IET Publications, Reviews, and Bookstore
IET Publications, Reviews, and Bookstore
Special IET publications utilized and disseminated, in part, during the IET training programs have been reviewed and are available from federal and state regulatory agencies on this page for downloading. These documents are in various stages of development, from drafts to final versions. For information from sources on the World Wide Web and the Internet, see IET's new Internet Resources page.
The amount of useful information available in the following links is substantial. Some of the material is well defined and described, but some will require examination on your part to evaluate the value of the information. Useful technical information is increasing rapidly on the Internet; however, the information must be used with considered caution.
If any of the web sites do not respond after repeated attempts, please notify the IET webmaster concerning the nature and type of problem. Be aware that particular servers are, from time to time, not available because of malfunction or maintenance. Top-ranked search engines have been added to this new portal to facilitate your search of the Internet.
Note: There is a trend toward using meta-search engines which combine a number of search engines in one. Updates to this web page will occur at regular intervals.
If you would like to be notified automatically when new information has been added to this particular Webpage, please type in your e-mail address in the form provided below the search engines. Please note that IET now offers selected government publications (pdf files) and an on-line bookstore for many of the publications, reports, and texts used or recommended during your training program with the IET. The IET Bookstore functions in association with Amazon.com, one the largest book distributors in the world. New texts as well as classic texts can usually be found via the IET Bookstore, below.
If you encounter
candidate websites that should be cited below, the new portal was designed to allow you to submit URLs so please feel free
to "add a listing" and we will consider adding them to the main data base of URLs. First click on one of the "Categories" and then click on "add a listing" shown in the upper right corner of the screen.
To go to this new portal of the IET database of URLs, click (here).
In addition, books of special interest to the graduates, faculty, and friends of the IET have been selected and reviewed in association with the world's largest bookstore, Amazon.com. These book selections will be augmented periodically so this page should be monitored often.
Welcome to the IET Bookstore. We are excited to announce our recent partnership program with Amazon.com, where you can conveniently and securely purchase your books online and, save up to 40%! We have compiled a comprehensive list of informative and useful book titles in environmental science chemistry, hydrogeology, geology, environmental science, microbiology, evolutionary biology, and related technologies, engineering, management, human communication, international relations, and other topics of interest. Our ordering is done through Amazon.com, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To place an order, choose a category below, then click on the highlighted title (note: pricing may change) and it will take you directly to the page in website of Amazon.com that features the chosen book. From here, simply follow the instructions for ordering online.
If you have questions about ordering, please feel free to contact Amazon.com.
The following books have been selected and reviewed for the benefit of IET students, graduates, faculty, and friends of IET. But first, a few special words of introduction from the President of Amazon.com:
Sincerely,
Jeff Bezos
President
Amazon.com"
Mr. Bezos guarantees you the same high level of customer service you would receive at Amazon.com. If you have a question about an order you've placed, please don't hesitate to contact him directly.
Amazon.com offers more than one million titles and is the leading online bookstore. They offer top-notch customer service and ships books worldwide. Amazon.com also offers a safe option for Internet purchases: The Netscape Secure Commerce Server, which encrypts any information you type in. If you prefer not to submit payment on the Internet you can phone or fax your credit card number to them, or pay by check.
If you order books through these links, you will be able to purchase them at the best prices that Amazon.com has to offer. In many instances, the IET Bookstore will garner a small referral fee, at no cost to you. So, if you see something you like, please order it from here. Some books (those labeled "special order" and taking 4 to 6 weeks to receive) are not part of this compensation program. However, in the spirit of this web site as a source of useful information, books in that classification are also listed.
If you see a book of interest, simply click on the link and you will go to Amazon.com for the particulars of your purchase.
The editors of Amazon.com have developed a list of top 25 books in Science and Technology. Hundreds of books on science are published every year, but only a few are at once understandable, original, and well written; it's even rarer for them to be witty. According to the editors of Amazon.com, here is a collection of the most popular in fields ranging from science to engineering, click (here). But, of course, it is up to you to decide.
For books related to the field of environmental science and engineering, we have selected a number of texts that we (the IET faculty) recommend for supplemental reading or as a reference source. They are grouped in the following categories:
Jump Table
for
IET
Reviews and Links to Amazon.Com
General Reference
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics 1996-1997A Ready-Reference Book of Chemical and Physical Data (77th Ed); David R. Lide, H. P. R., Ph.D. Frederikse; Hardcover; $88.00
If you were going to have just one book for technical support, this book (generally called just the CRC) would be it. Indispensable information for the physical/chemical/biological scientist.
Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook: by Robert H. Perry (Editor), Don W. Green 7th Edition Hardcover, 2,240 pages List: $125.00
In some ways this book is similar to the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics in that a considerable portion is devoted to data tables, some of which are unique. But unlike the CRC, it also has text sections that explain many engineering processes, with tables and graphs to aid in the design process. Anyone involved in remediation should have a copy of this text. A new edition has just come out this year.
The Merck Index : An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals (Annual), by Susan Budavari (Editor), Maryadele J. O'Neil (Editor), Ann Smith (Editor)
A must-have for your library. Revised each year, this text provides up-date information.
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater by Arnold E. Greenberg (Editor) 19th Edition Hardcover List: $180.00
This text contains: methods, detailed procedures, and standards for a variety of testing on water and wastewater, including biological, chemical, and radioactive protocols. This is the standard for testing labs worldwide.
A Comprehensive Guide to the Hazardous Properties of Chemical Substances by Pradyot Patnaik Hardcover List: $109.95
In a field with a large number of books, this one has good depth and breadth of coverage for chemical substances, is well organized, and of reasonable size and cost. There are more massive, more complete, and more expensive sources of data of this type, but, for a quick check that is handy on the bookshelf, this is a good choice.
General Chemistry by Linus Pauling Paperback List: $19.95
This is not the most recent of books, but for basic chemistry, it is an excellent source. Dr. Pauling originated much of 20th Century chemistry; he is also a good writer. It is a college text but is now somewhat outdated.
The Nature of the Chemical Bond and the Structure of Molecules and Crystals; An Introduction to Modern Structural Chemistry. by Linus Carl Pauling Third Edition Hardcover List: $65.00
Once again, not the most recent of books, but a definite classic in chemical literature. Many valuable peripheral areas are touched upon in this book on the chemical bond. It contains an outstanding coverage of Quantum Mechanics .
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry by F. Albert Cotton and Geoffrey Wilkinson, 5th Edition Hardcover, 1455 pages List: $69.95
The standard book on inorganic chemistry. From the perspective of a person who is involved with the application of chemistry to problems in the environmental field (vs. laboratory procedures), the value of this book is in its discussions of the behavior of different compounds of specific elements under various conditions.
Inorganic Chemistry : Principles of Structure and Reactivity by James E. Huheey, Ellen A. Keiter, Richard L. Keiter 4th Edition Hardcover, 888 pages List: $84.38
This book is organized somewhat differently than the text cited above (Cotton and Wilkinson) but offers some lucid explanations of electrochemistry and coordination chemistry. It also has sections devoted to the practical aspects of the chemistry of inorganic compounds.
Intermolecular and Surface Forces by Jacob N. Israelachvili 2nd Edition Hardcover List: $56.00
The transport of contaminants in a ground-water system or soil matrix is dependent upon the interactions of the contaminant with the geologic matrix. This book contains a good coverage and presentation of those interactions. It discusses van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic/hydrophilic interactions. In addition, adsorption, solvation and micelle systems are explained with practical examples using graphics that can be applied to other problems. Considering, price, size, functionality, and detail of treatment, this is an outstanding text.
Handbook of Chemical Engineering Calculations (McGraw-Hill Chemical Engineering) by Nicholas P. Chopey (Editor) 2nd Edition Hardcover List: $74.95 -- Amazon.com Price: $74.95
Practical examples to aid you in the application of chemical engineering principles ranging from problem resolution to system design. It is meant for use in the chemical engineering industry, but there are many areas of practical use for the design of multimedia environmental remediation systems.
Physical Chemistry Source Book by Sybil P. Parker (Editor) Hardcover, 406 pages List: $49.50
This is a single source of comprehensible explanations for physical chemical phenomena. It includes sections on thermodynamics, kinetics, surface chemistry, transport properties (like viscosity), and electrochemistry. A text for your bookcase.
The Geochemistry of Natural Waters : Surface and Ground-Water Environments by James I. Drever 3rd Edition Hardcover, 480 pages List: $62.50
The best single source on the subject. This book covers all types of natural waters and the geochemical reactions they undergo. Thermodynamics, kinetics, redox reactions, and general chemical equilibria; are all covered in an understandable and useful fashion. It includes sections on the impact of microbiological activity.
Physical and Chemical Hydrogeology by Patrick A. Domenico, Franklin Schwartz Hardcover, 824 pages List: $89.00
Another outstanding book; its geochemical coverage is not quite as extensive as "The Geochemistry of Natural Waters", but it runs a strong second. In addition, it offers full coverage of physical hydrodynamics (including heat flow) and modeling systems. Although as college textbook, it is handy to have in your library.
Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry : An Introduction by F. Donald Bloss Reprint Edition Paperback List: $30.00
This book is a classic and has been republished in this paper back version (originally published in 1971). In addition to crystallography, the book has a very good explanation of "crystal field theory" (the interaction of the outer electrons of transition metals with adjacent ligands) and discusses the effects of all this on multiple physical properties of materials.
Geochemistry of Hydrothermal Ore Deposits by Hubert Lloyd Barnes (Editor) 3rd Edition Hardcover List: $115.00
Another classic, just reissued in its 3rd edition. Beyond ore deposits, this book contains information germane to the chemistry of ground water, complexation, and mass transport in a wide variety of subsurface environments.
Introduction to Geochemistry by Konrad B. Krauskopf, Dennis K. Bird 3rd Edition Hardcover List: $59.40
For years, the standard introduction to geochemistry. Always good to have in your library.
Eh-pH Diagrams for Geochemistry by Douglas G. Brookins Hardcover List: $89.50
Another indispensable reference source.
Aqueous Environmental Geochemistry by Donald Langmuir Hardcover, 576 pages List: $93.75
Provides a thorough presentation of controls on the chemical quality of surface and subsurface waters, both pristine and polluted. Emphasis is placed on inorganic processes and on the chemistry of soil and ground water. Unlike most authors, whose civil/sanitary engineering backgrounds promote a more aquatic chemistry and surface water approach Langmuir's geology/geochemistry experience focuses coverage on the chemical interactions between water and geological materials. The text provides valuable training in using the geochemical computer code MINTEQA2 as integral problem-solving tool. A classic text on the subject. No professional ground-water professional should be without a copy.
Aquatic Chemistry : Chemical Equilibria and Rates in Natural Waters by Werner Stumm, James J. Morgan 3rd Edition Paperback List: $59.95
Also a classic text on the subject. No professional ground-water professional should be without a copy.
Chemistry of the Solid-Water Interface : Processes at the Mineral-Water and Particle-Water Interface in Natural Systems by Werner Stumm Paperback, 428 pages List: $52.95
A follow-up to the original text. Good for reference.
Physical and Chemical Hydrogeology by Patrick A. Domenico, Franklin Schwartz Hardcover, 824 pages List: $89.00
Another outstanding book, its geochemical coverage is not quite as extensive as "The Geochemistry of Natural Waters", but it runs a strong second. In addition, it offers full coverage of physical hydrodynamics (including heat flow) and modeling systems. Although as college textbook, it is handy to have in your library.
Principles of Groundwater Engineering by William C. Walton Hardcover List: $84.95
An exhaustive treatment of aquifer hydrology. Confined and water-table aquifers are discussed in detail. Withdrawal, injection, an boundary conditions are all examined. There is a very detailed discussion of modeling techniques, application, and selection. The best parts of this book (in my opinion) are the appendices. There are over 140 pages of information on ground water, aquifer hydrodynamics, geologic characteristics of different aquifers, contaminant characteristics, and modeling. This book is worth having for the appendices alone.
Dynamics of Fluids in Porous Media by Jacob Bear Paperback, 764 pages List: $19.95
This is a very technical treatment of hydrogeology. It covers matrix properties, fluid transport, anisotropic media, unconfined flow, immiscible fluids, diffusion, and much more. There are equations on every page, but there are also graphics that are helpful in understanding and useful in application. If you have a specific question or problem you need help with in the realm of aquifer hydrology, this is the place to go, if you can cut through the developmental calculus.
Groundwater by R. Allan Freeze Hardcover List: $86.67
Long the standard introductory text on ground water. If you want to be grounded on the subject, have this text on your bookshelf.
Groundwater Hydrology by Herman Bouwer Hardcover, 480 pages List: $128.50
This is an exceptionally lucid treatment of hydrogeology. It covers all the standard hydrodynamic issues, as well as unconfined aquifers, vadose zone dynamics, and infiltration/evapotranspiration. Practical issues such as well design, subsidence, and water quality are also covered. Some of the issue touched upon in this book, just are not found any where else. The coverage of a number of sections heavily reference the text by Campbell and Lehr (below).
Groundwater and Wells by Fletcher G. Driscoll 2nd Edition Hardcover List: $65.75
A principal source for information concerning the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of water wells. All aspects of well design, such as well screens and pumps, are discussed in some detail. An interesting coverage of hydrogeologic issues is included. The text is light on references. A text for your bookshelf.
Water Well Technology by Michael D. Campbell and Jay H. Lehr, Hardcover, McGraw-Hill (1973)
This is the now classic text on water well drilling, design, completion, operation, and maintenance. It is difficult to find because it is now out of print after 12 printings. Most major libraries have it. The material covered forms the basis of subsequent considerations in monitoring well design and installation. It represents the state-of-the art during the period from 1973 to the late 1980s. For immediate copies of this text, or specific chapters, click here for additional information.
Geology [and Environmental Impact] of Alternate Energy Resources by Michael D. Campbell (ed.), Houston Geological Society, (1977).
This text is a comprehensive and timeless coverage of the non-oil & gas [alternate] energy resources available in the South-Central United States. The coverage involves uranium, lignite and geothermal energy resources, the exploration and development techniques and procedures,and the associated environmental considerations (circa 1977) involved in the development of each resource. The geographical area covered includes: Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. For additional information on this text, click here for more about the text's coverage and availability. This text went out of print in 1979.
Dense Chlorinated Solvents in Porous and Fractured Media : Model Experiments by Friedrich Schwille, James F. Pankow (Translator for English Language Edition), Hardcover List: $89.95
A classic in the field of contaminant transport. The photographs are useful in evaluating DNAPL movement in the subsurface.
Cadillac Desert : The American West and Its Disappearing Water by Marc Reisner, Revised Paperback Edition, 582 pages, List: $14.95
This is not a technical book. Rather it is an examination of how important ground-water resources are in the American West. Perhaps most interesting is the description of how these valuable resources are allocated; the dynamics of the process are enlightening.
Microbes and Man by John Raymond Postgate 3rd Edition Paperback, 297 pages, List: $17.95
This is essentially a laymen's introduction to microbiology. Its clearly written and understandable. In the process you get a very good review of microbiological organisms, their environments of choice, and what they can do. A great place to start in an understanding microbiology.
Practical Manual of Ground-Water Microbiology by D. Roy Cullimore Hardcover List: $64.95
The primary focus of this book is on "biofouling" of wells. However, in the process you get a reasonable review of a wide variety of bacteria that populate ground-water systems. As well as the wide variety of chemical and redox conditions under which they exist. Based heavily on test kits. Rather crude production and graphics.
Ground-Water Microbiology and Geochemistry by Francis H. Chapelle Hardcover List: $84.95
The book is an outstanding text on the subject. It written in dense, academic language but is one of the best sources of information on the subject.
Microbial Mineral Recovery by Henry L. Ehrlich, Corale L. Brierley (Editor) Hardcover, 454 pages List: $68.95
There are a group of bacteria classed as chemolithotrophs. These bacteria operate through the exploitation of various chemical reactions. They are responsible for generating "acid mine drainage" emitting from abandoned and active mine sites. Aside from their intrinsic application (for bioleaching of ores), many of these bacteria have metabolic systems that can be exploited for the biodegradation of man-made chemicals (PCBs, Chlorinated Solvents, Pesticides, etc.) that are recalcitrant to the activity of what would be termed "normal" bacteria. The book does a good job of discussing the phenomena of biosorption, i.e. the process by which bacteria can remove heavy metals from water.
Biochemical Adaptation by Peter W. Hochachka, George Somero Paperback, 537 pages List: $37.50
How do organisms adapt to the extremes of chemistry, heat and pressure (like the chemolithotrophs)? This book is an examination of the biochemical adaptations that organisms use to survive in extreme environments. This is the realm from which current researches are finding new microbial systems to attack the most recalcitrant of man made chemical compounds.
The following four books are the results of recent, important seminars or conferences:
Bioremediation of Inorganics by Robert E. Hinchee (Editor), Jeffrey L. Means (Editor), David R. Burris Volume 10 Hardcover List: $54.95
Bioremediation of Chlorinated Solvents by Robert E. Hinchee (Editor), Andrea Leeson (Editor), Lewis Semprini (Editor) Hardcover List: $69.95
Bioremediation of Recalcitrant Organics by Robert E. Hinchee (Editor), Daniel B. Anderson (Editor), Ronald E. Hoeppel Volume 7 Hardcover List: $69.95
Intrinsic Bioremediation (Bioremediation, 3(1)) by Robert E. Hinchee (Editor), John T. Wilson (Editor) Hardcover List: $59.95
Balance Sheet Basics : Financial Management for Non-Financial Managers by Ronald C. Spurga Reissue Edition Paperback
This is a small, simple book, designed for use by people without an MBA. In simple, understandable terms it presents what you need to know for knowledgeable financial management of a business. If you have bottom-line responsibility of any kind of business, you should read this or some other book like it. The down side is, it is out of print, and it may take Amazon.com a month or two to find you a copy.
Fair, Square, and Legal : Safe Hiring, Managing & Firing Practices to Keep You & Your Company Out of Court by Donald H. Weiss Revised Hardcover, 358 pages List: $27.95
The book is written for business managers and is designed to help you avoid legal pitfalls associated with recruiting, hiring, firing, harassment, discipline, promotions, and others. As a manager, you need to know as much as possible about these issues to keep personnel management under control.
The Ten-Day MBA by Steve Silbiger, Hardcover, 378 pages List: $23.00
While no substitute for a MBA (especially the contacts made while attending a good program), this book does serve to provide a good review and workable explanation of the subjects covered in an MBA program. Areas covered include: marketing, ethics (business), accounting, organizational behavior, analysis, finance, operation, economics, and strategy.
Negotiating Rationally by Max H. Bazerman, Margaret A. Neale Reprint Edition Paperback List: $16.95
This text is one of the better texts available on the theory and practical application of negotiating skills. Negotiating is a learned art; a lack of negotiating skill will limit your climb up the corporate ladder. This book gives you advice on avoiding common errors made during negotiations and how to exploit those errors when made by others.
Managing in a Time of Great Change by Peter F. Drucker Reissue Edition Paperback List: $16.00
Peter Drucker has been writing books on management for decades. His books are extremely readable and he makes a lot of sense. This book provides an excellent review of what management is supposed to be about. How to manage a business, other managers, organization structures, workers, and work. Plain, pragmatic and useful.
Letitia Baldrige's New Complete Guide to Executive Manners by Letitia Baldrige Revised Hardcover, 590 pages List: $35.00
Written primarily with the USA in mind. Information for the proper behavior of companies and people for a wide array of business situations.
The Statesman's Year-Book : A Statistical, Political and Economic Account of the States of the World of the Year 1997-1998 (Annual) by Brian Hunter (Editor) 134th Edition Hardcover List: $110.00
A single compact source with information on government infrastructure, politics, history, and economic data for every country in the World. Expensive, but an impressive compilation.
Worldwide Government Directory With International Organizations, 1997, by Ken Gause Hardcover List: $357.00
A complete guide to World governments and International Organizations. All inclusive and extremely detailed. Do you need the name of the Ministry of Labor for Singapore and his phone number? You will find it here, unless he has been eliminated. Ask for 1998 edition.
Stilwell and the American Experience in China, 1911-1945 by Barbara Tuchman Reissue Edition Paperback Published by Bantam Books Publication date: January 1986
Barbra Tuchman is a good writer. This book, about China during the first half of this century, covers an important portion of the development of modern China, as well as being informative about China and the Chinese people in general. Unfortunately, this book is no longer in print. The link will get Amazon.com looking for it for you, but you should have more rapid success by paying a visit to one of you local used bookstores. With some patient searching, you should find one of the previous editions. If your interested in China, it is worth the effort.
Harmony in Conflict by: Richard W. Hartzell
If you plan on spending any significant time in Taiwan or Mainland China, this book is highly recommended. It is about adaptation or acculturation into Chinese society. It covers history, behavior, and thinking. This book was originally recommended by people in Taiwan. Unfortunately, it is not available via Amazon.com. If you travel to the Pacific Rim, you may be able to find it in Airport or Hotel bookstores. Otherwise, contact the publisher at: Caves Books, LTD. 103 Chungshan N. Rd. Sec. 2 Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. Tel: 541-4754, 537-1666
Do's and Taboos Around the World by Roger E. Axtell (Editor) 3rd Edition Paperback, 196 pages List: $14.95
This book provides a country-by-country worldwide review of what is considered bad behavior. The book does a reasonable job of covering lots of countries. In this day, it is unlikely that "Ugly Americans" are going to return home with much in the way of contracts.
Gestures: The Do's and Taboos of Body Language Around the World by Roger E. Axtell Paperback, 227 pages List: $15.95
A compliment to the above, avoid unseemly and embarrassing mistakes. What is worse is that your host may not even let you know what a barbarian you really are, as he (or she) perceives you.
The Do's and Taboos of International Trade: A Small Business Primer by Roger E. Axtell Revised Paperback, 312 pages List: $17.95
The book provides a good introduction into the craft of forming international business relationships.
A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr, 1995, Random House, 500 p. List: $ 18.25
An engaging chronicle of plaintiff-side litigation in one of the early environmental cases of the early 1980s involving a cluster of childhood leukemia victims. City drinking water had been contaminated by industrial chemicals via an unknown, but suspected source. A number of large corporations with deep pockets were located within the area and took the heat. Additional sources in addition to those accused were subsequently alleged to have contaminated the drinking water. For additional background to the case, see the website by The Ohio State University geology professor, Dr. H. Scott Bair. Be sure to read the book before seeing the movie. One of the Defendants, W. R. Grace Company, has presented its view of the case and surrounding circumstances.
The Prize : The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power by Daniel Yergin, Reissue Edition Paperback List: $ 16.00
A well written and very readable (one of those books that
is hard to put down) story of how the oil business came to be. This discovery
and development of cheap and accessible energy is the process that has come
to define our industrial society. Aside from the specifics of oil exploration
and development, this book serves to illustrate how world-changing technologies
are developed and applied.
Virus
of the Mind: The New Science of the Meme by Richard Brodie,
Integral Press, Seattle, 1996,
Hardback List: $ 22.00
This important book is the first popular book devoted to the science of memetics, a controversial new field that transcends psychology, biology, anthropology, and cognitive science. Memetics is the science of memes, the invisible but very real DNA of human society. The author has built the book on the works of Richard Dawkins, Douglas Hofstadter, Daniel Dennett, and others who have become fascinated with memes and their potential impact on our lives. The book is important reading for scientists and other thinking persons.
The
Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins, Oxford University Press, Oxford
and New York, 1989,
Paperback List: $ 12.95
The selfish gene theory is Darwin's theory, expressed in a way Darwin did not choose but whose aptness, Richard Dawkins suggests, he would instantly have recognized and delighted in. This is in fact a logical outgrowth of orthodox neo-Darwinism, but expressed as a novel image. Rather than focus on the individual organism, it takes a gene's-eye view of nature. This is another book that gives us a view to the thinking of the beginning of the 21st Century.
Unweaving the Rainbow: Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder by Richard Dawkins, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston and New York, 1998, List Price: $26.00 (Hardback)
This is the newest of the Dawkins series of important books of the decade. Why do poets and artists so often disparage science in their work? For that matter, why does so much scientific literature compare poorly with, say, the phone book? After struggling with questions like these for years, biologist Richard Dawkins has taken a wide-ranging view of the subjects of meaning and beauty in Unweaving the Rainbow, a deeply humanistic examination of science, mysticism, and human nature. Notably strong-willed in a profession of bet-hedgers and wait-and-seers, Dawkins carries the reader along on a romp through the natural and cultural worlds, determined that "science, at its best, should leave room for poetry."
Inspired by the frequently asked question, "Why do you bother getting up in the morning?" following publication of his book The Selfish Gene, Dawkins set out determined to show that understanding nature's mechanics need not sap one's zest for life. Alternately enlightening and maddening, Unweaving the Rainbow will appeal to all thoughtful readers, whether wild-eyed technophiles or grumpy, cabin-dwelling Luddites. Excoriations of newspaper astrology columns follow quotes from Blake and Shakespeare, which are sandwiched between sparkling, easy-to-follow discussions of probability, behavior, and evolution. In Dawkins's world (and, he hopes, in ours), science is poetry; he ends his journey by referring to his title's author and subject, maintaining that "A Keats and a Newton, listening to each other, might hear the galaxies sing." --Rob Lightner
A must read!!!
The Meme Machine by Susan J. Blackmore and Richard Dawkins, Oxford Univ Press, Oxford and New York, Hardcover - 272 pages (due out April 1999) List: $ 25.00
A new book in association with Richard Dawkins that should be of interest. Susan J. Blackmore, a biologist and paraphyscologist, brings a different view to the general subject. She reflects on her motives for starting this book below:
"I have always
been obsessed with the big questions of life - Where did we come from?
Why are we here? What is consciousness? Who, or what, am I? And found
no answers. I spent twenty-five years chasing the paranormal - in vain.
Then in 1995 I was taken ill and lay in bed for many months, unable to
work, or even speak much. During that time Dan Dennett’s ‘Darwin’s Dangerous
Idea’ came out, and I read it with delight. My love of evolutionary theory
was rekindled and I reread ‘The Selfish Gene’, in which Richard Dawkins
invents the idea of memes. I had once thought this was just a fanciful
analogy with genes, but soon began to see it as a theory that could transform
our understanding of mind and society. As I lay in bed, unable to do anything
else, I thought my way systematically through the implications of the
meme concept for the evolution of the brain, the origins of language,
the nature of human cooperation and altruism, and the power of religions.
The more I thought about memes, the more I realized that they, not us,
are the driving force in our world. You could say that they, not the genes,
needed bigger brains for their own replication. They, not us, have created
books and photocopiers, phones and faxes, for their own propagation. They,
not us, are the ultimate force behind the Internet, and will determine
its effects on the world - and on us. I have practiced meditation for
many years and wondered who is fighting whom in the battle to calm the
mind. Now I see the mess of our minds as a battle between the memes -
and we, our precious selves, as a complex of co-adapted memes - a memeplex.
We may think we are an independent agent with consciousness and free will,
but that is just illusion. Taking the ‘meme’s eye view’ really can transform
your world. I realized that there was no serious book on the science of
memetics and decided to write one. Fortunately I recovered and did just
that."
The book has been read and the results are astounding. Coming
from a rather strange background, Dr. Blackmore has done a great job. A
major read!!! ***** (Five Stars). A must read.
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, A Search for Who We are by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan, Ballantine Book, New York, 1992, Paperback List: $14.00
In an exceptionally readable treatment, the authors have described the Earth before humans set foot upon it. They have described our ancestors using the fossil record as a guide. The best description of the authors' coverage is from the authors themselves:
"We have been dismantling ancient institutions that no longer serve, and are tentatively trying out others. Our species is becoming an intercommunicating whole, with powerful economic and cultural bonds linking up the planet. Our problems, increasingly, are global in venue, admitting only global solutions. We have been uncovering the mysteries of our past and the nature of the Universe around us. We have invented tools of awesome power. We have explored the nearby worlds and have set sail for the stars. Granted, prophecy is a lost art and we are not vouchsafed an unclouded view of our future. Indeed, we are almost wholly ignorant of what is coming. But by what right, what argument can pessimism be justified? Whatever else may be hidden in those shadows, our ancestors have bequeathed us-within certain limits, to be sure-the ability to change our institutions and ourselves. Nothing is preordained."
A must read!
The Demon-Haunted World, Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan, Ballantine Book, New York, 1996, Paperback List: $ 14.00
Another masterpiece in a series of such. Richard Dawkins has captured this major salvo by Carl Sagan in his newest effort against irrationality and superstition in a review published in The Times (London):
"As I close this eloquent and fascinating book, I recall the final chapter title from one of Carl Sagan's earlier works, Cosmos. 'Who Speaks for Earth?' is a rhetorical question, but I presume to answer it. My candidate for planetary ambassador can be none other than Carl Sagan himself. He is wise, humane, witty, well read, and incapable of composing a dull sentence... wish I had written The Demon-Haunted World. Having failed to do so the least I can do is press it upon my friends. Please read this book."
Nothing more can be said. Read it, you will not miss the time.
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, by Jared Diamond, W. W. Norton & Company, New York and London, 1997, Hardback List: $ 14.95
Why did Eurasians conquer, displace, or decimate Native Americans, Australians, and Africans, instead of the reverse? In this ground-breaking book, evolutionary biologist and biogeographer, and professor of physiology at the UCLA School of Medicine, Jared Diamond stunningly dismantles racially-based theories of human history by revealing the environmental factors actually responsible for history's broadest patterns. Dr. Diamond's story begins 13,000 years ago, when Stone Age hunter-gatherers constituted the entire human population of the Earth. A must read!!
Rain
of Iron and Ice: The Very Real Threat of Comet and Asteroid Bombardment
by John S. Lewis, Addison-Welsy Publishing Company, Inc., New York, etc.,
1997, Paperback List:
$ 13.00
John Lewis is Professor of Planetary Sciences at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Co-Director of the NASA / University of Arizona Space Engineering Research Center, and Co-Commissioner of the Arizona State Space Commission. This book is not of the present day genre of threat and worry that pervades the publishing and broadcast industries today. Dr. Lewis documents historical records indicating collisions from all over the world. Almost every source of historical and ancient information includes references to impacts, including the Bible. He makes a strong case for sudden, dramatic extinctions and assesses the risks to planet Earth. An outstanding reference. Another must read!!!
Darwin's
Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meaning of Life
by Daniel C. Dennett, A Touchstone Book, Simon & Schuster, New York,
etc., 1996, Paperback List:
$ 12.80, 588 p.
One of the best descriptions of the nature and implications of Darwinian evolution ever written, it is firmly based in biological information and appropriately extrapolated to possible applications to engineering and cultural evolution. Dennett's analyses of the objections to evolutionary theory are unsurpassed. Extremely lucid, wonderfully written, and scientifically and philosophically impeccable. Highest Recommendation! The Wall Street Journal: "Dennett is a philosopher of rare originality, rigor, and wit. Here he does one of the things philosophers are supposed to be good at, clearing up conceptual muddles in the sciences."
One of the best books of its kind ever read. A must read. Plan to spend quite a few days reading this book of 588 pages.
The
Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition into the Forces of History
by Howard Bloom, Atlantic Monthly
Press, New York, etc., 1995, Hardback List:
$ 24.00, 466 p.
A pleasure to read. Surprisingly relevant to world politics
of today and the near future. Every world leader should read this book.
Bloom's book is a revolutionary work that explores the intricate relationships
between genetics, human behavior, and culture to put forth the thesis
that "evil" is a by-product of nature's strategies for creation
and that it is woven into our most basic biological fabric. Biology is
not destiny; but human culture is not always the buffer to our more primitive
instincts we would like to think it is. He draws an analogy between biological
processes and the workings of ideas, or "memes," that define,
give cohesion to, and justify human superorganisms. With the meme's insatiable
hunger to enlarge itself, we have a precise prescription for war, in the
past, present, and future. A powerful thinking tool. Another absolutely
must read!
Influence:
The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert
B. Cialdini, Quill of William Morrow, New York, Paperback List:
$ 13.00, 320 p.
This book has sold hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide, and has established itself as one of the most important books on persuasion published through 1993. The concepts have permeated the world of marketing in the Capitalist society. This book provides the antidote against the ploys of marketing in operation around us today. The weapons of Influence are: 1) reciprocation, 2) commitment and consistency, 3) social proof, 4) liking, 5) authority, and 6) scarcity. If you choose to not be led around by marketing teams, learn their secrets. Although a little dated (1993), the book is still relevant and its principles are still in use. Get the antidote before"they" make you crazy.
Body Language by Julius Fast, Pocket Books, New York, 1970, Paperback List: $ 6.50
One of the first books on body language. This book is the forerunner of the new biology and physiology and is an oddly relevant, although dated, approach to the unconscious reaction of the self to activities of the past and present. The science of Kinesics was formed dealing with: 1) The Body is the Message, 2) Of Animals and Territory, 3) How We Handle Space, 4) When Space is Invaded, 5) The Masks Men Wear, 6) The Wonderful World of Touch, 7) The Silent Language of Love, 8) Positions, Points, and Postures, 9) Winking, Blinking and Nods, 10) An Alphabet for Movement, and 11) Body Language: Use and Abuse makes up the chapters of this book. Overall, the book is a look back where we used to be. It puts things in perspective now.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey, A Fireside Book, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1990, Paperback List: $ 12.00
This book was a ground-breaker when it was first published in 1990, and it continues to be a business bestseller with more than 10 million copies sold. Stephen Covey, an internationally respected leadership authority, realizes that true success encompasses a balance of personal and professional effectiveness, so this book is a manual for performing better in both arenas. His anecdotes are as frequently from family situations as from business challenges.
Before you can adopt the seven habits, you'll need to accomplish what Covey calls a "paradigm shift"--a change in perception and interpretation of how the world works. Covey takes you through this change, which affects how you perceive and act regarding productivity, time management, positive thinking, developing your "proactive muscles" (acting with initiative rather than reacting), and much more.
This isn't a quick-tips-start-tomorrow kind of book. The concepts are sometimes intricate, and you'll want to study this book, not skim it. When you finish, you'll probably have Post-it notes or handwritten annotations in every chapter, and you'll feel like you've taken a powerful seminar by Covey. --Reviewer: Joan Price
If you want to get your act together, this is a must read. Al least you will know what you're not doing when the promotions are announced in your company.
You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation by Deborah Tannen, Ballantine Books, New York, 1990, Paperback List: $12.50
Ever been baffled by her behavior, perplexed by her posturing, unnerved by her missed understanding? You're not alone. As a sociolinguist, Deborah Tannen's focus is not just on language, but on how communication styles either facilitate or hinder personal interactions. According to Dr. Tannen, men and women are essentially products of different cultures, possessing different-but equally valid-communication styles. While women generally seek to "connect" with other people in intimate, parallel relationships, men approach conversation as a "one-up or one-down situation." As a result, women often feel silenced by men, although that is not necessarily men's intention. Presented as a tool for understanding and change, this book offers clear analyses of example conversational exchanges between the sexes; excerpts from the works of linguists, sociologists and others; and samples from various media, including TV and novels. By illustrating the cause and effects of these different conversational styles, Dr. Tannen takes the blame (self-recrimination) out of communication snafus so that we may begin to build bridges in understanding between the sexes.
With today's need to encourage diversity, men and women relationships in the office especially require careful scrutiny, if only to avoid EEOC conflict. A must read if you are having trouble with this subject either at the office or home.
Last, but certainly not least, The Magnus List of Texts Available from Amazon.com on the Subject of: Environmental Science (Click Here). Type in "environmental science and engineering" in the search window provided. As emphasized during your IET training program, be appropriately skeptical of all radical claims made in many of the texts prepared by advocacy-driven agendi. You have been taught to discriminate between natural science and junk science. Try not to be persuaded too easily. Try also to apply the appropriate level of skepticism.
This page will be expanded as new candidate texts are listed and reviewed. In the meantime, the IET Internet Resources page provides timely information on a range of subjects included in the geosciences and engineering (Click Here to go to the IET Internet Resources page). You may also input your favorite URLs for later reference in the office or on the road.
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Last Update: January 5, 2006