Most Popular Books by Rebecca Stefoff

Presents the history of the New Republic of America in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries through excerpts from documents, letters, journals, and newspaper articles.

From emperor penguins nesting in the frozen reaches of Antartica to peregrine falcons that have made themselves at home among urban skyscrapers, birds are amazingly adaptable. The Bird Class surveys the many orders and families of living birds and traces the origins of these winged, feathered marvels. Bird biology, life cycles, behavior, and habitats are also explored. The Bird Class sounds a warning about the threats that many of the world''s ten thousand bird species now face, and describes some of the actions being taken to protect them. Book jacket.

Two of every five mammals on Earth are rodents, yet most people know little about this amazingly diverse order of animals. Rats and mice may be all too familiar, but what about gundis and degus? And did you know that porcupines are rodents, but rabbits are not? The Rodent Order explores the world of rodents, from prehistoric guinea pigs the size of horses to the Laotian rock rat, a "living fossil" recently found alive in the forests of Southeast Asia. The Rodent Order also examines the long relationship between people and rodents. For thousands of years, rodents have influenced human life as pests, food, pets, and carriers of disease. Today human activities are threatening the survival of some rodent species, but other rodents are flourishing-sometimes right under our noses. Book jacket.

Dams change the landscape, providing reservoirs of freshwater and even producing electricity. Discover the engineering behind dams.

"An exploration of the origins, history, development, and societal impact of the microscope and the telescope"--Provided by publisher.

On March 23, 1900, Arthur John Evans and his staff began to excavate on Crete, looking for the fabled site of Knossos, where an extraordinary civilization, a precursor to classical Greece, was rumored to have existed. Almost from the first shovel stroke, artifacts began to emerge. Evans realized that here was "an extraordinary phenomenon, nothing Greek, nothing Roman. A wholly unexplored world." The Palace of Minos at Knossos recounts the exciting story of uncovering a remarkable society lost to the world for 3,500 years, from its initial discovery through its excavation to the structure we see today. Sidebars on archaeological techniques, illustrations of the sites, tables, and diagrams throughout provide a wealth of information on the Palace. The use of artifacts and other "documents" recovered from the Palace bring out the voices of the people of the past, offering clues to who they were and how they lived. The Palace of Minos at Knossos concludes with an interview with archaeologist Chris Scarre who talks about the misperceptions about Knossos and what we really know about its culture.

In this explosive book, Houston Baker takes stock of the current state of Black Studies in the university and outlines its responsibilities to the newest form of black urban expression—rap. A frank, polemical essay, Black Studies, Rap, and the Academy is an uninhibited defense of Black Studies and an extended commentary on the importance of rap. Written in the midst of the political correctness wars and in the aftermath of the Los Angeles riots, Baker''s meditation on the academy and black urban expression has generated much controversy and comment from both ends of the political spectrum.

Skyscrapers stretch high into a cityu0092s skyline, providing places to work and live for millions of people. Discover the engineering behind skyscrapers.

Alchemy is an idea based on superstition and philosophical global traditions spanning hundreds of years. Alchemists made medicines and pharmaceuticals from the earthu0092s materials and purified objects through philosophy, magic, and spirituality. Chemistry is based on the material principles of mixed bodies, and spans all natural or physical sciences in its practices. This book on alchemy and chemistry shows the scientific method at work and proves and disproves the subjects at hand. It explores a branch of modern science or a major scientific milestone, comparing and contrasting it with an older idea that has been proved wrong or fails to meet the strict and studied standards of science.

Idaho is ... a state of astonishing natural beauty with a complex identity. Geography divides Idaho into two distinct regions, and some Idahoans find it easier to identify with their neighbors in earby states than with the rest of their own state. Divided and ruggedly independent as they are, however, Idahoans are united in the proud affection they feel for their state. They are torn between wanting to sing its praises and wanting to keep its secrets to themselves. Book jacket.

Discusses the territorial expansion of the United States following the Civil War, as well as the country''s increasing role in international affairs and its growing population.

Dikes and levees help protect people from rising floodwaters and hurricanes. Discover the engineering behind dikes and levees.

We say that the sun "rises" in the morning and "sets" at night, but is it really moving? Readers will learn about the long, sometimes dangerous struggle to discover whether the sun revolves around Earth, or Earth around the sun, and find out what scientists now know about our planet''s place in the universe.

Discusses monarchies as a political system, and details the history of monarchies throughout the world.

Examines the 1972 Supreme Court case Furman v. Georgia in regard to the death penalty.

Explores the past, present, and future to shed light on complex, high-priority public policy. Offers the pros and cons of each issue with opinions from social policy experts.

Take a step back in time to explore the origin of humans.

The arachnids include some of the planet''s most feared creatures, such as venomous scorpions and deadly funnel-web spiders. Other arachnids-like the tiny house dust mites that live by the millions in all of our homes-are among the world''s smallest and most successful animals. The Arachnid Class explores the origins, scientific classification, and biology of arachnids, from familiar garden spiders to less common creatures such as wind scorpions and the rare, cave-dwelling "living fossil" spiders of Southeast Asia. The more than 80,000 known species of arachnids play important roles in the world''s ecosystems. As The Arachnid Class shows, these creatures also affect human life in a variety of ways. Book jacket.

Presents information on some of the causes of the Civil War, the battles fought between 1861 and 1863, and the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.