November 2023 MBR Reviewer's Choice

Reviewer's Choice

The Philosophy and Practice of Science
David B. Teplow
Cambridge University Press
www.cambridge.org
9781107044302, $79.50, HC, 430pp

https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Practice-Science-David-Teplow/dp/1107044308

Synopsis: With the publication of "The Philosophy and Practice of Science", Professor David B. Teplow offers a novel synthesis of the philosophy and practice of science, covering its diverse theoretical, metaphysical, logical, philosophical, and practical elements.

The process of science is generally taught in its empirical form: what science is, how it works, what it has achieved, and what it might achieve in the future. What is often absent is how to think deeply about science and how to apply its lessons in the pursuit of truth, in other words, knowing how to know.

In "The Philosophy and Practice of Science", Professor Teplow presents illustrative examples of science practice, history and philosophy of science, and sociological aspects of the scientific community, to address commonalities among these disciplines. In doing so, he challenges cherished beliefs and suggests to students, philosophers, and practicing scientists new, epistemically superior, ways of thinking about and doing science.

Critique: Impressively informative, exceptionally thoughtful and thoroughly thought-provoking, "The Philosophy and Practice of Science" by Professor Emeritus David B. Teplow is of particular relevance to readers with an interest in the philosophy and history of science and physics. Highly recommended for personal, professional, community, college and university library Science & Philosophy collections, "The Philosophy and Practice of Science" is an ideal textbook selection for Philosophy of Science curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Philosophy and Practice of Science" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $52.49).

Editorial Note: David Teplow, (https://teplowlab.neurology.ucla.edu/david-teplow) a Professor of Neurology (Emeritus) at University of California, Los Angeles, is an internationally recognized leader in efforts to understand and treat Alzheimer's disease. He has published more than 250 peer-reviewed articles, books, book chapters, and commentaries and served on numerous national and international scientific advisory boards. In addition to his basic science work, Dr. Teplow has had a life-long interest in general philosophy and the philosophy of science. He spent a year-long sabbatical at the University of Cambridge as a Fellow of Clare Hall and a visiting scholar in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, where much of this book was written. This experience stimulated Dr. Teplow to create new courses at UCLA in the ethics of science, social aspects of scientific paradigm change, and the roles played by ignorance and failure in scientific progress.

Knot Handbook: 50 Essential Knots and Their Uses
George Lewis
The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946746, $19.99, HC, 112pp

https://www.amazon.com/Knot-Handbook-Essential-Knots-Their/dp/1784946745

Synopsis: Some Knots for inclusion into "Knot Handbook: 50 Essential Knots and Their Uses" by George Lewis have been chosen for their fame, some for their beauty, and others because they are knots that everyone should know how to tie.

The "Knot Handbook" from the GMC Group will introduce readers to time-honored techniques of an intricate and practical art that has been practiced since before poetry or painting were dreamt of. Knots which cannot be mastered in just five minutes.

The "Knot Handbook" is an essential guide to 50 knots and their uses with clear illustrations with easy-to-follow step-by-step line drawings. Anecdotes reveal the history and fascinating fun facts about the featured knots.

Critique: This concise (5 x 0.6 x 7.1 inches, 10.4 ounces) hardcover edition is thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentations, making it an ideal pick for personal, professional, and community library collections -- as well as a perfect gift for friends and family members interested in outdoor living and the valued skill of knot tying for any and all occasions.

Editorial Note: George Lewis is the author of several books including Mates for Life and Strange Mates (Ammonite Press) and Castles and Waterfalls (Park Lane Books). He also contributes to newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias and partworks. Lewis learned about knots in the 1950s from herring fishermen on his ancestral Isle of Man. Lewis retains the traditional knowledge and demonstrates that knots can give us so much more than the means to catch the traditional accompaniment to chips.

1, 2, 3 with Mrs. C
Kathleen Covens
Koehler Books
https://www.koehlerbooks.com
9798888240182, $24.95 Hardcover/$16.95 Paper/$7.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Innovative-Guide-Interactions-Children/dp/B0C3XWV1L9

1, 2, 3 with Mrs. C: An Innovative Guide for Adult Interactions With Children comes from a teacher and mother of a handicapped child who provides insights and keys to interacting with kids in more meaningful, effective ways.

Whether readers are educators or parents (or simply adults seeking to streamline or improve their communiques with children), a wealth of examples, tips, lively discussions, and thought-provoking strategies lend importance and strength to any adult's intention of becoming a positive force in a child's life. Of necessity, this involves a good deal of self-inspection on the reader's part, which Kathleen Covens encourages. The book embraces the importance and incarnation of being present and centering intentions around this thought, encouraging tailoring experiences to build memories that support greater self-esteem and life skills.

Consider failure. While many a guide would promote avoiding such by emphasizing a child's success, Covens here remarks on the valuable opportunities to be gained from experiencing and learning from failures: "Children will need to experience failure along with success to master life on their own. Our job is to give them skills to cope with failure and success. Unfortunately, the word "fail" has an extremely negative connotation. When we hear this word, we tend to react negatively, correct? But failure can be positive in many ways. If we can see the benefits of failure and remove the stigma it carries, it will be easier for us to expose the value of failure in a child's life so they have the coping skills they need."

Parents and caregivers are not immune to losing sight of their ultimate objectives in child-rearing. Covens offers a broad range of exercises, techniques, and observations for getting back on a more positive track through methods that reinforce the importance of individual journeys of discovery and positivity. The case histories which liberally accent these strategies offer clear conclusions that adults can use as take-aways for analyzing their own ideals, motivations, and intentions in guiding children: "Without failure, kids do not learn how to cope, and the expectation to succeed is always present." The result is a delight to read. Accessible, involving, and worthy of book club and parenting group discussion and debate, 1, 2, 3 with Mrs. C should be part of any library catering to parents, educators, and those who would improve their guiding skills and relationships with children.

Managing Major Chronic Diseases: Advice from a Patient
Alexis Dupree
Gettier Group, LLC
https://www.gettiergroup.net
9781735892580 $5.99

https://www.amazon.com/Managing-Major-Chronic-Diseases-Patient/dp/B0CKBDS3G7

Synopsis: Over 30 years ago, Alexis Dupree was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She thought her life was over. But it wasn't. Since then, she accumulated more diseases and had many surgeries. Even twelve major chronic diseases DIDN'T get her down.

In her book, Managing Major Chronic Diseases: Advice from a Patient, she shares her expertise of living a life with multiple major chronic diseases - and living it well. Because doctors and nurses don't live with the disease. Patients do.

In this book you will learn the following:

What changing your attitude really means
How to redefine your dreams
How to create a new game plan for your life
How to make life easier for yourself
How to manage your disease (or diseases)
What the four challenges are for any major chronic disease
What the five key tactics are for managing any major chronic disease
The vital importance of lying to yourself
How a previous prime minister of Great Britain should influence your life
How to be a survivor

Critique: Managing Major Chronic Diseases: Advice from a Patient isn't a medical book that addresses specific diseases. Instead, it is a psychological and practical self-help book written by a patient with chronic diseases, for patients with chronic diseases. Chapters focus upon the importance of adjusting one's outlook to adapt to a "new normal" while continuing to enjoy everyday life. Author Alexis Dupree draws upon her personal experience with diseases to present her insights in plain terms. "In the United States if you must go to the ER, be prepared to wait unless you are actively dying. ERs do not use a first-come, first-serve process. Instead, they sort patients' needs for medical attention using a process called triage to determine how severe patients' illnesses are. If you need to wait, it's a good thing. Yes, you will be in a lot of pain, but you aren't dying." Managing Major Chronic Diseases is a "must-read" for anyone diagnosed with a chronic disease, and an excellent supplemental resource for family members and caregivers. Highly recommended.

All That This House Has to Offer
Betty R. Wall
https://www.bettyrwall.com
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9781639889877, $16.99 paper/$24.99 hardcover

https://www.amazon.com/All-That-This-House-Offer/dp/1639889876

All That This House Has to Offer comes from the daughter of Russian Mennonite immigrants. It offers essays that charts the family's journey in 1943 from Ukraine to Austria, finally to settle in British Columbia, Canada, where the family expanded and thrived. These stories (which Betty R. Wall identifies as "heritage stories") come from the author's own memories as well as those of her parents and grandparents, with a little embellishment thrown in where memory failed. She has also created scenes around historical events to cement the sights, sounds, and sense of place that is intrinsic to human experience. All That This House Has to Offer could have been featured in the Biography/Autobiography section, but it holds so much more depth and description that it deserves added acclaim for its ability to inject a "you are here" sense into its first-person experiences. These reach out to grab readers to involve them in the experiences and logic of an immigrant family's daily life: "I hovered over the stove. An empty stainless steel stockpot sat on the largest element. 'Is this for Borscht?'

'Ja,' Mom said. 'Have some breakfast. The Omas will be here any minute and then it's time to get to work.'

'Okay.' I grabbed the remaining bun from the bread basket, pulled it apart, and slathered it with cherry jam. I could really smell the yeast working now." From Oma's memories of her husband Jacob to stories of how a loving, supportive family of mixed generations works and plays together, Betty R. Wall does more than simply share her family's immigrant experiences. She invites readers to sit at the table and partake, cultivating a literary, descriptive voice that recreates the times and the daily concerns of a family experiencing changes together.

Libraries and readers interested in accounts of immigrant experience which come steeped in personal and social history will find that All That This House Has to Offer includes many insights and notes on Russian culture and traditions. These lend thought-provoking insights into how one's past is preserved in the face of many transition points. The last bit of seasoning to the borscht and plum dumplings that permeate this atmospheric work lies in a sense of family and purpose that promises every reader a place in front of a warm hearth of family connections and dreams.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review