Issuu

2024

‘Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better’ — Albert Einstein

So said the man who reshaped the scientific understanding of nature into what was to become modern physics. Inspired by these words, we set out to examine aspects of the world around us using the subtleties of art and design to enhance our authors’ explanations of ‘endless forms most beautiful’ (Charles Darwin). We pride ourselves on finding writers who are not only experts in their chosen fields but are also committed to conveying their knowledge, with passion and a lightness of touch, to a general readership. We have forged relationships with world-class wildlife photographers and award-winning illustrators and designers to achieve this end. We work with wonderful international publishing partners who share our commitment to the cause, and with their support our list is going from strength to strength. We now have over 90 books in print, 60 of which have been translated into a myriad of languages, and as we continue to build our backlist we thank everyone involved in making this such an enjoyable and rewarding journey. Jenny Manstead managing director

THE ARTISTRY OF NATURE

THE PALE BLUE DOT

The Nature of Clouds

Deep Space Philosophy

Nature’s Geometry

Forty Ways to Know a Star

In the Circle of Ancient Trees

Ten Patterns that Explain the Universe

Terra Ferna

Astroquizzical

Shapeshifters

Astrobiology

The Animal Mind

Team Nature

THE POWER OF GEOGRAPHY

Luminous

Why Maps Matter

Curating Nature

Everest 24

Mapping the River

Mapping the Ocean

Trees of Life

THE GIFT OF NATURE

MAPPING THE WORLD

A Treasury of Turtles

The World Atlas of Trees and Forests

The Little Books of Nature series

Forest School for Grown Ups

The World Atlas of Rivers, Estuaries, and Deltas

Botanicum Medicinale

The World Atlas of Deserts

The Magic of Transformation

The Contented Vegan

The Language of Nature

THE SCIENCE OF NATURE The Story of Life in 10 1/2 Species

The Underground Atlas of Fungi

Playing God

The Economy of Nature

Rewilding

Color in Nature

How Nature Keeps Records

How Nature Keeps Time

Cover: Mapping the River: Charting the Course of River Cartography

THE NATURE OF SCIENCE The Complex Worlds series

The Serendipity of Science

Everyday Chaos

Reality Check

The Book of Unsolved Problems

Artificial Intelligence

Short Cuts: Biodiversity

Short Cuts: Brain

Short Cuts: Artificial Intelligence

Short Cuts: Quantum Theory

Short Cuts: Maths

Short Cuts: Economics

Short Cuts: Medicine

How Birds Live Together

Short Cuts: Science

Sea Mammals

Short Cuts: Philosophy

Waspish

Short Cuts: Psychology

The Pocket Book of Bird Anatomy

Outbreaks & Pandemics

The Pocket Book of Insect Anatomy

Biology in Graphics

Human Anatomy in Graphics

EARTH WATCH

Chemistry in Graphics

How to Read a Rock

Physics in Graphics

The Curious World of Science

The Curious World of Scientific Symbols

CURIOUS KIDS Learn, Make, Play, Grow

Wild Lives

The Curious World of Kitchen Science

The Pocket Book of Nature Experiments

Bots and Bods

LIFE ON EARTH Dinosaur Behavior

Dino-saurus

PEOPLE STORIES The Gods & Monsters series

The Illustrated Meditations

The Trolley Murders

The Story of Humanity in Forty Sites

A is for Abecedarium

100

NATURE WATCH

Timeline of World History

102

Shark

Timeline of Ancient Mythology

102

Flyways

Timeline of the British Monarchy

102

How to Read a River

Timeline of Ancient Egypt

102

How to Read a Bird

Timeline of the Bible

102

How to Read an Insect

Timeline of American History

102

Wetlands

Viewfinders: Colosseum

103

Shallow Seas

The Deep Ocean

Marine Intelligence

The Secret World of Beetles

The Secret World of Butterflies

The Lives of series

THE POWER OF WORDS The Etymologicon 10th Anniversary Edition

104

Odyssey of Language

106

The World Atlas of Language

107

THE ARTISTRY OF NATURE

The Nature of Clouds Capturing, Curating, and Classifying Nature’s Most Fleeting Forms

The wonder of clouds makes children of us all. Their mystery has captivated artists and scientists in equal measure, all seeking to capture their essential and elusive being. The Nature of Clouds explores the physics of clouds, and considers the historic attempts of painters and physicists to record their different incarnations. It then captures, curates, classifies, and measures every species—including those recently discovered—by considering the height, size, texture, arrangement, modifications, and movement of their many magical forms. Alongside an engaging and expert meteorological narrative, The Nature of Clouds analyses the studies of some of the greatest artists ever to look skyward, including John Ruskin, JMW Turner, John Constable, and Frederic Edwin Church. It is an essential addition to every cloudspotter’s collection, and an exquisite gift for every cloud aficianado.

Specifications

About the Author

264 x 206 (8 x 101/2 in)

Edward Graham is an atmospheric scientist and Editor-in-Chief of the Royal Meteorological Society’s flagship journal Weather. Formerly an operational weather forecaster, he is well known for his social media snippets and statistics about weather and climate (@eddy_weather). In Stornoway town, where he lives, Eddy runs the meteorological and climate consultancy ‘eddyweather’; he can also be found during times of extreme weather on national television and radio. At the University of the Highlands and Islands, he teaches within the geography, sustainable development, environmental and applied science departments. Eddy has participated in research projects in countries including the UK, Ireland, Canada, Chile, Switzerland, the UAE, South Africa, and Kenya.

224pp four color throughout 140 Illustrations Estimated word count: 40,000

The Artistry of Nature

Nature’s Geometry The Shapes, Structures, and Symmetries of the Natural World

On the surface, it might appear that the randomness and chaos of the world is what makes its beauty. But all around us there are exquisite and extraordinary examples of natural patterns, shapes, structures, and symmetries that follow strict geometric rules and rigid regularity. From a wasp’s nest to a spider’s web, from a sand dune’s ridges to the bilateral symmetry of a tiger’s face, nature’s palette is applied in regimented patterns underpinned by mathematical laws and principles. Nature’s Geometry explores and explains the myriad ways in which geometric forms appear in nature. It asks how and why nature came to engineer such structures, and conveys the concepts behind their multiple occurrences—such as Alan Turing’s theory on mathematical morphogenesis addressing how leopards get their spots; and Benoit Mandelbrot’s work on fractals underpinning the infinitely repeating pattern and sixfold symmetry of a snowflake.

Specifications

About the Author

264 x 206mm (8 x 101/2 in)

David Maitland is an internationally acclaimed nature and science photographer, and has a BSc Hons (St Andrews) and a Doctorate (UNSW) in Zoology. David’s academic research has focused on the form and function of life forms, especially invertebrates, and his publication list includes Nature papers on how maggots jump; crabs that breathe air with their legs; and asymmetry in the predation of trilobites. His specialist macro and microscopy skills have been employed by the BBC for Wonders of Life and Human Universe. David is the recipient of international photography awards including POYi, Sony World Photography, British Photography Awards, and Wildlife Photographer of the Year. He was named European Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2008 and winner of the International Images for Science, and RPS Gold Medallist, 2015. David lives in St Andrews, Scotland.

288pp four colour throughout 120 images Estimated word count: 45,000

The Artistry of Nature

In the Circle of Ancient Trees Our Oldest Trees and the Stories they Tell

In the growth rings of every tree are ingrained and encrypted the stories of the tree, its environment, and the climatic changes through which it has lived. The science of dendrochronology, and growing archives of tree-ring samples, allow us to read and decode these timelines with ever greater detail. In the Circle of Ancient Trees narrates the stories of sixteen ancient and iconic trees, considering why they grew where they grew; how they fit into their habitat; and the human and ecological events to which they bore witness. The narratives begin and end with the tree’s relationship to its location and environment, and consider what lessons for the future might be discovered in their past. Illustrated with wood engravings, and featuring interviews with ecologists having local knowledge of each tree, In the Circle of Ancient Trees explores how human and environmental history share the same roots, while drilling down into the ecology, persistence, and resilience of each species.

Specifications

About the Authors and Illustrator

232 x 156 mm (6 x 9 in)

Valerie Trouet, a dendroclimatologist, is professor in the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research at the University of Arizona. She wrote Tree Story (Johns Hopkins), a broad audience book about tree rings and climate history.

224pp 150 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 45,000

Mark Ashton is Morris K. Jesup Professor of Silviculture and Forest Ecology and Director of School Forests at Yale, researching biological and physical processes governing the regeneration of natural forests. Craig Broderson is Professor of Plant Physiological Ecology at Yale, researching the structure and function of plants, with a particular interest in how plants efficiently utilize water and light. Blaze Cyan is a London-based landscape artist and engraver. She is an elected member of the Society of Wood Engravers, Honorary Secretary of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers and treasurer for The Arborealists.

The Artistry of Nature

Terra Ferna Lessons in Survival from Earth’s Most Adaptable Plants

Ferns are the most remarkable of plants, and their science is both complex and beautiful. They have a unique way of reproducing; they represent 80 percent of living species; and they reveal much about Earth’s evolution. Terra Ferna tells a remarkable science story by tracing their origins to over 350 million years ago. It explores how ferns migrated onto land; how they sought light and interacted within ecosystems; how they survived mass extinctions; and what their ability to adapt can tell us about our warming planet. Written by scientists with a passion for communicating research that is attracting media and social media attention, and illustrated with jewel-like details by an award-winning botanical artist, Terra Ferna has much to say about our world’s botanical past, present, and future.

Specifications

About the Authors and Illustrator

246 x 190 mm (71/2 x 9¾ in)

Fay-Wei Li grew up in Taiwan, and studied for his PhD at Duke University, USA, where he and his advisor, Kathleen Pryer, named a new fern genus Gaga after Lady Gaga. In 2017, Fay-Wei joined Boyce Thompson Institute at Cornell University, USA as an Assistant Professor. His fern research has featured in the New York Times, the Economist, and Rolling Stone magazine.

192pp four color throughout 100 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 35,000

Jacob S. Suissa completed his PhD in Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, USA. As a classically trained botanist and evolutionary biologist, Jacob asks how plants build their bodies, how they function, and how they have evolved across geologic time, with a focus on ferns. Laura Silburn is a botanical artist who has been contributing to the Eden Project Florilegium Society archive since 2010.

The Artistry of Nature

Shapeshifters The Wondrous World of Jellyfish

Jellyfish are often dangerous and always beguiling. They come in a dazzling array of colors, shapes, and sizes, drifting through every ocean, from the surface to the deepest of the deep seas, and even in freshwater locations. Some are so delicate that they shatter with the smallest disturbance to the water, while the tenacity of others means they can withstand almost any temperature, level of salinity, starvation, and even being dismembered. And some jellyfish are considered biologically truly immortal. Shapeshifters captures 100 species of these timeless organisms within its pages. Some splendid, some strange, some poisonous, some with surprising secrets, and some barely known, but every one remarkable and beautifully captured by stunning photography.

Specifications

About the Author

280 x 215 mm (81/2 x 11 in)

Lisa-Ann Gershwin was born and raised in California, where several chance encounters with jellyfish lured her into their enthralling world. Nowadays, with two well-received books, including Stung: On Jellyfish Blooms and the Future of the Ocean, two TEDx talks, more than seventy peer-reviewed scientific publications, and 216 new species of jellyfish (plus one new dolphin!) to her name, she lives and works in Australia’s beautiful island state of Tasmania. Perhaps not surprisingly, her home is decorated like a jellyfish art gallery.

224pp four color throughout 100 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 17,000

The Artistry of Nature

The Animal Mind Profiles of Intelligence and Emotion

We are only beginning to understand the animal mind as being as complex as ours. Recent research reveals that prairie dogs speak in full sentences, although their Mexican wave habit is yet to be fully understood. Gorillas use sign language to describe past events to researchers, so does this mean they ruminate and relive their lives? When an ant looks in a mirror to see a dab of blue paint on its head, it tries to clean it off, proving the ant is self-aware like us, so exactly where are the boundaries of difference? The Animal Mind explores instances of remarkable cognition, communication, consciousness, and culture in the animal kingdom, to offer a true anatomy of intelligence. Sixty animals are profiled and their cerebral behaviors explored, and each creature is also illustrated with a beautiful and sensitive portrait by a world-class nature photographer.

Specifications

About the Author

246 x 190 mm (71/2 x 93/4 in)

Marianne Taylor has authored more than thirty books on natural history including The Way of the Hare, The Story of Life in 10 Species, and The Pocket Book of Bird Anatomy. She has recently completed The Gull Next Door and has written a number of guides for the RSPB. She specializes in evolutionary biology and her work focuses on the dance between habitat, behavior, and evolution. Her encyclopedic knowledge of animal life and an always rigorous line of questioning challenge her readers’ often-held assumptions and encourage a sense of discovery.

240pp four color throughout 120 photographs approx Estimated word count: 60,000

Photographers include Peter Delaney, Melissa Groo, and Joel Sartore.

The Artistry of Nature

Team Nature Co-working in the Natural World

The natural world can seem to be dog-eat-dog, but examples of co-operation are more numerous than we might assume. Vampire bats share meals of blood with roost mates, flamingo adults guard unrelated chicks in creches of thousands of birds, and mycorrhizal fungi and trees share resources. Team Nature is a fascinating exploration of how animals, plants, and other organisms work together to survive and thrive. Supported by stunning photography and bespoke artwork, and drawing on the latest research, it is packed with examples of intra- and inter-species mutualism, altruism, and co-operation that will help us rethink the importance of working together and better understand ourselves.

Specifications

About the Author

246 x 190 mm (7 1/2 x 9 3/4 in)

Marianne Taylor is a freelance writer, editor, illustrator, and photographer, specializing in natural history subjects. She has written more than thirty-five books on wildlife and nature. Her passion for animals and natural history has been the guiding force in her life and, when not writing about the natural world, she can usually be found out in the countryside (or in the sea), learning as much as she can through first-hand observations of wildlife.

240pp four color throughout 150+ images Estimated word count: 30,000

LUMINOUS

The Artistry of Nature

Lisa-Ann Gershwin

Luminous Bioluminescence and Fluorescence in the Natural World

Bioluminescence and fluorescence in the natural world

The kaleidoscope of nature’s nocturnal glow is mysterious and hauntingly beautiful. There are mushrooms that glimmer green in woodland nights, beetles that fly blinking yellow lights through the gloom, and scorpions that fluoresce blue in the dark. Sea sparkles edge waves in ultraviolet glitter after hours, and beneath those same waves coralline algae flush neon orange in response to warmer seas. Deep in the ocean all manners of life use multi-colored lights for defense, to lure food, and to attract a mate. Luminous captures 100 different examples of this exquisite natural phenomenon, from the aurora borealis and crepuscular rays, to salamanders and biolum mosses. Each luminous wonder is that way for a reason, and a startling tale of natural science sits alongside every photograph.

Specifications

About the Author

295 x 230 mm (8 x 11 in)

Lisa-Ann Gershwin studied Marine Biology as a mature student and, after moving to Australia, was awarded a PhD from James Cook University. Along the way, she had several close encounters with jellyfish which inspired her to write two bestselling books on the subject: Stung! On Jellyfish Blooms and the Future of the Ocean (Chicago, 2013) and Shapeshifters (Abrams, 2023).

224pp four color throughout 100+ Illustrations Estimated word count: 30,000

The Artistry of Nature

Curating Nature How the Natural World was Named

Since ancient times, humans have sought to bring order to the bewildering diversity of the natural world by classifying, organizing, and naming Earth’s living things. With the development of modern technology, the discovery of new species has continued the expansion of our taxonomic understanding, while the use of taxonomic knowledge to underpin conservation has become ever more urgent. Curating Nature journeys through time to tell the stories of the extraordinary science and scientists behind today’s taxonomy. With a design that playfully catalogs the naturalists just as they cataloged their collections, scientific detective stories are punctuated with gloriously illustrated diagrams of key taxonomic systems. The book’s card index includes Aristotle’s early attempts to classify organisms; the obsessive collecting of ‘nature’s poet’ Carl Linnaeus and his Systema Naturae; Alexander von Humbolt and the plant hunters; and Charles Darwin’s revolutionary theories on natural selection. All lead to a consideration of modern taxonomic systems and their significance.

Specifications

About the Author

228 x 165 mm (61/2 x 9 in)

Tim Utteridge heads the Identification and Naming Department at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, leading teams that undertake fundamental taxonomic research and inventories. He is a member of Kew’s Senior Science Group and leader of the Asia Team. His own research is focused on the floristics of New Guinea, the taxonomy and systematics of tropical Primulaceae, and conveying taxonomy and plant identification to a broad audience of stakeholders both inside and outside botany. He is the author of The Kew Tropical Plant Families Identification Handbook.

256pp four color throughout 50 images Estimated word count: 50,000

The Artistry of Nature

Trees of Life Africa’s Trees and Their Wildlife Stories

The African baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) is known as the ‘Tree of Life’ on the continent, due to its remarkable ability to store water in its barrel-like trunk and survive the driest of conditions. As such, it stands at the heart of a fragile ecosystem featuring partner animals such as the elephants that eat its bark for moisture, and the bats which pollinate its flowers and are rewarded with a rich diet of nectar. Tragically, many ancient baobabs are dying, the Tree of Life succumbing to today’s extremes of drought. Trees of Life presents a precious portfolio of these and other African trees captured through the perceptive lens of fine art landscape and wildlife photographer Peter Delaney, three times winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards. Haunting images of baobabs, quiver trees, acacias, fig thorns and others are presented alongside feature essays by leading African naturalists narrating the part the trees play in their habitat and ecosystem, and the symbiotic relationships they form with animal partners.

Specifications

About the Author

246 x 190 mm (61/2 x 9 in)

Peter Delaney is a fine art wildlife photographer who travels the African continent to create work capturing the beauty and power of Africa’s wildlife and landscapes. He is a three-time winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards, whose images have been published by clients including National Geographic.

224pp four color throughout 100 images Estimated word count: 20,000

The Gift THE GIFT of OF Nature NATURE

The Magic of Transformation Memoirs of a Flightless Butterfly

In our era of global change, we need stories that offer hope and positive solutions to the challenges we face. The Magic of Transformation is a true story, told by one of the world’s leading conservationists, who describes how the parallel lives of a butterfly and a beloved mother can help us to reflect on the unique privilege of being alive. Its narrator (La Reme, the butterfly herself) shows us how the stages in the butterfly life cycle offer lessons for the difficult transformations of our own. We are encouraged to shed our skins as caterpillars do; to collaborate with others like cells within a chrysalis; and to spread the multi-colored wings of our imaginations. En route, we discover the remarkable 12,000-kilometer migratory cycle of painted lady butterflies, which can take three generations to travel from Norway to Africa. Their remarkable journey serves to remind us that our own transient lives— made from particles billions of years old—connect us all in the universe’s own constant metamorphosis.

Specifications

About the Author

250 x 176 mm (7 x 93/4 in)

Astrid Vargas is a conservation biologist with a track record in setting up, developing, leading, and monitoring environmental restoration programs. She has been a key figure in the recovery of three of the world’s most endangered species: the Iberian lynx in Spain, the black-footed ferret in North America and the golden-crowned sifaka in Madagascar. Astrid was named by El País, the Spanish newspaper of record, as one of the Top 100 people in Ibero-America— men and women who have made a difference.

128pp four color throughout 50 images Estimated word count: 9,000 Target age range: 11–adult

‘Every so often a book comes along with a sweep and magic that means that you’ll rarely find a copy languishing in a second-hand bookshop because it has metamorphosed into a family treasure.’ —Sir Tim Smit, Co-founder, Eden Project

The Gift of Nature

A Treasury of Turtles A Celebration in Nature, Science, and Myth

Specifications 204 x 158 mm (61/2 x 8 in) 160pp four color throughout 75 images Estimated word count: 20,000

It’s time to talk turtle. There are 360 living and recently extinct species, including sea-dwelling turtles, land-living tortoises and freshwater terrapins, and they are unique in so many ways. Their shell, made from over 50 bones, is the only such one among vertebrates. They are not, as was once thought, silent, but bellow during courtship. They are the only reptile to migrate long distances, the migrations of marine turtles over thousands of kilometres—and their beachside egg-laying— being the stuff of legend. Due to their long lifespans, protective shell, and timeworn appearance, turtles are global symbols of longevity and therefore of wisdom. Little wonder that they provide the foundations for many creation myths. In Hindu mythology, the world rests on the backs of four elephants that stand upon a giant turtle. In Native American myth, the Earth is dredged from the primal waters and built upon the World Turtle’s back. A Treasury of Turtles celebrates everything testudo by combining archive color plates with irresistible facts (the dramatist Aeschylus was apparently killed when a bird dropped a tortoise from the sky—simultaneously a slow and a quick death). With turtles second only to primates in their threatened status, this is a timely and gift-wrapped reminder of the wonder of these magical creatures.

The Gift of Nature

The Little Books of Nature series Form, Function, & Folklore

The Little Book of Butterflies is one of the first titles in a stunning new series of beautifully illustrated and expertly written books for the natural history enthusiast. Other volumes cover trees, spiders, and beetles. Structured in a miscellany style, each book is packed with facts, myths, and folklore to provide an accessible and enjoyable reference. Each spread covers a range of topics from anatomy and diversity, to habitat and conservation, to reproduction and ways of life. With high production values including tactile covers and foil blocking, this charming series is perfectly positioned as the ideal gift or self-purchase for all admirers of the natural world.

About the Author and Illustrator Specifications 152 x 95 mm (33/4 x 6 in) 160pp four color throughout 140 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 25,000

Andrei Sourakov is currently working at the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Andrei also serves as an Affiliate Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida and teaches courses on ‘Insects and Plants’ and ‘Man and Microbes.’ Alexandra A. Sourakov has been interested in butterflies since she was a child, participating in fieldwork with her father and volunteering at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Later, as an undergraduate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Alexandra and her teammate won MIT’s MADMEC competition with a butterfly-inspired materials science project. Tugce Okay works with watercolors and made it her commitment to bring the unique characteristics and personalities of flora and fauna to paper to let them tell their own tales. She currently lives and works from the calm countryside of Linköping, Sweden.

The Gift of Nature

Forest School for Grown Ups Explore the Wisdom of the Woods

Forest schools for kids originated in Scandinavia as outdoor playbased learning groups. By the 1990s, forest schools had been established in Germany, California, and the UK with the benefits of nature play being internationally recognized, and in 2016 the Forest School Foundation was established in the USA. But why should kids have all the fun? Connecting with green spaces, trees, and plants can lift our spirits, lower our stress levels, and relax our brains—in short, playing outside is good for adults too. Forest School for Grown Ups is here to help. From finding your way in the woods to foraging for food, knowing your knots, and whittling utensils, you can learn new skills and practice forgotten ones. Beautifully designed, with an engaging writing style and high production values, the 130+ entries in Forest School for Grown Ups provide the perfect resource for kids of all ages to enjoy spending quality time outdoors.

Specifications

About the Author and Illustrator

246 x 190 mm (71/2 x 93/4 in)

Richard Irvine is an experienced outdoor educator, trainer, and writer specializing in experiential learning in woodlands. He has a passion for the power of residential and outdoor learning and has an in-depth understanding of the subject.

224pp four color throughout 100 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 45,000

Ulysses Black is a talented visual artist based in Brighton, UK. His lino-cuts have featured widely on theater poster design and arts venues. His unique handmade lino-cut illustrations feature on the cover of Forest School for Grown Ups as well as throughout the book as chapter openers.

The Gift of Nature

Botanicum Medicinale A Modern Herbal of Medicinal Plants A beautiful work of reference featuring 100 plants and their influence on medicine through the ages, from ancient civilization to the present day. Authoritative and engaging text includes the very latest research on both traditional and more recently discovered herbal remedies. Cross-reference features identify a medical condition or ailment and the corresponding plant that may help provide an essential contribution to treatment. Each entry features botanical artwork of flora, leaves, and seeds that form the basis of pharmaceutical drugs, from Adonis vernalis to Vinca minor.

Specifications

About the Author

246 x 190 mm (71/2 x 93/4 in)

Catherine Whitlock is a science writer with a BSc in Biological Sciences, a PhD in Immunology, and a Diploma in Science Communication. Catherine writes on science, medicine, and nature and is based in Kent, UK. Her previous books include Meet Your Bacteria and Ten Women Who Changed Science and the World.

224pp four color throughout 200 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 52,000

The Contented Vegan Recipes and Philosophy from a Family Kitchen The Contented Vegan is your essential guide to transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, combining mouthwatering recipes with practical, inspirational, and reassuring advice on making the switch. Food writer Peggy Brusseau has been a vegan for over thirty years, and is often asked for advice by people considering changing their diet. In this book she answers all these questions and more, as well as providing over 100 delicious recipes to inspire you in the kitchen, from breakfasts and snacks, through to easy midweek suppers and celebration feasts. Beautifully photographed throughout, The Contented Vegan provides all the information you need to become a happy, healthy, contented vegan.

Specifications

About the Author

246 x 190 mm (71/2 x 93/4 in)

Peggy Brusseau is a food writer, cook, and committed vegan. She has written or co-written over twenty books on cookery and nutrition. Originally from Minneapolis, USA, she is now based in London where she lives with her husband and two sons.

272pp four color throughout 100 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 45,000

The Gift of Nature

The Language of Nature The Stories Told by the Names We Choose

Every language has its own words for the magical elements for the ‘endless forms of beauty’ that make up the natural world. Whether rooted in commonly shared or widely diverse etymology, the naming of natural things has flowered into different words with particular meanings, shaped by human beliefs and experience. In this exquisite exploration, the author tells the stories behind these linguistic variations: the Spanish ‘mariposa’ is derived from ‘Maria’ and ‘posar,’ evoking the spirit of the Virgin Mary alighting, while the French ‘papillon’ is derived from the Proto-Indo-European *pal- ‘to touch, tremble, or shake.’ Modern Dutch and German use different words: ‘vlinder’ and ‘schmetterling,’ showing that the regional name often varies substantially between otherwise closely-related languages. The name ‘butterfly’ is thought to have been bestowed on the pretty creatures fluttering in meadows during the summer butter season; similarly, ‘schmetterling’ comes from the borrowed Slavic word for cream, ‘smetana,’ which transforms a butterfly into a little ‘cream-ling.’

Specifications 246 x 190 mm (81/2 x 111/4 in) 224pp four color throughout 200 Illustrations Estimated word count: 52,000

About the Author Roger Lederer is Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences at California State University, Chico, USA. His expertise is in ecology and ornithology. He taught for thirty years, has published over thirty scientific papers and eleven books, and has given hundreds of public presentations. Dr. Lederer served as Chair of Biological Sciences, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences, Director of the Bidwell Environmental Institute, and as Endowed Professor of Environmental Literacy.

THE SCIENCE OF NATURE

The Story of Life in 101/2 Species The 10½ life forms in this book each explain a key aspect about how marine animals live their lives. From the deepest, darkest oceanic trenches to coral reefs ablaze with life, the chapters explore the world’s undersea habitats through their iconic living species. Follow the journey of the sockeye salmon, explore the multilayered world of the bottlenose dolphin, and unpick the strands of the food web founded on Antarctic krill. The ocellaris clownfish illustrates the life cycle of individuals, and the argonaut the life and death of ocean life in its entirety. Finally, the Leach’s storm petrel serves as our link between the other world-withinour-world through its unbreakable link to the land.

Specifications

About the Author

228 x 165 mm (61/2 x 9 in)

Marianne Taylor has authored more than thirty books on natural history including The Animal Mind and The Pocket Book of Bird Anatomy. She has recently completed The Gull Next Door and has written a number of guides for the RSPB. Her interest in marine life goes back to her childhood, growing up in an English coastal town, where she spent as much time as possible in the sea, if not beside it. She has since become fascinated by the science that is changing the way we understand the family ties of all life on Earth.

256pp four color throughout 150 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 55,000

The Science of Nature

The Underground Atlas of Fungi Mapping the Mysteries of the Mycelium Maze

Specifications 246 x 190 mm (7½ x 9¾ in) 224pp four color throughout 120 images Estimated word count: 50,000

Fungi have always been the most fascinating of subjects, but they are currently creating a whole new level of buzz. Whether it’s Merlin Sheldrake’s Entangled Life, Suzanne Simard’s Finding the Mother Tree, or even the fungi-infected zombies of television’s The Last of Us, fungi’s mycelium networks are bringing new life to the topic. Research projects are using GPS and nanotechnologies to map the activity of the vast ‘circulatory systems’ of underground fungi that underpin life on Earth. The Underground Atlas of Fungi is the first illustrated book to chart these explorations, to map the form and function of the mycelium maze beneath our feet, and to visualize this hidden network’s ability to form symbiotic connections between fungi and tree, carrying nutrients and communications whilst enriching the soil and absorbing carbon. With essays and artworks showcasing remarkable fungi— and their plant and animals partners—and illustrated maps and graphics revealing how their communities regulate the Earth’s ecosystems and temperature, The Underground Atlas of Fungi is a unique guide to the secret and complex circulatory systems at the heart of our planet’s habitats.

The Science of Nature

Playing God A Visual History of Creating Unnatural Life

How can we know what life is? Whenever new discoveries seemingly allow scientists to manipulate the script of life, the world reacts with alarm, fearing the implications and consequences of ‘unnatural life.’ These ideas go back to antiquity and have always accompanied our efforts to understand and even control life. Using fascinating, varied imagery, Playing God takes a wander through the history of these ideas, from antiquity through to the advent of Darwinism and into the modern age of bioengineering and the reconfiguration of life at the scale of genes and molecules. The narrative loops through the manifestations and ramifications in literature, religion, and philosophy, leading to the ultimate, and most fundamental question: What does it mean to be human?

Specifications

About the Author

228 x 165 mm (61/2 x 9 in)

Philip Ball is that rarest of things: someone with a profound understanding of science who is able to communicate his passion to a general audience. His gift has been harnessed to produce a plethora of books, covering subjects ranging from cosmology to the Third Reich and the nature of music. His book Critical Mass won the Aventis Prize for Science Books in 2005, while his Serving the Reich was shortlisted for the Royal Society Winton Science Book Prize in 2014.

224pp four color throughout 120 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 52,000

The Science of Nature

The Economy of Nature Cycles of Life and Sustainability

Barry Commoner’s groundbreaking 1971 book The Closing Circle sets out four ecological laws: everything is connected; everything must go somewhere; nature knows best; and there is no such thing as a free lunch. The Economy of Nature takes these rules for sustainability as its departure point and sets out on a series of cyclical journeys to explore the hidden connections of the natural world. The narrative progresses through circular diagrams populated with exquisite natural history illustrations, like ripples radiating out from Commoner’s original idea, joining the dots to show how each cycle is an essential link in the ecology of our planetary home. The story leads, like all good circles, back to its source— Commoner’s central belief that everything is connected— closing the circle on the essential truth that every ecological and economical cog must obey the laws of nature’s magnificently complex wheel.

Specifications

About the Author

220 x 170 mm (6¾ x 8¾ in)

Oswald J. Schmitz is Oastler Professor of Population and Community Ecology in the Yale University School of the Environment. His book The New Ecology: Rethinking a Science for the Anthropocene (Princeton, 2018) explores how the science of ecology is changing to meet the challenges of environmental sustainability. It reflects his studies into the links between biodiversity and ecosystem services, and presents ecological science to a broad readership.

224pp four color throughout 70 Illustrations approx Estimated word count: 40,000

The Science of Nature

Rewilding The Radical New Science of Ecological Recovery

With its sense of hope and purpose, rewilding is breathing new life into the conservation movement, blending radical scientific insights with practical innovations to revive essential ecological processes. Rewilding reveals the ways in which ecologists are restoring the lost interactions between animals, plants, and natural disturbances that are the essence of thriving ecosystems. It looks into a past in which industrialization and globalization have downgraded our grasslands; at present projects restoring plants and animals to their natural, untamed state; and into the future, with ten predictions for a rewilded planet. This illustrated edition combines beautiful natural history images with infographic flow-charts depicting the ‘trophic cascades’ of biodiverse ecosystems, to explore a brave new world repopulated with wild horses and cattle, beavers, rhinos, and wolves.

Specifications

About the Authors

228 x 165 mm (61/2 x 9 in)

Paul Jepson is Nature Recovery Lead with Ecosulis Ltd. in the UK and was until recently a director of Oxford University’s MSc course in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Management.

224pp four color throughout 110 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 50,000

Cain Blythe is Managing Director of Ecosulis Ltd. and specializes in habitat restoration, particularly through the adoption of natural regeneration techniques, nature recovery, and the use of technology in conservation.

The Science of Nature

Color in Nature Communication, Survival, and Accidental Beauty

For us, color holds meaning. We give labels to hues and assign them emotions. A road sign’s red edge or yellow background flags danger, a blue sky feels happy and full of possibility. Nature is full of color, but the secret to understanding why it’s there and what it’s for is knowing that it’s not meant for us. Many creatures see more colors than we do, some add infrared hues, others ultraviolet ones, others still see polarized light. A praying mantis shrimp sees all three and then some. Color has evolved as a means of camouflage and communication, its purpose is almost never accidental, even though its beauty might be. Color in Nature unlocks the natural world’s colorful purpose, defining color and how creatures see it, explaining irridescence and bioluminescence, and the part color plays in sex, violence, and camouflage. Surprising science marries stunning imagery to offer a window into how color works for all life.

Specifications

About the Author

246 x 190 mm (81/2 x 111/4 in)

N. Justin Marshall is a Research Fellow at the Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Australia.He focuses on how animals perceive their surroundings, with a particular focus on the marine environment.

288pp four color throughout 150+ Illustrations Estimated word count: 45,000

The Science of Nature

How Nature Keeps Records Understanding the Past in the Natural World

The Earth, our planet, has been in existence for nearly five billion years. In the beginning, geological, chemical, and meteorological processes dominated. Life came about perhaps 3.5 billion years ago when conditions conspired to produce early and simple forms of self-replicating beings which, very slowly, metamorphosed into a vast and varied multitude of living forms while physical processes continued to shape the Earth. The graphic number line is a remarkably powerful pattern that explains much of our world, and throughout How Nature Keeps Records it visually maps the amounts of time bounded by growth, distance, age, reproduction, sleep, death, and other key measures.

Specifications

About the Author

234 x 156 mm (61/4 x 91/4 in)

Roger Lederer is Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences at California State University, Chico, USA. His expertise is in ecology and ornithology. He taught for thirty years, has published over thirty scientific papers and eleven books, and has given hundreds of public presentations. Dr. Lederer served as Chair of Biological Sciences, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences, Director of the Bidwell Environmental Institute, and as Endowed Professor of Environmental Literacy. He has been consulted by the BBC, National Geographic, National Public Radio, the Guinness Book of World Records, the New Yorker, ABC News, and many other organizations and individuals for authoritative information on birds.

208pp four color throughout 80+ infographics Estimated word count: 28,000

The Science of Nature

How Nature Keeps Time Understanding Life Events in the Natural World

Which organisms live the longest? How does the natural world recover from fire? How long do eggs take to hatch? What are the world’s fastest and slowest growing plants? Which species invest the most in parental care? The graphic number line is a remarkably powerful pattern that explains much of our world, and throughout How Nature Keeps Time it visually maps the amounts of time bounded by growth, distance, age, reproduction, sleep, death, and other key behaviors. As the natural world draws our attention to its plight, this fascinating book offers a calm, clear-thinking series of visual graphic explanations based around the ultimate objective measure—time.

Specifications

About the Author

234 x 156 mm (61/4 x 91/4 in)

Helen Pilcher is a science writer, presenter, and performer based in the UK. She has written for Nature, the Guardian, BBC Science Focus, and the New Scientist. She has a PhD in Cell Biology from the London Institute of Psychiatry and ran the Royal Society’s Science in Society Programme before becoming a full-time writer. Her previous books include Bring Back the King: The New Science of De-extinction, Mind Maps: Biology, and The Pocket Book of Backyard Experiments.

208pp four color throughout 80 infographics approx Estimated word count: 28,000

SAFEGUARDING THE UNBORN Some animals have evolved clever strategies to protect their unborn. In North America, for example, little brown bats mate in the autumn. Females store the sperm internally through the cold winter months, and then fertilize their eggs and give birth in the spring. This is called “seasonal delayed implantation.” Fertilization occurs immediately after the nine-banded armadillo has sex, but the development of the embryo is put on hold for three to four months. After this period of “embryonic diapause,” the embryo then implants into the womb, and splits into four identical quadruplets, which are born around five months later. If the armadillos are stressed, as can happen in captivity, diapause can be extended by up to one year or more.

MARSUPIALS 2 years 140 days

NINE-BANDED ARMADILLO

Guinea pigs are also precocial. Mothers have a relatively long pregnancy, of around 65 days, then give birth to babies that are like mini-adults. The have open eyes, fur, teeth, and claws, and can eat solid food almost immediately. Precociality is a useful strategy in species where the young are not easily protected. Hares, for example, make their homes in open fields, so their young (leverets) are born precocial and are “good to go.”

Most marsupials are large mammals, yet have short gestation periods. Kangaroo pregnancies last just 35 days, after which up to four baked bean-sized babies crawl into their mother’s pouch. They stay there for 11 months, suckling the energy-dense milk that is released via the mother’s four nipples. Although the mother may mate again during this time, the next offspring are not born until the pouch has been permanently vacated. The female kangaroo simply suspends the pregnancy until the time is right.

LITTLE BROWN BAT

6 4

Delay of 100 days 65 days

42 days MONTHS

0 1–5

YEARS LIFESPAN

6.5

YEARS LIFESPAN

The North American opossum (left) is pregnant for a mere 12 days and gives birth to 16–20 jelly bean-sized young. Newborns crawl straight from the birth canal to the pouch, but it’s a dangerous journey and fewer than half of them make it.

GUINEA PIG

HARE

60 days

4–8

YEARS LIFESPAN

12–15

YEARS LIFESPAN

FIRE ECOLOGY

1–2 years

PIO

ANNUAL PLANTS The first arrivals are short-lived annuals, some of which disperse seeds to continue the species.

EC IE

3–4 years GRASSES AND PERENNIALS

1 year

Delay of 4–18 months

AUSTRALIA’S LOSSES

0 years BARREN In the immediate aftermath of a fire, ground looks barren but holds the seeds of life.

12 days

• PREGNANCY • FERTILISATION

35 days

The duck-pilled platypus (below), from eastern Australia, is one of the few egg-laying mammals to exist. Twenty-eight days after mating, females lay up to three leathery, soft-shelled eggs in a specially-built burrow, then incubate them for around 10 days. On hatching, the young are blind and hairless. They feed on their mother’s milk, which is released through pores in her skin. Four species of echidna (spiny anteater) also lay eggs. The female lays just one egg, 22 days after mating, and immediately puts it into her pouch. The young echidna, called a puggle, hatches 10 days later and suckles from a milk patch within the pouch, where it stays for up to 55 days.

28 days

Hardier species take root and may be present all year or die off and regrow in the spring.

OUT OF THE ASHES Even after a major disturbance, such as a devastating fire or flood, a landscape is seldom lifeless. The event may destroy trees and plants, drive out wildlife, and set the area back to an earlier biological stage, but its soil will retain nutrients and seeds. A process called “secondary succession” begins as the landscape regenerates and new flora and fauna emerge. Species, such as the North American jack pine, have a headstart because they have evolved to adapt to fire. This tree needs a wildfire’s heat to open its cones, and release its seeds, while other pines have developed thicker fire-resistant bark, too. In clearings, where trees have fallen, new ecosystems begin to develop, as plants that languished in the shade take advantage of the greater light and attract new species of insects to feed on them.

In nature, fire can be a potent force for good. Moderate, seasonal wildfires revitalize coniferous forest, shrubland, and grassland ecosystems. Fire renews by removing dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil, and stimulating new growth. It encourages biodiversity as plants and animals recolonize clearings. Some trees even need its heat to disperse their seeds. While controlled fires can help this process and limit rampant wildfires, suppressing all fire can drastically reduce biodiversity. Scientists now recognize that, in many landscapes, fire is a “natural disturbance” that is required to promote new life.

IAT E

EC IE

5–150 years

Fuelled by extreme heat, drought and strong winds, bushfires devastated vast areas of Australia in 2019. At least a billion creatures died, many of them species unique to the continent, such as the long-footed potoroo, mountain pygmy possum, and western ground parrot. Indigenous trees are better equipped to survive. Eucalyptus needs heat to open its seedpods, and other species store seeds in the soil or high in their crowns, or resprout from shoots under their bark.

GRASSES, SHRUBS, PINES, YOUNG OAK, AND HICKORY These perennial species add undergrowth at first, but over years gain height, attracting birds and providing substantial shelter for a forest’s wildlife.

150 + years

ITY

MATURE OAK AND HICKORY FOREST The tallest, oldest trees are called the climax community as this is the final stage of a forest’s development. They endure unless chopped down or destroyed by fire.

THE PALE BLUE DOT

Deep Space Philosophy Meditations from Beyond the Planet

Fewer than 700 human beings have traveled into space and seen Earth from an entirely different viewpoint; and only twenty-four have flown far enough to see Earth as if looking upon a foreign planet. Those who have made this journey have returned fundamentally changed, with a whole new philosophy on what Earth means to humanity, and on what it means to be a human on Earth. Deep Space Philosophy takes this idea as its launchpad, and voyages among the stellar philosophical questions that are posed by humanity’s new views on Earth and on the universe, as the James Webb Space Telescope carries us not only deeper into space but billions of years back in time, a form of time travel that brings us ever closer to the Big Bang. With a narrative structure that soars outward from Earth via the Moon, Mars, dust clouds, black holes, and into the sublime unknown beyond, philosopher Emily Thomas interviews astronauts who have experienced the ‘Overview Effect’; considers the altered minds of space travelers; and muses on the metaphysical meanings of travel beyond the stars. Illustrated by mind-altering ‘astronaut’s view’ images of Earth and infinitely beyond, this is a deeply philosophical and truly beautiful exploration of deep space.

Specifications

About the Author

228 x 165 mm (61/2 x 9 in)

Emily Thomas is Associate Professor in Philosophy at Durham University, UK, and an Honorary Fellow at the ACU Dianoia Institute of Philosophy. Her research interests include space and time in the history of philosophy, and philosophical questions around travel, including maps, wilderness and the significance of our little, blue planet. Emily’s published books include The Meaning of Travel and Absolute Time (both Oxford University Press). Her writing has appeared in the New Statesman and History Today, and she has spoken on Radio 4’s In Our Time and Start the Week. Emily studied for her PhD at Christ’s College, Cambridge, UK.

224pp four color throughout 80 images Estimated word count: 35,000

The Pale Blue Dot

Forty Ways to Know a Star Using Stars to Understand Astronomy

Understanding the birth, life, and death of stars is key to a knowledge of astronomy. Stars are the building blocks of galaxies, and the age, location, and composition of stars explain the evolution and dynamics of the galaxy they exist within. Astoundingly, there are 4,000 million stars in our galaxy and there are two million, million galaxies in our visible universe. Stars are simply luminous spheres of plasma held together by gravity, but there are many kinds and many remarkable examples. Forty Ways to Know a Star offers distinct, factual approaches to explaining what a star is, each one illustrated with a bespoke graphic. Elegant writing, supported by beautiful photographic imagery of the heavens, makes the sometimes complex physics accessible.

Specifications

About the Author

215 x 148 mm (53/4 x 81/2 in)

Anna Frebel is Family Career Development Professor and Associate Professor in the Astrophysics Division of the Physics Department at MIT, Massachusetts, USA. Frebel teaches Astrophysics and Classical Mechanics, and mentors research students. For her research in the oldest stars in the universe and the early evolution of the chemical elements she received awards such as the 2007 Charlene Heisler Prize (Astronomical Society of Australia), the 2009 LudwigBiermann Young Astronomer Award (German Astronomical Society), and the 2010 Annie Jump Cannon Award (American Astronomical Society).

192pp four color throughout 75 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 45,000

The Pale Blue Dot

Ten Patterns that Explain the Universe Our universe might appear chaotic, but deep down it’s simply a myriad of rules working independently to create patterns of action, force, and consequence. Ten Patterns that Explain the Universe offers a key selection of repeated behaviors to explore the forces that make up the very fabric of our world. From diagrams to show the deep relationships between space and time to the quantum behaviors that rule how matter and light interact, these patterns stake out an overview of our physical world and how it works at a fundamental level.

Specifications

About the Author

234 x 156 mm (61/4 x 91/4 in)

Brian Clegg is respected for making hard science subjects not only accessible but tempting as well. Clegg has a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University, UK and a Master’s in Operational Research (OR)—mathematical problem solving—from Lancaster University, UK. He worked in OR and computing at British Airways before leaving to write full time. He specializes in making the exotic aspects of mathematics and physics approachable for the general public.

224pp four color throughout 160 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 45,000

The Pale Blue Dot

Astroquizzical The Illustrated Edition Solving the Cosmic Puzzles of our Planets, Stars, and Galaxies Looking up at the night sky, it is almost impossible to imagine that we can trace our common ancestry with the distant stars and galaxies back over 13.8 billion years. Astroquizzical explores this connection by traveling back through the generations of the cosmic family tree, from Earth (parent) to the stars (grandparents), galaxies (greatgrandparents), and the first atoms of the Big Bang (great-greatgrandparents). On the journey, the reader is invited to become ‘astroquizzical’ by asking the questions and investigating the many scientific mysteries of how the universe was formed and how it works. This updated and illustrated edition combines beautifully curated space images with ten sketchbook ‘thought experiments’ to create a uniquely accessible guide to the science of Earth’s place among the planets, stars, and galaxies.

Specifications

About the Author

246 x 190 mm (71/2 x 93/4 in)

Jillian Scudder is an astrophysicist and Assistant Professor of Physics at Oberlin College, Ohio, USA, where she has worked with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the Herschel Space Observatory to understand more distant galaxies. She hosts and writes the popular Astroquizzical blog, in which she tackles some of the mysteries of the universe by answering space-related questions from the public. Jillian gained a BA in Physics with Astronomy Emphasis from Macalester College, St. Paul, USA, and a PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Victoria, Canada.

224pp four color throughout 100 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 50,000

The Pale Blue Dot

Astrobiology The science of searching for alien life

ANDREW MAY The Illustrated Edition

The Science of Searching for Alien Life

The possibility that alien life exists in the universe is among the most profound of human conjectures, which today is being investigated not just by science-fiction writers but by scientists. Astrobiology presents an expert guide to this compelling field of science. It shows how the tell-tale signatures of life on Earth might hold the key to detecting life beyond our planet; explores the many planets beyond our Solar System discovered by NASA’s Kepler and TESS missions; and explains alien-hunting touchstones such as Fermi’s Paradox, the Drake Equation, and the ‘Wow’ signal. As NASA’s rovers burrow into Mars and its probes peer ever farther into the cosmos, this illustrated edition combines deep space images with infographics to cast a scientific eye over the most significant of scientific treasure hunts.

Specifications

About the Author

228 x 165 mm (61/2 x 9 in)

Andrew May enjoyed a thirty-year career as a professional scientist working in academia, the civil service, and private industry, before becoming a science consultant and writer. He gained an MA in Natural Sciences at Trinity College, Cambridge, UK, and a PhD in Theoretical Astrophysics at Manchester University, UK, before conducting postdoctoral research at Wolfson College, Oxford, UK, and at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, (where he worked with Seth Shostak, now of the SETI Institute). Andrew writes about the physical sciences as well as the scientific study of unexplained and paranormal phenomena, and his published titles include Destination Mars and Cosmic Impact.

224pp four color throughout 100 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 43,000

The Power THE POWER of OF Geography GEOGRAPHY

Why Maps Matter A Journey through the World’s Geopolitical Hotspots

With conflict in Ukraine bringing into sharp focus the links between war and natural resources; climate change threatening to sink entire countries; mass migration redistributing populations; and pandemic threatening the idea of globalism, this is a vital time to understand the power that geography has to shape economics, politics, and history. Why Maps Matter combines fifty illuminating, annotated maps with probing, thought-provoking essays to explore the significance of fifty of the world’s geopolitical hotspots. Whether it’s a stranded cargo ship in the Panama Canal halting world trade, or the shape of Crimea dictating world conflict, the book considers how oceans and islands, mountains and rivers, borders and barriers, can inform and influence the past, present, and future of global political thinking.

Specifications

About the Authors

259 x 148 mm (53/4 x 10 in)

Suzanne Raine is co-host of the On Geopolitics podcast. She writes and speaks on terrorism, risk analysis, and warning. She is a Visiting Professor in the Department of War Studies at KCL and works at the Centre for Geopolitics at Cambridge University. She served for 24 years in the British Foreign and Commonwealth O!ce on foreign policy and national security issues, including postings in Poland, Iraq, and Pakistan. She specialised in counterterrorism, holding a number of senior domestic appointments including Head of the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre from 2015–2017. Ali Ansari is co-host of the On Geopolitics podcast. He is Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews in the UK. He is also Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.

224pp four color throughout 50 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 40,000

The Power of Geography

Everest 24 New Views on the 1924 Mount Everest Expedition

In 1924, the second British Mount Everest Expedition set out to make the first ascent of the world’s highest peak. In 2024, television documentaries and touring exhibitions—sponsored, like the original climb, by the Royal Geographical Society—will commemorate the 100th anniversary of this endeavor. Everest 24, published with the RGS, presents a newly curated collection of images from the official archive, combining prints made direct from John Noel’s colored lantern slides and film stills; retouched and rare black-and-white photographs; artifacts discovered with George Mallory’s body in 1999; exquisite maps; and the original expedition reports, records, and correspondence.

About the Authors Specifications 210 x 255 mm (10 x 81/4 in) (landscape) 192pp four color throughout 100 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 25,000

Norbu Tenzing, Vice President of the American Himalayan Foundation and son of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. Eugene Rae, Principal Librarian at the RGS. Dr Jonathon Westaway, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Lancaster. Dr Katherine Parker, Cartographic Collections Manager at the RGS. Professor Felix Driver, historical geographer at Royal Holloway University, London specializing in collections-based research. Dr Jan Faull, advisor for the RGS’s Everest Through the Lens exhibition. Peter H. Hansen, Professor of History at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

The Power of Geography

Mapping the River Charting the Course of River Cartography

It’s little wonder that rivers are a hot topic. Their ebb, flow, and flood gauge the health of our planet, and there is growing awareness that ‘rewiggling’ rivers is essential to restoring natural floodplains and habitats. Mapping the River navigates the human relationship with rivers by telling the story of over 100 outstanding examples of river cartography, with twelve of the maps flowing into glorious gatefolds. It considers the science and significance of rivers through attempts to chart their source, course, depth, and meandering change over time. Thematic essays accompany examples ranging from the earliest wonders of ink and gold to the 3D, laser-guided depths of today’s breathtaking lidar maps. And by showing how one map influences the next, Mapping the River contemplates the future flow of our rivers, their mapping, and our world.

Specifications 264 x 206 mm (8 x 10½ in) 256pp plus six gatefolds, four color throughout 100 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 40,000

The Power of Geography

Mapping the Ocean Charting the Relationship Between Humans and the Sea

Specifications 264 x 206 mm (8 x 10½ in) 256pp plus six gatefolds, four color throughout 100 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 40,000

Seas and oceans cover 70 percent of the globe, their levels and temperatures measuring the health of our planet. The UN has declared the 2020s the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and in 2023 ratified the UN Treaty of the High Seas. Yet, as we plunder ever more resources from their depths, oceans remain less explored than space. As late as the 1950s, the scientific establishment believed the ocean floor to be as smooth as a bath-tub, before Marie Tharp and her fellow ‘drifters’ proved they were shaped by their revolutionary theory of continental drift. Published in conjunction with the Royal Geographical Society, Mapping the Ocean tells the story of ocean cartography by showcasing over 100 beautiful examples. Punctuated with thematic essays by leading experts, the book travels from the earliest plumbline plotting of naval charts, through Tharp’s first global seabed map, to today’s Seabed30 project aiming to map the entire ocean floor in digital high resolution. En route, it navigates topical subjects including underwater cables; reefs and hazards; shipwrecks and lighthouses; offshore energy and economic zones; deep-sea ecosystems and underwater mining.

About the Authors Penelope Hardy is Associate Professor in History at University of Wisconsin La Crosse, and her research focuses on technologies of science, ocean sciences, and scientific exploration of the global ocean. Antony Adler is Lecturer in History at Carleton College and author of Neptune’s Laboratory (Harvard). His work centres on the history of marine science and technology, and ocean exploration.

Mapping THE MAPPING the WORLD World

The World Atlas of Trees and Forests Exploring Earth’s Forest Ecosystems The Earth’s forests are havens of nature, vast tracts of tree-covered land supporting a density of life that exists independently of humanity. Shaped by climate and geography, these dynamic and diverse wooded spaces are unique ecosystems that shelter unexpected and complex interdependencies between flora, fungi, and animal life.

About the Authors Specifications 305 x 229 mm (9 x 12 in) 400pp four color and FSC 250 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 80,000

Herman Shugart is W. W. Cocoran Professor of Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia, USA. Sassan Saatchi is Senior Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology and Adjunct Professor at UCLA Institute of Environment and Sustainability, USA. Peter White is Professor of Biology at the University of North Carolina, USA, and was Director of the acclaimed North Carolina Botanical Garden until 2014. Jérôme Chave is the former Directeur de Rercherche of CNRS in Toulouse, France, and is the winner of an IRPE Prize.

The World Atlas of Rivers, Estuaries, and Deltas Exploring Earth’s River Systems From the Congo and the Yangtze to the Seine and the Mississippi, Earth’s rivers carve through landscapes before coursing into the world’s oceans through estuaries and deltas. Their inexorable flow carries sediment and more, acting as lifeblood for a variety of ecosystems and communities. More than any other earth-surface feature, rivers, estuaries, and deltas are vitally important to our economic and social wellbeing, and our management of them often sits at the sharp edge of today’s most pressing environmental challenges.

About the Authors Specifications 305 x 229 mm (9 x 12 in) 400pp four color throughout 250 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 80,000

Jim Best is Threet Professor of Sedimentary Geology and Professor of Physical Geography at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA. Stephen Darby is Professor in Physical Geography at the University of Southampton, UK. Luciana Esteves is Associate Professor in Physical Geography at Bournemouth University, UK. Carol A. Wilson is Associate Professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at Louisiana State University, USA.

Mapping the World

The World Atlas of Deserts Exploring Earth’s Desert Ecosystems Deserts, total and partial, account for one-third of land on Earth. Characterized by a lack of water and temperature extremes, they are the result of atmospheric stability, large landmass characteristics, rain shadows, and cold ocean currents. They appear harsh and hostile but are also exceptionally beautiful; desert ecosystems may teem with life, and their inhabitants demonstrate a broad and diverse ingenuity in the face of such extreme conditions.

About the Authors

Specifications 305 x 229 mm (9 x 12 in) 400pp four color throughout 250 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 80,000

David S. G. Thomas is Professor of Geography at Oxford University and Fellow of Hertford College, Oxford, UK. His research deals with desertification, dryland environments, and climate change. Nick Drake is Professor of Physical Geography at Kings College, London, UK. David Eldridge is Professor in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at UNSW Sydney, Australia. Nick Middleton is a TV personality and Supernumerary Fellow in Physical Geography at St. Anne’s College, Oxford, UK, and an expert in desertification. Sallie Burrough is a National Geographic Explorer and Trapnell Fellow of African Environments at the University of Oxford, UK.

The Nature THE NATURE of OF SCIENCE Science

The Complex Worlds series

We live in an age of scientific revelations. And yet, with every new insight, the universe seems to become more complex. Where once there were atoms, matter, gravity, and relativity, now we are bombarded with quarks, anti-matter, quantum mechanics, and string theory. So, how are we to keep up with the spin of this brave new world, and make sense of its seeming complexity and contradictions? To help you make sense of the modern scientific landscape, the Complex Worlds series books zoom in on one small, but enormous, idea (don’t worry, you can be both in the quantum world) and ask one of the world’s most brilliant minds to explain in six short essays—each proposing an essential question—what we know, what we don’t, what it means and why it matters. Titles include How Long is a Piece of String Theory?, How Deep is a Black Hole? and How Dumb is AI? Featuring precise, playful and provocative narratives by specialists in their very specific fields, and illustrated with bold conceptual graphics and typography, the Complex Worlds titles are branded, color-coded, and integrated to build into a compact and collectible library of our modern world’s most complex and compelling ideas. Possible contributors to the series include John Gribbin and Marcus Chown.

Specifications

About the Consultant Editor

196 x 128 mm (5 x 7 3/4 in)

Brian Clegg specializes in making the exotic aspects of mathematics and physics approachable, informative, and entertaining for a broad readership. He has a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge and a Masters in Operational Research (OR) from Lancaster. Brian is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and his published titles include A Brief History of Infinity and Dice World (both longlisted for the Royal Society Prize); Everyday Chaos and Ten Patterns that Explain the Universe (both Unipress Books).

128pp four color throughout 12 images Estimated word count: 20,000

The Nature of Science

The Serendipity of Science A Scientific History of Serendipity

While it’s true that much creativity and discovery is a result of Thomas Edison’s oft-quoted ‘99 percent perspiration’, or of building logically on existing knowledge, an extraordinary number of our scientific and technological miracles and marvels have been discovered as a result of accidental ‘Eureka!’ moments, beneficial errors, plain misunderstandings, or simply seeing something differently. In The Serendipity of Science, renowned science storyteller Brian Clegg narrates a history of chance and serendipity, revealing the tales behind the unwitting innovations that have shaped our world. Proceeding in thematic chapters through instances of happenstance, misunderstanding, misuse, and mishap, we learn how the discovery of the microwave arose from a chocolate bar melting in a scientist’s pocket; saccharin from a chemist forgetting to wash his hands; nuclear fission from an attempt at nuclear fusion; penicillin from a window being left open in a laboratory; and aniline dyes from an experiment in treating malaria.

Specifications

About the Author

234 x 156 mm (61/4 x 91/4 in)

256pp four color throughout 120 illustrations Estimated word count: 50,000

‘[Brian Clegg] still manages to surprise me with something new on every page.’ —Alain de Botton

The Nature of Science

Everyday Chaos The Math of Unpredictability, from the Weather to the Stockmarket

Trying to understand a system with multiple interacting components—the weather, the human body, or the stock market—means dealing with two factors: chaos and complexity. If we don’t understand these two essential subjects, we can’t understand the real world. In Everyday Chaos, Brian Clegg explains chaos and complexity for the general reader, with discussions of predictable randomness, the power of probability, and the behavior of pendulums. He describes what Newton got wrong about gravity; how feedback kept steam engines from exploding; and why weather produces chaos. He considers the stock market, politics, bestseller lists, big data, and London’s wobbling Millennium Bridge. In this fascinating, beautifully illustrated title, we learn that our brains are complex, self-organizing systems; that the structure of snowflakes exemplifies emergence; and that life itself has been shown to be an emergent property of a complex system.

Specifications 234 x 156 mm (61/4 x 91/4 in) 256pp four color throughout 160 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 45,000

About the Author Brian Clegg is respected for making the hard science subjects not only accessible but tempting as well. Clegg has a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University, UK and a Master’s in Operational Research (OR)— mathematical problem solving—from Lancaster University, UK. He worked in OR and computing at British Airways before leaving to write.

The Nature of Science

Reality Check Twenty False Beliefs and Why They Matter

The war for our attention has never been more intense. Social media has empowered politicians, advertisers, the media, and a cacophony of once-marginal actors to spread their messages at lightning speed. Reality Check takes on some of the most persistent, widespread, and dangerous examples of fake science, conspiracy theory, and misinformation. Distinguished cognitive scientist Stephan Lewandowsky shows why certain false beliefs are so enduring and powerful and what we can do to avoid being fooled. Using specific examples in the realms of vaccine conspiracy, ‘alternative’ medicine, social media, genetics, antisemitic beliefs, race ‘science’, and much more, this book empowers readers to discover the power of truth for themselves. At a time when the very notion of objective, knowable reality is being challenged as never before, these tools and ideas have never been more necessary.

Specifications 234 x 156 mm (61/4 x 9.1/4 in) 224pp four color throughout 80 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 50,000

About the Author Stephan Lewandowsky, FAcSS, FAPS holds the Chair in Cognitive Science at the University of Bristol, UK. His research focuses on the consequences of the clash between social media architectures and human cognition, for example by researching countermeasures to the persistence of misinformation and spread of ‘fake news’ in society, including conspiracy theories, and how platform algorithms may contribute to the prevalence of misinformation.

The Nature of Science

The Book of Unsolved Problems

Mathematics is a huge and complex subject, and a lot of the techniques and ideas taught in lessons at school concern math which was studied and understood hundreds of years ago. But math is actually full of unanswered questions: from new ways to apply mathematics, to continued work on old problems we still haven’t figured out yet. The Book of Unsolved Problems will dig into why such problems are difficult to solve and which new questions are still making mathematicians scratch their heads today. The book will also explain what solving such problems involves: how mathematicians think, what they do while they’re trying to understand a mathematical question, and how some long-standing mathematical problems were eventually solved, in a variety of fascinating ways.

Specifications

About the Author

215 x 148 mm (53/4 x 81/2 in)

Katie Steckles is a mathematician based in Manchester, UK. Her work to popularize and demystify mathematics has taken her around the world and onto TV and radio. Katie has received a number of awards, including the London Mathematical Society Popular Lecturer for 2018.

192pp four color throughout 100+ images Estimated word count: 20,000

The Nature of Science

Artificial Intelligence Modern Magic or Dangerous Future?

The benefits and potential nightmares of artificial intelligence have long inspired science-fiction writers, but in a world where most of us carry a portable device that knows infinitely more than we do, these are increasingly real concerns. Artificial Intelligence is the essential companion to this unsettling science. It surveys the history, philosophies, and current state of AI, and asks key questions such as how should robots think, and can machines really learn? With subjects ranging from the World Wide Web to artificial companions, the book considers such ethical issues as automated warfare, internet surveillance, and fake news, speculating on just how far robots will infiltrate our future. This illustrated edition updates a previous text-based version by combining compelling photographs with ‘circuitboard’ infographics to lift the curtain on the hidden world of AI.

Specifications

About the Author

228 x 165 mm (61/2 x 9 in)

Yorick Wilks is a computer scientist with an interest in artificial intelligence and the processing of language, knowledge, and belief. He read Philosophy at Pembroke College, Cambridge, UK, and is now Emeritus Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Sheffield, UK; a Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute, a Senior Research Scientist at the Florida Institute of Human and Machine Cognition, and Visiting Professor of Artificial Intelligence at Gresham College, UK. He helped to design GATE architecture and won the annual Loebner Prize for modeling human–computer dialogue. His published books include Artificial Companions and Artificial Believers: The Ascription of Belief.

224pp four color throughout 100 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 45,000

The Nature of Science

Short Cuts Biodiversity What with evolution and extinction, food chains and keystone species, rewilding and regeneration, the modern landscape of biodiversity is a vital place to explore. But how are you expected to navigate the science and significance of this complex world? Short Cuts: Biodiversity provides you with the map you need to start exploring seriously big ideas. A wealth of provocative questions prompt ‘short cut’ answers written by experts in their field, with each one the setting-off point for instructions to help you plot your path through the biosphere. With ‘one-stop’ graphics visualizing a memorable study or idea for each topic, and ‘route map’ glossaries explaining key terms and their connections, Short Cuts: Biodiversity is your expert guide to understanding the biology, history, taxonomy, and extraordinary diversity of life on Earth; and what is being done to confront the many threats that it faces.

Specifications

About the Author and Illustrator

234 x 153 mm (6 x 9¼ in)

Richard Kemeny is a writer specializing in science and the environment, with a particular emphasis on climate change, ecology, and biodiversity. His work has featured in National Geographic, BBC Travel, Smithsonian, New Scientist, the Economist, Hakai Magazine, the Atlantic, Wired UK, MIT Technology Review, Science and Sapiens.

160pp two color throughout 50 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 30,000

Robert Fiszer is an illustrator who specializes in creating illustrations that convey complex topics more immediately than words. His preferred style is clean and minimalist so the viewer is not distracted by embellishment, instead being drawn directly to the essence of the image—and the point being conveyed.

The Nature of Science

Short Cuts Brain What with consciousness and perception, memory and dementia, altered mental states and artificial intelligence, the modern landscape of brain science is an extraordinary place to explore. But how are you expected to navigate the complexities of this mysterious marvel? Short Cuts: Brain provides the map you need to start exploring seriously big ideas. A wealth of provocative questions prompt ‘short cut’ answers written by an expert author, with each one the setting-off point for instructions to help you plot your path through the maze of the mind. With ‘one-stop’ graphics signposting a memorable idea for each topic, and ‘route map’ glossaries explaining key terms and their connections, Short Cuts: Brain is your expert guide to understanding the world of wonders cradled within your skull.

Specifications

About the Author and Illustrator

234 x 153 mm (6 x 9¼ in)

Rita Carter is a science and medical writer, lecturer, and broadcaster who specializes in the human brain: what it does, how it does it, and why. She has twice been awarded the Medical Journalists’ Association Prize for outstanding contribution to medical journalism, and has been shortlisted for the Royal Society Prize for Science Books. Rita studied Psychology at Oxford University, and holds an honorary doctorate from Leuven University for services to the public understanding of the brain.

160pp two color throughout 50 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 30,000

Robert Brandt is an illustrator of information graphics, editorial artwork, and technical illustrations, whose art has been commissioned internationally by clients including Unilever, Universal Music, National Geographic, Smithsonian Institute, Hachette, Ammonite Press, and Ivy Press. 62

The Nature of Science

Short Cuts Artificial Intelligence What with machine learning and deep learning, chat bots and generative AI, large language models and neural networks, the modern landscape of artificial intelligence is suddenly a highly topical place to explore. But how are you expected to navigate this exciting and potentially terrifying world? Short Cuts: Artificial Intelligence provides the map you need to start exploring seriously big ideas. A wealth of provocative questions prompt ‘short cut’ answers written by an expert author, with each one the setting-off point for instructions to help you plot your path through the labyrinth of AI.

Specifications 234 x 153 mm (6 x 9¼ in) 160pp two color throughout 50 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 30,000

Short Cuts Quantum Theory What with anti-matter and positrons, quarks and neutrinos, entanglement and parallel universes, the landscape of quantum physics is a bewildering and mindboggling place to explore. So, how are you expected to navigate this theoretical and uncertain world? Short Cuts: Quantum Theory provides the map you need to start exploring seriously big ideas. A wealth of provocative questions prompt ‘short cut’ answers written by an expert author, with each one the setting-off point for instructions to help you plot your path through the atomic and sub-atomic maze.

Specifications 234 x 153 mm (6 x 9¼ in) 160pp two color throughout 50 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 30,000

About the Author Jim Baggott is a former academic scientist and prize-winning freelance science writer. He has been writing about quantum theory for nearly a quarter of a century and has published ten books on the subjects of quantum and particle physics. He can say with some certainty that he still doesn’t understand it. But he does now think that he understands why.

The Nature of Science

Short Cuts Maths

Short Cuts Medicine

Short Cuts Philosophy

Specifications

234 x 153 mm (6 x 9¼ in)

160pp two color throughout

50 illustrations approx

Estimated word count: 30,000

Short Cuts Economics

Short Cuts Science

Short Cuts Psychology

Specifications

234 x 153 mm (6 x 9¼ in)

160pp two color throughout

50 illustrations approx

Estimated word count: 30,000

The Nature of Science

Outbreaks & Pandemics Fighting Infection, from Smallpox to Coronavirus

For decades scientists have been warning of global pandemics, and the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak realized their worst fears. Outbreaks & Pandemics, written on the eve of the pandemic, has proved to be grimly prophetic. It narrates a disquieting journey through the history, science, and politics of humankind’s ongoing war against contagion; investigates modern responses; and assesses the chances of eradicating disease in the future. It also reveals how globalization, mobile populations, climate change, vaccine hesitancy, and drugresistant pathogens have combined to create the perfect conditions for pandemics to spread. This updated and illustrated edition is essential reading, combining extensive research with illuminating photographs and infographics to chart the pattern of outbreaks and reveal the microscopic world at their heart.

About the Author Specifications 228 x 165 mm (61/2 x 9 in) 224pp four color throughout 100 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 50,000

Meera Senthilingam is a journalist, editor, and public health consultant specializing in global health and infectious disease. She obtained a BSc in Biology from the University of Nottingham, UK, and Master’s degrees in Science Communication at Imperial College London, and in the Control of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Meera is a health editor for CNN, and has worked with the BBC and with global health programs as well as research institutions including the LSHTM and the Wellcome Trust.

The Nature of Science

Biology in Graphics Visual Learning for Students and Grown Ups A bright, new, colorful series of ‘visual learning’ books that will cover science, humanities and technology subjects. Featuring a huge range of specially commissioned graphics that work with expertly written text to provide a clear sense and understanding of a subject. Suitable for teenagers looking to support their studies and revision as well as adults seeking a primer or refresher course of key elements.

About the Author

Estimated word count: 40,000

Helen Pilcher is a science writer, presenter, and performer based in the UK. She has written for Nature, the Guardian, BBC Science Focus, and the New Scientist. She has a PhD in Cell Biology from the London Institute of Psychiatry, UK, and ran the Royal Society’s Science in Society Programme before becoming a full-time writer. Her previous books include Bring Back the King: The New Science of De-extinction, Mind Maps: Biology, and The Pocket Book of Backyard Experiments.

Human Anatomy in Graphics

Chemistry in Graphics

Physics in Graphics

Specifications

260 x 180 mm (7 x 101/4 in)

192pp four color throughout

430 illustrations approx

Estimated word count: 40,000

Specifications 260 x 180 mm (7 x 101/4 in) 192pp four color throughout 430 illustrations approx

The Nature of Science

The Curious World of Science A Visual Miscellany of Stories, Theories, Discoveries & Curiosities Plucked from the Scientific World To some, science is simply a means to an end; to others it is an almost spiritual meditation on theories and formulae. The Curious World of Science embraces both views and much more besides. Focusing on the human endeavors at the heart of science, it presents a miscellany of essential classifications, intriguing biographies, amusing curiosities, and irresistible trivia. Bitesize morsels of text explore the worlds of physics, chemistry, biology, and math, while also venturing into those magical areas where science meets art. Derived from the text of the bestselling Science Magpie, this illustrated miscellany offers a system of icons to signpost different paths through the book. From the Large Hadron Collider rap to the sins of Isaac Newton, it offers a dizzying flight through the wonderfully human world of scientific knowledge.

Specifications

About the Author

246 x 190 mm (71/2 x 93/4 in)

Simon Flynn has a suitably magpie-like nature. He has an insatiable curiosity for scientific treasures and rarities, and has enjoyed an eclectic career. With a genuine passion for science, he currently works as a science teacher, having previously been a writer, editor, and publisher. Simon has degrees in chemistry, philosophy, and science education, and his other published titles include The Internet from A to Z and The Ultimate Guide to Everything. Simon lives in north London with his wife and step-daughter.

200 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 60,000

No Hazzard

NO HAZARD White Zone / Torino Scale: 0 Kinetic Energy (MT)

y z

PLOTTING THE PROBABILITY OF AN EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL COLLISION

y z y z

10 5

Torino Impact Hazard Scale

A close encounter, meriting attention by astronomers. Current calculations give a 1% or greater chance of collision capable of regional devastation. Most likely, new telescopic observations will lead to reassignment to level 0. Attention by public and by public officials is merited if the encounter is less than a decade away.

MERITING ATTENTION BY ASTRONOMERS Yellow Zone / Torino Scale: 3 A close encounter, meriting attention by astronomers. Current calculations give a 1% or greater chance of collision capable of localized destruction. Most likely, new telescopic observations will lead to reassignment to level 0. Attention by public and by public officials is merited if the encounter is less than a decade away.

10-8

10-6

10-4 10-2 Collision Probability

Global

Regional

Local

›0.99

THREATENING Orange Zone / Torino Scale: 5

y z

The scale works by plotting the kinetic energy of the extraterrestrial object (mv2 i.e. mass x its expected velocity squared) against the probability of it striking the Earth. This value isn’t necessarily fixed—it can change over time as information regarding the object improves. At the time of writing, there were two objects with a Torino Scale value of 1 and nothing higher, so there’s no need to panic.

THREATENING Orange Zone / Torino Scale: 6 A close encounter by a large object posing a serious but still uncertain threat of a global catastrophe. Critical attention by astronomers is needed to determine conclusively whether or not a collision will occur. If the encounter is less than three decades away, governmental contingency planning may be warranted.

CERTAIN COLLISION Red Zone / Torino Scale: 8 A collision is certain, capable of causing localized destruction for an impact over land or possibly a tsunami if close offshore. Such events occur on average between once every 50 years and once every several thousand years.

A very close encounter by a large object, which if occurring this century poses an unprecedented but still uncertain threat of a global catastrophe. For such a threat in this century, international contingency planning is warranted, especially to determine urgently and conclusively whether or not a collision will occur.

* The Pilot ACE (Automatic Computing Engine) was one of the first computers to be built in the UK and was precursor to the more ambitious ACE designed by Alan Turing.

y z y z

CERTAIN COLLISION Red Zone / Torino Scale: 10 A collision is certain, capable of causing global climatic catastrophe that may threaten the future of civilization as we know it, whether impacting land or ocean. Such events occur on average once every 100,000 years, or less often.

CERTAIN COLLISION Red Zone / Torino Scale: 9 A collision is certain, capable of causing unprecedented regional devastation for a land impact or the threat of a major tsunami for an ocean impact. Such events occur on average between once every 10,000 years and once every 100,000 years.

LSO

‘If the hand be held between the discharge-tube and the screen, the darker shadow of the bones is seen within the slightly dark shadowimage of the hand itself … For brevity’s sake I shall use the expression “rays”; and to distinguish them from others of this name I shall call them “X-rays”.’ So wrote the German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen, winner of the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901, when he publicly announced the discovery he had made on November 8, 1895. Of huge scientific importance, not least due to the separate and equally significant transformation their discovery would produce within medicine and physics, Röntgen’s ‘rays’ caused a public sensation right across Europe. By the beginning of February 1896 there was already a thriving trade in ‘shadow photographs’. Punch magazine, ever one to chime with the public mood, published the following witty poem barely a month after Röntgen had submitted his preliminary communication to the Wurzburg Physico-Medical Society on December 28, 1895, and just two days after the journal Nature had printed a translation of it.

O, Röntgen, then the news is true, And not a trick of idle rumour, That bids us each beware of you, And of your grim and graveyard humour.

158

10. Electric telegraph

1. X-ray machine

2. Penicillin

9. Model T Ford

A SCIENCE MUSEUM TOP 10

3. DNA double helix

We do not want, like Dr. Swift, To take our flesh off and to pose in Our bones, or show each little rift And joint for you to poke your nose in. We only crave to contemplate Each other’s usual full-dress photo; Your worse than ‘altogether’ state Of portraiture we bar in toto!

8. Steam engine

To celebrate its centenary in 2009, the Science Museum in London selected ten ‘centenary icons’ of science and technology from its collection and invited people to vote for the one they felt was the greatest. First place went to X-ray machines, with 20% of the vote. All of the top three positions were taken by discoveries related to medicine.

4. Apollo 10 capsule

7. Pilot ACE computer*

6. Stephenson’s Rocket

5. V2 rocket engine

The fondest swain would scarcely prize A picture of his lady’s framework; To gaze on this with yearning eyes Would probably be voted tame work! No, keep them for your epitaph, These tombstone-souvenirs unpleasant; Or go away and photograph Mahatmas, spooks, and Mrs. B-s-nt!

: P. 3 0

The Energy of Richter

Centenary Icons of Science and Technology

CELEBRATING RÖNTGEN’S DISCOVERY OF THE X-RAY

THREATENING Orange Zone / Torino Scale: 7

A close encounter posing a serious but still uncertain threat of regional devastation. Critical attention by astronomers is needed to determine conclusively whether or not a collision will occur. If the encounter is less than a decade away, governmental contingency planning may be warranted.

y z

On a New Kind of Ray

Certain Collisions

7 4

LSO

: P. 1 7 5

70 | 71

A discovery, which may become routine with expanded searches, of an object making a somewhat close but not highly unusual pass near the Earth. While meriting attention by astronomers, there is no cause for public attention or public concern as an actual collision is very unlikely. New telescopic observations very likely will lead to re-assignment to level 0.

100

N/C

MERITING ATTENTION BY ASTRONOMERS Yellow Zone / Torino Scale: 4

MERITING ATTENTION BY ASTRONOMERS Yellow Zone / Torino Scale: 2

Threatening

2 1

y z

In 1979, there was no formalized way of expressing the seriousness of such a situation. It would be another 16 years before, in 1995, Professor Richard P. Binzel first presented the then unnamed Torino Impact Hazard Scale to provide an effective way of assessing the potential effect upon the Earth of any newly discovered asteroid or comet and then communicating that to the general public. Expect to find it cropping up in some disaster movie sooner or later.

NORMAL Green Zone / Torino Scale: 1

Meriting Attention

10-5

In the 1979 disaster movie Meteor, a five-mile-wide asteroid is on a collision course with the Earth. The planet’s only hope is a collaboration between the USA and the Soviet Union involving their respective orbiting nuclear missile launchers. It’s fair to say that the movie isn’t the finest hour for its all-star cast (which includes Sean Connery, Natalie Wood, Karl Malden, Trevor Howard, Martin Landau, and Henry Fonda) but it does serve to highlight the potential of disaster from outer space (the K-T event that wiped out the dinosaurs and much more perhaps serves as a more highbrow example).

A routine discovery in which a pass near the Earth is predicted that poses no unusual level of danger. Current calculations show the chance of collision is extremely unlikely with no cause for public attention or public concern. New telescopic observations very likely will lead to re-assignment to level 0.

Normal

10-8

The likelihood of a collision is zero, or is so low as to be effectively zero. Also applies to small objects such as meteors and bodies that burn up in the atmosphere as well as infrequent meteorite falls that rarely cause damage.

SEE A

The Torino Impact Hazard Scale y z

SEE A

224pp four color throughout

Types of Ionizing Radiation

159

The Nature of Science

The Curious World of Scientific Symbols A Visual Dictionary of Meaning, Application & Interpretation Plucked from the Scientific World The Curious World of Scientific Symbols reveals the history, meaning, and application of the symbols we use every day, together with those that are a little more obscure. Arranged over five chapters that cover different alphabets and numbers used in science and math, the book also includes a visual index to help identify the name or term for each of the featured symbols.

Specifications

About the Author

246 x 190 mm (71/2 x 93/4 in)

224pp four color throughout 200 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 60,000

Nate Adams is a biophysicist based in Munich, Germany. In his day job he works out the best way to shoot lasers at proteins. Outside of research he has worked as a science presenter and writer for TV and on stage, including for the BBC, Sky, and the Royal Institution.

Curious KIDS CURIOUS Kids

Learn, Make, Play, Grow Activities for Kids who Care About the Environment

In this book, we’ll delve into a broad spectrum of themes to help children engage with the natural world and the environment. Through activities, games, recipes, interviews, and more, the aim is to encourage children to Learn, Make, Play, Grow—it is a celebration of our wonderful planet, and everything on it. The book is split into five chapters, which build as the book progresses: insects, plant life, animals, people, and the planet. Each chapter focuses on different elements within those themes: for example, trees, hedgerow, and fungi in ‘Plant Life,’ and cities and activism in ‘People.’ Through a carefully chosen limited color palette, with rich illustrations, amazing facts and a positive outlook, this book is the perfect companion for children who care about the environment.

Specifications

About the Authors

290 x 210 mm (8 1/4 x 11 1/2 in)

Seed Magazeen was set up in August 2019 by Jack Snelling and Lizzie Lomax, in response to the global school climate strikes. Run by Jack Snelling and Lizzie Lomax, each issue aims to tackle big subjects, in a positive and bitesize format. Our love of small press led us to printing each issue in only two colors, through risograph printing. Seed Magazeen is now on its thirteenth issue, and is sold in the UK, Europe, and the US.

160pp three color throughout Estimated word count: 15,000 Target age range: 4–7

Jack Snelling is an animator and illustrator, working in hand-drawn and 3D rendered styles. He has lent his skills to clients like the Magic Breakfast, the New York Times, and MIT News. Lizzie Lomax is an illustrator and designer, working in a mixed media and collage style. She’s worked with clients such as the Natural History Museum, the Woodland Trust and the Henry Moore Foundation.

Curious Kids

Wild Lives Conservation Superheroes and their Stories

Wild Lives tells the real-life stories of sixteen conservation superheroes from around the world, revealing the secrets of the creatures and habitats that inspired them. Each chapter tells the story of one person’s life, work, and legacy, and describes their inspirational animal, its habitat, and the threats it faces. A comic strip narrates the ‘superhero moment’ when they discovered the animal that gave them their ‘superpowers’: such as the time Paula Kahumbu was surrounded by elephants, which instead of attacking her lay down and went to sleep. Combining great storytelling with beautiful artwork, Wild Lives takes a new approach to important biographies, to carry a gentle and positive message about how young people from different backgrounds can discover their own superpowers in the conservation and protection of the natural world.

Specifications

About the Authors and Illustrator

220 x 170 mm (6¾ x 9¾ in)

Anthony Kalume is from Kenya. He went to school with Michael Werikhe and later worked on conservation projects in Tsavo East National Park.

112pp four color throughout 50 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 10,000 Target age range: 6–9

Cath Senker writes and edits books for children of all ages, and her book Far from Home: Refugees and Migrants Fleeing War, Persecution and Poverty won the 2018 Educational Writers’ Award. Kate Chesterton is an illustrator and animator with over fifteen years’ experience in creating traditional and digital imagery for screen, print, and animation.

Curious Kids

The Curious World of Kitchen Science Discover and Learn with 22 Experiments The Curious World of Kitchen Science is part of a series of four books that explore the key principles and practice of everyday science by using analogies, experiments, and research with food and drink in the home kitchen environment. Each title covers a branch of science and demonstrates its principles though applied science offering a unique, fun, and interactive approach to learning for both teenage and adult readers. Each title in the series covers three core elements of scientific learning: discovery, learning, and experiments. •

The Physics of Popcorn

•

The Maths of Milkshakes

•

The Biology of Bananas

•

The Chemistry of Cola

Specifications

About the Author

210 x 160 mm (61/4 x 81/4 in)

Katie Steckles is a mathematician based in Manchester, UK, who delivers talks, workshops, and mathematical events all over the UK, on YouTube, and on TV and radio. She writes mathematical puzzles and articles for books, magazines, event programs, and several blogs. She’s also provided mathematical content and proofreading for several recent popular math books. In 2016 she won the Joshua Phillips Award for Innovation in Science Engagement, and often runs large-scale projects to get people engaged with math all over the world. Katie enjoys solving the Rubik’s cube, and baking things shaped like math symbols.

the

Estimated word count: 30,000

Dr. Jamie Gallagher has a degree in chemical physics and a PhD in chemistry and electrical engineering. He is an award-winning scientist and science communicator, and was named one of the “100 leading practicing scientists in the UK” by the Science Council, and is recognised as one of the “175 Faces of Chemistry” by the Get ready to play (and learn!) with your Royal food! Society of Chemistry.

MATHS

sa who delivers s, and events on TV/radio. She tical puzzles and ks, magazines, blogs. In 2016 s Joshua Phillips ation in Science

DISCOVER AND LEARN

Discover the truth about yeast, learn how to

BIOLOGY of

NAS COLA BANADISCOVER DISCOVER

Explore the key principles and practice of everyday science through discovery, analogies, experiments and research with food and drink in your home kitchen. Also available in the series: The Biology of Bananas The Chemistry of Cola The Physics of Popcorn

AND LEARN

Discover the truth about the problems with

plastic and recycling, learn how to read the

rubbery eggs, and more.

periodic table, conduct experiments

WITH 22

with soda rockets, and more.

The Biology of Bananas uses applied science

EXPERIMENTS

Explore the key principles and practice of everyday science through discovery, analogies, experiments, and research with food and drink in your home kitchen.

Also available in the series: The Chemistry of Cola The Maths of Milkshakes The Physics of Popcorn

Also available in the series: The Biology of Bananas The Maths of Milkshakes The Physics of Popcorn

Get ready to play (and learn!) with your food!

count calories, conduct experiments with

WITH 20

CHEMISTRYof

the

60 illustrations approx

the

160pp four color throughout

EXPERIMENTS

for a fun and interactive approach to learning

The Chemistry of Cola uses applied

for the whole family.

science for a fun and interactive approach to learning for the whole family.

THE CURIOUS WORLD OF

KITCHEN SCIENCE KATIE STECKLES

AND LEARN WITH 21

EXPERIMENTS THE CURIOUS WORLD OF

KITCHEN SCIENCE

KAT I E ST ECKL ES

DR . JA MI E G A L L AG H ER

30/04/2020 00:33 KSS_ChemistryOfCola_PBF_CSIRO_AUS.indd 1

AUS.indd 1

11/02/2020 09:49

11/02/2020 09:20

Curious Kids

The Pocket Book of Nature Experiments Discover the Laboratory in Your World A charming little book packed with over eighty experiments for the whole family to discover, learn, and enjoy. From testing soil to enjoying a ‘seed safari’ the book reveals the hidden science at work in nature. Designed to appeal to a broad, family audience to help develop young people’s learning, health, and well-being.

About the Authors Specifications 215 x 150 mm (6 x 81/2 in) 192pp four color throughout 100 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 44,000

Bots and Bods How Robots and Humans Work, from the Inside Out In this unique and beautifully illustrated book, children can learn about the inner workings of robots and compare it with their own human anatomy. How are human bodies and robots put together and how do we both move? How do we see, hear, and sense the world? How does robot intelligence compare to our own? Packed with detailed illustrations and fun facts, Bots and Bods encourages kids to discover their inner robot!

Specifications 246 x 190 mm (71/2 x 93/4 in) 96pp four color throughout 60 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 18,000 Target age range: 5–10

About the Author and Illustrator John Andrews is a bod, not a bot. He has edited and written dozens of adult and children’s books on history, sports, music, science, and a host of other subjects. His recent work includes Timeline of World History and The Beautiful Game: An Infographic Book of Soccer. Michelle Tilly’s work has appeared in National Geographic, the Observer, and Hollywood Reporter as well as in several illustrated books for adults and children. 75

Nature WATCH NATURE Watch

Shark The Illustrated Biography

Shark: The Illustrated Biography offers a unique perspective into the lives of these fascinating, often-feared predators. It charts the life stories of sharks in all their diversity and complexity, and it provides information on its subjects’ birthplace, childhood, family history, relationships, and significant life challenges. As no two species of shark have the same life history, this book presents a wide array of species and habitats around the globe, examining their biology, ecology, and behavior, as well as exploring the cultural role sharks have played in human history. The authors’ passionate and compelling narrative style is supported by detailed illustrations and captivating photography.

About the Authors Daniel C. Abel is Professor of Marine Science at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina, USA. His research focuses on the physiology and ecology of sharks and rays. He is co-author of several leading books on sharks and is a Senior Fellow of the US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development. He resides in Pawley’s Island, South Carolina, USA.

Specifications 228 x 165 mm (6.5 x 9 in) 224pp four color throughout 100 Illustrations Estimated word count: 52,000

Sophie A. Maycock gained an MSc in Evolution, Biodiversity and Conservation from Leiden University in the Netherlands. She is the current UK Representative at the Sharks Educational Institute and a volunteer science writer and communicator at SharkSpeak. She has written extensively on sharks for her academic work but also maintains a high level of engagement with her posts on social media. She lives in Oxfordshire, UK.

Nature Watch

Flyways Migration Tales from Avian Superhighways

The remarkable story of bird migration has been told many times. But the story is changing. Birds travel to suitable habitats according to the seasons, and as the world’s climate heats, those seasons and those habitats are no longer static. The triggers that prompt birds to migrate are occurring at different times. The pattern of bird migrations is evolving accordingly, while at the same time becoming itself an indicator of climate change. Flyways tells this new story by exploring the eight avian superhighways along which different species migrate, and which are the focus of international conservation projects. Each flyway is introduced through an illustrated map tracing the route and annotated with the facts and figures of its seasonal migrations. This leads into the migration stories of key species flying that skyway, including those demonstrating recent changes to their migration patterns, those that divide to follow separate routes, and those showing adaptations to such external factors as reintroduced predators.

Specifications 228 x 165 mm (6½ x 9 in) 224pp four color throughout 100 illustrations Estimated word count: 50,000

About the Author Marianne Taylor has authored more than thirty books on natural history including The Way of the Hare (Bloomsbury), The Story of Life in 10 Species (MIT Press), and The Pocket Book of Bird Anatomy (Bloomsbury). She has recently completed The Gull Next Door (Princeton) and has written a number of guides for the RSPB. Marianne specializes in evolutionary biology and her work focuses on the dance between habitat, behavior, and evolution. Her encyclopedic knowledge of animal life and an always rigorous line of questioning challenge her readers’ often-held assumptions and encourage a sense of discovery.

Nature Watch

How to Read a River Our Planet’s Hidden Stories

Terrestrial earth is sculpted by the downhill flow of water. The very persistence of a water course carves a route, be it via gushing glacial meltwaters that scythe through crumbling strata, tumbling waterfalls tipping over hard rock onto softer stone, or by smoothing broad meanders edged with lush valleys and green meadows. As water combines with gravity, it also gathers and transports sediment. Banks build up and nutrients are deposited into esturine landscapes. Silt floods incrementally into the ocean, creating deltas that cause bulging coastlines. How to Read a River is a hardworking handbook, full of graphic explanations and annotated imagery to explain the dynamics and function of how water flows across the land and to what effect. Punctuated with gorgeous, evocative photography, including drone shots, plus pithy descriptions, this is a one-stop option for a clear and comprehensive review of rivers today.

Specifications

About the Author

228 x 165 mm (61/2 x 9 in)

Ellen E. Wohl is an American fluvial geomorphologist. She is Professor of Geology with the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University, USA. Ellen has contributed many scholarly articles to academic journals, including Geomorphology, Journal of Geology, Ecological Applications, and Geological Society of America Bulletin. She has served as Associate Editor for the Journal of Hydrology, Geological Society of America Bulletin, and Water Research. In 2009, she received the Kirk Bryan Award for research excellence.

224pp four color throughout 150 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 52,000

Nature Watch

How to Read a Bird A Smart Guide to What a Bird is Doing and Why Birds are intelligent, sociable creatures that often mate for life; many fashion tools and solve complex problems, and all conduct multiple relationships using a variety of ways to communicate. Unlocking a fascinating world of intricate behaviors found in the bird kingdom, How to Read a Bird decodes movements, sound, and flock interactions within seasons and habitat. In the capable hands of scientist Wenfei Tong, naturalists and bird lovers will discover a wealth of new ways to appreciate birds.

About the Authors Wenfei Tong: is Assistant Professor at the University of Anchorage in Alaska, USA. With a PhD from Harvard University, USA, Tong developed her interest in the evolution of co-operation and conflict at all levels of biological organization in Doug Emlen’s lab at the University of Montana, USA.

Specifications 228 x 165 mm (61/2 x 9 in) 224pp four color throughout 150 illustrations approx

Ben Sheldon is Professorial Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford University, UK; Luc Hoffmann Professor of Ornithology; and Director of the Edward Grey Institute.

Estimated word count: 52,000

HOW TO READ AN INSECT A SMART GUIDE TO WHAT AN INSECT IS DOING AND WHY

DR ROSS PIPER

How to Read an Insect A Smart Guide to What an Insect is Doing and Why Most insects are too small to be easily noticed—beyond being branded a nuisance—so few are watched with appreciation. This is a great pity, as everything about the insect world is staggering— from the sheer diversity of forms to the mindboggling ways in which they function. This companion guide explores the lives of these miniature creatures, highlighting and explaining a wealth of fascinating and esoteric behaviors. From elegant displays of courtship to brutal acts of predation, insect watching rewards with dramatic action and fascinating biology.

About the Author Specifications 228 x 165 mm (61/2 x 9 in) 224pp four color throughout 150 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 52,000

Ross Piper is a zoologist, author, and presenter. As a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Leeds, UK, a Visiting Fellow at the University of Essex, UK, and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Ross has published over thirty scientific papers. He is an expert in animal diversity in general, and especially in insects, focusing on communicating animal diversity, the ecology and conservation biology of beetles, tropical arthropod diversity, and the ecology of solitary wasps.

Nature Watch

Wetlands The Anatomy of an Ecosystem

To understand our world, we have to understand its ecosystems. Wetlands are one of our planet’s most threatened habitats, but they are among the most important. 87 percent of the world’s surface water is stored in lakes and wetlands, and they are home to a wealth of natural life. Wetlands themselves are diverse, covering habitats including estuaries, fens, reedbeds, and mangroves. This book explores wetland ecosystems in all their diversity. Surveying both pristine and compromised wetlands, it explains the connection between their geography, climate, and natural life using case studies from across the globe, accompanied by high-quality images and bespoke maps. Alongside the challenges faced by wetland ecosystems, this volume covers the restoration of wetland ecosystems, detailing the key processes, methods, and models through which wetlands can be restored and protected.

Specifications 280 x 215 mm (81/2 x 11 in) 224pp four color throughout 150 images Estimated word count: 45,000

About the Author Paul Keddy has been a Professor of Ecology for thirty years. He has published over 100 scholarly papers and six books, including Plant Ecology: Vegetation, Origins, Processes, Consequences and Competition. He taught at various institutions across his career, including the University of Ottawa and the University of Guelph, Canada, before becoming the first holder of the Schlieder Endowed Chair for Environmental Studies in Louisiana, USA, until 2007.

Nature Watch

Shallow Seas Life in Coastal Waters Shallow Seas covers a huge and diverse range of life underwater. The book covers sea life from intertidal zones to a depth of 200 meters, where the continental shelf drops away. The dynamics and patterns are profiled as much as the biologies and ecologies, and the human impact angle threads throughout.

Specifications 280 x 215 mm (81/2 x 111/4 in) 288pp four color throughout 200+ illustrations and photos Estimated word count: 58,000

About the Author Steve Hall has over thirty years’ experience in ocean science, policy and technology including serving as CEO of the Society for Underwater Technology, heading the International Office at the UK’s National Oceanography Centre, and being elected Vice Chair of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

The Deep Ocean Life in the Abyss The deep sea makes up over 90 percent of the space on our planet where life exists. Our biosphere is mostly abyss. These cold, dark ecosystems beyond 200meters in depth are dominated by enormous pressures, limited food, and slow currents. Canyons and cliff edges lead down to hadal trenches, chimneys, and chemical seeps. Life and how it behaves down here is remarkable and unexpected, and technology is revealing it at a surprising rate.

About the Authors Specifications 280 x 215 mm (81/2 x 111/4 in) 288pp four color throughout 200 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 58,000

Michael Vecchione works for the NOAA as Adjunct Zoologist at the National Museum of Natural History, and Curator of Cephalopoda and Pteropoda at the Smithsonian. Louise Allcock is Professor of Natural Sciences at NUI Galway, Ireland. She is President of the Cephalopod Advisory Council and Editor of the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. Imants Priede is Professor Emeritus at the University of Aberdeen, UK. Hans Van Haren is Senior Scientist for NIOZ; an experimental physicist and physical oceanographer, he studies all aspects of turbulence in seas and oceans. 81

Nature Watch

Marine Intelligence A Deep-dive Exploration of Smart Aquatic Life

Fish can use tools to extract food, manta rays may recognize themselves in a mirror, and cuttlefish use tactical deception to win mates. From the tiniest marine worm to the giant blue whale, the animals that call our planet’s oceans home have surprised us with their cognitive abilities time and time again. Written by an expert marine biologist and drawing on the most up-to-date research, Marine Intelligence is packed with examples of intelligence in the seas that will make us rethink what it means to be smart. Covering topics including senses, social systems, communication, navigation, and consciousness, this captivating book will challenge the way we think about the animals that live in or near our oceans and help us better understand the impact our actions are having on their behaviors.

Specifications 228 x 165 mm (61/2 x 9 in) 256pp four color throughout 80 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 55,000

About the Author Cait Newport is a marine biologist and Research Fellow in the Spatial Cognition Group at the University of Oxford, UK. Her current research explores how fishes recognize objects in their environment in order to understand how different brains and visual systems solve common problems. She earned an undergraduate degree at Dalhousie University, Canada, and a PhD at the University of Queensland, Australia.

Nature Watch

The Secret World of Beetles A Natural History of Coleoptera The sheer variety of beetle life is astounding. With over 400,000 known species, beetles alone make up more than a quarter of the world’s animals. Evolved to fit complex ecologies, beetles are ingenious participants in food webs and symbiotic relationships, their appearance the result of evolution’s painstaking response to habitat and other life.

Specifications 228 x 165 mm (6½ x 9 in) 224pp four color throughout 100+ Illustrations Estimated word count: 48,000

About the Author Arthur V. Evans, DSc, is an author, photographer, lecturer, and radio broadcaster. He teaches at Randolph-Macon College and University of Richmond, USA, and is also a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Institution, Virginia Natural History Museum, and California State Collection of Arthropods.

The Secret World of Butterflies A Natural History of Lepidoptera Amazing and beautiful, butterflies are not just a pretty insect, but have a fascinating life history and a play an important role in our planet’s ecosystem, as this book reveals. With stunning photographs and illustrations as well as profiles of selected species, this comprehensive look at the life and natural history of the butterfly will appeal to nature lovers everywhere.

About the Author Specifications 228 x 165 mm (6½ x 9 in) 224pp four color throughout 100+ Illustrations Estimated word count: 48,000

David G. James is Associate Professor of Entomology at Washington State University, USA. He is the coauthor of Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies and was consultant editor on The Book of Caterpillars. David J. Lohman is Professor of Biology at the City College of New York, a visiting scientist at the American Museum of Natural History, and a Research Associate at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, USA, and at the National Museum of Natural History in Manila, the Philippines . 83

Nature Watch

The Lives of Sharks A Natural History of Shark Life

Ancient and diverse, sharks are the apex predators of the marine world. As notorious hunters, tales of their killer instincts and fiercesomely sharp senses can obscure their full life histories. In fact, sharks are characterful and intelligent, and lead secretive lives full of interest in every type of marine habitat. The Lives of Sharks is a fascinating and beautifully illustrated guide to these iconic marine creatures from two world-renowned experts in this field. This book explores their physiology, behavior, ecology, and evolution, as well as conservation and the impact of human activity on shark populations. With stunning photographs and illustrations, together with profiles of selected species, this a comprehensive review of global shark life today.

Specifications

About the Authors

246 x 190 mm (73/4 x 91/2 in)

Daniel C. Abel is Professor of Marine Science at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina, USA. His research focuses on the physiology and ecology of sharks and rays. He is co-author of the textbooks Environmental Issues: An Introduction to Sustainability, Environmental Issues in Oceanography, Environmental Oceanography, and Environmental Geology. He has been an environmental columnist and was founding director of CCU’s Sustainability Initiative. Dr. Abel is a Senior Fellow of the US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development. He resides in Pawley’s Island, South Carolina, USA.

288pp four color throughout 150 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 45,000

R. Dean Grubbs is Associate Director of Research of the Coastal and Marine Laboratory at Florida State University, USA. His primary research interests are ichthyology and marine ecology with emphasis on exploited fishes, especially elasmobranchs. This research addresses specific questions or fills biological gaps necessary for the management of fisheries, resources and conservation of species of concern.

Nature Watch

The Lives of Bats

The Lives of Lichens

Specifications

246 x 190 mm (73/4 x 91/2 in)

288pp four color throughout

150 illustrations approx

Estimated word count: 45,000

The Lives of Bees

The Lives of Seaweeds

Specifications

246 x 190 mm (73/4 x 91/2 in)

288pp four color throughout

150 illustrations approx

Estimated word count: 45,000

Nature Watch

How Birds Live Together Colonies and Communities in the Avian World

Some bird species don’t take the isolationist approach to nesting and establishing a territory. If the right place to nest is not where food is found, the result is a breeding colony— families setting up home close together, and commuting far away to reach feeding grounds. Visiting these dynamic and deafening avian conurbations can put us in mind of our own towns and cities. The citizens live shoulder to shoulder but still fiercely defend their own small circle of space against neighborly intrusion. Disputes, rivalry, jealousy, and deception are commonplace, but when danger from the outside threatens any individual, the whole community rises together to meet the threat. This book explores the form and function of bird societies around the world, from tropical forest to isolated island, and even on the rooftops of our own cities.

Specifications

About the Author

228 x 165 mm (61/2 x 9 in)

Marianne Taylor has authored more than thirty books on natural history including The Way of the Hare, The Story of Life in 10 Species, and The Pocket Book of Bird Anatomy. She has recently completed The Gull Next Door and has written a number of guides for the RSPB. Her interest in marine life goes back to her childhood, growing up in an English coastal town, where she spent as much time as possible in the sea, if not beside it. She has since become fascinated by the science that is changing the way we understand the family ties of all life on Earth.

224pp four color throughout 150 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 50,000

Nature Watch

Sea Mammals The Past and Present Lives of Our Oceans’ Cornerstone Species

From the gregarious sea otter and playful dolphin to the sociable narwhal and iconic polar bear, marine mammals are a large, diverse, and increasingly precious group. For the first time these remarkable animals from past and present are gathered together, offering a detailed account of their evolutionary path, anatomy, cognition, life habits, and conservation. These key species complete many food chains and have the widest influence of all marine life. Sea Mammals offers real insight into a broad variety of marine worlds. Individual species profiles, themed chapters, photographs, and illustrations combine to accurately portray both living species and their ancient predecessors. Internationally respected paleoartist Robert Nicholls contributes bespoke paleo-illustrations, which bring longextinct sea mammals to life.

Specifications

About the Author

228 x 165 mm (61/2 x 9 in)

Annalisa Berta is Professor Emerita in the Department of Biology at San Diego State University, USA, where she has worked for more than thirty years. Specializing in the anatomy and evolutionary biology of marine mammals, especially baleen whales, Annalisa formally described the early pinniped Enerliactos. She served as President of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology from 2004 to 2006 and was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2015.

224pp four color throughout 150 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 50,000

Nature Watch

Waspish The Astonishing Diversity of a Misunderstood Eco-warrior

Like the lions of the insect world, wasps are the tiny (and not so tiny) apex predators that top the insect food chain. Essential in turn to those food chains of our own, wasps are vital heroes of our natural and agricultural ecosystems. There are well over 100,000 species of wasps, and all use myriad, ingenious methods of survival; most are solitary, even venomless. From the microscopic fairyflies to the giant tarantula hawks, they work as bio-controls of agricultural pests, are arch pollinators, and amongst the most complex of insects. Full of enthusiastic, accessible description working alongside illuminating visuals, Waspish uncovers the behaviors of these strange and diverse creatures, highlighting a wide range of fascinating scientific concepts en route.

Specifications

About the Author

230 x 190 mm (71/2 x 9 in)

Eric R. Eaton is a nonfiction writer, editor, and consultant who has worked as an entomologist for the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Tucson Botanical Gardens, and with the Smithsonian Institution, University of Massachusetts (Amherst), West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, and the Yard Futures project. Eaton was lead author of the Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America and coauthor of Insects Did It First.

192pp four color throughout 300 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 30,000

Nature Watch

The Pocket Book of Bird Anatomy

Specifications 210 x 140 mm (51/2 x 81/4 in) 224pp four color throughout

What is a bird? To answer that, we must understand how birds are different from all other living things and how they fit into the diversity of life on Earth. This excellent guide to bird anatomy looks at the avian body, system by system, how it evolved, and how it functions. Chapters explore traits that are unique to birds, including their remarkable one-way breathing cycle, their trimmed-down skeleton, how feathers permit flight, provide weather-proofing and add beauty, and the avian bill – a lightweight replacement for both teeth and food-handling forelimbs. Featuring more than 300 diagrams and colour photos, this fascinating book also looks at the human impact on the avian world and reveals how behaviour and anatomy work together to produce these vibrant living beings that delight and inspire us so much.

100 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 50,000

The Pocket Book of Insect Anatomy Insects live alongside us in great profusion – at times, even in intimate proximity – and their importance to ecosystems and our survival cannot be overstated. But it can be hard to relate to them when their bodies’ structure and function are so different from our own.

About the Author Specifications 210 x 140 mm (51/2 x 81/4 in) 224pp four color throughout 100 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 50,000

Marianne Taylor is a writer, illustrator, and photographer. She began work as editorial assistant for Christopher Helm and went on to become editor. In 2005 she moved to Birdwatch magazine, where she wrote articles on a range of birdrelated subjects. She became a freelance writer, illustrator, and editor in 2007, and has been a wildlife photographer since 2009. Since then she has written more than twenty books for adults and children on a range of natural history subjects, many illustrated with her own artwork or photographs.

EARTH WATCH

How to Read a Rock Our Planet’s Hidden Stories

Earth’s life story is written in its rocks. They are time machines, which can transport us over billions of years through the metamorphoses by which our planet was forged. How to Read a Rock combines a guide to deciphering these sagas of our planet’s past with case studies of the rocks and landscapes that best tell those tales. Using stones as storytellers, it narrates the prehistoric forces of shifting continents; considers how manufactured rocks are transforming Earth’s geology; travels with space probes to distant moons and planets; and asks what our geological past can predict of our future.

Specifications

About the Author

228 x 165 mm (61/2 x 9 in)

Jan Zalasiewicz is a field geologist and stratigrapher, with over 100 published academic articles to date on rock-related processes. Over the last couple of decades he has been increasingly involved in writing science journalism pieces for New Scientist, Scientific American, the Education Guardian, as well as writing for radio and television. He has five popular geology books published by Oxford University Press including The Earth After Us and The Planet in a Pebble.

224pp four color throughout 150 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 52,000

Life on LIFE ON earth EARTH

Dinosaur Behavior An Illustrated Guide

A fascinating and beautifully illustrated guide to these unique animals from a world-renowned paleontologist, Dinosaur Behavior explores the evolution, behavior, physiology, and extinction of dinosaurs. By forensically using the latest technology alongside the study of fossils, experts have revealed further insights into the lives of dinosaurs. Discover more about the mysterious world of these extraordinary creatures. With stunning, specially commissioned illustrations, this book explains how the dinosaurs lived and courted, fought and fed, signaled and interacted with each other.

Specifications

About the Author

280 x 215 mm (81/2 x 11 in)

Michael J. Benton OBE, FRSE is Professor of Vertebrate Paleontology at the University of Bristol, UK. He was founder of the Bristol MSc in paleobiology, which has welcomed 400 students since its foundation. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 2014 for his fundamental contributions to understanding the history of life, especially mass extinctions and origins of major groups.

224pp four color throughout 150 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 50,000

Life on earth

Dino-saurus A Prehistoric Lexicon

A fresh approach to discovering life in the prehistoric world! Packed with more than 200 terms and phrases that are all beautifully illustrated or annonated in a contemporary style that allows some personality and detail to shine through, Dino-saurus explores the science and cultures, together with the crafts, tools, and geological periods that span millions of years. Detailed anatomy of dinosaurs are included along with pronunciation guides for all the terms, to allow the reader to sound like a paleontological professional.

Specifications

About the Author

215 x 150 mm (6 x 81/2 in)

Rhys Charles is a paleontologist and science communicator. As head of the Bristol Dinosaur Project he works with researchers, schools, and community groups to make the field accessible for thousands of people across the UK. Rhys holds a Master’s in Paleontology and Evolution from the University of Bristol; his research specializing in the diversity of crustaceans through the Mesozoic. He has published popular science books with the Natural History Museum and National Geographic. He has also acted as lead paleontological consultant for large-scale events at UK tourist attractions, involving full-sized animatronic and LEGO dinosaurs.

192pp four color throughout 100 illutsrations Estimated word count: 20,000

People Stories PEOPLE STORIES

The Gods & Monsters series Mythological Handbooks

Mythology is having a moment. What with myth-inspired Marvel superhero movies and a succession of bestselling novels based on mythic masterpieces, all manner of myths are becoming hits. But for many mere mortals, the original tales of the gods remain intimidatingly complex and confusing. So, how are you expected to know your Mars from Uranus, and your Eros from your Venus? The Gods & Monsters titles explain all the context, concepts, plots, and players you need to start enjoying the greatest stories ever told. The first section uses maps, graphics, and concise text to reveal the cogs and wheels behind the beliefs. The second section introduces you to the key deities and demons, whilst retelling the best myths with notes and annotation. Illuminated by collage illustrations that present unique portraits and explain essential themes, Roman Gods & Monsters reveals the Greek origins of Roman myth, and explores a pantheon from Romulus and Remus to the Olympians, encountering minotaurs, manticores, sirens and satyrs along the way. It is a handbook from the heavens to guide you through the mythological maze.

About the Author

Specifications 230 x 180 mm (7 x 9 in) 160pp two color throughout 80 images Estimated word count: 35,000

Paul Stephenson is the author or editor of ten books, most recently New Rome: The Empire in the East (Harvard University Press, 2022). He has held teaching and research posts at universities, museums, and institutes in seven countries, including four professorial chairs (Wisconsin, Durham, Nijmegen, Lincoln). His research has been supported by the British Academy, Dumbarton Oaks (Trustees for Harvard University), the Dutch Research Council (NWO), Humboldt Stiftung, the National Hellenic Research Foundation (EIE, Athens), the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Onassis Foundation, Princeton University (Hellenic Studies), the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study, UC San Diego, and the University of Cincinnati.

About the Illustrator Nicky Ackland-Snow is a lecturer in Illustration and the award-winning collage artist behind The Illustrated Etymologicon. Her clients include the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, Glastonbury Festival, MTV and New Scientist.

People Stories

The Illustrated Meditations Life Lessons from Marcus Aurelius

The twelve books of Meditations were written over 2,000 years ago by the Roman emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius as a personal diary of notes, nudges, and mental exercises to help him live a good life. Yet, with their gentle instructions on living stoically, in harmony with nature and in pursuit of the ‘common good’, they seem the perfect fit for managing the modern malaise. Little wonder that legions of text-only translations are dominating the bestseller lists. The Illustrated Meditations takes all that is admirable about Aurelius, and elevates it. A curated selection of his most significant life lessons are arranged thematically in chapters, and carefully edited to make them mindful of today’s readers. Introductions explain their history and philosophy, and a commentary is provided by a modern philosopher. Most significantly, a selection of fifty meditations are beautifully illuminated with thoughtful and witty commissioned artworks to bring them to life.

Specifications

About the Author

220 x 170 mm (61/2 x 9 in)

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121–180 CE) was a Roman emperor and general who ruled over the Empire for two decades. He was a Stoic philosopher who wrote his Meditations in Greek for his personal instruction, drawing on the work of Epictetus. They have since come to be considered one of the greatest works of spiritual reflection ever written—required reading for statesmen and philosophers, and inspiration to generations of readers who have responded to the intimacy of his writing.

192pp four color throughout 64 images Estimated word count: 25,000

People Stories

The Trolley Murders Adventures in the Minds of Great Philosophers

Thought experiments have been an illuminating way to explore philosophical dilemmas since Zeno of Elea first imagined a foot race in which swift Achilles was unable to catch a tortoise with a head start. The Trolley Murders explores such mindbending concepts from the inside out. It presents twenty philosophical thought experiments in the form of illustrated short stories, each with a different narrative voice: from a true crime podcast about a trolley killer to a slaughter-house safety manual; from a customer review of a hesitant barber to Sherlock Holmes’ search for a missing color. Punctuated with infographic explanations of the thinkers and thoughts behind the stories, this is the most entertaining introduction to complex philosophical thought since a team of monkeys stationed at typewriters managed, to their great surprise, to bash out the script of Macbeth.

Specifications

About the Author

234 x 153 mm (6 x 9¼ in)

Tyler Gooch is a writer, comedian, and reformed philosophy student. Using the humor at the heart of his writing, he has published philosophy-related essays for various publications. As a non-academic writer, Tyler is able to provide an approachable, layperson’s perspective on philosophical concepts to counterbalance the dense, notional nature of the texts from which these thought experiments derive. He lives in Orange, California, USA.

208pp two color throughout 50 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 40,000

‘I take pride

in my work

as the artistic

THE TROLLEY PROBLEM ( P H I L I P PA F O O T, 1 9 6 7 )

THE PHILOSOPHY

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, qpor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo couis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

This narrative is based on the famous Trolley Problem, which has appeared in so many different forms that it has become part of modern pop culture. It was first described by Philippa Foot in 1967, and elaborated upon by Judith Jarvis Thomson in a 1976 paper. The thought experiment wrestles with the dilemma of whether it is ethical to sacrifice one person in order to save a number of others.

director

THE PHILOSOPHER

of this cave …’

HANDLE

TROLLEY

5 VICTIMS

BYSTANDER

T H E L E G AC Y TRACK A

2 98

TRACK B

1 VICTIM

168

THE TROLLEY PROBLEM

171

People Stories

The Story of Humanity in Forty Sites How Homo Sapiens Shaped Our Lives Formerly presented as a progression toward a sophisticated present, the story of how people have occupied their place in the world is now known to be far more complicated. The Story of Humanity in Forty Sites takes a storytelling approach to unraveling this complexity by exploring a selection of ancient locations chosen by one of the world’s leading archeologists. Illustrated essays consider each site’s unique place in prehistory, while also revealing their common needs— not just the necessities of food and shelter, but also an urge toward art and ritual. Drone photography reveals earthworks and artifacts, and gatefold ‘time-slice’ maps depict the global picture of contemporary sites. While many accounts of ancient societies exist, few offer an accessible guide to the main developments in humanity’s past and, in doing so, The Story of Humanity in Forty Sites breaks exciting new ground.

Specifications

About the Author

234 x 156 mm (6 x 91/4 in)

Alison Sheridan is an eminent archeologist who recently retired from her role as Principal Archeological Research Curator at National Museums Scotland, UK. She was named Archeologist of the Year at the 2020 Current Archeology awards, having the previous year won the Prehistoric Society’s Europa Award and been made a Fellow of the British Academy. Alison was President of the Prehistoric Society between 2010 and 2014, and co-Chair of the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework’s Neolithic panel. Her research spans the Neolithic, Chalcolithic (‘Copper Age’), and Bronze Age in Britain and Ireland.

288pp two color with four-color plates and tipped-in gatefold maps 200 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 55,000

People Stories

A is for Abecedarium An Illuminated Journey Through the Medieval Alphabet

The lavishly illuminated initials of medieval manuscripts reveal extraordinary complexity and diversity in the design and decoration of their letterforms. A is for Abecedarium takes this as the setting-off point for an illuminating journey through the letters of the Latin alphabet, with illustrations drawn from the finest examples of European manuscript art. En route, it elevates the ‘A is for Apple’ approach to consider the evolution of our language, while exploring the anatomy and iconography of initials painted with gold and populated by dragons, demons, flora, fauna, and biblical scenes. Written by a leading authority on medieval literature, this is a uniquely engaging study of letters and literature—celebrating both the artists who elevated writing to an expression of the divine, and the language in which they wrote.

Specifications

About the Author

280 x 215 mm (81/2 x 11 in)

Jonathan Evans is a Professor in the Department of English and the Department of Linguistics, and Director of the Medieval Studies undergraduate program, at the University of Georgia, USA. He has lectured and taught Old English language and literature, Beowulf, medieval literature, and the works of J.R.R. Tolkien since 1984, and has published articles and essays on these topics. He is the author of the published books Ents, Elves, and Eriador: The Environmental Vision of J.R.R. Tolkien (with Matthew Dickerson) and An Introduction to Old English.

224pp four color throughout plus metallic gold 200 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 45,000

100

initial s: the crucifixion The letter S is almost obscured here by the scene of the Crucifixion and the Virgin Mary with her heart pierced by a sword. The page is taken from a richly illuminated prayer book commissioned by Simon de Varie after his rise to noble rank. Books of hours were popular in the 1400s, with the rise in literacy of nobles who wished to express their piety in veneration of the Virgin. Four different artists worked on this book, most notably the internationally sought-after Jean Fouquet, who provided six artworks for a frontispiece.

162

DATE

1455

PLACE

Tours, France

BOOK

Hours of Simon de Varie

MEDIUM

Tempera colours, gold leaf, gold paint, ink

SIZE

114 × 83 mm (4 ½ × 3¼ in.)

(right) In this closely cropped detail from an Italian gradual of about 1450, depicting a key event in the conversion of St Paul, the artist uses the shape of the letter S to integrate the armoured soldiers and the imposing physical presence of their mounts.

a is for abecedar ium

People Stories

Timeline of World History

Timeline of the British Monarchy

Timeline of the Bible

Specifications

305 x 229 mm (9 x 12 in) 80pp

Wallchart: 857 x 629 mm

(243/4 x 333/4 in) 4 x fold-outs:

895 x 432 mm (17 x 351/4 in)

200 illustrations approx

Timeline of Ancient Mythology

Timeline of Ancient Egypt

Timeline of American History

Specifications

305 x 229 mm (9 x 12 in) 80pp

Wallchart: 857 x 629 mm

(243/4 x 333/4 in) 4 x fold-outs:

895 x 432 mm (17 x 351/4 in)

200 illustrations approx

102

People Stories

Viewfinders: Colosseum Peepshow Panorama & Book

Inspired by the artistic heritage begun in 1730 by the German engraver and publisher, Martin Engelbrecht, and developed during the 1800s throughout Europe as handmade paper concertinas that could fit into a pocket, these delightful paper peepshows continue the charming tradition of transporting the viewer into other worlds. Victorian peepshows depicted not only coronations, grand exhibitions, and great feats of engineering, but also distant cities, tourist landmarks, and historic events. Now children can marvel at gladiators fighting in the Colosseum, knights banqueting in a medieval castle, priests guarding an Egyptian temple, or Elizabethan actors performing in Shakespeare’s Globe. Tucked into the slipcase will also be an illustrated book providing the historical context to each unfolding scene.

Specifications

About the Author

Slipcase: 127 x 192 mm (71/2 x 5 in)

Mark Bergin studied at Eastbourne College of Art in East Sussex, UK, and specializes in historical reconstructions, aviation, and maritime subjects. In 2020, he served as the technical judge on the Daily Mail Weekend Magazine’s Britain in Spring painting competition.

Book: 122 x 187 mm (71/4 x 43/4 in) 48pp four color throughout 60 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 6,000

103

THE POWER OF WORDS

The Illustrated Etymologicon 10th Anniversary Edition A Circular Stroll Through the Hidden Connections of the English Language The clues hidden in words, and the secret connections they reveal, can lead us on the most compelling of historical treasure hunts, transporting us on a grand tour of the linguistic landscapes of the past that we might return with an entirely new view on the world. In his bestselling The Illustrated Etymologicon, renowned wordsmith Mark Forsyth leads us through the labyrinth of our own language, dropping words and names like breadcrumbs that we might pick up en route through a collection of idiosyncratic, irreverent, and irresistible facts. This 10th anniversary edition is illuminated by lavish typography and metallic ink, with playful collage illustrations and a trail of visual clues to celebrate the wit and wordplay with which this much-loved classic joins the dots in our language.

Specifications

About the Author

220 x 170 mm (63/4 x 83/4 in)

Mark Forsyth is a London-based blogger and author whose books have made him one of the UK’s best-known commentators on words. He was given a copy of the Oxford English Dictionary as a christening present and, whether as a proofreader or copywriter, he has always worked and played with words. Mark started his blog, The Inky Fool, in 2009 and today it receives an average of 4,000 hits per week. It spawned The Etymologicon, a Sunday Times Number One bestseller.

320pp two color with metallic ink 150 illustrations approx Estimated word count: 66,000

104

The Power of Words

Greek for Geeks An Odyssey Through Letters, Language, and Myth

In the age of Wordle and other online games of wit and wordplay, there is huge popular interest in the origins and meanings of our words and language. Greek for Geeks presents an etymological odyssey for word nerds that sets off in pursuit of the Greek letters, language, and mythology hidden within our modern vocabulary and our literature, philosophy, astronomy, and geometry. From omicron to polygon, from ecology to tragedy, and in the letterforms of our alphabet, the Greek language is at the center of (and describes) our universe. Proceeding through topics linked by word connections, punctuated by episodes from The Odyssey, and adorned with a myriad of illustrations, this is a joyous linguistic journey that shows how discovering your Greek roots can metamorphose your vocabulary … and your wordplay.

Specifications

About the Author

220 x 170 mm (6¾ x 8¾ in)

Viv Croot is the author of Troy: Homer’s Iliad Retold, and many other published titles, and a writer with particular interest in popularizing specialist subjects through a distinctive blend of humor and scholarly research. Her fascination with the literature of classical Greece focuses on The Iliad and The Odyssey, and their influence on the Western literary tradition. Viv has a degree in English Literature and Language, and a lifelong passion for words, wordplay, crosswords, and word games, which is currently finding expression in a Wordle addiction. She lives in Suffolk, England.

224pp two color + metallic 100 Illustrations approx Estimated word count: 45,000

� IS FOR O�

Each Phoenician letter was a word that began with the sound of that letter. This is alep, meaning ox.

106

Greek for Geeks

Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and therefore, by descent through Etruscan and Latin systems, has become ours. Big A is a strong, confident, thrusting affair, striking the wide-legged power stance beloved of alpha males everywhere. Just who you want to lead your alphabet.

90°

The Greeks did not invent A. They adapted it from the Phoenicians, who themselves finessed it from an early Egyptian hieroglyph that was, literally, an image of the head of an ox. The Hebrew letter A follows the same route, with a detour via Aramaic. The Hebrew letter aleph, also meaning ox, blended the Phoenician letterform with Aramaic alaph (meaning, need it be said, ox) to produce this elegant version.

A pattern is emerging. This is fehu, the first rune of the Futhark alphabet, devised in northern Europe around the 3rd century CE. It means, of course, ox.

Observe that all versions riff on the basic ‘three sticks’ construction. The Phoenician and Runic versions look a bit like K or F and as if they would wobble in a high wind. The Greeks, being of practical and scientific turn, heaved the symbol 90 degrees over to produce an inverted V that stood stolidly on its own two feet, and braced it for good measure with a cross bar. It’s still three sticks but now strong, stable and practically immobile. A bit like an ox.

No one knows why the Phoenicians, who started all this, put their A at the front of their alphabet system (although it does make sense to put the ox in front of the plough). The Greeks, along with everybody else, followed on behind. Alpha is used in maths, astronomy, biology and the International Phonetic Alphabet. It is synonymous with the first and best in every class and category. Odysseus was an undisputed alpha male: warrior, king, tactician, inventor of the Trojan Horse – a modern, flawed hero. He didn’t want to fight the Trojan War, so pretended he was mad by hitching his plough to an ox and a donkey instead of two oxen, indicating insanity. It didn’t work.

THE EUCLIDEAN �LPH�BET

The Greeks did not invent the alphabet. They adapted it from the Phoenician model, first developed around 1850 BCE, and the Greek version was not in full production until the 8th century BCE. It had 24 letters, and still does, but the Ancient Greeks did not use lower case, probably because they scratched away with styli on rather unforgiving material such as stone, wood, ivory, parchment, wax tablets or thick papyrus. It’s not easy to be cursive with nothing but a sharp stick. The lower case or minuscule script, for both Greek and Roman letters, was developed in the 11th century to make it easier for medieval scholars to write faster and hit scriptorium deadlines.

Little alpha arrived a couple of millennia after its parent A, and was devised by medieval scholars; if you squint, it does look a bit like the bulge of a bull’s eye.

A is for Ox

Greek for Geeks

The Euclidean Alphabet

The Power of Words

The World Atlas of Language Past, Present, and Future

The capacity for language, spoken or signed, is unique to Homo sapiens. In many ways, the story of the world’s languages is the story of human culture. The World Atlas of Language is a marvelously illustrated exploration of languages around the world, including those that are endangered and those that are coming into being. Supported by photography, maps, and bespoke graphics, it charts the emergence and evolution of language; explores the ways in which languages have been, and continue to be, transported and transformed by the migrations and contacts of peoples across the world; and asks whether machines will ever engage in true linguistic communication. Taking a global outlook and an interdisciplinary approach, the Atlas explores not only spoken languages, but sign languages and written communication—from the birth of writing as a bookkeeping tool to the ubiquity of social media and emojis.

Specifications

About the Author

280 x 215 mm (81/2 x 11 in)

Salikoko S. Mufwene, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, is the Edward Carson Waller Distinguished Service Professor of Linguistics at the University of Chicag, USA. He is also a Professor in the Department of Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity, on the Committee on Evolutionary Biology, on the Committee on the Conceptual and Historical Studies of Science, and on the Committee on African Studies. His current research is in evolutionary linguistics, which he approaches from an ecological perspective, focuses on the emergence of language and how languages have been affected by colonization and world-wide globalization. He brings into all this fresh African, Africanist, and creolist perspectives, having published a great deal in African and creole linguistics. Mufwene is the founding editor of Cambridge Approaches to Language Contact and a co-founder of Cambridge Elements in Language Contact. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in May 2022 and to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in April 2023.

288pp four color throughout 120+ images Estimated word count: 55,000

107

Keep in touch as we’d love to hear from you: info@unipressbooks.com www.unipressbooks.com @UniPress Books

@UniPressBooks

For foreign rights enquiries, please contact Nicole Kemble: nicole.kemble@unipressbooks.com

Above: Terra Ferna: Lessons in Survival from Earth’s Most Adaptable Plants