The Long, Long Life of Trees was not at all what I expected. I wanted a novel that would cover the historical, cultural and mythological history of trees in a way that would encompass a large variety of trees. The hope was that I would glean information that would make me a hit at parties and give me knowledge about a subject that would be fun to pull out while chatting in the office” “Did you know that the Holly Tree was..?” Unfortunately, The Long, Long Life of Trees was not THAT kind of book and admittedly soured my experience. This novel is all about artistic ... Continue Reading...
Review: Resurrection Science: Conservation, De-extinction and the Precarious Future of Wild Things
M.R O'Connor attempts to tackle the moral and social implications regarding de-extinction efforts. Considering the fact that mammoth DNA has been fully sequenced, it stands to reason the sequencing of other animal DNA is only a breath away. O'Connor delves in the questions: which animals are worth saving? What are the implications on the environment and human society? Will establishing the science of de-extinction devalue the meaning of "extinct species"? The novel looks at extremely troubled Spray Toads whose natural habitat has been destroyed by human efforts. ... Continue Reading...
Review: Immunity
I was expecting something very different from Immunity. Instead of an autobiography concerning the life and career of one of the world's most eminent immunologist, I got a mix of dry textbook and autobiography. I don't know if I consider this a good or bad thing, but I definitely think this book is written for a specific audience and it's not the lay man. William E Paul, a prominent member at the National Institute of Health has written plenty of academic texts on immunology, held roles as president of American Association of Immunologists and the American Society ... Continue Reading...
Review: The Worst of Times
The Worth of Times is a book that looks to be fairly straightforward on the surface, but is actually semi-complex. Wignall's novel describes how and why cataclysms caused mass extinctions in pre-historic time. He explains how scientists use technology and ancient clues to solve the riddles surrounding mass extinctions. He mainly describes the role of volcanic activities in mass extinction events. The novel attempts to foster further understanding as to why LIPs (large igneous provinces), which can develop into volcanic provinces, were so detrimental to life before ... Continue Reading...
Review: Never Cry Wolf
I have such a complicated opinion when it comes to Never Cry Wolf. On the one hand, Mowat changed the way people looked at the the mysterious wolf and developed the understanding that wolves are more in tune with nature than our own species seems to be. Unfortunately, Mowat goes about writing his novel in the wrong way: his tone is condescending, his stories meant to be entertaining only make him sound incapable and his constant complaining about his superiors "refusing" to help him do his job make him look rather pathetic. Regardless, Mowat's book is one of the first ... Continue Reading...