book and CD are free, and can be ordered at www.nsf.gov/home/orderpub.htm. McNees, who is very enthusiastic about attracting girls into science and engineering, can be reached at www.members.authorsguild.net/patmcnees/.

Almost Heaven: The Story of Women in Space by Bettyann Kevles (NASW), published by Basic Books.

Kevles, who recently held the Charles A. Lindbergh Chair at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC and now teaches at Yale University, describes many of the obstacles faced by the 40 women who have been in space as well as the excitement associated with space travel. Publishers Weekly gave Almost Heaven a rave review, opining Kevles “does a superb job of describing the challenges faced by female astronauts since the beginning of the space age and viewing those challenges in light of the changing status of women in society at large. She argues that NASA’s sexism, from its inception in 1958 until 1978, when it first accepted female astronaut candidates actually destined to go into space, reflected popular opinion. Pressure from the growing women’s movement coupled with waning popular support for space exploration led NASA to open its ranks to women.” Kevles and the female astronauts she interviewed assert that once the decision was made to welcome women, NASA did so quite well. Institutional sexism was not overly common, although the behavior of some male astronauts often left much to be desired. Kevles can be reached at bettyann.kevles@yale.edu and 203-772-2355. The press representative is Michelle Aielli, Michelle.Aielli@perseusbooks.com.

Leaving Earth: Space Stations, Rival Superpowers, and the Quest for Interplanetary Travel by Robert Zimmerman (NASW), published by Joseph Henry Press

Zimmerman, a Maryland freelance specializing in space and astronomy, tells the story of how far-sighted dreamers in both the United States and Russia struggled to assemble the first interplanetary spaceships. For many political reasons, they called them space stations, pretending that their sole function was to orbit the earth and perform scientific research in space. In truth, Zimmerman reveals Salyut, Skylab, Mir, and ISS have been engineering test platforms for interplanetary travel. Men and women lived in the stations—sometimes for months at a time—trying to figure out how to survive in the hostile environment of space, overcoming illnesses, mechanical failures, political intrigues, and even the collapse of nations. Zimmerman, who has written extensively for magazines and newspapers, including Air & Space, USA Today, Astronomy, Wall Street Journal, The Sciences, and Invention & Technology, can be reached at zimmerman@nasw.org and 301-937-0394. Publicist is Robin Pinnel, Joseph Henry Press, 202-334-1902, rpinnel@nas.edu.

Killer Rocks from Outer Space: Asteroids, Comets, and Meteorites by Steven N. Koppes (NASW), published by Discovery.

This book is not about astronauts or space technology but about dinosaurs. Koppes, a science writer at the University of Chicago News Office, describes the sudden and mysterious extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago. He says scientists primarily believe that dinosaurs’ disappearance was due to a huge cosmic bomb—a comet or asteroid approximately six miles in diameter that blasted into the surface of the planet. “Throughout the past century, researchers have identified more than a hundred impact sites around the world created over the past 350 million years. They believe that another cosmic bomb is inevitable and that when it hits Earth, there will be few survivors.” He says to prevent that from happening, astronomers are constantly searching the solar system for asteroids and comets. They study them in the hopes that they could one day prevent them from destroying humankind. Koppes says he wrote the book because he became fascinated by the life and work of the late Robert Dietz, a pioneering researcher in the field of catastrophic meteorite impact with whom he worked with when Koppes was a science writer at Arizona State University: “I wanted to share it with a lay audience. When I took geology as an undergraduate in the 1970s, I can’t recall reading anything at all about meteorite cratering on Earth. It was an eye-opening experience for me to learn that scientists have discovered approximately 160 impact scars on Earth, and the list is growing.” Koppes can be reached at 773-702-8366 and skoppes@uchicago.edu. The publicist for the book is Madeline Cooper, Lerner Publishing, 612-332-3344, mcooper@lernerbooks.com.

Killer Animals: Shocking True Stories of Deadly Conflicts Between Humans and Animals by Edward R. Ricciuti (NASW), published by The Lyons Press.

Ricciuti, a Connecticut freelance, has evidently anticipated recent headlines such as a man who kept an alligator and lion in his New York apartment and the woman who collected tigers in New Jersey. In his book, he not only describes the battles between beasts and humans, he laments wild pets taken into the home means less animals in the wild. He also decries humans creating Frankenstein monsters such as dogs bred and trained to kill; black bears taught by handout from national parks visitors that is food, and deadly snakes kept as pets in homes. Ricciuti, who was the curator of publications for The New York Zoological Society, uncovers the thriving, modern-day animal underworld of cockfighting, poaching, black-market animal dealers, snake cultists, alligator wrestles, and more. Ricciuti can be reached at 860-663-1804. The Editor is Holly Rubino, 203-458-4500, fax 203-458-4668.

Killers of The Seas: Dangerous Creatures that Threaten Man in an Alien Environment by Ed R. Ricciuti (NASW), published by The Lyons Press.

In this book, Ricciuti focuses on the hypocrisy, sentimentalism, and commercialization that pervade today’s animal “industry,” and he comments on the evolutionary and environmental factors that make animals behave as they do—especially when humans enter and usurp their habitats. Ricciuti ultimately concludes that the darker side of these creatures is something we often bring upon ourselves. He has a great deal on the shark, naturally, but he also cites the bluefish. He says it is nicknamed “the chopper” because that best describes the way “this voracious living torpedo” chews its way through other fish. The barracuda has poor eyesight and may mistake a human being for prey because of something worn by the victim. Ricciuti says that despite its reputation, the piranha may bite people but there are no recorded fatalities from its jaws. Ricciuti can be reached at 860-663-1804. The Editor is Holly Rubino, 203-458-4500, fax 203-458-4668.

Send material about new books to Ruth Winter, 44 Holly Drive, Short Hills, NJ 07078, or e-mail ruthwrite@aol.com. Include the name of the publicist and appropriate contact information, as well as how you prefer members get in touch with you.