"A meditation on religion and science that explores the tension between our yearning for permanence and certainty, and the modern scientific discoveries that demonstrate the impermanent and uncertain nature of the world"--

"In How Not to Be Wrong, Jordan Ellenberg shows us that math isn't confined to abstract incidents that never occur in real life, but rather touches everything we do--the whole world is shot through with it. Math allows us to see the hidden structures underneath the messy and chaotic surface of our world. It's a science of not being wrong, hammered out by centuries of hard work and argument. Armed with the tools of mathematics, we can see through to...

A treasury of nose-wrinkling facts, quizzes, recipes and trivia includes entries about how a group of skunks is called a "stench," how snail slime was once an ingredient in cough syrup and more.

This is a book of miracles--medical events witnessed by leading physicians for which there is no reasonable medical explanation, or, if there is, the explanation itself is extraordinary. These dramatic first-person essays detail spectacular serendipities, impossible cures, breathtaking resuscitations, extraordinary awakenings, and recovery from unimaginable disasters. Still other essays give voice to cases in which the physical aspects were less dramatic...

Mother Angelica is not out to convert but to clarify. Her practical faith shows us that answers don't really come in magic formulas or neat prescriptions. In fact, sometimes truth seems ridiculous, but unless we are willing to do the ridiculous, God won't do the miraculous.

MLB Network host and commentator Brian Kenny uses stories from baseball's present and past to examine why we sometimes choose ignorance over information, and how tradition can trump logic, even when directly contradicted by evidence. Emmy Award-winning sportscaster Brian Kenny wants to reshape the way we think about baseball. The biggest proponent of sports analytics in the mainstream media, Kenny says that groupthink and tradition are standing in...

In this book, his last, Carl Sagan shows once again his extraordinary ability to interpret the mysteries of life and the majesty of the universe for the general reader. In Billions and Billions Sagan applies what we know about science, mathematics, and space to everyday life as well as to the exploration of many essential questions concerning the environment and our future. Ranging far and wide in subject matter, he takes his readers on a soaring...

"Perhaps the most significant meals in the world have been consumed at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue by the presumptive leaders of the free world. Thomas Jefferson had an affinity for eggplant and FDR for terrapin stew. Nixon ate a lump of cottage cheese topped with barbecue sauce every day and Obama regularly had arugula. Now, Alex Prud'homme takes us to the dining tables of the White House to look at what the presidents chose to eat, how the food was...

"Ripley's Believe It or Not! Mind Blown! is sure to amaze and astound children and adults alike with thousands of strange stories, unusual feats, and hair-raising oddities from around the world. Discover how one woman can crush apples with her biceps and read about the spider that lives underwater--yes, it's all weird and it's all true! Bursting with vibrant and eye-catching photos, as well as submissions from our dedicated readers, this book is a...

"Did you know that crows never forget a face? Or that jaguars have a favorite cologne? Have you ever wondered how to pet a yeti crab? Or whether dogs can tell if you're smiling? And just what is a burrowing bettong? Meet these weird, wonderful animals and the equally weird and wonderful scientists who study them. From crafting fake poop to slurping up bugs with a straw, there's nothing these amazing humans won't do to help us learn more about the...