The World Is Flat [Updated and Expanded]: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century author: Thomas L. Friedman rating: asin: 0374292795 binding: Hardcover list price: $30.00 USD amazon price: $24.28 USD

This book is Thomas L. Friedman's account of globalization and how it is has changed the world, or more specifically, how it has changed how business is done around the world.

This isn't a terrible book but it certainly does not deserve the hype and five star reviews I've seen it get elsewhere. Essentially the author has realized that we are increasingly interconnected these days and he picks 10 trends as causes for this interconnectedness. He then proceeds to provide his analysis of what this means economically and politically.

An Inconvenient Truth rating: asin: B000ICL3KG binding: DVD list price: $19.99 USD amazon price: $14.99 USD

I must admit I was planning on avoiding this film. We try to do everything we can to reduce, reuse and recycle at our house, and we're also very energy use conscious. We have two young children and we are deeply worried about their future. I didn't want to watch a film that I figured would further depress me and keep me up at night. The title also led me to believe that it would be quite political, perhaps even angry in tone.

I was wrong to avoid it. An Inconvenient Truth is a hopeful, cogent documentary on both climate change and Al Gore. The film focuses on Gore giving what he calls his "slide show" - a multimedia explanation of what climate change is, and how it is impacting us, what it could do if left unchecked and so on. Gore manages to hit all the right notes with his latest iteration - he doesn't stint on the science or the consequences. He respects his audience's intelligence without overwhelming them with technical jargon and explanations. He also does a very good job of dispelling the myths about climate change.

A Short History of Nearly Everything author: Bill Bryson rating: asin: 076790818X binding: Paperback list price: $16.99 USD amazon price: $16.19 USD

Bill Bryson, a popular travel writer, in this book turns his attention to the history of how we (Homo Sapiens) and our planet came to be.

It is not, as you might suspect, a hard core science book. Rather it is a breezy layman's summary of what we know about Earth and our place on it. Those of us who regularly consume publications like New Scientist or Science magazine, or who have read more in depth popular science books may find the book too light, and a review of what they already know well.

However for those who want to know more about science and how we came to know what we think we do, the book is an excellent and light-hearted read. It would make a great introductory tome for young adults wanting to get a taste of science. It also does an excellent job of conveying the wonder and majesty of the universe - the vastness of space, the depth of the oceans, and so on. Perhaps most importantly, it stresses what we don't yetknow and understand, which is a great deal.

Does Anything Eat Wasps?: And 101 Other Unsettling, Witty Answers to Questions You Never Thought You author: New Scientist rating: asin: 0743297261 binding: Paperback list price: $12.00 USD amazon price: $10.85 USD

This is one of those books that's great to read during your morning commute or if you're going through a period in your life where you find yourself spending a lot of time in waiting rooms. It's a book you can pick up and put down again without losing your place in a plot or dropping the main theme of an argument.

The book consists of interesting questions posed (and answered) by readers of New Scientist magazine in their recurring "The Last Word" column. Examples include "How fat do you have to be to become bulletproof?" and "What would happen if the moon suddenly disappeared?" Some of the questions are serious; some are silly. However even the most inane queries can sometimes lead to intriguing answers, like the question about the interaction of Tia Maria (an alcoholic beverage) and cream, which resulted in a paper on fluid dynamics.

Transmaterial: Materials that Redef author: Blaine Brownell rating: asin: 1568985630 binding: Paperback list price: $35.00 USD amazon price: $30.27 USD

Transmaterials is a fascinating look at the latest and greatest in materials. Set up as a catalogue, it is well organized, stylish, and it has information on potential applications, a few specs, and most importantly, supplier contact information.

This book would be tremendously useful for a manufacturer, anyone in construction or architecture, or the arts. Product developers will also likely find inspiration here.

However this is a good book even for the idly curious - it's a great survey of the state of the art in materials science. And if you like to tinker and build in your garage, workshop or basement, this is a great resource for getting your hands on some of the coolest new stuff.

The Science of Discworld II: The Globe (Discworld) author: Terry Pratchett Ian Stewart Jack Cohen rating: asin: 0091888050 binding: Paperback list price: $8.70 USD amazon price: $21.16 USD

This is the second in a trilogy of books by Pratchett, Stewart and Cohen. I'd link to the first, but it appears to be out of print in the US. (UK bookstores online probably still stock it; there is also Abebooks.com.)

Unlike other "the science of" books, these books do not attempt to paste scientific explanations onto an existing fantasy world (ie., how would Harry Potter's broom work in real life?). Instead, this series intersperses a short, standalone story by Pratchett with Stewart and Cohen's thoughts on science.

The original Science of Discworld centered around a story about the wizards of Discworld, wherein they accidentally witness the creation and evolution of our universe. Cohen & Stewart non-fiction discuss Big Science.

Linked: How Everything Is Connected to Everything Else and What It Means author: Albert-Laszlo Barabasi rating: asin: 0452284392 binding: Paperback list price: $16.00 USD amazon price: $17.79 USD

Networks are everywhere. The Internet is one; so is your circle of friends. The power grid is another network and so are the various systems of your body. Understanding the fundamental properties of networks may well be key to our survival in the future.

Albert-Laszlo Barabasi, one of the top researchers in the field of network theory, lays out the state of the art in this book. Barbasi's research has yielded some surprising insights into the way networks function. An attack on random 'nodes' on a network can be surprisingly ineffective at shutting it down - up to 80% of the nodes can be eliminated or disabled before the system itself starts to break down. On the other hand, a focused attack on a few of the major hubs in a network can cause the whole thing to collapse quickly.

As the Future Catches You: How Genomics & Other Forces Are Changing Your Life, Work, Health & Wealth author: Juan Enriquez rating: asin: 0609609033 binding: Hardcover list price: $24.95 USD amazon price: $12.00 USD

When I first received this book and flipped through it, I was seriously tempted to send it back unread. The typesetting is... creative to say the least - lots of white space, multiple fonts, scattershot graphics. Indeed,it looks like you've received an extra long email from someone who's just discovered how to play with all the format settings. Given that I'd purchased a hard cover book at hard cover prices, I felt ripped off.

However, I decided to read it anyway, and I'm glad I did. It's a short read, but a wild ride, and it's packed with information about the biotech and economic revolution we're just getting into. There are lots of facts and figures to consider, and the author does an excellent job of providing thought-provoking analogies that may change the way you look at some things.

Freakonomics : A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything author: Steven D. Levitt Stephen J. Dubner rating: asin: 006073132X binding: Hardcover list price: $25.95 USD amazon price: $25.95

This book has had a tremendous amount of buzz, and so I was curious as to what a 'rogue economist' had to say that was so interesting.

And indeed, the book has its moments, as when it compares realtors to the Klan and asks what McDonald's and a gang hierarchy might have in common. Perhaps most controversial is the author's contention that legalized abortion contributed to crime rate changes.

The economist does pose some interesting questions and then goes about answering them in a rational, strictly by the numbers fashion. The book prompts you to think about the real relationships underlying sociological phenomenon.

The book suffers though, from the lack of an overall theme and direction. Most frustrating is the fact that the book asks a fairly important question - do parents really have any impact on how their kids turn out? - and then fails to answer it. The book fizzles out on an analysis of naming patterns and the implications for your child's future. That section starts out being interesting, but carries on far too long.

The Life of Mammals rating: asin: B00008OM6K binding: DVD list price: $79.98 USD amazon price: $79.98

I've seen a lot of documentaries on animals in my day; I've also been to a few zoos and read as much as the next guy.

Thus I was expecting the usual from this series - a few interesting tidbits, perhaps some daring close-to-the-target footage, and so on. I wasn't expecting to be utterly fascinated and delighted.

Attenborough, armed with a good film crew and what appears to be the latest equipment for studying and observing animals in the wild, has got a superb documentary here. The footage is highly original, and the technology used isn't hidden. On the contrary, you usually get to see exactly how it is they're getting the critters on film, and the techniques used are quite interesting just on their own.