Most Popular Books by Toney Allman

The U.S. Coast Guard offers a wide array of career opportunities. Comments from men and women who have served in the military, current statistics and forecasts, and realistic descriptions provide a useful look at Coast Guard jobs ranging from boatswain''s mates to health service technicians to operations specialists.

For the first time in human history, the genetic book of life is coming under human control. The impact of genetic engineering technology on human life and society is almost unimaginable. From preventing and curing diseases to genetically altering food plants and animals for the benefit of humanity, scientists predict that their ability to modify living things through genetic engineering means that the world will never be the same.

Much of what is known about people''s everyday lives in times past comes from artifacts but also from diaries, letters, and other writings. Many important details of life during the Civil War, for instance, can be found in the diaries of women who carried on while their men were at war. In the Living History series, firsthand accounts such as these are combined with thoughtful narrative to offer a rich and vivid portrait of daily life in various times and places in history. A visual chronology, sidebars that feature quotes from people of the period and from historians, selected vocabulary words, source notes, a bibliography for further research, and an index provide additional tools for student researchers. Book jacket.

Psychologists study personality in order to understand individual characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. How does each person develop a unique personality? Can behavior and reactions be predicted from personality traits? These and many other issues are discussed in terms of the five-factor personality model accepted by psychologists today.

Discusses what medical examiners do.

People who like animals have a wide variety of career choices available, ranging from pet groomer to entomologist. What the jobs entail, what they pay, and future prospects are discussed, along with insights from industry insiders.

To hunt and kill their prey, the world''s deadliest mammals rely on a variety of traits including teeth, claws, size, strength, speed, and stealth. Six deadly mammals, including the wolverine, are profiled.

Diabetes in youth is a pervasive and growing problem. Young people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are dealing with complex, chronic disorders that remain incompletely understood and require extensive lifestyle adjustments. Kids and Diabetes presents a realistic picture of this disease, what is known about its causes, what it''s like to live with it, and the latest on treatments and cures.

The science of genetics is revolutionizing the practice of medicine. Using genetics, drugs are being developed from bacteria, viruses are carrying new coding instructions into human bodies, cancer treatments are targeting the specific gene mutations from which the disease arises, and individual genetic profiles are determining both the risk of and treatments for some diseases. From diagnosing genetic disorders prenatally to replacing faulty genes with normal ones, medical researchers are paving the way to a future in which previously fatal diseases can be eliminated.

"The world''s population is growing, and along with it, the need for adequate, nutritious food supplies is growing, too. According to the Institute on the Environment of the University of Minnesota, there is enough food to provide the calorie needs of today''s seven billion people, but by 2050, with more than nine billion people predicted, the problem will be ensuring a nutritious diet for all, while minimizing damage to the planet and its ecosystem"--

The new science of stem cell research offers much hope for people who have terrible diseases. Scientists have already made progress but the most promising area of this research is mired in controversy. It involves human embryos. Many people oppose this work. Finding a balance may be the toughest challenge of all.

Presents information on the research into vaccines that scientists do, including the methods that they employ and the results that they achieve.

Examines stem cells and the research that may one day be used to cure diseases and heal injuries.

People who don''t want to sit at a desk all day or don''t like the idea of spending years in higher education have thousands of career opportunities available to them. From becoming a makeup artist to learning the plumbing trade, these people use their hands and their minds to get out in the world and do something practical, useful, and enjoyable. What the jobs entail, what they pay, and future prospects are discussed along with insights from industry insiders.

Describes the transatlantic slave trade, from its origins in the sixteenth century to its prohibition in the ninteenth century, focusing on the social, economical, and political impact the slave trade had on the world during that time.

Young people are insatiable consumers of music that can be downloaded over the Internet, however, downloading can be either legal or illegal. Peer-to-peer file sharing is the free, fun, often illegal, way to download that is used by millions of people every day. Downloading music has created a fire-storm of controversy over rampant copyright violations. What are the legal and moral issues involved? Will these issues change the way we buy and listen to music in the future?

Discusses the history of infectious disease research, from the Middle Ages to modern day, and explains how research helps identify and diagnose diseases, perfect methods of treatment, and prevent the disease from spreading.

Most beetles live a short life, only a year, but they are a marvel of Mother Nature. Underneath a very hard sectioned shell lies a very animated little creature, with things to do and places to go. A majority of beetles have wings that can''t help them fly, but they''re there nonetheless. This colorful, engaging book tells a story of biomimicry, or how scientists and inventors have tried to imitate something in nature in an effort to create better, stronger, safer tools, and processes for everyday life. Readers will be surprised at how the quiet power of the beetle has changed technology.