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General Recommendations

How Wonder Changed the World (Adults and Teens) - Summer Adventure 2022

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SummerAdventure

Alameda County Library

Staff-created list

Throughout history, humans have used their curiosity and wonder to not only explore the world, but also to shape what’s possible in it. The books on this list will give adult and teenage readers a glimpse into how wonder created the world we live in today. Alameda County Library invites you to come along for our 2022 Summer Adventure, Wonder in Nature! From June 15 to August 15, let's celebrate the joy of following our curiosity by taking time to admire the wonders of the great outdoors, our neighborhoods, and indoor environments. Pick up an Adventure Guide at any AC Library location starting June 15.

By:

SummerAdventure

Alameda County Library

16 items

16 items

Wonder in Nature Summer Adventure at AC Library

https://aclibrary.org/summer/

Web Resource

Alameda County Library invites people of all ages and abilities to come along for our 2022 Summer Adventure, Wonder in Nature! Complete activities, readin...Show more Alameda County Library invites people of all ages and abilities to come along for our 2022 Summer Adventure, Wonder in Nature! Complete activities, reading, and more to receive a book gift and prize drawing entries. Pick up an Adventure Guide at any library location starting June 15 or download it from our website. Show less

The Age of Wonder

The Age of Wonder

How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science

by Holmes, Richard

Book - 2008

Facts and imagination might seem like a oil-and-water mixture, but early 19th century scientists managed to unite the two into our modern ideal of scienti...Show more Facts and imagination might seem like a oil-and-water mixture, but early 19th century scientists managed to unite the two into our modern ideal of scientific curiosity. This book presents a compelling case for how wonder underlies both humanity's greatest flights of fancy AND our pursuit of real-world knowledge. Show less

Facts and imagination might seem like a oil-and-water mixture, but early 19th century scientists managed to unite the two into our modern ideal of scienti...Show more Facts and imagination might seem like a oil-and-water mixture, but early 19th century scientists managed to unite the two into our modern ideal of scientific curiosity. This book presents a compelling case for how wonder underlies both humanity's greatest flights of fancy AND our pursuit of real-world knowledge. Show less

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Mauve

Mauve

How One Man Invented A Color That Changed the World

by Garfield, Simon

Book - 2001

The world was never really in black and white, but more colors have been added over time. Discover how a teenaged Victorian chemist accidentally invented ...Show more The world was never really in black and white, but more colors have been added over time. Discover how a teenaged Victorian chemist accidentally invented a new color that took the world by storm and changed how we dye cloth, paper, and other products forever. (Can also be found on the family list.) Show less

The world was never really in black and white, but more colors have been added over time. Discover how a teenaged Victorian chemist accidentally invented ...Show more The world was never really in black and white, but more colors have been added over time. Discover how a teenaged Victorian chemist accidentally invented a new color that took the world by storm and changed how we dye cloth, paper, and other products forever. (Can also be found on the family list.) Show less

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18 Tiny Deaths

18 Tiny Deaths

The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics

by Goldfarb, Bruce

Book - 2020

Part historical epic, part scientific journey, this book details the life and work of Frances Glessner Lee, the artist who turned her talents to forensic ...Show more Part historical epic, part scientific journey, this book details the life and work of Frances Glessner Lee, the artist who turned her talents to forensic science. Already an elderly woman by the time she started making her impact on investigation and legal medicine, Glessner Lee brought unique ideas and perspectives to a very old problem and revolutionized the way crime is solved. Show less

Part historical epic, part scientific journey, this book details the life and work of Frances Glessner Lee, the artist who turned her talents to forensic ...Show more Part historical epic, part scientific journey, this book details the life and work of Frances Glessner Lee, the artist who turned her talents to forensic science. Already an elderly woman by the time she started making her impact on investigation and legal medicine, Glessner Lee brought unique ideas and perspectives to a very old problem and revolutionized the way crime is solved. Show less

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The Riddle of the Compass

The Riddle of the Compass

The Invention That Changed the World

by Aczel, Amir D

Book - 2001

Who invented the compass? A simple question, but as author Amir Aczel discovered, the answer isn't simple at all! This charming book follows his quest for the complex truth behind one of humankind's most powerful tools. Who invented the compass? A simple question, but as author Amir Aczel discovered, the answer isn't simple at all! This charming book follows his quest for the complex truth behind one of humankind's most powerful tools. Show less

Who invented the compass? A simple question, but as author Amir Aczel discovered, the answer isn't simple at all! This charming book follows his quest for the complex truth behind one of humankind's most powerful tools. Who invented the compass? A simple question, but as author Amir Aczel discovered, the answer isn't simple at all! This charming book follows his quest for the complex truth behind one of humankind's most powerful tools. Show less

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The Disordered Cosmos

The Disordered Cosmos

A Journey Into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred

by Prescod-Weinstein, Chanda

Book - 2021

How much richer would our understanding of the world be if everyone's curiosity was valued in the scientific community? In this intellectual but extremely...Show more How much richer would our understanding of the world be if everyone's curiosity was valued in the scientific community? In this intellectual but extremely readable book, Dr. Prescod-Weinstein starts a frank discussion about how discrimination and science interact, relating both personal and historical stories alongside explanations of modern physics and social issues. Show less

How much richer would our understanding of the world be if everyone's curiosity was valued in the scientific community? In this intellectual but extremely...Show more How much richer would our understanding of the world be if everyone's curiosity was valued in the scientific community? In this intellectual but extremely readable book, Dr. Prescod-Weinstein starts a frank discussion about how discrimination and science interact, relating both personal and historical stories alongside explanations of modern physics and social issues. Show less

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Soundings

Soundings

The Story of the Remarkable Woman Who Mapped the Ocean Floor

by Felt, Hali

Book - 2012

The deepest parts of the ocean were a mystery before Marie Tharp came along, but if you've never heard her name, you're in the majority. Despite sexism th...Show more The deepest parts of the ocean were a mystery before Marie Tharp came along, but if you've never heard her name, you're in the majority. Despite sexism that hindered her career and legacy, Tharp used her curiosity, intellect, and resourcefulness to create the first ever map of the ocean floor and prove that continental plates move over time, revolutionizing our understanding of the earth itself. Show less

The deepest parts of the ocean were a mystery before Marie Tharp came along, but if you've never heard her name, you're in the majority. Despite sexism th...Show more The deepest parts of the ocean were a mystery before Marie Tharp came along, but if you've never heard her name, you're in the majority. Despite sexism that hindered her career and legacy, Tharp used her curiosity, intellect, and resourcefulness to create the first ever map of the ocean floor and prove that continental plates move over time, revolutionizing our understanding of the earth itself. Show less

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How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming

How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming

by Brown, Mike

Book - 2010

The history of science is often taught as a series of discoveries that build on one another... but what happens when one discovery destroys centuries of e...Show more The history of science is often taught as a series of discoveries that build on one another... but what happens when one discovery destroys centuries of earlier understanding, leaving new questions in their wake? In this stunningly human account of science in progress, astronomer Mike Brown explains how his discovery of a possible "tenth planet" led to a revolution in our model of the solar system... and why demoting "everyone's favorite ice ball," Pluto, was a sound choice scientifically, even if it hurt our hearts. Show less

The history of science is often taught as a series of discoveries that build on one another... but what happens when one discovery destroys centuries of e...Show more The history of science is often taught as a series of discoveries that build on one another... but what happens when one discovery destroys centuries of earlier understanding, leaving new questions in their wake? In this stunningly human account of science in progress, astronomer Mike Brown explains how his discovery of a possible "tenth planet" led to a revolution in our model of the solar system... and why demoting "everyone's favorite ice ball," Pluto, was a sound choice scientifically, even if it hurt our hearts. Show less

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Primates

Primates

The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas

by Ottaviani, Jim

Book - 2013

Journey deep into the animal kingdom alongside three pioneers in primatology, the study of primates. Goodall, Fossey, and Galdikas's curiosity about apes ...Show more Journey deep into the animal kingdom alongside three pioneers in primatology, the study of primates. Goodall, Fossey, and Galdikas's curiosity about apes led to not only a deeper understanding of chimpanzees, gorillas, and others, but also startling revelations about human evolution. An excellent introduction to the work and personalities of these ground-breaking scientists and explorers. Show less

Journey deep into the animal kingdom alongside three pioneers in primatology, the study of primates. Goodall, Fossey, and Galdikas's curiosity about apes ...Show more Journey deep into the animal kingdom alongside three pioneers in primatology, the study of primates. Goodall, Fossey, and Galdikas's curiosity about apes led to not only a deeper understanding of chimpanzees, gorillas, and others, but also startling revelations about human evolution. An excellent introduction to the work and personalities of these ground-breaking scientists and explorers. Show less

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Terrible Lizard

Terrible Lizard

The First Dinosaur Hunters and the Birth of A New Science

by Cadbury, Deborah

Book - 2001

Today, dinosaurs are well-known creatures, but it took centuries of finding fragmented fossils, strange boundaries in rock, and other evidence for some sc...Show more Today, dinosaurs are well-known creatures, but it took centuries of finding fragmented fossils, strange boundaries in rock, and other evidence for some scientists to advance the idea of these ancient giants... and the theory wasn’t well-received. This book details the human curiosity, rivalries, and scandals surrounding the birth of modern paleontology. Show less

Today, dinosaurs are well-known creatures, but it took centuries of finding fragmented fossils, strange boundaries in rock, and other evidence for some sc...Show more Today, dinosaurs are well-known creatures, but it took centuries of finding fragmented fossils, strange boundaries in rock, and other evidence for some scientists to advance the idea of these ancient giants... and the theory wasn’t well-received. This book details the human curiosity, rivalries, and scandals surrounding the birth of modern paleontology. Show less

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Headstrong

Headstrong

52 Women Who Changed Science--and the World

by Swaby, Rachel

Book - 2015

Wonder belongs to people of all genders, and this collection of mini biographies highlights the incredible advances made by women scientists around the wo...Show more Wonder belongs to people of all genders, and this collection of mini biographies highlights the incredible advances made by women scientists around the world. From paleontology to pediatrics, computer science to chemistry, engineering to environmental studies, you'll encounter 52 brilliant minds whose curiosity advanced science. (Can also be found on the family list.) Show less

Wonder belongs to people of all genders, and this collection of mini biographies highlights the incredible advances made by women scientists around the wo...Show more Wonder belongs to people of all genders, and this collection of mini biographies highlights the incredible advances made by women scientists around the world. From paleontology to pediatrics, computer science to chemistry, engineering to environmental studies, you'll encounter 52 brilliant minds whose curiosity advanced science. (Can also be found on the family list.) Show less

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The House of Wisdom

The House of Wisdom

How Arabic Science Saved Ancient Knowledge and Gave Us the Renaissance

by Al-Khalili, Jim

Book - 2011

How do we know light travels in rays? Who decided a minute was 1/60 of an hour, and why? Where do we get the name and concept of algebra? The answers to t...Show more How do we know light travels in rays? Who decided a minute was 1/60 of an hour, and why? Where do we get the name and concept of algebra? The answers to these questions and many more can be found in the "explosion of scientific creativity" belonging to the Golden Age of Islam. This book lets readers explore this important but oft-overlooked chapter in human curiosity. Show less

How do we know light travels in rays? Who decided a minute was 1/60 of an hour, and why? Where do we get the name and concept of algebra? The answers to t...Show more How do we know light travels in rays? Who decided a minute was 1/60 of an hour, and why? Where do we get the name and concept of algebra? The answers to these questions and many more can be found in the "explosion of scientific creativity" belonging to the Golden Age of Islam. This book lets readers explore this important but oft-overlooked chapter in human curiosity. Show less

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The Icepick Surgeon

The Icepick Surgeon

Murder, Fraud, Sabotage, Piracy, and Other Dastardly Deeds Perpetrated in the Name of Science

by Kean, Sam

Book - 2021

Experiments have always been part of the human experience, but ethical experimentation is a newer concept. This catalogue of nasty work with noble purpose...Show more Experiments have always been part of the human experience, but ethical experimentation is a newer concept. This catalogue of nasty work with noble purpose highlights just how cruel curiosity can make even the most brilliant minds and encourages the reader to question how some of our greatest discoveries were made. Show less

Experiments have always been part of the human experience, but ethical experimentation is a newer concept. This catalogue of nasty work with noble purpose...Show more Experiments have always been part of the human experience, but ethical experimentation is a newer concept. This catalogue of nasty work with noble purpose highlights just how cruel curiosity can make even the most brilliant minds and encourages the reader to question how some of our greatest discoveries were made. Show less

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Longitude

Longitude

The True Story of A Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time

by Sobel, Dava

Book - 1995

Surprising the most learned minds of Europe, a self-taught clockmaker discovers a new solution to the life-and-death problem of navigation on the open sea...Show more Surprising the most learned minds of Europe, a self-taught clockmaker discovers a new solution to the life-and-death problem of navigation on the open sea. By law, he has the right to a fortune from the English government... but with enemies in high places, both scientific and political, will he ever get his promised prize? Show less

Surprising the most learned minds of Europe, a self-taught clockmaker discovers a new solution to the life-and-death problem of navigation on the open sea...Show more Surprising the most learned minds of Europe, a self-taught clockmaker discovers a new solution to the life-and-death problem of navigation on the open sea. By law, he has the right to a fortune from the English government... but with enemies in high places, both scientific and political, will he ever get his promised prize? Show less

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Lives in Ruins

Lives in Ruins

Archaeologists and the Seductive Lure of Human Rubble

by Johnson, Marilyn

Book - 2014

The past may be dead and buried, but that doesn't mean modern minds are done with it. This witty and informative read explores the fascination that leads ...Show more The past may be dead and buried, but that doesn't mean modern minds are done with it. This witty and informative read explores the fascination that leads archaeologists to a lifetime of digging in the dirt for even the tiniest clue to lost lives and castoff cultures. Show less

The past may be dead and buried, but that doesn't mean modern minds are done with it. This witty and informative read explores the fascination that leads ...Show more The past may be dead and buried, but that doesn't mean modern minds are done with it. This witty and informative read explores the fascination that leads archaeologists to a lifetime of digging in the dirt for even the tiniest clue to lost lives and castoff cultures. Show less

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A Briefer History of Time

A Briefer History of Time

by Hawking, Stephen

Book - 2005

In this revised edition of one of the most famous works on modern physics, Stephen Hawking and his longtime collaborator Leonard Mlodinow take the reader ...Show more In this revised edition of one of the most famous works on modern physics, Stephen Hawking and his longtime collaborator Leonard Mlodinow take the reader on a journey through the universe from its formation to now. Learn about the incredible discoveries that blossomed from the curiosity of Hawking and many others. Show less

In this revised edition of one of the most famous works on modern physics, Stephen Hawking and his longtime collaborator Leonard Mlodinow take the reader ...Show more In this revised edition of one of the most famous works on modern physics, Stephen Hawking and his longtime collaborator Leonard Mlodinow take the reader on a journey through the universe from its formation to now. Learn about the incredible discoveries that blossomed from the curiosity of Hawking and many others. Show less

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