February 2012
Check out some titles new to the store:

The Hidden Reality:
Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos
Brian Greene    $16.95    Paperback

There was a time when "universe" meant all there is. Everything. Yet, in recent years discoveries in physics and cosmology have led a number of scientists to conclude that our universe may be one among many. With crystal-clear prose and inspired use of analogy, Brian Greene shows how a range of different "multiverse" proposals emerges from theories developed to explain the most refined observations of both subatomic particles and the dark depths of space: a multiverse in which you have an infinite number of doppelgangers, each reading this sentence in a distant universe; a multiverse comprising a vast ocean of bubble universes, of which ours is but one; a multiverse that endlessly cycles through time, or one that might be hovering millimeters away yet remains invisible; another in which every possibility allowed by quantum physics is brought to life. Or, perhaps strangest of all, a multiverse made purely of math. Greene, one of our foremost physicists and science writers, takes us on a captivating exploration of these parallel worlds and reveals how much of reality's true nature may be deeply hidden within them. And, with his unrivaled ability to make the most challenging of material accessible and entertaining, Greene tackles the core question: How can fundamental science progress if great swaths of reality lie beyond our reach?

The Language Wars: A History of Proper English
Henry Hitchings    $28.00    Hardcover

The English language is a battlefield. Since the age of Shakespeare, arguments over correct usage have been bitter, and have always really been about contesting values—morality, politics, and class. The Language Wars examines the present state of the conflict, its history, and its future. Above all, it uses the past as a way of illuminating the present. Moving chronologically, the book explores the most persis¬tent issues to do with English and unpacks the history of "proper" us¬age. Where did these ideas spring from? Who has been on the front lines in the language wars? The Language Wars examines grammar rules, regional accents, swearing, spelling, dictionaries, political correctness, and the role of electronic media in reshaping language. It also takes a look at such de¬tails as the split infinitive, elocution, and text messaging. Peopled with intriguing characters such as Jonathan Swift, Lewis Carroll, and Lenny Bruce, The Language Wars is an essential volume for anyone interested in the state of the English language today or its future.

Briefly Mentioned:

Man Swarm and the Killing of Widlife
Dave Foreman     $10.00    Paperback

Radical environmentalist, one of the founders of Earth First, Dave Foreman argues that the human population explosion is what is driving the current environmental crises.

The Mind's Own Physician:
A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama on the Healing Power of Meditation
Edited by John Kabat-Zinn     $24.95    Hardcover

A fascinating conversation at the intersection of science and the contemplative traditions, the book discusses how meditation benefits practitioners from a medical and psychological perspective.

Becoming Animal: An Earthly Cosmology
David Abram     $16.95     Paperback

This popular book (previously mentioned in this newsletter) is now out in trade paperback. Rejoice!

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