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In Design in Nature: How the Constructal Law Governs Evolution in Biology, Physics, Technology, and Social Organization, takes the recurring patterns in nature--trees, tributaries, air passages, neural networks, and lightning bolts--and reveals how a single principle of physics, the Constructal Law, accounts for the evolution of these and all other designs in our world.
Everything--from biological life to inanimate systems--generates shape and structure and evolves in a sequence of ever-improving designs in order to facilitate flow. River basins, cardiovascular systems, and bolts of lightning are very efficient flow systems to move a current--of water, blood, or electricity. Likewise, the more complex architecture of animals evolve to cover greater distance per unit of useful energy, or increase their flow across the land. Such designs also appear in human organizations, like the hierarchical "flowcharts" or reporting structures in corporations and political bodies.
All are governed by the same principle, known as the Constructal Law, and configure and reconfigure themselves over time to flow more efficiently. Written in an easy style that achieves clarity without sacrificing complexity, Design in Nature is a paradigm-shifting book that will fundamentally transform our understanding of the world around us.
Categories: New Releases, Book of the DayLes Tres Riches Heures de Mrs. Mole is a touching book. There is almost no text in it at all yet the drawings are no less profound for their silence.
On New Year's Eve 1969, Monica Searle was diagnosed with a rare and virulent form of breast cancer. Each time she underwent treatment, produced a Mrs Mole drawing 'to cheer every dreaded chemotherapy session and evoke the blissful future ahead'. Filled with light and illuminated in glowing colours, the drawings speak of love, optimism and hope. Like the medieval illuminated manuscripts such as the 15th-century Les Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, to which the title of this book refers, the 47 drawings are on an intimate scale and were never intended for publication. The story of Monica's survival against the odds and the part played by the encouragement of her husband will move many people who have either experienced cancer for themselves or been affected through a close family member or friend.
The drawings in this book are truly moving. I encourage you to have a look when you get a chance.
Categories: New Releases, Book of the Day
Some very prestigious kids and teen awards were announced this weekend.
The John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature went to Dead End in Norvelt.
The Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children went to A Ball for Daisy, illustrated and written by .
Finally, the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults went to Where Things Come Back, written by .
Amongst the Printz Honor books are Why We Broke Up by , which was featured in our most recent newsletter, and The Scorpio Races by , which our Be First Club absolutely loved.For a full listing of more ALA award winners and honor books, see the ALA press release.
Congratulations to all the authors involved!
Categories: Awards, buzz, Publishing News
In The Other Walk, looks through his own life and at the lives of his children in a series of autobiographical pieces. This engaging collection of essays, by a master of reflection and slow time, presents the humblest objects -- remembered places, lost-objects-found -- that trigger his keen eye and sinuous prose. But the most winning object of all is the emerging character of Birkerts himself. We learn great respect for the loyal friend, the caring father, the traveller, the one-time bookseller, the writer, and throughout it all, the attentive, passionate reader.
Categories: New Releases, Book of the Day
In the latest installment of CBC Manitoba SCENE's talks with the presenters at our Canada Reads, Manitoba Style evening next Wednesday, Head Assiniboine Park Zoo vet Dr. Chris Enright tracks John Vaillant's The Tiger.
Visit the SCENE website to read the article.
For more information on the event itself, click here.
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