Rob DeSalle is a curator of entomology at the American Museum of Natural History. His work frequently delves into the intersection of science and everyday life, exploring subjects ranging from the biology of the brain to the history of wine. Drawing on his extensive expertise in entomology and evolutionary biology, DeSalle makes complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging for readers. His writing encourages a deeper appreciation for the natural world and our place within it.
While notions of human race have created some of the most profound and destructive divisions in modern western societies, this book argues that from a biological point of view races do not exist. It outlines that races are purely social constructs and addresses common misunderstandings for the general reader.
A celebration of beer--its science, its history, and its impact on human culture "Curatorial eminences Rob DeSalle and Ian Tattersall serve up a potent scientific brew. . . . A marvellous paean to the pint, and to the researchers probing its depths." -- Barbara Kiser, Nature "Forced to choose between this book and a pint of hazy IPA, I would be at a loss. Better to consume them at the same time--both will go down easily, and leave you in an improved condition."--Bill McKibben What can beer teach us about biology, history, and the natural world? From ancient Mesopotamian fermentation practices to the resurgent American craft brewery, Rob DeSalle and Ian Tattersall peruse the historical record and traverse the globe for engaging and often surprising stories about beer. They explain how we came to drink beer, what ingredients combine to give beers their distinctive flavors, how beer's chemistry works at the molecular level, and how various societies have regulated the production and consumption of beer. Drawing from such diverse subject areas as animal behavior, ecology, history, archaeology, chemistry, sociology, law, genetics, physiology, neurobiology, and more, DeSalle and Tattersall entertain and inform with their engaging stories of beer throughout human history and the science behind it all. Readers are invited to grab a beer and explore the fascinating history of its creation.
A star curator at the American Museum of Natural History widens the palette and shows how the physical, natural, and cultural context of color are inextricably tied to what we see right before our eyes.
An imaginative natural history survey of the wide world of spirits, from whiskey and gin to grappa and moonshine