Author: William McDonough, Michael Braungart
By Rodale Press

A manifesto for new consumer...., 2008-03-16
Cradle to Cradle is a manifesto for the new consumer - a mall-nirvana of non toxic products, endlessly `up-cycled' and replaceable; sustainability without the need to change our consuming habits.

Shrugging off alternative strategies as too dour and depressing, the authors put their faith in the belief that we can design our way out of the current predicament of toxic and crude products and create a virtuous circle of product creation, use and "up-cycling" to preserve precious resources and reduce our impact on the planet.

This is an appealing vision and one has to admire the work of co-authors Bill and Michael over many years in developing and testing their theory. But I was left more than a little disappointed as I realised not just the practical limits of their approach but also the philosophy that seemed to underlie their proposition.

This is a manifesto for accelerated consumerism, an evolutionary attempt to overcome the problems we have created through ignorance and myopia. At no point do the authors seem to question the wisdom of consumerism in a shrinking world or its instant appeal and ramifications for a global population of almost 7billion today and maybe 9 billion by 2050.

Maybe I was expecting too much, but even if every product complied with the cradle-to-cradle philosophy we would still be an awfully long way from a sustainable, let alone just world. I can't help but feel that even if the Cradle-to-Cradle philosophy was able to generate the abundance of endlessly re-cycled products it proposes, we will still require a more fundamental appraisal of why we want so much `stuff' we do not need in the first place, regardless of how it is designed and produced.

I am reminded of the Irish farmer's response to the request for directions from a lost tourist, "Well, if I was you, I wouldn't be starting out from here." Making existing product's more eco-friendly and efficient sounds a very worthy goal but maybe the first question we should be asking is, "Do we really need them in the first place?"

Author: Leonard Mlodinow
By Allen Lane

How randomness effects our lives, 2008-06-24
If you wonder about the relevance of the statistics and 'proof' that inundate our lives then this book puts them in their place. With a nice bit of history about probability up to the present and how outcomes are not as predictable as we would like to think. It certainly added to my own feeling that with our politicalisation of 'statistical proof' in society that the wool maybe being pulled over our eyes. Everyone aught to know about probability and randomness. And this is a good place to start - an enjoyable read.

Author: M. Du Sautoy
By Fourth Estate

a good book on maths, 2008-06-25
The book symmetry and finding moonshine in one reviewers entry they said they are the same book word for word that is true because one is the American release and the other the uk release, it is the same book. It is not a surprise that the publisher in the states would not use the title finding moonshine. Prof Du sautoy does a wonderful job in communicating maths and makes me wish i knew more about maths. Well written and i would encourage those who are thinking of buying to just go out and buy it.

Author: Ian Stewart
By Basic Books

Author: Mark Patmore
By Learning Matters Ltd

An essential buy, 2007-11-09
Before buying this book I attempted the online practice test (and failed!) after going through the book it highlighted areas I needed to work on. The book also provides example questions which are very similar to the test questions. I would not have passed first time without this book.

Author: Marcus du Sautoy
By HarperPerennial

insightful and complete account on Riemann Conjecture, 2007-09-03
Being a mathematician myself I have always found it difficult to find a maths book that was, on one side of a level that could be followed without being sitting in a library with a great aount of reference books, and of the other of a level enough not to get bored. Sure this is the best i've read. It's written following historical line and it becomes apage turner, as if it were a novel

Author: Simon Singh
By Fourth Estate

Mathematics as you've never seen it before, 2008-05-21
I was never a fan of maths at school. It did not come easily to me and I failed to see the relevance of trigonometry to my everyday life.

I say this so you realise I am not some sort of science geek who was best friends with a calculator. That's because I found this book absolutely fascinating. It made me laugh 3 times in the first 20 pages alone!

What Simon Singh does is through Fermat's puzzle describe the history of mathematics from Pythagoras right up to the 1990's. To the layman names like Euclid put in the mind very dull old guys, but they are brought to life with fascinating anecdotes. For example there's the tortured young French mathematician Galois who is dead by 20, his final mathematical theories frantically scribbled down before a dual. Then there's the story that Pythagoras himself drowned a man when he discovered a certain type of number he objected to!

All of this is carefully woven into the story of Andrew Wiles' life long obsession to prove Fermat's last theorem a puzzle that had foxed the whole world for over 350 years!

Everything is explained in a way that it can be digested by someone who has only a passing interest in maths and as a whole is a remarkable book.

Author: June Haighton, Bridget Phillips, Veronica Thomas, Debbie Holder
By Nelson Thornes

The best maths book I've seen, 2007-01-04
I have used this book quite a lot when teaching in my Adult Numeracy class. I like it because of its ease of use and layout. My learners also love it and have bought it for themselves.

Author: Andy Field
By Sage Publications Ltd

Excellent, 2008-06-23
This book was my saviour during my dissertation. A must for any psychology student about to tackle SPSS!

Author: Tony Crilly
By Quercus