Over at Download the Universe, we’ve added another crop of entertaining reviews about ebooks that you definitely should–or, in some cases, definitely should not–check out:
“When an Autism Diagnosis Comes as a Blessing”: Steve Silberman writes a powerful review about the reality of autism and a Kindle memoir about living with the condition.
“Meandering Mississippi: An early journalism iBook is all wet”: Seth Mnookin reads an account of last year’s Mississippi floods and wonders why newspapers are squandering the opportunities that ebooks are offering them.
“A Lost Explorer Returns: Todd Balf’s Farthest North“A Lost Explorer Returns: Todd Balf’s Farthest North: David Dobbs revels in a well-told story of an ill-fated scientific voyage across the Arctic.
“Leonardo: The First Great Science Ebook”: I take a look at a lavishly-produced ebook about Leonardo da Vinci’s forgotten work as a pioneer of anatomy. Staggeringly impressive.
“A Time Machine for the Face of Earth”: My review of a coffee-table-like ebook about how humans (and other forces) are changing the surface of the planet.
“Artificial Epidemics: You’re Not Sick, You’re Just Overdiagnosed”: Neuroscience blogger “Scicurious” is unimpressed with an ebook that claims that depression and prostate cancer are all in your head. (Confused? You should be.)
“Titanic: The e-Book Nobody Loved”: Jennifer Ouellette looks at one of the least successful Titanic anniversary tie-ins. Again, a wasted opportunity.
And, finally, Seth Mnookin, Annalee Newitz, Maia Szavalitz, and I engaged in a three-day roundtable discussion about ebooks: how people read them, how they get published, and the future of books:
Day 1: Crap futurism, pleasure reading, and DRM
Day 2: Walled gardens, cruftiness, and a race to the bottom
Go Further
Animals
- This ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thoughtThis ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thought
- Why this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect senseWhy this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect sense
- When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
Environment
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
- Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting musicListen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?
History & Culture
- Meet the original members of the tortured poets departmentMeet the original members of the tortured poets department
- Séances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occultSéances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occult
- Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?
- Beauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century SpainBeauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century Spain
- The real spies who inspired ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’The real spies who inspired ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’
Science
- Here's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in spaceHere's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in space
- Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.
- NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- Can aspirin help protect against colorectal cancers?Can aspirin help protect against colorectal cancers?
Travel
- What it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in MexicoWhat it's like to hike the Camino del Mayab in Mexico
- Is this small English town Yorkshire's culinary capital?Is this small English town Yorkshire's culinary capital?
- This chef is taking Indian cuisine in a bold new directionThis chef is taking Indian cuisine in a bold new direction
- Follow in the footsteps of Robin Hood in Sherwood ForestFollow in the footsteps of Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest
