by Ruth Winter
Asking About Life by Allan J. Tobin and Jennie Dusheck (NASW) published
by Saunders College Publishing (Harcourt Brace).
An introductory biology textbook, it is a significant departure from the
conventional science-as-fact approach to teaching biology. The book tells
stories about how biologists answer questions in a way that teaches students
both the general processes by which science advances and the specific philosophical
and experimental underpinnings for our current understanding of biology.
The paradox at the heart of this textbook is that, over time, scientists
with the same powerful biases as other people can agree on a common truth.
Dusheck says the book has a particularly current genetics section, for example,
with stories of the works of David Botstein, Rosalind Franklin, Barbara
McClintock, Kay Mullis and others. Each chapter begins with a story that
emphasizes how both personal qualities and political and social environment
can advance or hinder a scientist’s work. Students learn, for example,
that some of the most important advances came despite the best efforts of
the Spanish Inquisition and that at least one 16th century anatomist was
burned at the stake. Dusheck can be reached by phone at 408-427-1391; by
e-mail at clipons@aol.com.
The Nature of Chicago by Isabel Abrams (NASW) published by Chicago
Review Press.
When you think of Chicago, do you think of the great outdoors? If you are
a natural history buff, this book will tell you where to look for ancient
lakeshores, native forests, bogs, fens, the remnants of glaciers and more.
If you love to play out of doors, you will find new places to fish, swim,
canoe, hike, toboggan, or watch the sun set. Wildlife sanctuaries, zoos,
arboretums, the aquarium, nature museums and nature preserves are all included.
Abrams is cofounder of Caretakers of the Environment International. In her
books, she shows adults and children how to discover the really wild side
of Chicago. Abrams can be reached at 847-251-8935. For a review copy, contact
Chicago Review Press at 1-800-888-4741.
At The Mercy of Strangers by Suzanne Loebl (NASW) published by
Pacifica Press.
Though not dealing directly with science, this book goes right to the heart.
Loebl, author of Nurses’ Drug Book and The Columbia-Presbyterian
Osteoarthritis Handbook, among others, has two voices in this autobiography.
We hear her as the harassed, frightened, gutsy, and bored adolescent whose
diary was her only true confidant. We hear her as the mature woman recalling
the years from the safety of post-war America. After fleeing Germany for
what they believed was the safety of Belgium, her family was forced to go
into hiding. She writes: “I never regretted having grown up on the
edge of the Holocaust. The experience not only left me a stronger, more
compassionate human being, but, strange as it may sound, provided me with
a deep faith in humanity. Though I have much evidence to the contrary, I
believe that often, when you have your back against the wall, somebody out
there comes to the rescue.” Loebl may be reached by phone and FAX at:
718-875-2622.
Generation React: Activism for Beginners by Danny Seo, published
by Ballantine.
At the age of 12, Danny Seo gathered a handful of kids and founded Earth
2000, a national environmental and animal rights activist group. There are
now 20,000 members of tenacious teenage crusaders. From convincing more
than 4000 stores to stop selling fur to guiding a statewide Pennsylvania
law allowing students the right to refuse animal dissections, Earth 2000
and Seo have demonstrated the skills and consumer clout to make a real difference.
Now 20 years old, Seo has written a book to help young people to make a
difference through volunteerism or active social change. The PR for the
book is Alisa Weinstein at 212-572-2389 and by FAX at 212-572-2676.
Our intrepid Bob Finn has established a great new benefit for members who are authors. The NASW Science Bookstore is open for business—to members and non-members alike—at http://nasw.org/bookstor.htm. We are associated with the Amazon.com web site (http://www.amazon.com), which claims to be the largest bookstore on the planet. When you select a book using one of the special links on our Bookstore page, Amazon.com will handle your order. Most books we recommend are sold at at a 20% to 30% discount from the publisher’s price. All these books are shipped Priority Mail, and are sold with the Amazon.com money-back guarantee. Any additional outlets for members’ books is an advantage.
Amazon.com takes great care to protect the security and privacy of all orders. For further information on this see http://nasw.org/amazsec.htm.
We will be happy to list books by any NASW member on the Bookstore page. If you are an NASW member and wish to have your book listed, first go to Amazon.com and ensure that your book is available there. Then send e-mail to the NASW Cybrarian (cybrarian@nasw.org) with ALL of the following information: the book’s ISBN number (or numbers if it is out in both hardcover and paperback); its full bibliographic citation, including title, subtitle, publisher, year of publication, and the author’s name as you wish it to appear; and a two- or three-sentence description.
I believe that the NASW Bookstore is a significant new benefit of NASW membership. Not only is it a new way for NASW members to market their books, it also benefits the association as a whole. The NASW receives a small percentage of total sales from Amazon.com.
Bob Finn can be reached at: National Association of Science Writers cybrarian@nasw.org or <http://nasw.org/