Author:Sydney Padua
'So impossibly funny, clever, demented, charming and altogether wonderful that I was a convert within three pages. Buy it for everyone you know, regardless of what you think they like. Brilliant stuff' Lucy Mangan, Stylist Books of the Year
'An eye-opener... The more I think about this, the higher I esteem it' - Nicholas Lezard, Guardian Books of the Year
*Winner of the British Book Design and Production Award for Graphic Novels*
*Winner of the Neumann Prize in the History of Mathematics*
*Nominated for the 2016 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album and Best Writer/Artist*
In The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage Sydney Padua transforms one of the most compelling scientific collaborations into a hilarious set of adventures
Meet two of Victorian London's greatest geniuses... Ada Lovelace, daughter of Lord Byron: mathematician, gambler, and proto-programmer, whose writings contained the first ever appearance of general computing theory, a hundred years before an actual computer was built. And Charles Babbage, eccentric inventor of the Difference Engine, an enormous clockwork calculating machine that would have been the first computer, if he had ever finished it.
But what if things had been different? The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage presents a delightful alternate reality in which Lovelace and Babbage do build the Difference Engine and use it to create runaway economic models, battle the scourge of spelling errors, explore the wider realms of mathematics and, of course, fight crime - for the sake of both London and science. Extremely funny and utterly unusual, The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage comes complete with historical curiosities, extensive footnotes and never-before-seen diagrams of Babbage's mechanical, steam-powered computer. And ray guns.
So impossibly funny, clever, demented, charming and altogether wonderful that I was a convert within three pages. Buy it for everyone you know, regardless of what you think they like. Brilliant stuff
—— Lucy Mangan, Book of the Year , StylistAn utter joy... Padua has done her research: she has teased out the connections between Babbage, Lovelace and what would seem to be the whole of Victorian culture and society - and done so in a way that appears almost effortless on the page, her light, easy graphic style an excellent vehicle not only for deep and complex thought, but for excellent, and sometimes excellently corny, jokes. This is a book to reread, not just read
—— Nicholas Lezard , GuardianMy new favourite book. It has everything. Byron, maths, imaginary computers, emotion
—— Matt Haig, author of Reasons to Stay AliveThe book does more than simply celebrate the genius of the first computer programmer, it encourages us to turn our imagination to technology - just as Lovelace did. And that's an inspiration to us all
—— Nicola Davis , Observer Tech MonthlyThe wittiest, best-researched and most original tribute yet paid to the achievements of Ada Lovelace... An astonishing debut... a book that ought to be ordered in triplicate by every school in the land... Ingenious as a textbook, marvellous fun as inventive biography
—— Miranda Seymour , Literary ReviewRich with in-jokes, warmth and charm... It's difficult not to be ignited by Sydney Padua's enthusiasm. There is so much to discover that I'll treasure my copy for years to come
—— Hannah Fry , BBC FocusA stylish, funny graphic novel featuring Ada Lovelace, estranged daughter of Lord Byron, and co-programmer, had it ever been built, of the "mathematical engine". Playful, earnest, and beautifully drawn, the book cuts a swathe through early computing theory, explores Ada's relationship with Charles Babbage, and brings to the fore one of the unsung heroines of science
—— Sarah Hall , IndependentThere is no way around this, Sydney Padua's Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage is bloody brilliant... and educational too
—— Robin InceI love it... everyone is getting a copy
—— Martha Lane-FoxWonderful and genuinely informative... Padua's gorgeous art and very funny text are combined with factual footnotes to create an utterly unique and enormously enjoyable book -
—— Anna Carey , Irish TimesSydney Padua's smart and sassy steampunk science graphic novel is a delightful mixture of research and invention, dressed up in Padua's bouncy cartooning. If nothing else, it is one of the best introductions to its real-life heroine, proto-computer programmer Ada Lovelace, you could wish for. If only all science lessons could be this much fun
—— Herald ScotlandImmensely delightful and illuminating... Padua delivers a thoroughly unsynthesizable range of enchantment and elucidation
—— Maria Popova , Brain PickingsLike all great epics, Sapiens demanded a sequel. Homo Deus, in which that likely apocalyptic future is imagined in spooling detail, is that book. It is a highly seductive scenario planner for the numerous ways in which we might overreach ourselves.
—— Tim Adams , ObserverHomo Deus is a sweeping, apocalyptic history of the human race, which reads more like a TED-talk on acid.
—— Norman Lewis , SpikedHarari is an intellectual magpie who has plucked theories and data from many disciplines - including philosophy, theology, computer science and biology - to produce a brilliantly original, thought-provoking and important study of where mankind is heading.
—— Saul David , Evening StandardLike its predecessor, which sold in its millions, Homo Deus will have a world audience. Taking over where Sapiens left off, it looks forward to where history, ethics and gargantuan biotech investment might lead us - to the end, Harari thinks, of death, suffering and the very idea of being human.
—— James McConnachie , Sunday Times CultureA remarkable book, full of insights and thoughtful reinterpretations of what we thought we knew about ourselves and our history... One measure of Harari’s achievement is that one has to look a long way back – to 1934, in fact, the year when Lewis Mumford’s Technics and Civilization was published – for a book with comparable ambition and scope.
—— John Naughton , GuardianHarari is an exceptional writer, who seems to have been specially chosen by the muses as a conduit for the zeitgeist… Fascinating reading.
—— Stephen Cave , Times Literary SupplementThis provocative book analyses our present state – and makes startling predictions about the future.
—— Mail on SundaySapiens was a paean to humanity’s powers of collective imagination…with darker notes on how these mega-stories might direct our new, transformative, information and biological technologies. “Is there anything more dangerous than dissatisfied and irresponsible gods who don’t know what they want?” was Harari’s closing line. Homo Deus tries to answer that question, with all the pedagogic and encyclopaedic brilliance of its predecessor.
—— New ScientistAn often thought-provoking and always elegantly written book.
—— Steven Poole , SpectatorBrilliant, mind-expanding…explores where Homo Sapiens might go from here, via his signature blend of science, history, philosophy and every discipline in between.
—— BooksellerHis reasoning is laid out with a lucidity that makes it a joy to read.
—— UK Press SyndicationYuval Noah Harari is the most entertaining and thought-provoking writer of non-fiction at the moment. In Homo Deus he covers broad terrain, touching on everything from Zen Buddhism to the Second World War to how bats read the frequency of echoes, to explore the largest most difficult and sometimes frightening subject of all: our own future. As with Sapiens you finish the book feeling much wiser, but not having noticed any hard work along the way. I loved this book.
—— Matt HaigSapiens showed us where we came from. Homo Deus shows us where we’re going
—— Eastern Daily PressChallenging, readable and thought-provoking… He has provided a smart look at what may be ahead for humanity.
—— TimeExhilarating.
—— Nick Curtis , Evening StandardOriginal, compelling, and provocative.
—— Gary Ogden , ShortlistYuval Noah Harari is the most entertaining and thought-provoking writer of non-fiction at the moment. In Homo Deus he covers broad terrain, touching on everything from Zen Buddhism to the Second World War to how bats read the frequency of echoes, to explore the largest most difficult and sometimes frightening subject of all: our own future. As with Sapiens you finish the book feeling much wiser, but not having noticed any hard work along the way. I loved this book.
—— Matt HaigUtterly blown away by the concise beauty of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli. Science as poetry. Awe inspiring
—— Michael Bhaskar, author of The Content MachineNo one should hold office unless they have read Carlo Rovelli's Seven Brief Lessons on Physics
—— Nick Harkaway, author of The Gone-Away World and AngelmakerBrilliant... Rovelli writes with clarity and verve, vividly bringing to life concepts that can often appear incomprehensible, and inviting readers to see the world anew. Few writers, let alone physicists, capture the beauty of nature and the excitement of its discovery in such clear, rich prose... It's hard to imagine a more coherent, inspiring introduction to modern physics. It really is an enchanting little volume
—— New ScientistCarlo Rovelli has never been afraid to challenge the status quo
—— Morgan Freeman , Science ChannelIt's like a love letter to physics. You can't believe everyone isn't reading this, and you want to tell everyone about it... to be able to have access to these ideas in a way that inspires me is thrilling
—— Felicity WardI loved this book. The final chapter is filled with breathless amazement and humble awe... it's almost trippy
—— Harriet GilbertA deep and sensible dive in to this complex and fascinating dimension of biology.
—— Irish Times, Book of the Year[It] is superbly judged. It brilliantly synthesises the surprising and recently-revealed inter-dependencies of visible and invisible organisms… Look out for it on numerous book prize shortlists in 2017.
—— Guardian, Book of the YearYong will make you think about yourself – and the world around you – in a different way.
—— Brad Davies , iIt is a fascinating account of the unseen creatures that live within and all around us. Yong takes us on this journey through the microscope to discover the most recent research from scientists all round the world and tell us of the secrets that are being discovered about microbes… Yong writes with an engaging and eloquent style and makes the science in here really accessible. Well worth reading.
—— Paul Cheney , NudgeYong’s enthusiasm for bacteria is infectious, as he describes the beauty of luminescent bacteria in the Hawaiian bobtail squid and the benefits of our microscopic neighbours.
—— Jane Shilling , Daily MailA master class in popular scientific education.
—— Simon Shaw , Mail on SundayYong made me think “wow” over and over again. He tells us that there is a universe of tiny things. We should think about them.
—— William Leith , Evening Standard[Kalanithi] wrote about practising medicine, about mortality, about finite time, with unfathomable tranquility and humour.
—— Radio TimesHe writes with clarity, elegance, and honesty… When Breath Becomes Air is a deeply personal and moving book… Kalanithi died leaving the book unfinished. He left, though, his voice, speaking through this book about death and implicitly about life.
—— Frieda Klotz , Irish IndependentWriting isn't brain surgery, but it's rare when someone adept at the latter is also so accomplished at the former... A moving meditation on mortality by a gifted writer whose dual perspectives of physician and patient provide a singular clarity.
—— Kirkus Starred ReviewAn extraordinary voice… His account is matter-of-fact, never self-pitying and often funny.
—— Jennifer Rohn , Times Higher EducationWrenching memoir… Moving, humble, and impossible to ignore.
—— UK Press SyndicationA sparely lyrical account of excruciated ambition… Fairly dotted with insights.
—— Iain Bamforth , Times Literary SupplementIn this slim but extraordinarily powerful memoir, Kalanithi grapples with the hardest questions with grace and courage... Lucid, humbling and heartbreaking.
—— Stephanie Cross , The LadyHeart-wrenching memoir
—— Eastern Daily PressWhen Breath Becomes Air is an eloquent evocation of a life defined by success and tragedy… Paul’s unravelling of unimaginable circumstances is terrifyingly real and heartbreakingly honest.
—— Lydia Yaritt , British Journal of General PracticeThe line between life and death has never been explored quite so personally as in Paul Kalanithi’s wrenching memoir… The Final pages, from Paul and then Lucy, are moving, humble, and impossible to ignore’
—— Woman's WayIt’s elegantly constructed, as befits a man who had a lifelong passion for reading and writing, and heartbreakingly honest too, with unflinching reflections on all the beloved people he must leave behind, and all the things left undone’
—— PsychologiesAbsolutely compelling… This is not a depressing book, but it will stay with you for a long time.
—— Stephen Meyler , RTE GuideA true and heart-breaking tale.
—— Love it!This dying doctor’s gripping memoir is a natural, honest, and unflinching account of his journey. Paul’s willingness to reflect and share and not avert his eyes from death, will undoubtedly inspire and comfort others who are ill or who experience loss. The final paragraph is directed towards his infant daughter and it is breathtakingly beautiful… one to recommend to anyone and everyone.
—— Joanne Booy , NudgeBeautifully written… Healthcare professionals and civilians alike should find much that resonates here.
—— Lisa Berry , Cancer Nursing PracticeHis book is suitable for, and deserves, a wide audience… Whilst this book is emotional and moving to read, it is beautifully written and many readers will find Paul's way of dealing with terminal illness inspirational. It is a book that I will go back to again and again for emotional support.
—— MacmillanThis is a tearjerker… Kalanithi was as skilled with words as he was with the knife.
—— Helen Davies , Sunday Times, Book of the YearKalanithi is warm and full of wit... His writing is seamless, poetic, beautiful and transfixing. His bravery is rather astonishing at times… He is a wonderful storyteller and dizzily sweeps you along.
—— Avpura TimesYou’ll read this in one unforgettable afternoon.
—— A Little BirdA gripping and emotionally charged account.
—— Today FM, Book of the YearPoignant, honest, brave and yes, at times, incredibly raw… A beautiful and unforgettable book.
—— Heat[A] beautiful memoir… Kalanithi’s eloquent and elegant writing is deeply affecting.
—— Daily Express, Book of the Year[An] inspiring book.
—— Business Insider, Book of the YearA thoughtful, deep and learned meditation on the meaning of life… The best book of the year
—— Sheer Luxe, Book of the YearAn emotional ride.
—— Julie Vuong , Running in Heels, Book of the YearA book that leaves its reader full-hearted… moved and enriched by its humanity and accomplishment.
—— Lettie Kennedy , ObserverA fast read that won’t fail to move you.
—— IJohn Updike said that every writer is simply unpacking their own bag, describing writing as a way to come to terms with one’s current and historical life experience. If that is the case Paul Kalanithi, in When Breath Becomes Air, is unpacking a very large bag indeed, and not just his own.
—— Paul D'Alton , Irish ExaminerWhen Breath Becomes Air is a life-affirming reflection on facing our mortality and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a gifted writer who became both.
—— Mojo MumsFar more than a beautifully written account of a life cut cruelly short: it is a meditation on living well.
—— Jane Shilling , Mail[H]e writes with an eloquence that befits his love of the literary.
—— Brad Davies , iAn eloquent meditation on our mortality, the brain, the meaning of life, fatherhood and the doctor-patient relationship, this powerful, inspirational book should appeal to readers who are enjoying watching BBC2’s current Hospital series. I couldn’t put this profoundly moving memoir down – but it is not for the squeamish or faint-hearted, and may scare hypochondriacs.
—— Rebecca Wallersteiner , The LadyIt’s not just that Kalanathi has a remarkable story to tell. The way he tells it is phenomenal… This is a superbly written and must-read autobiography – beautiful, poignant and thought-provoking.
—— Sam Hailes , ChristianityHe writes movingly about how to make sense of a life so suddenly interrupted and what makes life worth living even as it fades away. A beautiful book about the resilience of the human spirit.
—— RedKalanithi’s candid yet artistic prose, peppered with medical terminology, conveys his life beautifully. We are taken on a journey from the nostalgic memories of his childhood in Arizona to his final days in the hospital bed… he raw and emotional portrayal of his pain and their family’s grief is not an easy read, but a compelling one.
—— Angela Huang , BoarA thoroughly enjoyable, epic read, When Breath Becomes Air should be at the top of everyone’s ‘to read’ list. Paul Kalanithi beautifully bridges the gaps between philosophy, science and literature in his memoir which depicts the reality of life lived in the face of death… Kalanithi writes sublimely, elegantly and honestly. His words are spun together as though with a golden thread, and all that he writes is from the heart. His admiration for the written word shines through and the mammoth task of composing his memoir, after receiving his diagnosis, is executed exquisitely… It is a novel filled with tenderness, heartbreak and bittersweet nostalgia. It is a novel containing power, strength and beauty. And it is a novel that will stay with you long after its cover has been closed.
—— Lauren Molyneux , LiveInformative, emotive, honest and a stark look at the path one takes when life pulls the rug out from under you.
—— NudgeThis book has stayed with me ever since I put it down. Absolutely extraordinary. This book is an example of how fragile and unfair life can be.
—— Molly EllisIt was a really incredible read and I couldn’t recommend it more.
—— Ella Mills , Good Web GuideAs a book detailing the insight into our own mortality, and the dedication of medical professionals who place their lives on hold to learn their craft, it’s fascinating. His accounts of coming face to face with cadavers – "donors" – and performing autopsies, his experiences with patients as he gave good and bad news, his mistakes as a surgeon which caused irreparable damage coupled with his success as a physician are an incredible insight into his life’s work… A melancholic read that I’d recommend to all student nurses, and anyone interested in reading the final thoughts of a doomed surgeon.
—— Six Out of TenPoignant and life-affirming, it's a devastating must-read
—— Woman & HomeBeautifully written... utterly heartbreaking and yet somehow life-affirming
—— Mike Gayle, author of THE MUSEUM OF ORDINARY PEOPLE , Good HousekeepingThe writing is beautiful and the whole book feels like a wondrous gift
—— Good Housekeeping