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Title: Darwin's Theory of Evolution: A New Critique

Subtitle: Humans, Natural Selection, and Competition

Author: Thomas Winterbottom

Narrator: Johnnie C. Hayes

Format: Unabridged

Length: 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-18-17

Publisher: Thomas F. Winterbottom

Genres: Science & Technology, Biology

Publisher's Summary:

This work is an examination of Darwin's theory of evolution, in particular his belief in competition as the driving force behind human development.

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Title: The Wasp That Brainwashed the Caterpillar

Subtitle: Evolution's Most Unbelievable Solutions to Life's Biggest Problems

Author: Matt Simon

Narrator: Jonathan Todd Ross

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-09-17

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Biology

Publisher's Summary:

From the man behind the popular Wired series "Absurd Creature of the Week", a fun, fascinating collection of unique animals and the unbelievable evolutionary traits they use to survive the most extreme scenarios.

The Wasp That Brainwashed the Caterpillar is an absurdist, comical romp through evolution's weirdest solutions to - appropriately enough - the hazards that evolution itself produces. Each original entry talks about a creature and its amazing adaptation, using Matt Simon's signature blend of scientific accuracy and humor that has made his Wired column and accompanying web show so popular.

The creatures themselves are absolutely mind-blowing, with zombie ants mind-controlled by a fungus; beautiful salamanders that can regenerate any part of their bodies including their brains; the mantis shrimp, which fires its club-like appendage so fast that the surrounding water becomes as hot as the surface of the sun; the Antechinus, whose runaway testosterone levels cause them to have so much sex during their three-week mating session that they bleed internally, go blind, and drop dead; and many more.

Members Reviews:

Very enjoyable and well written

Who ever said science is boring and too complicated should learn from this author.

Probably the most enjoyable book about evolution and biology I have listened to. What an amazing thing life is, and this book opens your eyes to the wonders around us. Don't be fooled, while it is perfect to engage a younger person with its wit and easy to understand conveyance, it is detailed enough even for those that like depth.

Highly recommended, especially for the young people that don't understand how a subject like this can be fascinating and enjoyable.

Fun book

Great book. Lots of good info especially for someone just getting in to entomology. The guy makes lots of goofy jokes but it's bearable and some are actually funny.

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Title: The Forgetting Machine

Subtitle: Memory, Perception, and the "Jennifer Aniston Neuron"

Author: Rodrigo Quian Quiroga

Narrator: Dan Woren

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-03-17

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Biology

Publisher's Summary:

If we lose our memories, are we still ourselves? Is identity merely a collection of electrical impulses? What separates us from animals, or from computers?

From Plato to Westworld, these questions have fascinated and befuddled philosophers, artists, and scientists for centuries. In The Forgetting Machine, neuroscientist Rodrigo Quiroga explains how the mechanics of memory illuminates these discussions, with implications for everything from understanding Alzheimer's disease to the technology of artificial intelligence.

You'll also learn about the research behind what Quiroga coined "Jennifer Aniston neurons" - cells in the human brain that are responsible for representing specific concepts, such as recognizing a certain celebrity's face. The discovery of these neurons opens new windows into the workings of human memory.

In this accessible, fascinating look at the science of remembering, you'll learn how we turn perceptions into memories, how language shapes our experiences, and the crucial role forgetting plays in human recollection. You'll see how electricity, chemistry, and abstraction combine to form something more than the human brain - the human mind. And you'll gain surprising insight into what our brains can tell us about who we are.

The Forgetting Machine takes us on a journey through science and science fiction, philosophy, and identity, using what we know about how we remember (and forget) to explore the very roots of what makes us human.

Members Reviews:

Amorphous Memory

Neuroscientist Rodrigo Quiroga beguiles the reader with his fascinating accounts of how our very fallible memory machine attempts to function. In a series of nine short but absorbing chapters, much of the mystery of how the memory works is plainly described and illustrated. The writing is aimed toward the general audience with the intent to interest the lay reader in the dynamic ongoing research in neurobiology. Transversing the thoughts of how the mind and memory functions from ancient times to contemporary views, Plato, Aristotle, Simonides, Locke among others put in an appearance.. More recent work by Luria, Ebbinghaus, Bartlett, Loftus are a few who delve into the nature and unpredictability of memory. How memory is stored, retained, enhanced, along with details of the different types of memory serve as a background guide for the reader. The Jennifer Aniston Neuron that is part of the title is a new finding of a neuron located in the hippocampus that is capable of reacting to a concept. This area still requires clarification. While science fiction appears to transcend into modern reality, the final chapter deals with the distinction between androids and humans. It must be remembered that we are nothing but our memories.

The Forgetting Machine

The Forgetting Machine by Rodrigo Quian Quiroga is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in early October.

Unfortunately, Quiroga writes in more of a lit/research review style than really telling us all something new about cognitive psychology, neuroscience, memory, visual acuity, a human's capacity for intelligence, and the advent of android thought.

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Title: The Birds Our Teachers

Author: John R. W. Stott

Narrator: Destiny Image Audio

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-07-17

Publisher: Candle Books

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Biology

Publisher's Summary:

In this volume the author expands on Martin Luther's exhortation from the Sermon on the Mount, "Let the little birds be your theologians".

He reveals lessons on faith from the feeding of ravens, on repentance from the migration of storks, on freedom from the flight of the eagle. He combines information about birds with biblical truths and personal anecdotes.

Members Reviews:

Very satisfied!

Wonderful, as expected!

Great bok for my study

Great

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Title: Bee Time

Subtitle: Lessons from the Hive

Author: Mark L. Winston

Narrator: Fajer Al-Kaisi

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-23-17

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Biology

Publisher's Summary:

Being among bees is a full-body experience, Mark Winston writes. Bee Time presents his reflections on three decades spent studying these remarkable creatures, and on the lessons they can teach about how humans might better interact with one another and the natural world, from the boardroom to urban design to agricultural ecosystems.

Members Reviews:

Although there a many bee books out there, and ...

Although there a many bee books out there, and, as a beekeeper, I've read many of them, "Bee Time" stands out among them. Mark Winston has a deep understanding of the essence of our relationship with the bees. He writes with a reverence and perspective that could only come from many years of exposure to the issues now facing the bees and the human race. I could go on, but suffice to say that this book was a page-turner for me. Many thanks to Mark for his sincere book!

Great connections to our lives, and living in the moment.

I am a beekeeper wearing gloves with holes. Rarely bare hands, but I am encouraged to try more in the right moment. . . .

I was an avid reader in my youth, and finished every book I started. Nowadays I am a fussy reader that will drop a book in chapter two or three without any guilt. Still a bit shameful to admit it, so keep it quiet.

This book I read in a flash to the end, and even looked at the notes and references. It connects beekeeping to life, with some passages requiring reflections, just like the bees. Personally, I overlooked the minor repeats of "the canary in the coal mine." It bears repeating.

.

A good read, whether a bee keeper or not. Provokes thought in its insights to its connections to humans and art and democracy. Wow. All in one little book. . Photo is the Queen's Winter Palace in the Catskills.

Interesting perspectives on both honey bee and human communications! ...

Interesting perspectives on both honey bee and human communications! Lovely descriptions of the zen state a beekeeper sinks into when visiting the hive.

An old love affair with yet many new possibilities

Much good information on bee habits and the natural resources to support those habits-leaves much new material to be flushed out in future writingsotherother experts, especially in the area of yields of honey per hive

Inspirational and important - I want to know the beekeepers who cared for the bees that made my honey

Mark Winston is a wise man. His wisdom seems to come from his decades working with bees, his willingness to bring in perspectives from beyond science, his ability to inspire other people, and his openness to dialogue. It is fitting that he was chosen to lead Simon Fraser University's Centre for Dialogue here in Vancouver.

Bee time is time as bee keepers experience it in the apiary. It is time slowed down, where being calm, moving slowly, keeping all your senses and intelligence open is the key to not getting stung and to understanding how your bees are doing.

The book covers many important topics from colony collapse disorder to urban bee keeping and the role of feral bees in agriculture.

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Title: The Killer Whale Who Changed the World

Author: Mark Leiren-Young

Narrator: Mark Leiren-Young

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-13-17

Publisher: Perpetual Motion Productions

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Biology

Publisher's Summary:

The 2017 Science Writers and Communicators of Canada award for "best general audience book and was short-listed for the 2017 Hubert Evans Prize.

The fascinating and heartbreaking account of the first publicly exhibited captive killer whale a story that forever changed the way we see orcas and sparked the movement to save them.

Killer whales had always been seen as bloodthirsty sea monsters. That all changed when a young killer whale was captured off the west coast of North America and displayed to the public in 1964. Moby Doll as the whale became known was an instant celebrity, drawing 20,000 visitors on the one and only day he was exhibited. He died within a few months, but his famous gentleness sparked a worldwide crusade that transformed how people understood and appreciated orcas. Because of Moby Doll, we stopped fearing killers and grew to love and respect orcas.

Members Reviews:

Great book, full of facts and stories

If you love Orcas or want to know about their history with humans, you must read this book. The author digs through all kinds of primary research to give an accurate and balanced portrayal of the early days of orca-human relations. I wish he had let a professional read the book (I could only play it at 1.25x while usually I go for 1.5x when the reader is a pro). I'm more in love with and determined to save the whales than I was before reading.

Couldn't put it down.

What made the experience of listening to The Killer Whale Who Changed the World the most enjoyable?

With humour and pathos, Mark puts us in the mind of the orcas. With his muckrakers precision he documents the first contact between humans and this amazing species.

Which character as performed by Mark Leiren-Young was your favorite?

Moby Doll, the first orca displayed in captivity.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Orcas and humans - first contact

Any additional comments?

Mark's reading of his own work is precise and entertaining. He tells the suspenseful narrative with panache, wit and a journalists attention to facts.

Drove across the country, needed a book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes

If you care at all about the oceans and the life in them, this book can be eye opening and shocking. Both in good ways.

What did you like best about this story?

Learning about the society of killer whales

Have you listened to any of Mark Leiren-Youngs other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes

This one is the best.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Moby's podmember was heard crying out to Moby from the water outside where Moby was held

Very informative

This is a well researched book that's easy to understand for anyone.

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Title: Race?: Debunking a Scientific Myth

Subtitle: Texas A&M University Anthropology Series

Author: Rob DeSalle, Ian Tattersall

Narrator: Peter Lerman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-01-17

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Biology

Publisher's Summary:

Race has provided the rationale and excuse for some of the worst atrocities in human history. Yet, according to many biologists, physical anthropologists, and geneticists, there is no valid scientific justification for the concept of race. To be more precise, although there is clearly some physical basis for the variations that underlie perceptions of race, clear boundaries among "races" remain highly elusive from a purely biological standpoint. Differences among human populations that people intuitively view as "racial" are not only superficial but are also of astonishingly recent origin.

In this intriguing and highly accessible audiobook, physical anthropologist Ian Tattersall and geneticist Rob DeSalle, both senior scholars from the American Museum of Natural History, explain what human races actually are - and are not - and place them within the wider perspective of natural diversity. They explain that the relative isolation of local populations of the newly evolved human species during the last Ice Age - when Homo sapiens was spreading across the world from an African point of origin - has now begun to reverse itself, as differentiated human populations come back into contact and interbreed.

The book is published by Texas A&M University Press.

Members Reviews:

Disappointing

This book attempted to debunk the notion that human races exist. It would have been more accurately named: Species? Debunking a Scientific Myth that Human's Represent Different Species. No one doubts that humans comprise one reproducible species: sapiens. Based on their title, though, I expected the authors to argue effectively why the term race is inaccurate. They never did, only preaching that by defining humans by race opens a door to comparisons of differences, which in turn can lead to conflicts and atrocities. No new insights were offered. The title is misleading. The 11 hours and 55 minutes wasted.

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Title: Finding Gobi

Subtitle: The True Story of a Little Dog and an Incredible Journey

Author: Dion Leonard

Narrator: Brad Channer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-01-17

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Biology

Publisher's Summary:

Like A Street Cat Named Bob before it, Finding Gobi is a truly heart-warming story for animal lovers worldwide.

In 2016, Dion Leonard, a seasoned ultramarathon runner, unexpectedly stumbled across a little stray dog while competing in a gruelling 155-mil e race across the Gobi Desert. The lovable pup, who earned the name 'Gobi', proved that what she lacked in size, she more than made up for in heart, as she went step for step with Dion over the treacherous Tian Shan Mountains, managing to keep pace with him for nearly 80 miles.

As Dion witnessed the incredible determination of this small animal, he felt something change within himself. In the past he had always focused on winning and being the best, but his goal now was simply to make sure that his new friend was safe, nourished and hydrated. Although Dion did not finish first, he felt he had won something far greater and promised to bring Gobi back to the UK for good to become a new addition to his family. This was the start of a journey neither of them would ever forget with a roller coaster ride of drama, grief, heartbreak, joy and love that changed their lives forever.

Finding Gobi is the ultimate story of hope, of resilience and of friendship, proving once again, that dogs really are 'man's best friend.'

Members Reviews:

Angel Gobi

This story really touched my heart. Having been a long distance runner and having been through some difficult times in between I could relate to so much of Dion and Gobi's story! It was beautifully told and so real and sincere.

Animals can teach us so so much and are the worlds angel healers!

Until one has really loved an animal a part of ones soul remains unawakened..... Anatole France.....

Read this book! It's a life changer!

Thank you Dion and Gobi and Lucja and kitty!

Can't get enough of this story

It's so heartwarming. I remember following this story at the time it all happened. So, it's really interesting to read the book and get a better understanding of all the ins and outs. And, to learn about the different attitudes towards animals in China.

I laughed out loud at many points in this book - particularly the foot search in China, when all the volunteers were calling out for Gobi. Really well-written and read.

Given all the ups and downs I can see this becoming a film.

An absolute joy.

Astonishing. Uplifting. Perfect. Just listen and be carried along by the wonder of what is possible when you make a profound connection to humans and non-humans alike.

Wonderful story

this was the most wonderful story, if you love dogs you will love this book. I listened to it all in one day, I couldn't stop. I hope it gets made into a film too

a heartwarming tale

I loved the honesty of Dion, his struggles with his past and how meeting Gobi made him face up to them. well worth a listen.

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Title: The Hidden Lives of Owls

Subtitle: The Science and Spirit of Nature's Most Elusive Birds

Author: Leigh Calvez

Narrator: Karen White

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-23-17

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Biology

Publisher's Summary:

In this New York Times best seller, a naturalist probes the forest to comprehend the secret lives of owls. Leigh Calvez takes listeners on an adventure into the world of owls: owl-watching, avian science, and the deep forest - often in the dead of night. These birds are a bit mysterious, and that's part of what makes them so fascinating. Calvez makes the science entertaining and accessible while exploring the questions about the human-animal connection, owl obsession, habitat, owl calls, social behavior, and mythology.

Critic Reviews:

"Calvez writes with feeling and is obviously in awe of these mysterious creatures." (Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

Good data, very evocative

The data about the subject was current, thorough, and extremely well researched. I like everything about the book very much. The author delved into anthropomorphism towards the end, although I admit I would have done the same in her circumstance. Good read.

Terrible narrator, book might be great otherwise

The most stilted narrator ever! Can't be improved by increasing playback speed to 1.25x. Very disappointing since I really like owls and natural history books in general.

good reporting

I learned much, despite issues with the writer's style. Overlook the cliches, the anthropomorphisms, the vapid asides and the general flatness of the writing and you will enjoy this book.

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Title: Biology Fundamentals

Author: IntroBooks

Narrator: Andrea Giordani

Format: Unabridged

Length: 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-16-17

Publisher: IntroBooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Biology

Publisher's Summary:

The fundamentals of biology beam its searchlight on all the basic principles contained in various aspects of life sciences, like recombinant DNA, genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry. Via the in-depth study of these principles, humans can adequately understand all the basic mechanisms that life entails and then find an anchor for his biological thinking and knowledge, which are all required for full understanding of the various challenges humans encounter in day-to-day lives. These challenges vary from problems with human environmental quality, loss of biodiversity, diseases, and health.

The basic chemical structures of living things relate a great deal to their physical structure. Various cell processes come to play also to give the human being its structure and function as seen on the exterior. Cellular organizations are equally essential, ensuring one cell functions in its place without unwanted interference with another cell and its function. Living processes depend heavily on various metabolic processes, and these processes occur in animals and plants.