Below the jump, I mention the books that I received recently. They are gifts, review copies that arrived in the mail, or that I purchased in London. These are the books that I may review in more depth later, either here or in print somewhere in the world.
When I get new books, I like to share them with people. Unfortunately, you are all so far away, so I cannot host a book party in my crib where you can look them over, so I'll do the next best thing. I'll host a book party on my blog each Friday of the week when I either purchase books or when they arrive in the mail. In this New Book Party, I will try to be your eyes by presenting my quick "first impression" -- almost as if we are browsing the shelves in a bookstore -- and I'll also provide relevant videos about the book and links so you can get a copy of your own.
Books that arrived recently:
The Compatibility Gene by Daniel M Davis [Allen Lane, 2013; Guardian Bookshop; Amazon UK; Amazon US/kindle US]
Publisher's synopsis The Compatibility Gene is a scientific adventure story set in a new field of genetic discovery -- that of the crucial genes that define our relationships, our health and our individuality. Here, Daniel M Davis, one of the leading scientists in the field, tells us the story of its grounbreaking developments that have the potential to change us all
We each possess a similar set of around 25,000 human genes. Yet a tiny, distinctive cluster of these genes plays a disproportionately large part in how our bodies work. These few genes, argues Daniel M. Davis, hold the key to who we are as individuals and our relationship to the world: how we combat disease, how our brains are wired, how attractive we are, even how likely we are to reproduce.
In The Compatibility Gene, one of our foremost immunologists tells the remarkable history of these genes' discovery and the unlocking of their secrets. From the British scientific pioneers who, during the Second World War, struggled to understand the mysteries of transplants and grafts, to the Swiss zoologist who devised an entirely new method of assessing potential couples' compatibility based on the smell of worn T-shirts, Davis traces what is nothing less than a scientific revolution in our understanding of the human body: a global adventure spanning some sixty years.
Davis shows how the compatibility gene is radically transforming our knowledge of the way our bodies work - and is having profound consequences for medical research and ethics. Looking to the future, he considers the startling possibilities of what these wondrous discoveries might mean for you and me.
My first impression: This is the only book I've read in the last five or six years that focuses on explaining immunology to the general public. Basically, it presents a peek into the lives of the scientists who study the immune system and their research findings, concentrating mainly upon the major histocompatibility complex -- "compatibility genes" -- what it is, how it functions and what happens when the body makes errors distinguishing "self" from "non-self". Although I've not yet finished reading this book, I don't think it is excessively technical, instead it presents a general overview of the personalities of the researchers, the development of this field and key discoveries. Those who are unfamiliar with the immune system really should read this book. Those who suffer from allergies, autoimmune diseases or from depression will also find much to ponder in this thought-provoking book.
Humour: A Very Short Introduction by Noël Carroll [Oxford University Press, 2014; Guardian Bookshop; Amazon UK; Amazon US/kindle US]
Publisher's synopsis Humour has been discovered in every known human culture and thinkers have discussed it for over two thousand years. Humour can serve many functions; it can be used to relieve stress, to promote goodwill among strangers, to dissipate tension within a fractious group, to display intelligence, and some have even claimed that it improves health and fights sickness. In this Very Short Introduction Noel Carroll examines the leading theories of humour including The Superiority Theory and The Incongruity Theory. He considers the relation of humour to emotion and cognition, and explores the value of humour, specifically in its social functions. He argues that humour, and the comic amusement that follows it, has a crucial role to play in the construction of communities, but he also demonstrates that the social aspect of humour raises questions such as 'When is humour immoral?' and 'Is laughing at immoral humour itself immoral?'.
My first impression: Although this book has roughly the same number of pages as any other Very Short Introduction (VSI), this book has fewer chapters than any other VSI that I've read, comprising just three -- relatively long -- chapters (The nature of humour; Humour, emotion, and cognition; Humour and value). The reason I mention this is because the length of the chapters makes this book difficult to read in chapter-sized bites on the tube or subway. The book is reasonably interesting in an academic sense and it raises important questions, but oddly, the author does not use humour to discuss humour. Although I'm not sure if this is important to those who study it.
What book(s) are you reading? How far are you along in the book? What do you think of it so far? Do you think your book is worth recommending to others?
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When she's not reading books, GrrlScientist can also be found here: Maniraptora. She's very active on twitter @GrrlScientist and sometimes lurks on social media: facebook, G+, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
