Ah, the story of a female scientist in everyday modern life--ignored at every turn, relegated to the lowest rung, misunderstood. And yet she prevails in her own way, not in terms of professional success, but in terms of holding to her science and to her self-esteem, while teaching her young daughter to do the same. Some might assume that women in science are more widely accepted nowadays. Um, to a small degree yes, but not as much as you might imagine. Six-thirty is the best character ever. I enjoyed every word of this book.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • Meet Elizabeth Zott: a “formidable, unapologetic and inspiring” (PARADE) scientist in 1960s California whose career takes a detour when she becomes the unlikely star of a beloved TV cooking show in this novel that is “irresistible, satisfying and full of fuel. It reminds you that change takes time and always requires heat” (The New York Times Book Review).
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Oprah Daily, Newsweek, GoodReads
"A unique heroine ... you'll find yourself wishing she wasn’t fictional." —Seattle Times…
Any book by or about Jane Goodall is worth reading. One of my childhood heroes, she lived an incredible life and brought the gift of her perception, intelligence, courage, and hope to every corner of the world. In this year of her death, I wanted to re-read a book devoted to her life. This one fit the bill--not for its style or content, but for the woman who graces its pages. If you don't know Goodall's work from 1960 to 2025, read about it now.
This essential biography of one of the most influential women of the past century shows how truly remarkable Jane Goodall's accomplishments have been. Goodall was a secretarial school graduate when Louis Leakey, unable to find someone with more fitting credentials, first sent her to Gombe to study chimpanzees. In this acclaimed work, Dale Peterson details how this young woman of uncommon resourcefulness and pluck would go on to set radically new standards in the study of animal behavior. He vividly captures the triumphs and setbacks of her dramatic life, including the private quest that led to her now-famous activism.
I read the first half of this book on an airplane, a few months before a four-week trip to Australia in which I offered clinics and masterclasses all over the country. It made me laugh so hard, I finally had to put it down because my laughter was annoying other plane passengers and airport mates. The writing is hilarious--yet at the same time, Bryson offers a very realistic glimpse of a beautiful country filled with friendly humorous people.
Every time Bill Bryson walks out the door, memorable travel literature threatens to break out. This time in Australia.
His previous excursion along the Appalachian Trail resulted in the sublime national bestseller A Walk in the Woods. In A Sunburned Country is his report on what he found in an entirely different place: Australia, the country that doubles as a continent, and a place with the friendliest inhabitants, the hottest, driest weather, and the most peculiar and lethal wildlife to be found on the planet. The result is a deliciously funny, fact-filled, and adventurous performance by a writer who combines…
A deep dive into the interaction between equine brains and human brains when we work with horses. Written by a neuroscientist and horse trainer, this book explains in plain language many of the important mental differences that cause our prey and predator species to misunderstand each other. You won't experience the world in the same way after you learn how horses experience it. This book explains how we humans can improve equine welfare, reduce the risk of working with equines, and enhance the performance of horse-and-human teams by learning to work WITH equine brains rather than against them.
