Orangutans: Their History, Natural History and Conservation

Orangutans: Their History, Natural History and Conservation 

by Ronald I. Orenstein, Ian Redmond 

Language: English 

Buffalo, New York: Firefly Books, 2024. 

352 pages : color illustrations, maps ; 29 cm. 

ISBN: 9780228103783, 0228103789 

Summary: "Native to the forests of Sumatra and Borneo, wild orangutans are listed as critically endangered. The rarest of them all, the Tapanuli orangutan, was only recognized as a separate species in 2017, and today, it is the rarest great ape in the world. In Orangutans, zoologist and conservationist Ronald Orenstein draws on the latest research to survey the natural and cultural history of these charismatic red apes as well as their present and future. Divided into three parts, the book first traces orangutan ancestry from the distant past to the present and then explores the various roles orangutans have played throughout human history, from Indigenous cultures in Southeast Asia, to European colonialism and scientific exploration, to the pop culture of today. Part two details the latest scientific discoveries about orangutans and what we currently know about their habitat, diet, behavior, social structures and abilities. The final section of the book turns to the threats orangutans face today, from the destruction of their forest homes to deliberate killings, captures and the illegal trade that supplies animals for display, collection and entertainment. The author also surveys the efforts being made to save them from extinction, to preserve their ecosystems and to return orphaned orangutans to a life in the wild. Featuring over 150 full-color photographs, maps, a list of orangutan organizations to support and an extensive bibliography, Orangutans is an important, engaging and beautiful work about one of nature's most captivating animals."-- Provided by publisher

Reviews: Natural History

What the Bees See

What the Bees See: A Honeybee's Eye View of the World 

by Craig P. Burrows 

Language: English 

San Francisco, Chronicle Books, 2024. 

192 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 28 cm. 

ISBN: 9781797230184, 1797230182 

Summary: "Flowers glow in otherworldly blues and teals. An array of brilliant colors emerges from their petals. By exploring the wonders of the ultraviolet spectrum using innovative imaging technology, we come one step closer to understanding the extraordinary lives of bees. Photographer and horticulturalist Craig P. Burrows has spent the last ten years capturing flowers in this spectrum, and this book collects his stunning ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence (UVIVF) photos. In addition to these gorgeous nature images, the book illuminates our relationship with honeybees through in-depth research, diagrams, and archival images, exploring the science of pollination, the environmental impacts affecting bees, and the applications of bee products in the fields of medicine and cosmetics. A celebration of the symbiotic relationship between humans and honeybees that has benefited us throughout history, this book is an incredible look into the power of nature and how bees can help save the world"-- Provided by publisher

Logo Design. Global Brands

Logo Design. Global Brands 

Language: English 

Köln: Taschen, 2024. 

601 pages, 7 unnumbered pagres : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 21 cm. 

ISBN: 9783836576758, 3836576759 

Summary: "Following up on the best-selling 'Bibliotheca Universalis' logo manual, this second volume focuses on corporate identity" emblems. "In a globalized world, more and more symbols convey values such as trust, quality, or reliability. This catalog comprehensively" compiles images from categories of "distinctive brands. From airlines and groceries, sportswear and computers, museums, and magazines, to car brands, music labels, pharmaceuticals, and internet portals, this" volume "offers around 4,500 brand logos including ... country, as well as brands and companies", and occasionally designers and/or year of origin. A "reference book for anyone interested in ... branding ..."--Amazon

The Package Design Book

The Package Design Book 

Language: English 

Koln: Taschen, 2024. 

575 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 21 cm. 

ISBN: 9783836555524, 3836555522 

Summary: "Packaging is a highly underrated art form. As the first thing a consumer sees when looking at a product, it can make or break a sale. Every year, the Pentawards celebrate the art of the package by recognizing the world's most groundbreaking and influential designs. Designers compete in five main categories — beverages, food, body, luxury, and other markets — and no fewer than 50 sub-categories." -- Amazon

American Character: Surprising Portraits of an Unseen Nation

American Character: Surprising Portraits of an Unseen Nation 

by Peter Guttman 

Language: English 

New York: Skyhorse Publishing, 2024. 

256 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm. 

ISBN: 9781510780415, 1510780416 

Summary: "Award-winning photographer Peter Guttman showcases the vibrant and wildly diverse American people in an unprecedented, multi-decade collection of sharply etched portraits"-- Provided by publisher

Car : the definitive visual history of the automobile

Car : the definitive visual history of the automobile 

Language: English 

New York: DK Publishing, 2024. 

367 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 31 cm. 

ISBN: 9780241687932, 0241687934 

Summary: Traces the history of the automobile, from technological developments and manufacturers to the changing cultural backdrop of various models, and features photographs of the most noted cars of each decade.

The Secret Life of LEGO® Bricks: The Story of a Design Icon

The Secret Life of LEGO® Bricks: The Story of a Design Icon 

by Daniel Konstanski 

Language: English 

Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks, 2024. 

326 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 26 cm. 

ISBN: 9781464234415, 1464234418 

Summary: "LEGO® bricks are design icons and marvels of engineering. Virtually unchanged for over fifty years, the brick is still at the very centre of the LEGO ethos: each brick connects to every other brick, allowing the construction of almost anything you can imagine. LEGO minifigures may be the friendly faces of the LEGO world, but bricks in all their different shapes and forms are its very foundation. The Secret Life of LEGO® Bricks explores the brick's rich history in full color and unparalleled detail. Granted unprecedented access by the LEGO Group, Daniel Konstanski has interviewed design masters, element testers and the so-called 'rock stars'--the set designers-- to reveals for the first time how and why new LEGO bricks are made. This is the book the fans have always wanted: a truly behind-the-scenes look at the story of the beloved LEGO brick and the company which makes it, with a wealth of exclusive visual material from the LEGO Idea House and its team of historians in Billund, Denmark."-- Back cover

Reviews: Kirkus Reviews

Earth: The Definitive Visual Guide,

Earth: The Definitive Visual Guide 

Language: English 

New York, NY: DK Publishing, 2024. 

528 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), color maps ; 28 cm.

ISBN: 9780744069839, 9780241515617, 0744069831, 0241515610 

Summary: Now, in its third edition, this landmark encyclopedia celebrates our planet and explains the science underpinning the forces and processes that have made and shaped it. Artworks, photographs, terrain models, and maps are combined to capture the power of landscapes and natural events and show their hidden sides, explaining, for example, how an earthquake is triggered and how burning fossil fuels is driving a climate emergency.

The World Beneath: The Life and Times of Unknown Sea Creatures

The World Beneath: The Life and Times of Unknown Sea Creatures 

by Richard Smith 

Language: English 

[New York, NY]: Apollo Publishers, 2024. 

352 pages : color illustrations, map, color portrait ; 26 cm. 

ISBN: 9781954641389, 1954641389 

Summary: "Meet the world's most fascinating sea creatures, see the lives and curiosities of colorful fish and coral reefs. This spectacular volume has more than 300 color photos and extraordinary text from a leading marine biologist and underwater photographer who is the international expert on seahorses. In this richly informative volume, brimming with new discoveries and more than three hundred colorful images of jaw-dropping fish and coral reefs, you'll swim in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans; you'll be dazzled in the Coral Triangle and amazed in Triton Bay. Up close you'll meet the Cenderawasih fairy wrasse, with its florescent yellow streak; the polka-dot longnose filefish; and the multicolored seadragon. There are scarlet-colored corals, baby-blue sponges, daffodil crinoids, and all sorts of mystifying creatures that change color at the drop of a hat. The whale shark is almost larger than life and the author's beloved pygmy seahorse, unless photographed, is almost too tiny to see. The wondrous creatures inside are charmers and tricksters and excel in the arts of seduction and deception, and you'll have the rare chance to see and delight in their antics. You'll also learn what they eat, how they play, and how they care for one another, live on one another, and mimic others when they're afraid. There is also compelling insight into the naming process, which sea creatures are facing extinction, and how we can help them before it's too late. This new and expanded edition of The World Beneath has new text from award-winning author Dr. Richard Smith that covers recent developments and discoveries affecting the rapidly changing landscape of the world's coral reefs, a wealth of new images from recent dives around the world, and a thorough index" --AbeBooks

Reviews: Library Journal; Publishers Weekly

The Ocean Speaks: A photographic journey of discovery and hope

The Ocean Speaks: A photographic journey of discovery and hope

by Matt Porteous, Tamsin Raine 

Language: English 

London [England]: White Lion Publishing, an imprint of the Quarto Group, 2024. 

240 pages : color photographs ; 27 cm. 

ISBN: 9780711288935, 0711288933 

Summary: Discover the fascinating story of the Earth's open oceans with telling insights from the bold adventurers who love it most. The Ocean Speaks brings together more than 45 ocean enthusiasts who have taken ocean protection into their own hands, documenting the unknown and telling stories that aim to connect humans with water. Whether they are divers, marine biologists, surfers, influencers, conservationists, photojournalists or filmmakers, each of these ocean lovers is playing a part in deepening our understanding of our planet's largest life support system, 80% of which remains unmapped, unobserved and unexplored. Split geographically by oceans and continents, the stories include a project that documents the world's largest population of tiger sharks in the Maldives, divers who unofficially patrol a UNESCO world heritage site near the volcanic 'Ring of Fire' in the Tropical Eastern Pacific, a visit to the touching but ghostly turtle graveyard in Malaysia, and incredible natural spectacles like the mass spawning of grouper in French Polynesia or the humpback whales who flock to the remote Silver Bank in the Dominican Republic to birth and mate.

Reviews: Booklist

A History of Life in 100 Fossils

A History of Life in 100 Fossils 

by Paul D. Taylor, Aaron O'Dea 

Language: English 

London, Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books, in association with the Natural History Museum, 2024. 

232 pages : color illustrations ; 22 cm. 

ISBN: 9781588347701, 9780565095499, 1588347702, 0565095498 

Summary: A History of Life in 100 Fossils showcases 100 key fossils that together illustrate the evolution of life on earth. Iconic specimens have been selected from the renowned collections of the two premier natural history museums in the world, the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, and the Natural History Museum, London. The fossils have been chosen not only for their importance in the history of life, but also because of the visual story they tell. This stunning book is perfect for all readers because its clear explanations and beautiful photographs illuminate the significance of these amazing pieces, including 500 million-year-old Burgess Shale fossils that provide a window into early animal life in the sea, insects encapsulated by amber, the first fossil bird Archaeopteryx, and the remains of our own ancestors.

Reviews: Library Journal; Kirkus Reviews

Otherworldly Antarctica: Ice, Rock, and Wind at the Polar Extreme

Otherworldly Antarctica: Ice, Rock, and Wind at the Polar Extreme

by Edmund Stump, Marlene Hill Donnelly 

Language: English 

Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2024. 

xii, 140 pages : color illustrations, color maps ; 29 cm. 

ISBN: 9780226829906, 0226829901 

Summary: "The interior of Antarctica is an utterly pristine wilderness; a desolate landscape of ice, wind, and rock; a landscape so unfamiliar as to seem of another world. This place is known to only a handful of early explorers and the few scientists fortunate enough to have worked there. Edmund Stump is one of the lucky few. Having climbed, photographed, and studied more of the Transantarctic Mountains than any other person on Earth, this geologist is uniquely suited to offer this stunning visual tour of Antarctica. With stories of Stump's journeys and science, the book contains some 130 color photographs from his 40 years of work on the world's most isolated continent, all complemented by watercolors and sketches by scientific illustrator Marlene Hill Donnelly. Over three chapters--on the ice, the rock, and the wind--we meet snowy paths first followed during Antarctica's Heroic Age, climb the central spire of the Organ Pipe Peaks, peer into the crater of the volcanic Mt. Erebus, and traverse Liv Glacier on snowmobile, while avoiding fatal falls into hidden crevasses. Along the way, we see the beauty of granite, marble, and ice-cored moraines, meltwater ponds, lenticular clouds, icebergs and glaciers. All seems both permanent and precarious, connecting this otherworld to our fragile own"-- Provided by publisher

The Universe and Beyond

The Universe and Beyond 

by Terence Dickinson, Susan Dickinson 

Language: English 

Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books, 2024. 

224 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 28 cm. 

ISBN: 9780228104926, 0228104920 

Summary: "In the almost 15 years since the release of the fifth edition of The Universe and Beyond, our understanding of the universe has advanced exponentially. Previous editions guided readers through the intriguing world of black holes, dark matter and dark energy, toured the planets of other stars and plumbed the mysteries of quasars, pulsars, supernovas and the accelerating universe. In this new edition, the reader returns to Terence Dickinson's earlier tours armed with exciting new information on the origin and evolution of the universe, the birth of planets, life on our solar system's outer moons, runaway black holes, the first gravitational waves, an enigmatic interstellar visitor and more. These recent discoveries have spawned a host of questions about the universe that couldn't even be imagined a decade ago. Illustrating this voyage are breathtaking photos captured by the groundbreaking Hubble Space Telescope during the later phase of its mission and by the newly launched James Webb Space Telescope. The Webb Telescope has already allowed us to observe first stars and the formation of first galaxies and has provided information about potentially habitable exoplanets."-- Provided by publisher

Reviews: Sky & Telescope; Library Journal

Sneaker Freaker : the ultimate sneaker book

Sneaker Freaker : the ultimate sneaker book 

Language: English 

[Köln, Germany]: Taschen, 2024. 

512 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 22 cm. 

ISBN: 9783836597982, 3836597985 

Summary: "Sneaker Freaker has been at the forefront of the global sneaker scene for over two decades. With over 500 redesigned pages, fresh photography, immense historical detail, and otaku-level minutiae, this anthology combines the magazine's finest and content created exclusively for this book into one big celebration of sneakers."--Provided by publisher

Force of nature : a celebration of girls and women raising their voices

Force of nature : a celebration of girls and women raising their voices 

by Kate T. Parker 

Language: English 

New York: Workman Publishing, 2024. 

ix, 245 pages : color illustrations ; 24 cm. 

ISBN: 9781523505524, 1523505524 

Summary: "Force of Nature celebrates the voices of girls and women through photographic portraits and quotes."-- Provided by publisher

The wisdom of dogs

The wisdom of dogs 

by Alex Cearns 

Language: English 

Australia: ABC Books : HarperCollinsPublishers, 2024. 

138 pages : chiefly color illustrations ; 18 cm. 

ISBN: 9780733343506, 0733343503 

Summary: Move over, Socrates and Plato! In this heartwarming guide to living your best life, award-winning photographer Alex Cearns shares the sage advice of our four-legged furry gurus. Their profound insights and goofy enthusiasm will remind you to cherish friendship and love, celebrate our differences and respect the need for a good nap. So sit, stay and enjoy the wisdom of dogs!

Lonely Planet Hidden Libraries: The World’s Most Unusual Book Depositories

Lonely Planet Hidden Libraries: The World’s Most Unusual Book Depositories 

by DC Helmuth 

Language: English 

Dublin: Lonely Planet Global Limited, 2024. 

207 pages : color illustrations ; 25 cm. 

ISBN: 9781837582723, 1837582726 

Summary: Libraries do not come in one standard size; they adapt to the people and circumstances they serve. Explore 50 of the most unique libraries located in unknown spaces across the world in this book for travel-loving bibliophiles. This inspirational guide describes each entry's purpose, telling its unique story, and celebrates the great lengths humans will go to assure access to books. -- Adapted publisher description

Reviews: Library Journal; Publishers Weekly

The Art of Crying: The Healing Power of Tears

The Art of Crying: The Healing Power of Tears 

by Pepita Sandwich 

Language: English 

New York: Voracious, 2024. 

vi, 201 pages : color illustrations, color map ; 21 cm. 

ISBN: 9780316532556, 031653255X 

Summary: Explore the healing, transformative power of shedding tears in this vibrant illustrated study of crying, one of the most uniquely human things we do. What if crying wasn't just an involuntary reaction to feeling sad, vulnerable, or overwhelmed--but a hidden wellspring of power we could harness to live a fuller life? In The Art of Crying, Pepita Sandwich makes the case that crying is humanity's most misunderstood and magical special effect. We are the only animals who shed tears as a result of the emotions we feel. But crying is not our weakness: it's our superpower. Our tears are a path to growth and healing that leads to deeper and more fulfilling experiences. In this illustrated book, Sandwich dives deep into an ocean of research into tears to understand the science and history of this uniquely human phenomenon. And she has emerged with a case for 'letting it all out' a little more often, because tears have a powerful magic all their own"--Publisher

Reviews: Library Journal

Artificial Intelligence: An Illustrated History: From Medieval Robots to Neural Networks

Artificial Intelligence: An Illustrated History: From Medieval Robots to Neural Networks 

by Clifford A. Pickover 

Language: English 

New York: Union Square & Co., 2024. 

xv, 223 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 22 cm. 

ISBN: 9781454955788, 1454955783 

Summary: "Artificial Intelligence: An Illustrated History explores the historic origins and current applications of AI in such diverse fields as computing, medicine, popular culture, mythology, and philosophy. Through more than 100 entries, award-winning author Clifford A. Pickover, offers a granular, yet accessible, glimpse into the world of AI--from medieval robots and Boolean algebra to facial recognition, and artificial neural networks. First released in 2019, this updated paperback edition brings readers up to speed with coverage of technologies such as DALL-E and ChatGPT, and it explores the very real fear that AI will alter the course of humanity--forever." Publisher's website