Mind, Life, and Universe: Conversations with Great Scientists of Our Time (Sciencewriters) - Hardcover

Nearly forty of the world's most esteemed scientists discuss the big questions that drive their illustrious careers. Coeditor Eduardo Punset—one of Spain's most loved personages for his popularization of the sciences— interviews an impressive collection of characters, drawing out their seldom-seen personalities. In Mind, Life and Universe, they describe in their own words the most important and fascinating aspects of their research. Frank and often irreverent, these interviews will keep even the most casual reader of science books rapt for hours.
Can brain science explain feelings of happiness and despair? Is it true that chimpanzees are just like us when it comes to sexual innuendo? Is there any hard evidence that life exists anywhere other than on the Earth? Through Punset's skillful questioning, readers meet one scientist who spends her waking hours assuring the freedom of African primates, another passionate about his idea that his wife's choice of husband was determined when she was a fetus, and another who explains the evidence for more than the standard four dimensions of length, width, height, and time.
In captivating conversations with such science luminaries as Richard Dawkins, Sheldon Glashow, Jane Goodall, James E. Lovelock, Lisa Randall, Robert Sapolski, Oliver Sacks, and E. O.Wilson, the editors reveal a unique, hidden world of intellectual interest, verve, and humor. Science enthusiasts and general readers alike will devour Mind, Life and Universe.

Motorcycling Across Ohio: A Guide by William Murphy covers the ground, high and low, top to bottom, in this ambitious guide for the adventurous motorcyclist. Ohio, located in the heart of the nation, is also the heart of the nation’s history and Bill points out hundreds of historic sites, museums, and monuments all on the backroads. Bill purposely devised tours that take the rider down these history-filled roads that started out as trails, such as the Sandusky Trail, the Bullskin Trace, Hull’s Trace, and more. Each Chapter has a theme such as Following the Water, which includes routes titled The Great River Road, Lake Eire Tour, The Lake Eire Scenic Byway, and Cayahoga Valley Canals Murphy’s explains his enthusiasm and philosophy for wandering: “I suppose there is a bit of a Kerouac-like romanticism and searching for the meaning of life in most motorcyclists. As was the case with Jack Kerouac in his essay, “On The Road,” motorcyclists today also seek and enjoy the adventure that being on the road brings. Whether a teenager on a crotch rocket or septuagenarians on full dressers, every biker finds adventure by being on the road while at the same time satisfying a hard-to-explain need to explore beyond familiar horizons, be they physical or mental.” Maps, mileage charts, and an appendix filled with emergency phone numbers, major hotel and motel phone numbers, motorcycle repair shops and dealers, and a few pages of fun local rides, makes this compendium indispensable for the back road tourist, either on two wheels or four. William Murphy has been riding Ohio roads for 27 years. His previous book, Motorcycling Across Michigan (Arbutus Press, 2005) is in its second edition.