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Science and natural history


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Tōtara  by Philip (Philip G.) Simpson

Tōtara

Philip (Philip G.) Simpson

"The 'mighty tōtara' is one of our most extraordinary trees. Among the biggest and oldest trees in the New Zealand forest, the heart of Māori carving and culture, trailing no. 8 wire as fence posts on settler farms, clambered up in the Pureora protests of the...

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The book of garden flowers  by Christopher Stocks

The book of garden flowers

Christopher Stocks

"The perfect armchair and gardening companion to the garden flowers of the British Isles. Christopher Stocks tells the fascinating tales of nineteen cultivated flowers and their journeys from distant corners of the world to British gardens, illustrated by the...

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Dinosaurs  by M. J. (Michael J.) Benton

Dinosaurs

M. J. (Michael J.) Benton

"Dinosaurs are not what you thought they were or at least, they didn't look like you thought they did. The world-leading palaeontologist Michael J. Benton brings us a new visual guide to the world of the dinosaurs, showing how rapid advances in technology and...

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Moths of the world  by David L. Wagner

Moths of the world

David L. Wagner

"With more than 160,000 named species, moths are a familiar sightto most of us, flickering around lights, pollinating wildflowers about meadows and gardens, and as unwelcome visitors to our woolens. They come in a variety of colors, from earthy greens and...

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The company of owls  by Polly Atkin

The company of owls

Polly Atkin

"In the woods above Polly Atkin's home in Grasmere, Cumbria live the tawny owls she calls her neighbours. Each night, they come down to her cottage at dusk, calling out as night falls – in particular a trio of owlets she watches grow from fledglings to young...

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Floral folklore  by Alison Davies

Floral folklore

Alison Davies

"Why do buttercups glow when held beneath your chin? Which blooms are sometimes called fairy phones? Why are foxgloves sometimes ominously referred to as 'Deadman's Bellows'? And what is the true meaning of a rose? Humans have given meanings and stories to...

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When humans nearly vanished  by Donald R. Prothero

When humans nearly vanished

Donald R. Prothero

"The true story of the explosion of the Mount Toba supervolcano, the largest eruption in the past 28 million years, and its lasting impact on Earth and human evolution"--Publisher's description.

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The ocean's menagerie  by C. Drew Harvell

The ocean's menagerie

C. Drew Harvell

"An elegant survey of ocean invertebrates and their bizarre "superpowers," blending cutting edge science of the strangest creatures on our planet with the promising discoveries they hold for those of us on land, by a leading marine biologist. Hundred-year-old...

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The quantum universe  by Brian Cox

The quantum universe

Brian Cox

"'The Quantum Universe' brings together two authors on an ambitious mission to show that everyone can understand the deepest questions of science. But just what is quantum physics? How does it help us understand the universe? Where does it leave Newton and...

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Sound affects  by Julian Treasure

Sound affects

Julian Treasure

"Every day, the sounds around us affect every aspect of our human experience, and thus fundamentally alter our quality of life, for better or worse. It is only recently that scientists have realised that sounds connect us to the world in ways that are every...

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Reinventing discovery  by Michael A. Nielsen

Reinventing discovery

Michael A. Nielsen

"In Reinventing Discovery, Michael Nielsen argues that we are living at the dawn of the most dramatic change in science in more than 300 years. This change is being driven by powerful new cognitive tools, enabled by the internet, which are greatly accelerating...

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What walks this way  by Sharman Apt Russell

What walks this way

Sharman Apt Russell

"A celebration of all the wild animals secretly, stubbornly, and triumphantly winding through our cities, suburbs, and countryside. Award-winning nature writer Sharman Apt Russell urges us to "Slow down, look, and really see" the tracks and sign of wildlife in...

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A naturalist's guide to the fungi of Aotearoa New Zealand  by Ruben. author. Mita

A naturalist's guide to the fungi of Aotearoa New Zealand

Ruben. author. Mita

"A Naturalist's Guide to the Fungi of Aotearoa New Zealand is an easy-to-use introductory identification guide to 267 species of New Zealand's fungi, described at species or genus level; perfect for residents and visitors alike. High quality photographs are...

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The wonder of seashells  by Melissa Hobson

The wonder of seashells

Melissa Hobson

" Full of fascinating insights, science, and stunning illustrations, The Wonder of Seashells with deepen every nature lover's appreciation for the ocean treasures. Take a deep dive intothe meaning and magic of the ocean's diverse and colorful treasures with...

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Wildflowers  by Chris Thorogood

Wildflowers

Chris Thorogood

"Discover the fascinating stories behind around 300 species of wildflowers, and marvel at a botanical beauty and diversity you never knew existed. Did you know that orchids existed alongside dinosaurs? And that 30,000 plant species are used as medicine...

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Simply physics

Simply physics

"Understanding physics has never been easier. Combining simple, stylish graphics with easy-to-understand text, Simply Physics is the perfect introduction to the subject for those who are short of time but hungry for knowledge. Compact and clear, this book...

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Mindfulness in bird watching  by Claire Thompson

Mindfulness in bird watching

Claire Thompson

"Through personal anecdote and expert insight, Claire Thompson of BirdLife International invites us on a mindful journey through gardens, cities, open country, forests, coasts and mountains to enjoy and learn from the magnificent beauty and diversity of the...

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Cosmic bullsh*t  by Chris Ferrie

Cosmic bullsh*t

Chris Ferrie

"Your hilarious guide to what's real (and what's not) in our vast, beautiful (and terrifying) universe. Embark on a cosmic journey through Cosmic Bullsh*t: A Guide to the Galaxy's Worst Life Hacks and uncover the real science behind some of the greatest lies...

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Wild alchemy  by Jemma Foster

Wild alchemy

Jemma Foster

"Wild Alchemy is a culinary and medicinal bible that brings together traditional alchemical practices with plant lore. Alchemy is the ancient art of transforming nature for the benefit of body, mind and soul. This book is an invitation to connect back to...

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Oaklore  by Jules Acton

Oaklore

Jules Acton

"In Oaklore, Jules Acton, an ambassador for The Woodland Trust, explores the incredibly diverse history of the 'king of the woods': from a source of food and shelter to its use in literature as a plot device and muse, its role as an essential ingredient in...

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Color in nature  by N. Justin Marshall

Color in nature

N. Justin Marshall

"Recent years have seen tremendous strides in the fields of vision, visual ecology, and our own multilayered experience of color in life and the world. These advances have been driven by astonishing discoveries in neuroscience and evolutionary biology as well...

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Shark  by Daniel C. Abel

Shark

Daniel C. Abel

"A marvelously illustrated look at the life of the shark. No two species of shark have the same life history, yet these magnificent creatures share many things in common. This one-of-a-kind narrative biography brings together a wide array of species from...

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The lives of snakes  by Chris Mattison

The lives of snakes

Chris Mattison

"A richly illustrated introduction to the marvelous world of snakes. Descended from prehistoric lizards, snakes have been slithering across the earth for more than a hundred million years. There are some 4,100 species known to exist, and many are venomous, but...

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The lives of bats  by DeeAnn M. Reeder

The lives of bats

DeeAnn M. Reeder

"This is a guide to the natural history of the world's bats. Bats are the second-largest order of mammals and inhabit almost every corner of the globe, but these secretive creatures are often maligned and misunderstood. With more than 1,400 species worldwide,...

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Evolution evolving  by Kevin N. Laland

Evolution evolving

Kevin N. Laland

"A new scientific view of evolution is emerging;one that challenges and expands our understanding of how evolution works. Recent research demonstrates that organisms differ greatly in how effective they are at evolving. Whether and how each organism adapts and...

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Matter  by Guido Tonelli

Matter

Guido Tonelli

"What are we made up of? What holds material bodies together? Is there a difference between terrestrial matter and celestial matter - the matter that makes up the Earth and the matter that makes up the Sun and other stars? When Democritus stated, between the...

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Uncovering dinosaur behavior  by David (Paleontologist) Hone

Uncovering dinosaur behavior

David (Paleontologist) Hone

"How scientists are unravelling one of the most tantalizing questions in paleontology. Our understanding of dinosaur behavior has long been hampered by the inevitable lack of evidence from animals that went extinct more than sixty-five million years ago and...

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Hidden in the heavens  by Jason Steffen

Hidden in the heavens

Jason Steffen

"An insider's account of the NASA mission that changed our understanding of planets, planetary systems, and the stars they orbitAre we alone in the universe? It's a fundamental question for Earth-dwelling humankind. Are there other worlds like ours, out there...

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Funga obscura  by Alison Pouliot

Funga obscura

Alison Pouliot

"A visual love letter, in Funga Obscura ecologist Alison Pouliot guides us through the forrest to share stunning photographs and writing on fungi across Australia and the globe"--Publisher's description.

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The story of nature  by Jeremy Mynott

The story of nature

Jeremy Mynott

"In this beautifully illustrated book, Jeremy Mynott traces the story of nature--past, present and future. From the dramatic depictions of animals by the prehistoric cave-painters, through the romantic discovery of landscape in the eighteenth century, to the...

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Mushroom miscellany  by Adele Nozedar

Mushroom miscellany

Adele Nozedar

"Mushrooms have always had a global fan club. And that fanbase continues to spread - like the windswept spores of the colossal Honey Fungus. Mushroom Miscellany is a love letter to all things mushroom. This charmingly illustrated gift book explores the...

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Unknown Universe  by Tom Kerss

Unknown Universe

Tom Kerss

"A lens into the unexplored and unseen cosmos. A beautiful book showcasing the most stunning images from the first years of the James Webb Space Telescope, the most powerful infrared space observatory, along with expert insights into their...

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Subjugate the earth  by Philipp Blom

Subjugate the earth

Philipp Blom

"Subjugate the Earth traces the biography of a strange idea: the idea that human beings can subdue nature and rule over it, that humans are outside and above nature. Born in Mesopotamia at the dawn of civilisation, the idea of subjugating the Earth was...

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Standard deviations  by Gary Smith

Standard deviations

Gary Smith

"Did you know that chicken eggs can influence how computers generate random events? Or that humans can postpone death until after important ceremonial occasions? Or live three to five years longer if they have positive initials, like ACE? All these 'facts'...

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Field notes from a fungi forager  by Ashley Rodriguez

Field notes from a fungi forager

Ashley Rodriguez

"This gorgeously illustrated compendium is a love letter to mushrooms—and to the Pacific Northwest. From evergreen forests shrouded in mist to the urban backyards of Seattle, mushrooms are everywhere in the Pacific Northwest if you know how to look. Here,...

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When the Earth was green  by Riley Black

When the Earth was green

Riley Black

"Winner, A Friend of Darwin Award, 2024 A gorgeously composed look at the longstanding relationship between prehistoric plants and life on Earth Fossils plants allow us to touch the lost worlds from billions of years of evolutionary backstory. Each petrified...

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Fractions  by Mark Zegarelli

Fractions

Mark Zegarelli

"An easy, straightforward, and fun guide for learning fractions and its counterparts Fractions For Dummies is the perfect strategy guide for both understanding and using one of math's most common (and most challenging) topic areas. You'll explore current...

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Close encounters of the fungal kind  by Richard A. Fortey

Close encounters of the fungal kind

Richard A. Fortey

"The secret world of fungi is another kingdom. They do things differently there. Diverse beyond our wildest imaginations, fungi don’t obey rules. They pop up unbidden and often dressed in curious reds and greens. They do not seem of this world, yet fungi...

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The ancients  by Andrew Darby

The ancients

Andrew Darby

"In The Ancients Andrew Darby goes on a journey to find the world's oldest surviving trees in wild Tasmania. He tells of their exploitation and loss to fire even as their true value was revealed, and of the people offering hope for their future"--Publisher's...

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Webb's universe  by Maggie Aderin-Pocock

Webb's universe

Maggie Aderin-Pocock

"The definitive book on the James Webb Space Telescope, including its most stunning images to date, written by space expert Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock"--Publisher's description.

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The network of life  by David P. Mindell

The network of life

David P. Mindell

"Ever since Darwin, evolution has largely been thought to work like a family tree, in which species are related through a series of branching events. But in the early twenty-first century, a growing knowledge of the ways species share genetic materials in a...

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The courage of birds  by Pete Dunne

The courage of birds

Pete Dunne

"From our own backyards to the rim of the Arctic ice, countless birds have adapted to meet the challenges of the winter season. This is their remarkable story, told by award-winning birder and acclaimed writer Pete Dunne, accompanied by illustrations from...

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Playing possum  by Susana Monsó

Playing possum

Susana Monsó

"How animals conceive of death and dying-and what they can teach us about our own relationships with mortality. When the opossum feels threatened, she becomes paralyzed. Her body temperature plummets, her breathing and heart rates drop to a minimum, and her...

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Eavesdropping on animals  by George Bumann

Eavesdropping on animals

George Bumann

"In Eavesdropping on Animals, George Bumann shares the fascinating stories and insights he has gained from studying wildlife around the world for more than forty years, the last twenty of which have been spent leading popular programs on animal language and...

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Quantum biology  by Geoffrey W. (Geoffrey William) Guy

Quantum biology

Geoffrey W. (Geoffrey William) Guy

"Drawing on the latest international research, leading physician and healthcare expert Professor Geoffrey Guy examines how quantum phenomena affect processes as diverse as the functioning of the brain and the body's approach to combating inflammation and...

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A sky full of kites  by Tom Bowser

A sky full of kites

Tom Bowser

"Red kites were once Britain's most common bird of prey, but by the early 1900s they's been wiped out in Scotland and England after centuries of persecution. When reintroduced kites appeared in the skies over their farm near Stirling, Lynn and Niall Bowser...

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The art of physics  by Zahaan Bharmal

The art of physics

Zahaan Bharmal

"In The Art of Physics, Zahaan Bharmal explains eight ideas from physics that have transformed his view of everyday life and will do the same for you. Far from being abstract, he argues, physics can help us answer very human questions, questions like: Why are...

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The herbal arts  by Patricia Telesco

The herbal arts

Patricia Telesco

"Packed full of herbal information and recipes, The Herbal Arts by Patricia Telesco is a magically informative, easy-to-follow grimoire that is sure to inspire those interested in green witchery. Herbal artistry is at your fingertips when you flip through the...

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Space oddities  by Harry (Harry Victor) Cliff

Space oddities

Harry (Harry Victor) Cliff

"Something strange is going on in the cosmos. Scientists are uncovering a catalogue of weird phenomena that simply can't be explained by our long-established theories of the universe. Particles with unbelievable energies are bursting from beneath the Antarctic...

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Atlas of knowledge  by Katy Börner

Atlas of knowledge

Katy Börner

"The power of mapping- principles for visualizing knowledge, illustrated by many stunning large-scale, full-color maps.Maps of physical spaces locate us in the world and help us navigate unfamiliar routes. Maps of topical spaces help us visualize the extent...

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The oyster book  by Dan Martino

The oyster book

Dan Martino

"The oyster is one of Earth's oldest animals, and fossil records show humans have enjoyed them for hundreds of thousands of years. But like so many other creatures, wild oysters were driven to near extinction by overconsumption and pollution. The Clean Water...

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The heart of the wild

The heart of the wild

"How do we keep a love of nature and the wild alive in our increasingly human-dominated world? According to the scientists and writers in this book, doing so is of paramount significance; however, the answer is not necessarily blanket preservation of wild...

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Coasts  by Ruth Binney

Coasts

Ruth Binney

"Contained here are its many highlights, including: Sea caves and sea otters Tides and treasure Puffins and pillboxes But as rising sea levels eat relentlessly at their boundaries, our coast is changing ever faster, revealing new stories of our islands' past...

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The miraculous from the material  by Alan P. Lightman

The miraculous from the material

Alan P. Lightman

"Nature is capable of extraordinary phenomena. Standing in awe of those phenomena, we experience a feeling of connection to others, to wildlife, or to the cosmos. For acclaimed physicist and novelist Alan Lightman, just as remarkable is that all of what we see...

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The living medicine  by Lina Zeldovich

The living medicine

Lina Zeldovich

"When antibiotics started to fail the race to save humanity from deadly antibiotic resistant infections began. Science journalist Lina Zeldovich reveals the remarkable history of bacteriophages or 'phages', through the colourful lives of the British, French,...

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The song of the dodo  by David Quammen

The song of the dodo

David Quammen

"Why have island ecosystems always suffered such high rates of extinction? In our age, with all the world's landscapes, from Tasmania to the Amazon to Yellowstone, now being carved into island-like fragments by human activity, the implications of this question...

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Pillars of creation  by Richard Panek

Pillars of creation

Richard Panek

"In Pillars of Creation, award-winning science writer Richard Panek presents the first complete account of the James Webb Space Telescope-the $10 billion NASA instrument whose stunning images have captured the world's imagination and are revolutionizing our...

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A photographic guide to reptiles and amphibians of New Zealand   by Tony Jewell

A photographic guide to reptiles and amphibians of New Zealand

Tony Jewell

"Fully revised edition with colour photographs of 110 species, complete with distribution maps" --Back cover.

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What the bears know  by Steve Searles

What the bears know

Steve Searles

"In this wondrous and eye-opening exploration, Steve Searles, the renown and respected "Bear Whisperer" of Mammoth Lakes, takes the reader on a journey into the lives of these remarkable creatures and the world we share. In the late 1990s, the town of Mammoth...

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Frog day  by Marty Crump

Frog day

Marty Crump

"From morning to night and from the forest to the desert, what do frogs do all day? In this short book, celebrated biologist Marty Crump shows readers exactly how frogs spend their time. Each chapter covers a single frog during a single hour, highlighting...

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Planet aqua  by Jeremy Rifkin

Planet aqua

Jeremy Rifkin

"What would happen if we were to awaken one day and suddenly realise that the world we live in appeared eerily alien, as if we'd been teleported to some other distant world? That frightening prospect is now. Our planetary hydrosphere, which animates all of...

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Quantum physics for poets  by Leon M. Lederman

Quantum physics for poets

Leon M. Lederman

"Quantum theory is the bedrock of contemporary physics and the basis of understanding matter in its tiniest dimensions and the vast universe as a whole. But for many, the theory remains an impenetrable enigma. The authors of this book seek to remedy this...

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Death in the garden  by Michael (Michael J.) Brown

Death in the garden

Michael (Michael J.) Brown

"Mankind has always had a morbid fascination with poisonous plants; how their poisonous properties were discovered and developed will most likely be left unknown. Over the centuries poisonous plants have been used to remove garden pests, unwanted rivals and...

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The lost world of the dinosaurs  by Armin Schmitt

The lost world of the dinosaurs

Armin Schmitt

"An exploration into the world of dinosaurs, presented by paleontologist Armin Schmitt. Through firsthand experiences and groundbreaking research, Schmitt delves into the lives of these ancient creatures, showcasing global excavations and remarkable...

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Starlore of the constellations  by Geoffrey Cornelius

Starlore of the constellations

Geoffrey Cornelius

"Immerse yourself in the stories of the sky. Discover the mysteries of celestial mythology with this comprehensive introduction to the constellations and the stars that comprise them. This fascinating practical guide unveils the myths, legends and symbolic...

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Under the changing skies

Under the changing skies

"A beautiful journey through the British countryside, drawn from the Guardian's beloved Country Diary. For over a century, The Guardian's Country Diary has published the nation's most celebrated writers of natural history as they capture the essence of the...

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A checklist to New Zealand birds, frogs, reptiles, mammals and butterflies  by Kerry-Jayne Wilson

A checklist to New Zealand birds, frogs, reptiles, mammals and butterflies

Kerry-Jayne Wilson

This pocket checklist includes all the species of birds, frogs, reptiles, mammals and butterflies that currently have wild populations in New Zealand, plus vagrant species that have been reliably recorded here during the last 25 years. It will enable...

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Nettle power  by Brigitte Mars

Nettle power

Brigitte Mars

"Nettle Power is a fascinating exploration of the many uses of nettle for food, medicine, and fiber. Colorful illustrations, recipes, and curious facts and lore make this a highly browsable and useful handbook for foraging, herb, and natural health...

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Is Earth exceptional?  by Mario Livio

Is Earth exceptional?

Mario Livio

"For a long time, scientists have wondered how life has emerged from inanimate chemistry, and whether Earth is the only place where it exists. Charles Darwin speculated about life on Earth beginning in a warm little pond. Some of his contemporaries believed...

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Botany  by René Fester Kratz

Botany

René Fester Kratz

"Botany For Dummies gives you a thorough overview of the fundamentals of botany, but in simple terms that anyone can understand. Great for supplementing your botany coursework or brushing up before an exam, this book covers plant evolution, the structure and...

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Probability  by Deborah J. (Deborah Jean) Rumsey

Probability

Deborah J. (Deborah Jean) Rumsey

"Probability--the likelihood or chance of an event occurring--is an important branch of mathematics used in business and economics, finance, engineering, physics, and beyond. We see probability at work every day in areas such as weather forecasting, investing,...

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Beautiful shells  by Mark Carnall

Beautiful shells

Mark Carnall

"An informative introduction exploring our fascination with shells, complete with stunningly reproduced illustrations. In 1811, architect, stone mason, and shell obsessive George Perry published his lavishly illustrated volume, Conchology or the Natural...

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