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Oxford University Press
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There are few stories more remarkable than the evolution of life on earth. This Very Short Introduction presents a succinct guide to the key episodes in that story — from the very origins of life four million years ago to the extraordinary diversity of species around the globe today. Beginning with an explanation of the controversies surrounding the birth of life itself, each following chapter tells of a major breakthrough that made new forms of life possible: including sex and multicellularity, hard skeletons, and the move to land. Along the way, we witness the greatest mass extinction, the first forests, the rise of modern ecosystems, and, most recently, conscious humans. Introducing ideas from a range of scientific disciplines, from evolutionary biology and earth history, to geochemistry, palaeontology, and systematics, Michael Benton explains how modern science pieces the evidence in this vast evolutionary puzzle together, to build up an accessible and up-to-date picture of the key developments in the history of life on earth. |
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Consciousness, 'the last great mystery for science', has now become a hot topic. How can a physical brain create our experience of the world? What creates our identity? Do we really have free will? Could consciousness itself be an illusion? Exciting new developments in brain science are opening up debates on these issues, and the field has now expanded to include biologists, neuroscientists, psychologists, and philosophers. This controversial book clarifies the potentially confusing arguments, and the major theories using illustrations, lively cartoons, and experiments. Topics include vision and attention, theories of self and will, experiments on action and awareness, altered states of consciousness, and the effects of brain damage and drugs. |
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At last — the secrets of Bletchley Park's powerful codebreaking computers. This is a history of Colossus, the world's first fully-functioning electronic digital computer. Colossus was used during the Second World War at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, where it played an invaluable role cracking enemy codes. Until very recently, much about the Colossus machine was shrouded in secrecy, largely because the codes that were employed remained in use by the British security services until a short time ago. This book only became possible due to the declassification in the US of wartime documents. With an introductory essay on cryptography and the history of code-breaking by Simon Singh, this book reveals the workings of Colossus and the extraordinary staff at Bletchley Park through personal accounts by those who lived and worked with the computer. Among them is the testimony of Thomas Flowers, who was the architect of Colossus and whose personal account, written shortly before he died, is published here for the first time. Other essays consider the historical importance of this remarkable machine, and its impact on the generations of computing technology that followed. |
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Everyday life in Baltimore, USA, is full of problems — getting the washing done, buying groceries and dog food, avoiding the neighbors... After the death of his son and the departure of his wife, Macon's attempts to run his own life become increasingly desperate — and more and more odd. Meanwhile, he has to get on with his work, writing tourist guides for business people. Then his dog Edward starts to bite people, and he has to send for Muriel, the dog trainer. And day by day, Macon's life gets more and more complicated. |
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One day, a farmer tells a farm boy to take everything out of an old building and throw it away. 'It's all rubbish', he says. In the middle of all the rubbish, the boy finds a beautiful old piano. He has never played before, but now, when his fingers touch the piano, he begins to play. He closes his eyes and the music comes to him — and the music moves his fingers. When he opens his eyes again, he knows that his life has changed forever... |
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Printed music and writing about music involve the use of complex systems of notation and a wealth of technical terms in several languages. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Musical Terms provides clear, succinct, definitions of a comprehensive range of the musical terms, in English and other European languages, that are likely to be encountered in Western music. Over 2,500 A-Z entries range across a spectrum of subjects, among them: rhythm, metre, forms, genres, pitch, scales, chords, harmony and counterpoint, notational systems, composition and analysis, performance practice, tempo, expression, musical periods, artistic movements, computer applications, acoustics, and many more. Entries provide etymologies, and are fully cross-referenced. Some are illustrated with music examples and tables. An appendix lists all composers mentioned in the Dictionary, with their dates. It is an ideal book for students and teachers of music — it covers all the terms required in the SMAB musical theory exams — as well as for professional musicians, those learning to play musical instruments, and members of choirs, and musical groups. It will also be a useful quick reference book for concert-goers, CD-collectors, and radio listeners. |
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The new edition of this successful text analyses the current economic issues facing a rapidly changing Europe. The authors combine policy, history and data to present a global perspective of the EU, written with a range of students taking an introductory module in European Economics in mind. With new material on the economic relationship between the EU and the US, Enlargement and the Lisbon process the authors consider the changing landscape and Europe's development as a major global player. The authors use history, theory and analysis including comparative data to evaluate Economic policies ranging from the Common Agricultural Policy and Competition Policy to Social Policy and Monetary Policy and to assess issues such as unemployment and foreign aid. The contributors are drawn from a range of Universities such as Vienna, Manchester, Brussels, LSE and Purdue, as well as institutions such as the IMF and the European Central Bank. |
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How does an intruder get into Winnie's house? Intruder windows. What does an Australian witch ride on? A broomerang. With pages chock-full of Winnie's and Wilbur's favourites, Winnie's Jokes will leave children in stitches. Great for sharing with family and friends. |
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The Twelve Days of Christmas captures all the joy and fun of Christmas-time. Here is the glitter, the excitement, and the festivity of the happiest time of the year. Brian Wildsmith has painted magical, vivid scenes to accompany each verse of this well-known, well-loved traditional Christmas song. This is a wonderfully festive book from one of our most internationally acclaimed picture-book writers and artists. It is a joy to share with children, and children love to join in with the cumulative building of the song's lyrics. First published in 1972, we are delighted to be bringing out a new edition of this lovely Christmas book, with a stunning new cover design. |
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Love that tingly feeling when you're scared? Want to give your sister or brother the shivers? This book is packed full of scary poems to enjoy alone (do you dare?), or to read to others. Ghosts, haunted houses, spiders, dracula, monsters and many more make an appearance in different spooky ways — by poets such as Charles Causley, Richard Edwards, Eric Finney, and Philip Gross. Get those goosebumps going! |
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Exploring a range of issues from foreign policy, arms, and terrorism, to the environment and world poverty, Paul Wilkinson covers the topics essential to an understanding of modern international relations. Examining the role of superpowers, and the influence of organizations such as the UN and EU, as well as ethnic and religious movements around the world, he shows how they all variously shape the way states and governments interact. This up-to-date book is required reading for those seeking a new perspective to help untangle and decipher events in a world of growing political tension and unease. |
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Winnie is not afraid of taking the plunge. In 'Winnie's Mouse Organ' Winnie discovers that the little rodents who share her house have undiscovered musical talents; in 'Winnie's Snowball' Winnie unwittingly magics a snowman into the rather dangerous 'abominable' variety; in 'Winnie's Giant Party' Winnie helps Jerry, her giant next-door neighbour, to get into the party mood; and in 'Winnie Takes the Plunge' disaster strikes when Winnie gets flushed down her loo and ends up trapped by a merman under the ocean waves until Wilbur stages a bold rescue. Four crazily funny stories featuring everyone's favourite witch, her big black cat, Wilbur, and a zany supporting cast of new characters. Korky Paul's exuberant black line illustrations complement the humour, slapstick, and moments of real drama that run through each story. Pure magic! |
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Winnie knows she needs to shape up. In 'Ssshh! Winnie' Winnie takes part in a sponsored silence and, although she can't stop herself talking, her stories keep the little ordinaries completely quiet for hours on end; in 'Flipping Winnie' Winnie enters a pancake race in the village fete with hilarious consequences; in 'Where's Winnie?' she can't work out how to programme her broomstick navigation system and ends up being kidnapped by aliens; and in 'Winnie Shapes Up' she causes chaos in the local gym-when the weights become weightless and the swimmers discover they're sharing their pool with a shark! Four crazily funny stories featuring everyone's favourite witch, her big black cat, Wilbur, and a zany supporting cast of new characters. Korky Paul's exuberant black line illustrations complement the humour, slapstick, and moments of real drama that run through each story. Pure magic! |
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This beautiful edition of the children's classic Pippi Longstocking is illustrated throughout with wonderful collage pictures from the award-winning Lauren Child. The contemporary design, imaginative layout of the text, and stunning illustrations from Lauren Child all add up to a perfect gift purchase. When the book published in hardback, it gathered many wonderful reviews, including this one from Books for Keeps: 'Lauren Child is the perfect choice to illustrate this handsome, large format edition of Pippi... her unmistakeable illustrative style helps to bring a modern feel to the book.' Pippi lives in Villa Villekulla with a horse, a monkey, and a big suitcase full of gold coins. The grown-ups in her village try to make Pippi behave in ways that they think a little girl should, but Pippi has other ideas. She would much rather spend her days arranging wild, exciting adventures to enjoy with her neighbours, Tommy and Annika, or entertaining everyone she meets with her outrageous stories. Pippi thinks nothing of wrestling a circus strongman, dancing a polka with burglars, or tugging a bull's tail and her wildly unconventional lifestyle is matched by Lauren's free-spirited illustrations. |
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A delightful new picture word book to share with young children. It is an ideal first introduction to 150 first words carefully selected from themes ranging from the classroom, the hospital, and recycling, to the kitchen, the toy cupboard, and the birthday party. Colourful pages deal with first experiences from playtime, sleepy time, animals and pets, to transport and things that move. Each picture is filled to the brim, and words with pictures are picked out on every page to support children with first literacy skills. A vibrant picture section at the back gives first numbers, colours, shapes, and opposites. Children will be captivated by the lively artwork and a sweet chameleon character — a familiar companion on every page and a link for young readers. |
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Did you hear the news about a boy who disappeared? No one knows what happened to him... except me. Young Karl leaves behind his unhappy life as an unwanted foster child to escape to Farawayland. There, he learns that his true name is Mio, and that he is the son of the king. But the kingdom is under threat. The evil Sir Kato terrorizes the land, and it has been foretold that Mio is the only one who can defeat him... Originally published in Swedish in 1954, Astrid Lindgren's tale of Mio became a worldwide children's classic. It is celebrated in this heritage edition, complete with a new and faithful English translation. |
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Miss Cluck is taking her class camping. There are various mishaps along the way — the little mice find it difficult to keep up, then Maxwell drops his Teddy in the stream while they play pooh-sticks. Each time, Boris comes to the rescue — earning him praise from Miss Cluck and his classmates. Eventually the animals find a lovely spot for their tepee and they spend the afternoon decorating it before setting off to gather berries for supper. But... when they get back to their lovely tepee, they discover that... 'Someone had scribbled on the sides. Someone had drawn a moustache on Miss Cluck's face. Someone had pulled down the sticks... And someone was going to be in BIG trouble!' The culprits are two naughty wolf cubs and they laugh in the face of Miss Cluck's reprimands (after all, since when have wolves been scared of chickens?) but they soon lose their bravado when Boris steps in with his big bear grin. So Miss Cluck and her pupils reclaim their tent and, after an evening of songs and stories, they're ready for bed. There isn't much room in the tepee once Boris has settled down, but no one minds a bit, after all, they all have a soft, cosy place to sleep! |
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The animal bop just won't stop so move your body from bottom to top! Join jolly jellyfish, mischievous meerkats, a gentle giraffe, parading peacocks, and many more in this high energy invitation to take part in the animal bop. The rhythmic rhyming text encourages all sorts of actions and noises that are lots of fun to do — prowling and growling, wiggling and sashaying, trotting and strutting. And every move is gloriously illustrated by Lindsey Gardiner with a kaleidoscope of pattern and collage. Sound effects for the energetic antics of the animals, along with sparkling jazzy rhythms, provide a perfect backing-track to the narration of The Animal Bop Won't Stop on the accompanying audio CD. |
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Winnie and Wilbur love their vegetables. They are regulars at the weekly farmers' market to stock up on their greens, but bringing them back home on a broomstick proves to be rather hazardous. So Winnie decides to grow her own and digs a vegetable patch in her garden. Not having the patience of a true gardener, she uses a little magic to speed up the growing process... only to end up with a garden overrun by enormous vegetables. She uses her giant pumpkin to make pumpkin pies, pumpkin scones, creamy pumpkin soup for Wilbur, and dish after dish of roast pumpkin. She invites all her neighbours to help themselves to pumpkin, too. Eventually the yummy orange flesh is all gone but the shell remains. What can Winnie do with it? She waves her wand, shouts 'Abracadabra!', and something amazing happens... This edition comes with an audio CD where the story is narrated over an imaginative soundtrack of music and effects. |
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It's just after midnight. Winnie has gone to bed and is snoring peacefully when Wilbur is woken by a strange noise. He goes downstairs to investigate and, to his horror, discovers a baby dragon squeezing through his cat-flap! Wilbur is not impressed by the scaly visitor, especially when it starts chasing him around Winnie's house. But the baby dragon just wants to play and, in his exuberance, manages to topple a grandfather clock and knock over a suit of armour. All the clattering wakes Winnie and she's not happy about a baby dragon in her house, either. After all, there are puffs of smoke coming out of his nose and he might start a fire. So Winnie uses a little magic to turn the smoke into... a cloud of butterflies. This makes Wilbur feel better, he loves chasing butterflies! So now Winnie has a baby dragon and a cat who just want to play whereas she just wants to sleep! Winnie decides she's had enough of babysitting a dragon and goes onto the roof to look for his mother. But how will she catch the attention of a mother dragon flying past? By magicking a full moon over her house! So with mother and baby dragon reunited, Winnie and Wilbur can finally settle down for an overdue good night's sleep. This story is full of noisy antics: clanging clocks, clattering armour, crashing crockery and the sound of dragon wings beating are just some of the wonderful additions to the narration of Winnie's Midnight Dragon on the accompanying audio CD. |
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