Buzzwords: A Scientist Muses on Sex, Bugs, and Rock 'n' Roll
by May R. Berenbaum, a Joseph Henry Press Book
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Book Summary Information
Author: a Joseph Henry Press Book, May R. BerenbaumEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2000-08-01
ISBN: 0309068355
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Joseph Henry Press
Book Reviews of Buzzwords: A Scientist Muses on Sex, Bugs, and Rock 'n' Roll
Book Review: A Compilation of Humorous Bug Essays
Summary: 5 Stars
Author May R. Berenbaum is head of the Entomology Dept. at U of Illinois and is a distinguished insect researcher and humorist. She has somewhat of a cartoonist Gary Larson ("The Far Side") sense of humor and this book is a compilation of her short articles that appeared in the "American Entomologist" from 1991 to 1999.
With such article headings as: "On elderly ants", "Fatal attractions", "Roach clips and other short subjects", "Infield flies and other sporting types", "Subpoenas envy", etc., one will find a hilarious, pun-filled book full of laughs. No wonder then that such a distinguished scientist as sociobiologist E. O. Wilson ("Diversity of Life", et al.) gave this nod to Berenbaum's book: "No one in recent years has written on insects with more learning, passion, and disarming humor than May Berenbaum. She is a great friend of the Hexapoda and therefore, ultimately, us"- from the back cover. Indeed!
Summary of Buzzwords: A Scientist Muses on Sex, Bugs, and Rock 'n' Roll
Buzzwords showcases the Best of Berenbaum, a selection from her humor column in the American Entomologist professional journal, accompanied by a number of original pieces written for this book. The book comes in four parts: how entomologists see insects, including their view of a U.S. government plan to eradicate illicit coca fields by dropping caterpillars from airplanes; how the rest of the world sees insects, with Berenbaum's proposed classificatory scheme for placing Spider Man, Firefly, and other cartoon superheroes into well-defined taxa; how entomologists view themselves--featuring Bambi Berenbaum, a gorgeous entomologist created for an episode of TV's popular "The X- Files," whose character was inspired when the scriptwriter consulted Berenbaum's books; how entomologists see their colleagues, with various views on scholarly citation, motion sickness, and more. Along the way are some thought-provoking observations--for example, about the impact of television on public knowledge of science. In one poll, Berenbaum writes, 35% of adults said they believed that prehistoric humans coexisted with dinosaurs, la the Flintstones. Although you'll chuckle all the way, Berenbaum has the last laugh, giving powerful lessons in the spectacular diversity of the insect world and the nature of scientific discovery, cleverly packaged as witty observations on subjects far and wide.Business Books
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