Books From University Presses

If you've ever felt the pull of untouched wilderness or marveled at the simple chorus of a dawn chorus, "Voices of the Wild" will resonate deeply with you. Bernie Krause underscores the urgent need to preserve the sounds of the natural world. His unique blend of storytelling and science exemplifies how deeply entwined our lives are with nature's melodies, offering a profound understanding of why they are essential for our cultural and physical health. It's an auditory adventure that will enrich your appreciation of the natural world's vanishing soundtrack.

If you're someone who's deeply concerned about the environmental crisis, "Red Sky at Morning" is a crucial read. It goes beyond the usual alarming statistics to instill hope through actionable solutions. Reading Speth's book is a bit like getting a strategic battle plan from a seasoned general—you're getting the insights and wisdom needed to envision and participate in meaningful change for our planet’s future.

The Story of Life is a captivating journey that takes you through the fascinating history of life on Earth. From the earliest single-celled organisms to the rise and fall of the dinosaurs, and the incredible variety of life we see today, this book is a remarkable survey of the wonders of our planet. Through beautiful illustrations and engaging storytelling, Sir Richard Southwood explores the major geological periods and the impact of planetary changes on the forms of life. Whether you're a nature enthusiast or simply curious about the world around you, this book will leave you enthralled and inspired by the amazing story of life.

If you're intrigued by the intricate web of life that thrives in coastal environments, "The Biology of Mangroves and Seagrasses" is a veritable treasure. Not only does it dive deep into the unique adaptations and biodiversity within these habitats, but it also elucidates their critical role in our global ecosystem. You won't merely walk away informed; you'll gain a profound respect for these vital, yet often overlooked, aquatic communities.

"The Mushroom at the End of the World" is an eye-opening exploration of the unexpected connections between human destruction and the natural world's resilience. Author Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing follows the journey of matsutake mushrooms, a valuable commodity in Japan, and the varied characters involved in its commerce. Through their stories, Tsing examines the possibilities for collaborative survival in damaged landscapes and offers a unique perspective on the impact of capitalism on our planet's ecosystems. This book will appeal to those interested in environmental studies, anthropology, and economics.

Are we deranged? The acclaimed Indian novelist Amitav Ghosh argues that future generations may well think so. How else to explain our imaginative failure in the face of global warming? In his first major book of nonfiction since In an Antique Land, Ghosh examines our inability—at the level of literature, history, and politics—to grasp the scale and violence of climate change.The extreme nature of today’s climate events, Ghosh asserts, make them peculiarly resistant to contemporary modes of thinking and imagining. This is particularly true of serious literary fiction: hundred-year storms and freakish tornadoes simply feel too improbable for the novel; they are automatically consigned to other genres. In the writing of history, too, the climate crisis has sometimes led to gross simplifications; Ghosh shows that the history of the carbon economy is a tangled global story with many contradictory and counterintuitive elements.Ghosh ends by suggesting that politics, much like literature, has become a matter of personal moral reckoning rather than an arena of collective action. But to limit fiction and politics to individual moral adventure comes at a great cost. The climate crisis asks us to imagine other forms of human existence—a task to which fiction, Ghosh argues, is the best suited of all cultural forms. His book serves as a great writer’s summons to confront the most urgent task of our time.

This book is a great resource for agriculture professionals and researchers who want to gain a deep understanding of the mechanisms underlying weed population dynamics. The authors present a theoretical framework that connects empirical knowledge and mathematical models, making it easier to develop effective weed management strategies. It is a must-read for those who are interested in sustainable agriculture and protecting crops from unwanted weed infestations.

This book is a great resource for anyone looking to understand the impact of marine pollution on both the environment and human health. The author provides a balanced view and presents case studies from all over the world. It is recommended for readers who are interested in environmental protection, water infrastructure management, and ocean conservation.