Real History. Reflections on Historical Practice.

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Real History. Reflections on Historical Practice.
Martin. BUNZL
Manufacturer: Routledge, 1997. 1st edition.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JNHZH4

Real History: Reflections on Historical Practice (Philosophical Issues in Science)

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Real History: Reflections on Historical Practice (Philosophical Issues in Science)
Martin Bunzl
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historiography | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0415159628

In Real History: Reflections on Historical Practice, Martin Bunzl charts a new direction for the philosophy of history. He proposes a synthesis between debates about objectivity among historians and recent philosophical arguments about realism. In his clear and direct style, Bunzl argues for an approach to history based on what historians actually do in contrast to what they say they are doing. Drawing on a broad literature including the works of Foucault, Geertz, Novick, Danto and Scott, the result is a new and exciting model for philosophy of history that casts objectivity and realism in a new light.

Martin Bunzl merges two parallel debates in history and philosophy. In his wide-ranging argument, he draws on relevant discussions ranging from: post-structuralism; to the philosophy of science; to the hermeneutic turn in anthropology; to debates about the history of women.

Real History is fascinating and essential reading for all those interested in a reconciliation of the debates about the methodology and study of the philosophy of history.

In the years following World War II, medicine won major battles against smallpox, diphtheria, and polio. In the same period it also produced treatments to control the progress of Parkinson’s, rheumatoid arthritis, and schizophrenia. It made realities of open-heart surgery, organ transplants, test-tube babies. Unquestionably, the medical accomplishments of the postwar years stand at the forefront of human endeavor, yet progress in recent decades has slowed nearly to a halt. In this winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, medical doctor and columnist James Le Fanu both surveys the glories of medicine in the postwar years and analyzes the factors that for the past twenty-five years have increasingly widened the gulf between achievement and advancement: the social theories of medicine, ethical issues, and political debates over health care that have hobbled the development of vaccines and discovery of new “miracle” cures. While fully demonstrating the extraordinary progress effected by medical research in the latter half of the twentieth century, Le Fanu also identifies the perils that confront medicine in the twenty-first. 16 pages of black-and-white photographs add to what the Los Angeles Times cited as “a sobering, contrarian challenge” to the “nostrum of medicine as a never-ending font of ‘miracle cures’.” “[From] a respected science writer ... important information that ... has been overlooked or ignored by many physicians.” —New Republic “Provocative and engrossing and informative.” —Houston Chronicle “Marvelously written, meticulously researched ... one of the most thought-provoking and important works to appear in recent years.” —Choice

After this self-titled "lenghty prologue", however, my enthusiasm cooled down a little. Le Fanu sets out to answer four paradoxes of modern medical care: Why are so many medical practitioners disappointed with their job? Why are people so worried about their health while the health of the population at large never has been better? Why has alternative medicine become so popular? How can we cope with the rising costs of medical care? In "The Fall", Le Fanu takes aim at two domains of present-day medicine (what we could call "Epidemiology of modifiable risk factors" and "Genetic basis of disease") that are probably over-emphasized currently, but that hold lots of promise for the future. His condemning genetic therapy, in particular, is untimely: this technique is still at its birth.

Nevertheless, this book is worth having for the excellent historical insights it gives about medicine in the last half-century.

The next portion of the book is an elaborate argument for his hypothesis; that medicine has long ago reached it epiphany and is currently in the decent phase, "The Fall". He gives convincing arguments for his opinion which makes a reader think about it even if one isn't totally convinced.

The Title, "The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine" caught my attention and once I opened the book the words trapped me until the last page was turned. Even after closing the book I considered his hypothesis and reflected on it, which has spawned me to follow up on some of his references and read some of them. In my opinion any book that causes such a fury of reading, thought, and reference checking and further reading is worth a look by any casually interested reader.

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This Man's Pill (Popular Science)
Carl Djerassi
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0198606958

In addition to the magnificant pictures I feel that the authors explaintions of the the cause and results of earthquake was very interesting and informative, being a Geologist my self, I thought these basic explainations would be very helpful for a keener understanding of this event.

I found the chapter concening the Birthday Party for Bob Reeves in the Petroleum Club of the Anchorage Westward of particular interest to me as that is where I was.

This book brought may memories of the earthquake that happened some 35 years ago, some bad and some good, and some I had completly forgotten.

The Authors coverage of the different locals that were included gave on a good impression of the magnitude and destructive force of Mother Nature. To me, it is absolutly amazing that there not more fatalities on that fateful day in 1964.

All in all a "Great Book" that I throughtly enjoyed but would recommend to all.

Time For Kids: Earthquakes! (Time For Kids)

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Time For Kids: Earthquakes! (Time For Kids)
Editors Of Time For Kids
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060782110
Release Date: 2006-02-21

A small earthquake may just rattle some teacups. But a rare huge quake can bring down cities. Those rumblings are a reminder to pay attention to our earth. Scientists keep careful records of quakes around the world. They try to predict when the next one will happen.

Where do "killer clouds" come from? What causes the birth of an island? How tall is the tallest mountain . . . and how come you can't see it? Can cockroaches really predict an earthquake?

Join popular ABC-TV weather forecaster Spencer Christian as he unearths the mysteries of volcanoes, tornadoes, and other natural events so powerful they've changed not only the face of the planet but the very course of history! Find out what makes the earth quake. Create your own shock wave. Discover what volcano covered an entire city with over four feet of ash, and how the lost continent of Atlantis disappeared. Plus, you'll learn the answer to that age-old question, will Old Faithful always erupt on time?

It's an action-packed tour that will have you shaking, rattling, and rolling as you explore the forces that shape our world. Intriguing, easy-to-do activities let you experience amazing natural phenomena up close—and dozens of fascinating sidebars, fun facts, and illustrations bring the world's wonders to vivid life. The natural world has never been this awesome!

Also available in Spencer Christian's World of Wonders series: Can It Really Rain Frogs?: The World's Strangest Weather Events