Horrible Biology

Delve into the eerie aspects of nature with this well-illustrated and enlightening book, unveiling the ghastly facets of life that thrive amidst us. From deadly poisonous frogs to plants that can drive one mad, from minuscule spiders residing on the skin to flies feasting on human flesh, and parasitic worms inhabiting human bodies to fungi annihilating frogs – discover these and more in the realm of Horrible Biology.

As you traverse through the chilling accounts, you’ll come to realize that biology – the study of living organisms, encompassing an estimated 8.5 million distinct species – holds dark secrets within its vast expanse. While not all of these species incite revulsion, a significant number indeed harbour attributes many would find appalling.

However, Horrible Biology isn’t solely a journey through grotesque organisms; it also honours lesser-known individuals whose contributions have significantly advanced the field of biology, enriching our comprehension of the living world, despite its grim constituents.

Environmental Chemistry and You

We all need some chemicals in our bodies – biochemistry. However, there are chemicals in our environment which might be inhaled, eaten or used on the skin, which we do not necessarily need and which can interact with chemicals already present inside us, with harmful and in some cases, devastating effects. Using charming illustrations to explain his points, the author, an allergy specialist, discusses the interactions between the biochemicals which should keep us alive and healthy and the external, potentially harmful chemicals which enter us from the environment in which we spend most of our lives. He also covers the sources of allergens, with some surprising facts.This book will be appreciated by lay readers and professionals alike; its clarity makes it easy to read and understand. Look up your condition, it may be more prevalent than you think.

Our Inherently Controversial Human Nature - and How We Should Hack It

Human induced climate change, overuse of natural resources, overwhelming amount of waste and pollution, gender inequality, elevated stress levels, flood of fake news. All these have a lot to do with our controversial human nature and how our race has formed, besides making our life more difficult and less sustainable.

You are to see the controversial process of how we began to become the only highly intelligent species, how widespread is our impact on our environment and why we are inching ahead to the point where extinction will be an issue to deal with. This book provides an original context of the links to our roots and hints at what we should do. It offers a solution to the seven decade-old Fermi paradox and answers the eternal question of meaning and importance of happiness.

It is easy to get the idea. Accepting the conclusions might be a harder task. The real challenge is making a change. Are you ready to start seeing the whole picture?

Mother is Dying

It’s hard enough to get your head around the fact that Granny is dying and that we may have to sort out her personal affairs. So, it’s no wonder that we struggle to get our heads around the fact that Mother Earth is dying too. Heavens above, we might have a lot more sorting out to do. Thinking and talking about death is hard. Are you ready to face the fact that our Mother is dying?

Wendy’s previous book, Surviving a ‘New Norm’, created by Loss and Bereavement: moving from Trauma to Insight, told how Wendy moved forward from the traumas and bereavements in her own life. The two central messages in Mother is Dying adapt her understanding and experience of the effects of trauma and bereavement to those that will occur during the slow demise of humanity on our planet, as she sees the future, which is a highly plausible vision.  

Mother is Dying has both pessimistic and optimistic tones and the change in climate change throughout the world is now critical.  

The distinctive contribution of Mother is Dying is asking us to consider now the emotional trauma of climate change and the losses it will bring. It is understanding the way that people will react to the major changes in our lives brought about by climate change – the outcome of global warming – that is so important to finding ways to reduce the impact of those consequences.  

If trauma and bereavement are our reactions to future climatic changes, how should we respond? What can we, as individuals do? Wendy is an idealist at heart, describing how both individuals and society need to adapt to the dangers of global warming that lie ahead.  

One of the delights of Wendy’s book are the ideas for what we can do both individually and in our local communities and these permeate her writing.

I am less sanguine than she is; her actions are necessary, but will they be sufficient? The responses to climate change require holistic whole-world concerted actions in a rapid timescale. Mother Earth will survive, but will humanity survive with it? What will you do to make a difference?

Dr David White
MBE, Biologist, The Cavernoma Alliance.

Something in the Sky

In a universe teeming with an estimated 10^24 planets, and with countless UFO sightings reported across Earth, the question is no longer ‘Are we alone?’ but rather ‘Why are they here? What is their purpose?’

Something in the Sky: UFO Sightings and Reports from Across the UK delves deep into meticulously documented witness accounts and official reports from the British government. These captivating cases represent only a fraction of the numerous UFO sightings that have been confirmed and archived throughout the UK’s history.

Intriguing and rigorously researched, this book invites you to explore the enigma of unidentified flying objects in British skies, shedding light on an age-old question that is increasingly becoming a modern reality.

How to Curb Climate Change?

In the eye-opening exploration, How to Curb Climate Change?, readers embark on a remarkable voyage through time to uncover the astonishing transformation of the Sahara and the Middle East, evolving from fertile landscapes into unforgiving deserts within a mere seven centuries.

This captivating book takes readers on an enlightening journey, revealing the pivotal role played by Neolithic societies in shaping the global climate. With the emergence of large-scale agriculture and animal husbandry, ancient civilizations flourished, seemingly unaware of the ecological consequences of their actions. As suspicions arise regarding the rapid desertification, this thought-provoking narrative investigates the interplay between exponential population growth, abusive land use, and the alarming shift towards aridity.

The initial chapters transport readers to the heart of the Neolithic era, where they bear witness to the profound influence these early inhabitants wielded over the world’s climate systems. By skilfully manipulating vegetation, they triggered permanent changes in the intensity and trajectory of prevailing moist winds, ultimately fuelling the expansion of deserts in the Northern Hemisphere.

Building upon this revelatory premise, the subsequent sections of the book unveil a compelling proposal grounded in a deep understanding of Earth’s climatic mechanisms. As the spectre of global warming looms ominously, the author outlines a visionary approach to harness the power of these ongoing climate changes for the betterment of our planet. This revolutionary method revolves around directing and redirecting the flow of humid winds, ingeniously channelling them deep into the heartlands of continents. The result? A remarkable renaissance, where the deserts of the Northern Hemisphere are revitalized and transformed into lush, green landscapes once more.

Challenging conventional wisdom, How to Curb Climate Change provides a wide-ranging revaluation of our relationship with the environment and acknowledging the profound impact we have on Earth’s delicate equilibrium. This remarkable book serves as an urgent call to action, reminding us of the transformative potential humanity possesses in curbing climate change and forging a sustainable future. Prepare to be inspired, enlightened, and equipped with the knowledge needed to embark on this critical journey towards global environmental restoration.

Wild Orchids of Málaga

Wild Orchids of Málaga is an English guide to the wild orchids of the province of Málaga – which are often of great beauty and prolific but are increasingly threatened. Based on some 30 years of study, the first pages consist of an account of the province with motorised transport in mind – hence details of roads leading to the orchid-rich sites, many of which are by the roadside. It then includes information on orchid flower structure and on flowering times of each species. There then follow simple accounts and photographs of the entire plant, the flower head, and the individual flower of each species.