Joel Levy – författare

Can you really tell a criminal by the bumps on his head? What does a memory look like? Can a machine think? Why are some people shy? Is it better not to feel so much? These are some of the many questions that have troubled the minds of some of the greatest thinkers in human civilization and are discussed in this comprehensive yet accessible introduction to psychology.The complex workings of the mind have fascinated mankind for centuries, but the key theories of psychology are often so complicated that it is almost impossible for the casual reader to understand. In Why We Do the Things We Do, Joel Levy unlocks the important studies and theories in a series of simple questions and answers that shine new and uncomplicated light on the important aspects of psychology. This book will demystify the key questions by tracking their origins in the writings of some of the most prominent thinkers in various fields, showing how these ideas and concepts have developed over time.With each section broken down into the key concepts, issues and arguments, considering how these ideas influence the way we all go about our daily lives, Why We Do the Things We Do will illuminate this fascinating subject.

The iconic futurist artist and designer Syd Mead once described science fiction as "reality ahead of schedule". In From Science Fiction to Science Fact, Levy explores the visions of the writers, futurists and far-sighted inventors who made those realities, from the direct influence of H.G. Wells on the atomic bomb and the tank, to the ambitious prototypes created by inventors ahead of their time, such as Nikola Tesla's remote-controlled drone ships. The history and development of each technology is detailed and related in context, exploring the road from prescient fictional representation to real-life technology. Meet the greatest names and works in sci-fi, from Jules Verne and Aldous Huxley to Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov, Star Trek to the Bionic Man, alongside visionary inventors such as Tesla and Wernher von Braun. What the writers of modern science fiction invent today, you and I will do tomorrow. - J. G. Ballard

Most science chronicles present a triumphant march through time, with revolutionary thinkers and their discoveries following in orderly progression. The truth, however, is somewhat different. Scientific Feuds is a collection of the most vicious battles among the greatest minds of our time. It features such contests as Huxley and Wilberforce's debate on Darwin's theory of evolution, Franklin and Wilkins' fight over the discovery of DNA, and the "War of Currents" between Tesla and Edison (which ended with Edison electrocuting dogs and horses in a vain attempt to discredit Tesla's work). From passionate competition to vindictive sniping, these rivalries prove that the world of science is far from cold and methodical.

Can you really tell a criminal by the bumps on his head? What does a memory look like? Can a machine think? Why are some people shy? Is it better not to feel so much? These are some of the many questions that have troubled the minds of some of the greatest thinkers in human civilization and are discussed in this comprehensive yet accessible introduction to psychology.The complex workings of the mind have fascinated mankind for centuries, but the key theories of psychology are often so complicated that it is almost impossible for the casual reader to understand. In Why We Do the Things We Do, Joel Levy unlocks the important studies and theories in a series of simple questions and answers that shine new and uncomplicated light on the important aspects of psychology. This book will demystify the key questions by tracking their origins in the writings of some of the most prominent thinkers in various fields, showing how these ideas and concepts have developed over time.With each section broken down into the key concepts, issues and arguments, considering how these ideas influence the way we all go about our daily lives, Why We Do the Things We Do will illuminate this fascinating subject.

A clear, concise and fascinating guide to philosophical thought experiments and how they’ve shaped our understanding of the world.From Plato’s Cave to Descartes’ Demon, and from Zeno’s paradoxes to Hilbert’s Hotel, great thinkers have used thought experiments and paradoxes to try and work out complex ideas in the simplest way possible.Perhaps the most famous thought experiment is that of Zeno’s Achilles and the tortoise. If both Achilles and the tortoise move at constant speed, why will Achilles never catch up with the tortoise when the tortoise starts ahead of him? Zeno argues that when Achilles reaches the point where the tortoise started the race, the tortoise will have already moved on. And as Achilles runs on to where the tortoise was last, when he reaches that point the tortoise has moved again. Therefore Achilles will never catch up with the tortoise as the distance he must run gets smaller and smaller and each time he has less and less time to run…Starting in Ancient Greece, Joel Levy guides us through the mind-bending world of thought experiments and their role in revealing the complexity of morality, exploring the limitations and the infinite possibilities of the human mind.

Instant Engineering pulls together all the pivotal engineering theories and discoveries into one concise volume. Each page contains a discrete 'cheat sheet', which tells you the most important facts in bite-sized chunks, meaning you can become an expert in an instant. From Archimedes to Elon Musk, from screws and pulleys to the steam engine, and from the canal boat to the space rocket, every key figure, theory or term is expressed in succinct and lively text and graphics. Perfect for the knowledge hungry and time poor, this collection of graphic-led lessons makes engineering interesting and accessible. Everything you need to know – and more – is here.

Meltdown investigates and recreates the dramatic events behind the most notorious nuclear accidents in history, as well as those shrouded in secrecy. Combining human tragedy with intriguing science, each account reveals new aspects of humanity's complex relationship with nuclear power and the ongoing struggle to harness and control it. From the pioneers of Los Alamos who got up close and personal with the cores of atomic bombs, to the hapless engineers in Soviet fuel-processing plants who unwittingly mixed up a disaster in a bucket, and from the terrifying impact of a tsunami at Fukushima to the mystery of the recent Russian incident, Meltdown explores the past and future of this extraordinary and potentially lethal source of infinite power.

A clear, concise and easily understood guide to the most fascinating of subjects - the human psyche.Exploring all the main theories, it provides potted biographies of key practitioners, and explains in simple terms the most important theories and experiments.Discovering more about the way their mind works!

Newton’s Notebook is a biography with a difference. It provides a full and detailed account of Sir Isaac Newton’s life and discoveries, but is written, designed and illustrated to look like a personal notebook.By mining the rich sources of Newton’s own journals and books, and incorporating a variety of quotations and illustrations, Newton’s Notebook brings its subject to life more vividly than any ordinary biography. It reveals the man behind the theories and examines Newton’s personal and family life as well as the amazing impact of his ideas and the world’s reaction to them.

The Pocket Book of Dragons explores the myth, magic and meaning of one of the most fabulous and fearsome beasts of legend. Encounter serpents of the sea and air, Eastern dragon kings, Viking wyrms, Biblical leviathans, fire-breathing guardians of treasure, medieval monsters, and dragon-slaying saints. Overflowing with ancient and modern dragon tales from every corner of the globe, and beautifully illustrated with a curated archive of the finest dragon art, this is a little book that contains a world of fantastical facts.

From the Ancient Greek goddess Hecate to the Wicked Witch of the West, stories of witchcraft and wizardry have been told around the world for thousands of years. The Pocket Book of Witches is your guide to the art, history, and folklore of sorcery, with tales from across the globe accompanied by a beautiful archive of the finest magical art. Explore changing representations of magic-wielders, from figures of fear and persecution to archetypes of feminine power, and discover why witchcraft today is as popular as it has ever been.

From the Celtic Tír na nÓg to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Victorian flower fairies to modern fantasy, the Fae have long been a focus of mystery and wonder.Pocket Book of the Fae is your guide to the art, history, and folklore of the fairy realm, with tales from across the globe accompanied by a beautiful archive of fine art. Meet the Fair Folk in all their many forms: as figures of mischief, benevolent guardians, malicious magic-wielders, and seductive spirits, and discover the stories behind our enduring fascination with their mysterious world.