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The Mammoth Book of Special Ops (Mammoth Books #359)
by Richard Russell LawrenceInto the eye of danger with the men who put the 'special' in special forcesThe once shadowy activities of special forces have grown into an increasingly exposed element of 21st century warfare and anti-terrorist activity. Here, in one giant unputdownable volume, are 30 of the most dangerous special operations of modern times.Drawn from the flashpoints of the world, and above all Iraq and Afghanistan, these first-hand and reported accounts of missions by the SAS, Delta Force, Green Beret, Commandos and other forces will leave you on the edge of your seat.The accounts include: Blackhawk Down - the US Delta forces debacle in Mogadishu, Somalia, 1993 British Special forces fight Al Qaeda at close quarters in Afghanistan 2003 Task Force Raider - US Special forces teams track down Saddam Hussein, 2003 The British 'Blackhawk Down' - Paras shoot their way out of trouble in Majar, Iraq 2003 The capture of insurgent leader Chemical Evil Fat Mama, Fallujah, November 2003
Mammoth Dawn
by Kevin J. Anderson Gregory BenfordExtinction is not permanent. Not anymore. Multi-millionaire researcher Alex Pierce has developed cutting-edge genetic techniques to extract viable DNA from preserved samples of breathtaking species that humans have erased from the Earth. From passenger pigeons and Tasmanian tigers, to Pleistocene dire wolves and sabretooths…even the humble dodo. The cornerstone of Alex’s dream is to resurrect the woolly mammoth. Majestic and massive, these creatures no longer roam the world, driven to extinction by ancient hunters. At his isolated Pleistocene Ranch in the wilds of Montana, Alex has actually bred the very first mammoth to walk the Earth in 10,000 years. But there are those who believe what is extinct should remain extinct, and that any tampering goes against the laws of nature. And their fervor may be far stronger than Alex’s dreams. Mammoth Dawn is the original acclaimed novella written by New York Times bestseller and Hugo and Nebula Award nominee Kevin J. Anderson and multiple Hugo and Nebula winner Gregory Benford; this volume also includes their detailed chapter-by-chapter treatment of the full novel the two authors originally envisioned, as well as a non-fiction overview of current scientific attempts to clone mammoths—a reality that may be much closer than you think.
Mammoth Science: The Big Ideas That Explain Our World (DK David Macaulay How Things Work)
by DKDavid Macaulay's troupe of curious mammoths lead you through the basics of physics, biology, and chemistry in this unconventional and highly original guide to science.From the interior of an atom to the solar system and beyond, the mammoths seek to understand the science! These intrepid science demonstrators will go to incredible lengths to educate and entertain. They wrestle with magnets to understand their powerful force, make mammoth models of different materials explore what gives them mass, and step into an X-ray machine to reveal the bones beneath their woolly exterior.Observing and recording the mammoth's behavior is bestselling illustrator David Macaulay, whose How Machines Work won the Royal Society Young People's Book Prize in 2016. Renowned for his ability to explain complex ideas with simple genius, Macaulay captures the oddball humor of his subject matter, making Macaulay's Mammoth Science the perfect introduction to scientific principles for the young and the young-at-heart.
A Man and His Ship: America's Greatest Naval Architect and His Quest to Build the S.S. United States
by Steven UjifusaTHE STORY OF A GREAT AMERICAN BUILDER At the peak of his power, in the 1940s and 1950s, William Francis Gibbs was considered America's best naval architect. His quest to build the finest, fastest, most beautiful ocean liner of his time, the S.S. United States, was a topic of national fascination. When completed in 1952, the ship was hailed as a technological masterpiece at a time when "made in America" meant the best. Gibbs was an American original, on par with John Roebling of the Brooklyn Bridge and Frank Lloyd Wright of Fallingwater. Forced to drop out of Harvard following his family's sudden financial ruin, he overcame debilitating shyness and lack of formal training to become the visionary creator of some of the finest ships in history. He spent forty years dreaming of the ship that became the S.S. United States. William Francis Gibbs was driven, relentless, and committed to excellence. He loved his ship, the idea of it, and the realization of it, and he devoted himself to making it the epitome of luxury travel during the triumphant post-World War II era. Biographer Steven Ujifusa brilliantly describes the way Gibbs worked and how his vision transformed an industry. A Man and His Ship is a tale of ingenuity and enterprise, a truly remarkable journey on land and sea.
The Man Behind The Microchip: Robert Noyce And The Invention Of Silicon Valley
by Leslie BerlinHailed as the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford of Silicon Valley, Robert Noyce was a brilliant inventor, a leading entrepreneur, and a daring risk taker who piloted his own jets and skied mountains accessible only by helicopter. Now, in The Man Behind the Microchip, Leslie Berlin captures not only this colorful individual but also the vibrant interplay of technology, business, money, politics, and culture that defines Silicon Valley. Here is the life of a high-tech industry giant. The co-founder of Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel, Noyce co-invented the integrated circuit, the electronic heart of every modern computer, automobile, cellular telephone, advanced weapon, and video game. With access to never-before-seen documents, Berlin paints a fascinating portrait of Noyce: an ambitious and intensely competitive multimillionaire who exuded a "just folks" sort of charm, a Midwestern preacher's son who rejected organized religion but would counsel his employees to "go off and do something wonderful," a man who never looked back and sometimes paid a price for it. In addition, this vivid narrative sheds light on Noyce's friends and associates, including some of the best-known managers, venture capitalists, and creative minds in Silicon Valley. Berlin draws upon interviews with dozens of key players in modern American business--including Andy Grove, Steve Jobs, Gordon Moore, and Warren Buffett; their recollections of Noyce give readers a privileged, first-hand look inside the dynamic world of high-tech entrepreneurship. A modern American success story, The Man Behind the Microchip illuminates the triumphs and setbacks of one of the most important inventors and entrepreneurs of our time.
The Man from the Future: The Visionary Life of John von Neumann
by Ananyo BhattacharyaAn electrifying biography of one of the most extraordinary scientists of the twentieth century and the world he made. The smartphones in our pockets and computers like brains. The vagaries of game theory and evolutionary biology. Nuclear weapons and self-replicating spacecrafts. All bear the fingerprints of one remarkable, yet largely overlooked, man: John von Neumann. Born in Budapest at the turn of the century, von Neumann is one of the most influential scientists to have ever lived. A child prodigy, he mastered calculus by the age of eight, and in high school made lasting contributions to mathematics. In Germany, where he helped lay the foundations of quantum mechanics, and later at Princeton, von Neumann’s colleagues believed he had the fastest brain on the planet—bar none. He was instrumental in the Manhattan Project and the design of the atom bomb; he helped formulate the bedrock of Cold War geopolitics and modern economic theory; he created the first ever programmable digital computer; he prophesized the potential of nanotechnology; and, from his deathbed, he expounded on the limits of brains and computers—and how they might be overcome. Taking us on an astonishing journey, Ananyo Bhattacharya explores how a combination of genius and unique historical circumstance allowed a single man to sweep through a stunningly diverse array of fields, sparking revolutions wherever he went. The Man from the Future is an insightful and thrilling intellectual biography of the visionary thinker who shaped our century.
Man Hacks: Handy Hints to Make Life Easier (Life Hacks Ser.)
by Dan MarshallMAN HACKS is the ultimate guide to making essential guy stuff easier. This fully illustrated manual covers everything from culinary cheats, DIY secrets and tidying-up shortcuts to style tips and party tricks – everything you need to keep your man credentials fully in check.
Man-Machine Dialogue: Design and Challenges
by Frederic LandraginThis book summarizes the main problems posed by the design of a man–machine dialogue system and offers ideas on how to continue along the path towards efficient, realistic and fluid communication between humans and machines. A culmination of ten years of research, it is based on the author’s development, investigation and experimentation covering a multitude of fields, including artificial intelligence, automated language processing, man–machine interfaces and notably multimodal or multimedia interfaces. Contents Part 1. Historical and Methodological Landmarks 1. An Assessment of the Evolution of Research and Systems. 2. Man–Machine Dialogue Fields. 3. The Development Stages of a Dialogue System. 4. Reusable System Architectures. Part 2. Inputs Processing 5. Semantic Analyses and Representations. 6. Reference Resolution. 7. Dialogue Acts Recognition. Part 3. System Behavior and Evaluation 8. A Few Dialogue Strategies. 9. Multimodal Output Management. 10. Multimodal Dialogue System Assessment. About the Authors Frédéric Landragin is a computer science engineer and has a PhD from the University of Lorraine, France. He is currently in charge of linguistics research for the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). His studies focus on the analysis and modeling of language interpretation. Man–machine dialogue is one of the applications of this research.
Man-Machine-Environment System Engineering: Proceedings Of The 16th International Conference On Mmese (Lecture Notes In Electrical Engineering #406)
by Balbir S. Dhillon Shengzhao LongThese proceedings showcase the best papers selected from more than 500 submissions, and introduce readers to the hottest research topics and the latest developmental trends in the theory and application of MMESE. The integrated and advanced science research topic Man-Machine-Environment System Engineering (MMESE) was first established in China by Professor Shengzhao Long in 1981, with direct support from one of the greatest modern Chinese scientists, Xuesen Qian. In a letter to Long from October 22nd, 1993, Qian wrote: “You have created a very important modern science and technology in China!” MMESE primarily focuses on the relationship between Man, Machine and Environment, studying the optimum combination of man-machine-environment systems. In this system, “Man” refers to working people as the subject in the workplace (e.g. operators, decision-makers); “Machine” is the general name for any object controlled by Man (including tools, machinery, computers, systems and technologies), and “Environment” describes the specific working conditions under which Man and Machine interact (e.g. temperature, noise, vibration, hazardous gases etc.). The three main goals of optimizing man-machine-environment systems are to ensure safety, efficiency and economy. These proceedings present interdisciplinary studies on essential concepts and methods from physiology, psychology, system engineering, computer science, environmental science, management, education, and other related disciplines. As such, they offer a valuable resource for all researchers and professionals whose work involves interdisciplinary areas touching on MMESE subjects.
Man-Machine-Environment System Engineering: Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on MMESE (Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering #645)
by Balbir S. Dhillon Shengzhao LongThis book presents selected papers introducing readers to the key research topics and latest development trends in the theory and application of MMESE. The advanced integrated research topic man-machine-environment system engineering (MMESE) was first established in China by Professor Shengzhao Long in 1981, with direct support from one of the greatest modern Chinese scientists, Xuesen Qian. In a letter to Shengzhao Long from October 22nd, 1993, Xuesen Qian wrote: “You have created a very important modern science and technology in China!”MMESE primarily focuses on the relationship between man, machine and environment, studying the optimum combination of man-machine-environment systems, where “man” refers to people in the workplace (e.g., operators, decision-makers), “machine” is the general name for any object controlled by man (including tools, machinery, computers, systems and technologies), and “environment” describes the specific working conditions under which man and machine interact (e.g., temperature, noise, vibration and hazardous gases). The three goals of optimizing such systems are ensuring safety, efficiency and economy.Presenting interdisciplinary studies on the concepts and methods in physiology, psychology, system engineering, computer science, environmental science, management, education and other related disciplines, this book is a valuable resource for all researchers and professionals whose work involves MMESE subjects.
Man-Machine-Environment System Engineering: Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on MMESE (Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering #941)
by Balbir S. Dhillon Shengzhao LongMan-Machine-Environment System Engineering: Proceedings of the 22nd Conference on MMESE are an academic showcase of the best papers selected from more than 500 submissions, introducing readers to the top research topics and the latest developmental trends in the theory and application of MMESE. This proceedings are interdisciplinary studies on the concepts and methods of physiology, psychology, system engineering, computer science, environment science, management, education, and other related disciplines. Researchers and professionals who study an interdisciplinary subject crossing above disciplines or researchers on MMESE subject will be mainly benefited from this proceedingsMMESE primarily focuses on the relationship between Man, Machine and Environment, studying the optimum combination of man-machine-environment systems. In this system, “Man” refers to working people as the subject in the workplace (e.g. operators, decision-makers); “Machine” is the general name for any object controlled by Man (including tools, machinery, computers, systems and technologies), and “Environment” describes the specific working conditions under which Man and Machine interact (e.g. temperature, noise, vibration, hazardous gases etc.). The three goals of optimization of the man-machine-environment systems are to ensure safety, efficiency and economy. The integrated and advanced science research topic Man-Machine-Environment System Engineering (MMESE) was first established in China by Professor Shengzhao Long in 1981, with direct support from one of the greatest modern Chinese scientists, Xuesen Qian. In a letter to Shengzhao Long from October 22nd, 1993, Xuesen Qian wrote: “You have created a very important modern science and technology in China!”
Man-Machine-Environment System Engineering
by Shengzhao Long Balbir S. DhillonThe integrated and advanced science research topic Man-Machine-Environment system engineering (MMESE) was first established in China by Professor Shengzhao Long in 1981, with direct support from one of the greatest modern Chinese scientists, Xuesen Qian. In a letter to Shengzhao Long from October 22nd, 1993, Xuesen Qian wrote: "You have created a very important modern science and technology in China!" MMESE primarily focuses on the relationship between man, machines and the environment, studying the optimum combination of man-machine-environment systems. In this system, "man" refers to people in the workplace (e. g. operators, decision-makers); " machine" is the general name for any object controlled by man (including tools, machinery, computers, systems and technologies), and "environment" describes the specific working conditions under which man and machine interact (e. g. temperature, noise, vibration, hazardous gases etc. ). The three goals of optimization of Man-Machine-Environment systems are to ensure safety, efficiency and economy. Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Man-Machine-Environment System Engineering are an academic showcase of the best papers selected from more than 400 submissions, introducing readers to the top research topics and the latest developmental trends in the theory and application of MMESE. These proceedings are interdisciplinary studies on the concepts and methods of physiology, psychology, system engineering, computer science, environment science, management, education, and other related disciplines. Researchers and professionals working in these interdisciplinary fields and researchers on MMESE related topics will benefit from these proceedings.
Man-Machine-Environment System Engineering: Proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on MMESE (Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering #1069)
by Shengzhao Long Balbir S. DhillonMan-Machine-Environment System Engineering: Proceedings of the 23rd Conference on MMESE are an academic showcase of the best papers selected from more than 500 submissions, introducing readers to the top research topics and the latest developmental trends in the theory and application of MMESE. This proceedings are interdisciplinary studies on the concepts and methods of physiology, psychology, system engineering, computer science, environment science, management, education, and other related disciplines. Researchers and professionals who study an interdisciplinary subject crossing above disciplines or researchers on MMESE subject will be mainly benefited from this proceedings.MMESE primarily focuses on the relationship between Man, Machine and Environment, studying the optimum combination of man-machine-environment systems. In this system, “Man” refers to working people as the subject in the workplace (e.g. operators, decision-makers); “Machine” is the general name for any object controlled by Man (including tools, machinery, computers, systems and technologies), and “Environment” describes the specific working conditions under which Man and Machine interact (e.g. temperature, noise, vibration, hazardous gases etc.). The three goals of optimization of the man-machine-environment systems are to ensure safety, efficiency and economy.The integrated and advanced science research topic Man-Machine-Environment System Engineering (MMESE) was first established in China by Professor Shengzhao Long in 1981, with direct support from one of the greatest modern Chinese scientists, Xuesen Qian. In a letter to Shengzhao Long from October 22nd, 1993, Xuesen Qian wrote: “You have created a very important modern science and technology in China!”
Man-Machine-Environment System Engineering: Commemorative Conference for the 110th Anniversary of Xuesen Qian’s Birth and the 40th Anniversary of Founding of Man-Machine-Environment System Engineering (Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering #800)
by Shengzhao Long Balbir S. DhillonMan-Machine-Environment System Engineering: Proceedings of the 21st Conference on MMESE is the academic showcase of best research papers selected from more than 500 submissions each year. From this book reader will learn the best research topics and the latest development trend in MMESE design theory and other human-centered system application.MMESE focus mainly on the relationship between Man, Machine and Environment. It studies the optimum combination of man-machine-environment systems. In the system, the Man means the working people as the subject in the workplace (e.g. operator, decision-maker); the Machine means the general name of any object controlled by the Man (including tool, Machinery, Computer, system and technology), the Environment means the specially working conditions under which Man and Machine occupy together(e.g. temperature, noise, vibration, hazardous gases etc.). The three goals of the optimization of the system are safety, efficiency and economy.In 1981 with direct support from one of the greatest modern Chinese scientists, Qian Xuesen, Man-Machine-Environment System Engineering (MMESE), the integrated and advanced science research topic was established in China by Professor Shengzhao Long. In the letter to Shengzhao Long, in October 22nd, 1993, Qian Xuesen wrote: “You have created a very important modern science subject and technology in China!”.
Man-Machine Speech Communication: 18th National Conference, NCMMSC 2023, Suzhou, China, December 8–10, 2023, Proceedings (Communications in Computer and Information Science #2006)
by Jia Jia Zhenhua Ling Xie Chen Ya Li Zixing ZhangThis book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 18th National Conference on Man-Machine Speech Communication, NCMMSC 2023, held in Suzhou, China, during December 8–11, 2023.The 20 full papers and 11 short papers included in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 117 submissions. They deal with topics such as speech recognition, synthesis, enhancement and coding, audio/music/singing synthesis, avatar, speaker recognition and verification, human–computer dialogue systems, large language models as well as phonetic and linguistic topics such as speech prosody analysis, pathological speech analysis, experimental phonetics, acoustic scene classification.
Man-Machine Speech Communication: 17th National Conference, NCMMSC 2022, Hefei, China, December 15–18, 2022, Proceedings (Communications in Computer and Information Science #1765)
by Ling Zhenhua Gao Jianqing Yu Kai Jia JiaThis book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 17th National Conference on Man–Machine Speech Communication, NCMMSC 2022, held in China, in December 2022.The 21 full papers and 7 short papers included in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 108 submissions. They were organized in topical sections as follows: MCPN: A Multiple Cross-Perception Network for Real-Time Emotion Recognition in Conversation.- Baby Cry Recognition Based on Acoustic Segment Model, MnTTS2 An Open-Source Multi-Speaker Mongolian Text-to-Speech Synthesis Dataset.
Man-Made: How the bias of the past is being built into the future
by Tracey SpicerWalkley Award-winning journalist Tracey Spicer exposes the next frontier of feminism. Man-Made aims to open readers&’ eyes to a transformative technological shift in society and give them the tools to make positive change. `Mum, I want a robot slave.&’ Broadcaster Tracey Spicer had an epiphany when her young son uttered these six words. Suddenly, her life&’s work fighting inequality seemed futile. What&’s the point in agitating to change the present, if bigotry is being embedded into our futures? And so began a quest to uncover who was responsible and hold them to account. Who is the ultimate villain? Big Tech, whose titans refuse to spend money to fix the problem? The world&’s politicians, who lack the will to legislate? Or should we all be walking into a hall of mirrors and taking a good, hard look at ourselves…? This is a deeply researched, illuminating and gripping ride into an uncertain future, culminating in a resounding call to action that will shake the tech sector to its foundations.Praise for Man-Made &‘Exhilarating … The book we need as we grapple with how AI will change our lives and our world.&’ Dame Quentin Bryce &‘Brilliant, hilarious and terrifying. You&’ll never see Alexa the same way again.&’ Juanita Phillips &‘Tracey Spicer uses her unmistakably human voice to warn us all about the deeply sexist Frankenstein&’s Monster that is modern AI.&’ Yumi Stynes
Man-Made Sun: Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) Fusion Reactor (China’s Big Science Facilities)
by Baonian WanThis book introduces the research process and principles of the controlled super-coupling nuclear fusion experiment at the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) nuclear fusion reactor in Hefei, China. It uses straightforward language to explain how nuclear fusion can provide safe, environmentally friendly, clean, and inexhaustible energy in future. EAST is the world’s first fully superconducting, non-circular cross-section tokamak nuclear fusion experimental device, independently developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This book helps demonstrate China’s cutting-edge scientific and technological advances to the rest of the world, helps spread the scientific spirit to people around the globe, and promotes prosperity and development. The book is intended for all non-experts who would like to learn more about nuclear energy and related technologies.
Man-Made Women: The Sexual Politics of Sex Dolls and Sex Robots (Social and Cultural Studies of Robots and AI)
by Kathleen Richardson Charlotta OdlindThis book presents a unique, feminist approach to ‘sex’ dolls and ‘sex’ robots, taking a critical look at the academic and business narratives that serve to rationalise them. As new forms of pornography (porn robots), this edited volume provides an urgent women’s centred critique. The emergence of ‘sex’ robots is situated within the wider context of the attack on women’s rights and the relentless rise of techno-pornography. As an outgrowth of the industries of prostitution, pornography and child sex abuse, these objects offer new ways to dehumanise women and girls. While support for ‘sex’ robots is positioned as progressive and emancipatory, the contributors in this volume argue they reduce women to consumable parts. They explore how law, the arts, ethics, economy, politics and culture are interconnected with harmful technological developments.
Man-Made Wonders of the World (DK Wonders of the World)
by DKDiscover the most incredible man-made wonders, from Stonehenge to Burj Khalifa, with this unparalleled catalog of the most famous and intriguing buildings and monuments created by humans.Man-Made Wonders of the World features a range of structures from buildings to monuments, statues, and bridges, including the Golden Gate Bridge and Hoover Dam. It opens with a foreword by Dan Cruickshank and then takes the reader on a continent-by-continent journey, exploring and charting the innovations, ingenuity, and imagination employed by different cultures to create iconic buildings such as the Great Pyramid of Giza. This truly global approach reveals how humans tackled similar challenges, such as keeping the enemy out, in vastly different parts of the world, from the Great Wall of China to the defensive walls of Central American cities. Illustrations explain how the structures were built, while explanations cover the history, architecture, and unique stories behind their construction. Featuring breathtaking images, Man-Made Wonders of the World is a complete celebration of the world humans have built over thousands of years.
Man of the Hour: James B. Conant, Warrior Scientist
by Jennet ConantThe remarkable life of one of the most influential men of the greatest generation, James B. Conant—a savvy architect of the nuclear age and the Cold War—told by his granddaughter, New York Times bestselling author Jennet Conant.James Bryant Conant was a towering figure. He was at the center of the mammoth threats and challenges of the twentieth century. As a young eminent chemist, he supervised the production of poison gas in WWI. As a controversial president of Harvard University, he was a champion of meritocracy and open admissions. As an advisor to FDR, he led the interventionist cause for US entrance in WWII. During that war, Conant was the administrative director of the Manhattan Project, oversaw the development of the atomic bomb and argued that it be used against the industrial city of Hiroshima in Japan. Later, he urged the Atomic Energy Commission to reject the hydrogen bomb, and devoted the rest of his life to campaigning for international control of atomic weapons. As Eisenhower’s high commissioner to Germany, he helped to plan German recovery and was an architect of the United States’ Cold War policy. Now New York Times bestselling author Jennet Conant recreates the cataclysmic events of the twentieth century as her grandfather James experienced them. She describes the guilt, fears, and sometimes regret of those who invented and deployed the bombs and the personal toll it took. From the White House to Los Alamos to Harvard University, Man of the Hour is based on hundreds of documents and diaries, interviews with Manhattan Projects scientists, Harvard colleagues, and Conant’s friends and family, including her father, James B. Conant’s son. This is a very intimate, up-close look at some of the most argued cases of modern times—among them the use of chemical weapons, the decision to drop the bomb, Oppenheimer’s fate, the politics of post-war Germany and the Cold War—the repercussions of which are still affecting our world today.
Man vs Big Data: Everyday Data Explained
by Stewart CowleyHave you ever wondered how to beat the bookies? How does your computer know you might like this song? Should you be worried about this?... We can&’t answer that for you, but Man vs Big Data does explore the numerous ways in which &‘Big Data&’ has, sometimes imperceptibly, infiltrated our lives. Everything we do leaves a trail of data behind, from buying something on a credit card, to using a GPS-enabled mobile phone – whether you know it or not, like it or not, Big Data is now a part of modern life. Heralded as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it is now more crucial than ever to learn about how data is affecting the way we live. Man vs Big Data proves that this topic is one of the most important subjects facing us today and helps you get to grips with what that means for you.
The Man Who Caught the Storm: The Life of Legendary Tornado Chaser Tim Samaras
by Brantley Hargrove“An instant classic of Americana—a story of tragedy, invention, lore, science, and a most original kind of genius.” —Hampton Sides “Masterful. This is what man versus nature is all about.” —Skip Hollandsworth The Man Who Caught the Storm is the saga of the greatest tornado chaser who ever lived: a tale of obsession and daring, and an extraordinary account of humanity’s high-stakes race to understand nature’s fiercest phenomenon.At the turn of the twenty-first century, the tornado was one of the last true mysteries of the modern world. It was a monster that ravaged the American heartland a thousand times each year, yet science’s every effort to divine its inner workings had ended in failure. Researchers all but gave up, until the arrival of an outsider. In a field of PhDs, Tim Samaras didn’t attend a day of college in his life. He chased storms with brilliant tools of his own invention and pushed closer to the tornado than anyone else ever dared. When he achieved what meteorologists had deemed impossible, it was as if he had snatched the fire of the gods. Yet even as he transformed the field, Samaras kept on pushing. As his ambitions grew, so did the risks. And when he finally met his match—in a faceoff against the largest tornado ever recorded—it upended everything he thought he knew. Brantley Hargrove delivers a masterful tale, chronicling the life of Tim Samaras in all its triumph and tragedy. He takes readers inside the thrill of the chase, the captivating science of tornadoes, and the remarkable character of a man who walked the line between life and death in pursuit of knowledge. Following the tradition of Into Thin Air and The Perfect Storm, Hargrove’s debut offers an unforgettable exploration of obsession and the extremes of the natural world.
The Man Who Changed Everything
by Basil MahonThis is the first biography in twenty years of James Clerk Maxwell, one of the greatest scientists of our time and yet a man relatively unknown to the wider public. Approaching science with a freshness unbound by convention or previous expectations, he produced some of the most original scientific thinking of the nineteenth century -- and his discoveries went on to shape the twentieth century.
The Man Who Deciphered Linear B: The Story of Michael Ventris
by Andrew Robinson"Highly readable . . . a fitting tribute to the quiet outsider who taught the professionals their business and increased our knowledge of the human past."--Archaeology Odyssey More than a century ago, in 1900, one of the great archaeological finds of all time was made in Crete. Arthur Evans discovered what he believed was the palace of King Minos, with its notorious labyrinth, home of the Minotaur. As a result, Evans became obsessed with one of the epic intellectual stories of the modern era: the search for the meaning of Linear B, the mysterious script found on clay tablets in the ruined palace. Evans died without achieving his objective, and it was left to the enigmatic Michael Ventris to crack the code in 1952. This is the first book to tell not just the story of Linear B but also that of the young man who deciphered it. Based on hundreds of unpublished letters, interviews with survivors, and other primary sources, Andrew Robinson's riveting account takes the reader through the life of this intriguing and contradictory man. Stage by stage, we see how Ventris finally achieved the breakthrough that revealed Linear B as the earliest comprehensible European writing system.