How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi
Collected Quirks of Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math from Nerd Nite
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4.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
In the vein of acclaimed popular-science bestsellers such as Atlas Obscura, Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry, The Way Things Work, What If?, and Undeniable, the co-founders of the global science organization Nerd Nite bring readers a collection of wacky, yet fascinating STEM topics.
For 20 years, Nerd Nite has delivered to live audiences around the world, the most interesting, fun, and informative presentations about science, history, the arts, pop culture, you name it. There hasn’t been a rabbit hole that their army of presenters hasn’t been afraid to explore. Finally, after countless requests to bring Nerd Nite to more fans across the globe, co-founders and college pals Matt Wasowski and Chris Balakrishnan are bringing readers the quirky and accessible science content that they crave in book form, focused on STEM and paired with detailed illustrations that make the content pop. The resulting range of topics is quirky and vast, from kinky, spring-loaded spiders to the Webb telescope’s influence on movie special effects.
Hilariously named after Dale Carnegie’s iconic book, How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi features narratives, bursts, and infographics on all things STEM from scientists around the world. Chapters are sure to make you laugh-out-loud, with titles such as "The Science of the Hangover," "What Birds Can Teach Us About the Impending Zombie Apocalypse," and "Lessons from the Oregon Trail."
With fascinating details, facts, and illustrations, combined with Chris and Matt’s incredible connections to organizations such as the Discovery Network and the Smithsonian Institution, How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi is sure to reach joyful STEM enthusiasts of all ages around the world.
About Nerd Nite: Started in 2003, Nerd Nite is a monthly event held in 100+ cities worldwide during which folks give 20-minute fun-yet-informative presentations across all disciplines, while the audience drinks along!
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this rollicking collection, Balakrishnan and Wasowski—founders of the Nerd Nite series, in which experts present short, accessible science talks—bring together brief essays by scholars and others on such topics as "sex change and gender roles in anemonefishes," microbes' role in creating human body odor, and the feasibility of sci-fi artificial gravity systems. Numerous entries focus on animals, including scientist Laura Chaibongsai's study of the U.S. Navy's successful efforts to train "dolphins to detect underwater mines" and primatologist Natalia Reagan's survey of homosexual behavior among nonhuman primates. The selections are uniformly irreverent—in "To Boldly Go," journalist Brendan Byrne discusses how astronauts pee and poop during space missions—while dispensing illuminating trivia, as when neuroscientist Paula Croxson explains that the hair-of-the-dog approach to treating hangovers actually does work because the methanol that builds up in the body during an alcohol binge can be partially neutralized afterward with ethanol from alcoholic drinks. The broad range of topics ensures most readers will find something of interest, and the brisk pace will keep them glued to their seats. Playful yet enlightening, this entertains. Illus.
