In the Beat of a Heart or Can I Still Kiss You

In the Beat of a Heart: Life, Energy, and the Unity of Nature

Author: John Humphreys Whitfield

"Visionary biologists have advanced a new theory that explains how all the living creatures of the world - from the tiny amoeba to the vast rain forest - are constructed, providing a fresh perspective on the essential interconnectivity of living systems." "This revolutionary theory explains a variety of phenomena, helping us understand why a shrew eats its bodyweight in food each day, why a mammal's heart beats about 1 billion times in its lifetime, why there are no trees as tall as the Eiffel Tower, and why more species live at the Earth's equator than at its poles. By looking at how living things use energy, we can answer these and a myriad of other intriguing questions." In the Beat of a Heart combines biography, history and science, and nature writing to capture the exciting advances - and the people who are making them - that are triggering a revolution as potentially important to biology as Newton's insights were to physics.

Library Journal

Why are there 700 species of North American birds instead of seven? Why do the tropics have more species than the polar regions? If different species-whether tree, bear, or bacterium-are subject to the same physical laws, is there a general unified theory of biology? Freelance science writer Whitfield tackles these questions by exploring the role of energy and metabolism as the unifying force in nature. Writing in an engaging style, he describes the work and lives of key scientists whose often controversial ideas also help contribute answers. While similar to Kevin J. Gaston and Tim M. Blackburn's Pattern and Process in Macroecology, which is suitable for a more academic audience, Whitfield's book does not overwhelm the reader with innumerable scientific studies and details. Instead, it gives a glimpse of the history and science behind the search for a new theory explaining the simplicity and complexity of life. Recommended for all libraries.-Teresa U. Berry, Univ. of Tennessee Libs., Knoxville Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Interesting book: Ética en el Lugar de trabajo:Instrumentos y Táctica para Transformación Organizativa

Can I Still Kiss You?: Answering Your Children's Questions About Cancer

Author: Neil Russell

As a successful, loving father, Neil Russell had to deal with one of the mostdifficult and important responsibilities he had ever faced as a parent: speaking to his children about his cancer. Diagnosed at age 47 when his children were only 11 and 13, this is Neil's emotional account of the disease's life-changing impact on himself and his family. Can I Still Kiss You? is both informative narrative and interactive journal; it will help parents speak to their children about the cancer that has come into their lives.

The prospect of sitting down with a child in an attempt to make sense out of a disease that we barely understand ourselves is daunting. Russell provides a chapter-by-chapter series of questions and answers dealing with diagnosis, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy during and after treatment. Through his own experience and research he presents clear, straightforward questions followed by answers that are understandable to children. Additional space encourages parents to add personal responses to children and children to write back expressing fears, concerns or encouragement-in essence, a "message board" for sharing emotions that are difficult to articulate. Some of the questions he addresses are: What is cancer?, When I get older will I get cancer because you did?, and Can I still kiss you?

This insightful book ends with a warm and powerful essay written by Neil's son, Trevor. Can I Still Kiss You? reveals the remarkable inner strength and courage of a family dealing with a parent in need.