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This was a fascinating book exploring the scientific misconceptions and flawed research around gender and women. The book tracks the different research around women from birth, fertility to old age. I was shocked to learn that Darwin thought that all women had evolved to have inferior intelligence, I understand he lived in a different era but it's disappointing to learn he had such primitive ideas around women. I also thought it was interesting that research is now recognizing that the brain is plastic and changeable, and not fixed like previously thought. I did feel frustrated that so many scientists believed that men have larger brains because they are more intelligent, rather than brains are proportional to body size, which is more obvious. Overall, this was a wonderful and well researcher book, pulling apart flawed research relating to gender. I would recommend this book to all scientists, STEM students, feminists, and anyone who wants the facts to dismiss scientific claims used to support sexism.
This was a fascinating book, and I had no idea the history and current state of TB was so complex. I, like many people, think of TB as a disease of the past, something in a Dickens novel. I was also amazed to learn about the interplay between diabetes and TB, and HIV and TB. I found this book an interesting look at an often overlooked disease, and it really helped bring to light some of the challenges in eradicating this disease.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in infectious diseases, tropical diseases, poverty and development work, biologists, trainee doctors and anyone else interested in infections like TB.
This was a beautiful and well-written book, capturing the highs and lows of searching for elusive butterflies throughout the UK. It was fascinating to understand how each butterfly prefers a specific time of year and specific weather conditions and plants, and all these factors make it a huge challenge to try and plan to find them. Before this book, I thought butterflies were pretty but I had not appreciated their lives and distinct habits. Another impact this book had was to show the distinct habitats and plants the butterflies rely on, and how these unique habitats need to be maintained if we want to prevent these butterflies from becoming extinct.
Reading this book I realised how little I knew about butterflies and their fascinating lives, I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in nature and wildlife, conservation or butterflies in general.
What an amazing book and a fascinating life. Frank Buckland led a fascinating life and his contributions to science are sadly mostly forgotten. From naming coprolites to revolutionising the commercial fishing industry, along with numerous scientific discoveries in multiple fields, his passion for science is clear from the first page. Frank clearly was a curious mind seeking answers to how the world works. I found this book fascinating, filled with quotes from his extensive writings, my only criticism would be that the second half was a little dry and repetitive, focusing mostly on salmon fisheries. However this is an biography of an incredible life and his later years were mostly focused on sustainable fisheries, where he was highly influential and created a lasting influence. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in eccentric Victorians, historic scientists or anyone working in the field of biology or life sciences.
This book was fascinating, but I would say it’s not designed for a very general reader, as it does rely on some understanding of mathematic principles. Some concepts left me confused, and I didn’t really understand the finger multiplication section, but it was fascinating.
This is a wonderful book likely to spark the reader’s curiosity, and really brings mathematics alive. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in mathematics, statistics, or anyone in the STEM field.
This is a lovely book focusing on Kate Humble's passion for the countryside and country life. It is a wonderful journey through the trials and tribulations of preserving farming life and what it involved to be a modern smallholder. This is a lovely quick-read for anyone interested in farming, nature or the countryside. This book would be ideal for anyone who enjoys Countryfile or is considering moving to the country.
This is a beautiful book, exploring the stories of the many forgotten women fighting for recognition in both science and in the voting booth in the period around the First World War. This book highlights their contribution to science, and their victories and the set-backs. At times I found it overwhelming the number of different names and brief stories, but no book could recount all women’s contributions in depth, and to overlook some in favor of exploring others in more depth is a difficult balance to achieve. I found so many women’s stories compelling and wanting to know more about their life, but so little exists about these women. This is a wonderful book, at times it did seem a little repetitive or dry, but it tells incredible histories of women fighting for independence, education and recognition. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in women’s suffrage and to anyone working in science.
