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Monsters, Mutants & Missing Links
Monsters, Mutants & Missing Links
Oct 6, 2024 12:27 AM

Author:Anne Simon

Monsters, Mutants & Missing Links

Anne Simon is a world-renowned biologist and expert on plant viruses. She has also been scientific advisor to the X-Files since the series began. In this fascinating book she explores the extraordinary realities that lie behind the strange discoveries made in each episode by agents Mulder and Scully, weird and threatening life forms, mutations and alien creatures. Despite the achievements of modern science and technology, she points out, it is estimated that less than 1 per cent of our fellow living creatures have yet been identified. Unknown plants, animals and microbes still inhabit our planet, and new and astonishing discoveries are made every year - like the giant interconnected fungus Amilaria Ostoyae, which spans an area of 2. 5 miles and is thus the largest organism on earth, found recently in the state of Washington. Dr Simon goes on to discuss such hot scientific topics as cloning, genetic engineering, hybrid organisms and genetics, cancer and ageing, cyrogenics, killer viruses and much else - and throughout she refers constantly to the X-Files episodes relevant to her subject, and gives the inside story of how the story-line was developed.

Reviews

A true and unexpectedly exhilarating tale of guile, obsession and competitiveness as rich and involving as any novel... You will care

—— The Week

An adrenaline rush of a book... about an obsession almost as mad as it is magnificent

—— YORKSHIRE POST

An exciting road trip of a story... This sense of thrilling liberation, forays into uncharted territories and an understanding of what drives these men is as much part of the story as the quest itself

—— THE LIST

Compelling . . . raises important questions about the meaning of liberty in contemporary society and what we are prepared to defend today

—— Times

Every chapter opens level after level of previously unimaginable, mind-expanding realities

—— Oliver Sacks

Inspiring stuff!

—— Counsel

The Power of Habit steps sideways into science and brain chemistry to back up its key message: that identifying and implementing keystone habits is the difference between success and failure, whatever your goals. So if you’re a procrastinator, or a sleeper-inner, pick it up – and see how quickly you can morph those habits into habitual success. When you get around to it, obviously.

—— Stylist

This fascinating book by a New York Times journalist explores how people get stuck in a rut and delves into psychological and neuroscientific research to find out what it takes to change our most deeply ingrained habits.

—— Best Brainy Books of the Decade , Guardian

Cue: see cover. Routine: read book. Reward: fully comprehend the art of manipulation.

—— Bloomberg Businessweek

There's been a lot of research over the past several years about how our habits shape us, and this work is beautifully described in the new book The Power of Habit.

—— David Brooks , The New York Times

If Duhigg is right about the nature of habits, which I think he is, then trying to get rid of these bad habits won't work. Instead, what is needed is to teach the managers to identify the cues that lead to these bad habits and rewards, and then learn alternative routines that lead to similar rewards, i.e. business and personal success.

—— Forbes

The Power of Habit is chock-full of fascinating anecdotes . . . how an early twentieth century adman turned Pepsodent into the first bestselling toothpaste by creating the habit of brushing daily, how a team of marketing mavens at Procter & Gamble rescued Febreze from the scrapheap of failed products by recognizing that a fresh smell was a fine reward for a cleaning task, how Michael Phelps' coach instilled habits that made him an Olympic champion many times over, and how Tony Dungy turned the Indianapolis Colts into a Super Bowl-winning team.

—— Los Angeles Times

There is a reason this book has been an international bestseller . . . I was hooked from the first page.

—— VIP Magazine

Written in a delectable prose that scatters flashes of poetry over a sardonic undertow of social comment, Edgelands is a lyrical triumph. On Britain’s grotty margins, the duo trace “desire paths” to find beauty and mystery in the rough darkness on the edge of town

—— Boyd Tonkin , Independent

Throw out your old atlas. The new version is here

—— Walter Kirn (author of UP IN THE AIR)

Kasarda ... and Lindsay convincingly put the airport at the centre of modern urban life

—— Economist

Highly recommended

—— Library Journal
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