Description
This charismatic book is a fascinating read and Vogel is exceptionally good at presenting the material so that it is accessible to a general audience. The book presents new conceptions, data, and interpretations, but its most impressive aspect is the wide range of diverse examples collected in one place, displaying a lifetime's worth of accumulated knowledge and wisdom. -- Amy S. Johnson, Bowdoin College The book draws case studies from an enormous diversity of organisms, and the scholarship is meticulous--the sources used and cited are both appropriate and extensive. They not only contribute to the text itself, but also comprise a bibliography that will be widely consulted by students at many levels and by readers interested in pursuing specific topics in more depth. -- Sharon Swartz, Brown University
About the Author
Steven Vogel is James B. Duke Professor Emeritus of Biology at Duke University. His numerous books include "Comparative Biomechanics" (Princeton), and "Cats' Paws and Catapults" (Norton).
Reviews
"If what you desire in a readable science book is food for thought, Glimpses of Creatures in their Physical Worlds provides a feast. Biologists, engineers, and physicists--indeed, anyone with curiosity about the natural world--will revel in this smorgasbord of biomechanical ideas."--Mark Denny, American Scientist "Such a book could be written only by someone with a rich knowledge of biomechanics, and Vogel, an emeritus professor of biology at Duke University, fits the bill. Considered one of the founders of the biomechanics community in the US, his distinguished research career has focused on organism-fluid interactions and such diverse topics as the behavior of leaves in the wind, passive ventilation of prairie-dog burrows, and airflow through the branching antennae of some moths. His breadth of knowledge is clearly reflected in the examples presented and the creative thought embodied in Glimpses of Creatures in Their Physical Worlds. Vogel uses the same approachable, entertaining writing style... [T]his book is sure to serve as an inspiring entry into the field of biomechanics."--Stacey Combes, Physics Today "It is a fine book and emphasizes important relationships too often neglected."--Choice "As ever, Vogel is inspiring and his insights are remarkable."--Henry Bennet-Clark, BioScience
Book Information
ISBN 9780691138077
Author Steven Vogel
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Princeton University Press
Publisher Princeton University Press
Weight(grams) 482g