The Ambiguous Frog: The Galvani-Volta Controversy on Animal Electricity

Book Description

How do ideas become accepted by the scientific community? How and why do scientists choose among empirically equivalent theories? In this pathbreaking book translated from the Italian, Marcello Pera addresses these questions by exploring the politics, rhetoric, scientific practices, and metaphysical assumptions that entered into the famous Galvani-Volta controversy of the late eighteenth century. This lively debate erupted when two scientists, each examining the muscle contractions of a dissected frog in contact with metal, came up with opposing but experimentally valid explanations of the phenomenon. Luigi Galvani, a doctor and physiologist, believed that he had discovered animal electricity (electrical body fluid existing naturally in a state of disequilibrium), while the physicist Alessandro Volta attributed the contractions to ordinary physical electricity. Beginning with the electrical concepts understood by scientists in the 1790s, Pera traces the careers of Galvani and Volta and explains their laboratory procedures. He shows that their controversy derived from two basic, irreducible interpretations of the proper nature of a common domain: Galvani saw the frog phenomenon as the work of biological organs, Volta as that of a physical apparatus. The initial preference for Volta's theory, maintains Pera, depended not on clear-cut methodological rules, but on a dialectical dispute for which the renowned physicist was better equipped, partly because he shared the dominant metaphysical views of his time.

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful account of Galvani 's and Volta's 18th century controversy .......2006-12-07

You wouldn't think history of science could actually be interesting (especially in a book with a not so catchy title), but The Ambiguous Frog is extraordinarily well-written and engaging. It details the late 18th century controversy between physicist Alassandro Volta and physiologist Luigi Galvani on the nature of electricity in animals. Is the electricity responsible for producing muscular contraction *in* animals, which a bimetallic arc between muscle and nerve can *actively reproduce* in a dead specimen, or is the electricity *of* the animal, which a metallic arc merely passively indicates by discharging an *inherent imbalance* in a dead specimen? The Voltaists take one side, the Galvanists, the other. It's not a simple account of what experiment turned the tables on who, when, and how the other camp responds, but takes a deep, critical look at the motivating factors: the state of electrical knowledge at the time, the then current philosophy of science, and even psychological motivations in both theorists. Pera demonstrates clear command of the original texts, making valuable insights which guide you carefully, in the way of a storyteller, through the maze of events composing the Galvani-Volta controversy. This is an amazing work I would recommend to anyone unintimidated by the joy of scientific discovery.

If you are not familiar with basic electrical theory, however, the book won't stop to review the fundamentals. Pera, rather, relies on the reader's background to understand the phenomena being observed. Furthermore, Pera rarely explains what the obsolete apperatuses being used and developed at the time do, or how they work, so again, you might keep Google handy if you aren't familiar with them (I wasn't). Pera also makes the choice to sprinkle in some references to major contemporary/recent philosophies of science in his discussion, but his work here is less insightful, and strikes me as something of an afterthought. The lucid historical exploration of the controversy is by far the more valuable aspect of the book.

Again, this is a gread read. I highly recommend it.

Galvani & Volta's photography.......2000-10-03

Galvani & Volta's photography

Urban Bikers' Tricks & Tips: Low-Tech & No-Tech Ways to Find, Ride, & Keep a Bicycle
Average customer rating:

Everything You Need

2nd Edition ''Urban Bikers'' Tricksier, Tipsier

Great for thugs

Outrageous suicidal advice

Dangerous advice that will get you killed

Urban Bikers' Tricks & Tips: Low-Tech & No-Tech Ways to Find, Ride, & Keep a Bicycle
Dave Glowacz
Manufacturer: Wordspace Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cycling | Individual Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books
General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Art of Urban Cycling: Lessons from the Street

Effective Cycling: 6th Edition

Bicycle!: A Repair & Maintenance Manifesto

Divorce Your Car! : Ending the Love Affair with the Automobile

How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Mileage Out of Life

ASIN: 0965172813

Book Description

Filled with practical tips that any adult bike owner can use instantly, this book includes advice on everything from how to handle a sore butt and choose accessories to how to avoid helmet hair and mount a bike while wearing a miniskirt. This updated edition contains new and revised information about current bike types, locks, and recent products such as the strap-on magnet that lets bikers change traffic lights to green. An updated supplier directory and list of bicycling resources, such as web sites and advocacy groups, are also included. Illustrated with step-by-step instructions on every page, this book is especially helpful for riders living in the urban jungle.

Customer Reviews:

Everything You Need.......2006-01-29

How to choose, ride, protect, and enjoy your bike for any purpose. It covers all kinds of equipment to help you understand what your options are and how to use them all effectively. Has a nice chapter on effective riding and how to stay safe. For the seasoned biker it provides insights into protecting your bike and riding "sly" for the agressive side of you. A seasoned biker, myself, I enjoyed the little tidbits strewn throughout the entire book. Very conversational and the illustrations are great.

2nd Edition ''Urban Bikers'' Tricksier, Tipsier.......2004-07-27

Cape mysteriously fluttering in the still air of my living room, Mr. Bike sat down across from me to straighten out his tights and to talk about the second edition of his show-all, tell-all book on bike use and maintenance, Urban Bikers' Tricks and Tips.

''For the most part you'll find the really accessible style and great illustrations that makes both versions of this book really easy to use,'' rumbled a deep baritone from the center of that oak barrel of a chest.

''So why buy the new book?'' I asked.

A pointed inquiry, I thought, but I might as well have assaulted a truck tire with a drinking straw. ''The section on locks got revised the most,'' answered Mr. Bike, casually adjusting his mask. ''Small lock makers are offering really great locks now, and I've uncovered some that are going to be really hot. And I've added some new tricks and tips I've learned since the last printing.''

''Learned from first edition readers?''

''Some. But also some things that people have asked me about, like how to put a bike in a car without a bike rack.''

Had I just glimpsed Mr. Bike's relatively-soft-compared-to-the-chiseled-rest-of-him underbelly? I pounced. ''Isn't that something most people could figure out?''

Fire leapt in his eyes, and I cowered as he spoke. ''Bicycle magazines, bike maintenance books, and other experts perpetrate an aura around cycling of technical complexity mastered only by esoteric knowledge and buying the right equipment. This intimidates a lot of people. The mission of this book is to get people to relax. By tapping into a global brain trust of urban cyclists, I've collected low-tech and no-tech ways to find, use, fix and keep a bike, exploding the 'bike expert' myth and empowering the common person to control their cycling destiny.

''We are finished here,'' exclaimed the mighty hero. As he rose above me, adjusted his singlet, and strode toward the door, I realized that that the wisdom of the world's urban cyclists was leaving with him.

''Just one more question!'' I pleaded. ''Please, kind sir: Where can I find this book?''

Mr. Bike turned, his cape flaring dramatically. ''At all good and decent book stores, at amazon.com, and at mrbike.com!'' he bellowed, the steel I-beams of the building thrumming in tune. Then he was gone.

Great for thugs.......2004-06-24

If you are a thug or in a cycling gang, this book is for you!!!
The author provides great tips that you may not have thought of on
how to get back at "evil" drivers. I don't know which I will use
first - bending an antenna, squirting a water bottle into the driver's face,
or (...)calling in a gun complaint on the driver.
Nicely illustrated with a diagram of the best spot to
hit to crack a windshield.

If you are a (...), you wont appreciate this book.

Outrageous suicidal advice.......2004-01-27

I just got this book a week ago, and will probably send it back. That will be a first, for I have never returned a book before. But this one is that bad.

I agree with the other 1-star reviewers who noted the dangerous advice given in this book. I've been riding bikes with traffic for over 30 years, and I admit I've done most if not all of the dangerous "sly cyclist" "tips & tricks" recommended by this book - but I did them when I didn't know better. You'd think a book on biking would help one know better...

Riding safely and effectively with traffic means riding visibly and predictably according to standard vehicular laws and principles. Much of the advice in this book is contrary to this important notion, which has already been detailed in other reviews. I will add that the author does not appear to base his recommendations on any principles whatsoever. He just recommends doing certain things, many of which are contrary to riding visibly and predictably, that have apparently worked for him, so far. Just because he hasn't been killed by his own advice yet does not mean it's good advice, or that all of his readers will have the same dumb luck.

Almost all accidents require more than just one thing to go wrong, usually about three. By following the advice in this book, and not riding visibly and predictably ("vehicularly"), only two more things have to go wrong for an accident to occur. I stongly recommend NOT stacking the deck against your life and well-being like this.

Ignore this book. Instead, buy and read "Effective Cycling" by John Forester.

Dangerous advice that will get you killed.......2003-10-21

I have been a cycle commuter for three years. Granted, that's not the decades logged by some people, but then I'm in my early twenties and also the target market for this book -- which, with its splashy graphics and "hip" typography, wants to appeal to the "bad boy" market.

This book is incredible. It stocks some good advice at the beginning of the book -- pretty basic material that you will find in any reasonable intro to utility cycling book (or website.) But it rapidly degenerates into a mishmash of advice, some of which is incredibly dangerous -- including how to catch on to the back of a moving vehicle and how to "attack" a car that's annoyed you.

It also includes advice about riding up onto the sidewalk -- a seemingly innocous technique that actually leads to a significant percentage of cycling injuries and deaths.

When done right, cycling is nearly as safe as walking. When done wrong, cycling is a very dangerous activity. A cycling book is your guide to survival. It should be something that you can trust, it should always err on the safe side -- knowing that you'll break a rule or two in your time -- to give you a margin of error. This books violates that trust.

Glowacz wants his book to be a source of advice for the "practical" cyclist. Instead, he has produced another book that, in its advice, relegates bikes to the status of dangerous toys. The "street smarts" are anything but smart. The number of college kids -- and road racers, never a cautious bunch -- killed on bikes is a depressing statistic, and an entirely reducible one. This book will do little to help.

I recommend that readers interested in urban cycling situations get John Forrester's Effective Cycling instead. It contains everything a grown-up needs to know about cycling.

UPDATE: more potentially fatal errors in this book: "New Jersey jughandle" advice includes advice to run a red light in an unpredictable fashion. "Bike lane" advice advises cyclists to ride in the bike lane even if the lane is within the "door zone", and to swerve in and out of traffic to avoid bike lane obstacles. This is exactly the behaviour that killed a young graduate student in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who was run over by a bus after swerving to avoid an open door in the bike lane.

UPDATE (again): more fatal advice, this time on how to "draft" a moving van, car or truck. Drafting is a way to increase your efficiency by riding in someone else's wake. People do it all the time when racing, you'll see Lance do it in the Tour. When done with other cyclists -- who know to be extra careful, and who know the risks, and who know you're there -- it is tricky, but fun. When doing it to an auto on the street, it can kill you. Two cyclists set out to bicycle the length of South America. One of them didn't make it: he drafted a bus, and was seriously injured; you can read about it on the website detailing their travels.

Customer Reviews:

Great for a class or one-on-one teaching........2004-01-21

Real language acquisition comes from receiving comprehensible input in the target language, AND from practicing output.
Expressways gives practice in PRODUCING UNDERSTANDABLE ENGLISH, which is what the student really needs in order to be able to function in the language.
Students generally need this more than they need to practice understanding English.

wonderful.......2003-02-07

I am very pleased with the book I ordered. I recieved it very quickly and it was in better shape than indicated. Thank you very much.

No evidence to support this approach.......2003-01-16

Real language acquisition comes from receiving comprehensible input in the target language, not from practicing output. This has been well researched and documented by Krashen, Asher, and others. No valid research has ever contradicted this. Expressways gives practice for output and grammar training, which might help slightly in the performance of the language, but will not at all help in the real acquisition or understanding of the language.

Excellent book for new immigrants.......2001-11-10

This is a wonderful book, especially geared to the need of non-English speaking learners who are still experiencing cultural shock soon after they stepped on a land totally new to them. It helps them learn not only the target language,but also the culture of the English-speaking people. Matched with cassette recording, it has been well received by my new immigrant students in ESL classroom.

The cassette recording is expensive though.

Better than Side by Side.......2001-11-01

I am using this for one-on-one ESL tutoring. It gives a small class more flexibility than Side by Side, and it has more variety than SBS. But some things are out of date (water beds?) and other vocabulary suddenly appears without any preparation...however it's the best I've found so far for structuring typical conversational situations for ESL students.

Old Macdonald Had a Farm (Expressways 2 Big Books)

Average customer rating:

Old Macdonald Had a Farm (Expressways 2 Big Books)

Manufacturer: Gage Distribution Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 077156550X

English for Academic Success College Writing Book 4 + Expressway 5.0 Cd

Average customer rating:

English for Academic Success College Writing Book 4 + Expressway 5.0 Cd
Byrd
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

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Dancing With Cats: From the Creators of the International Best Seller Why Cats Paint
Average customer rating:

Something Completely Different

Between Joy and Terror

Dancing with Cats

The funniest thing I have seen/read in years...

One of the best birthday presents ever

Dancing With Cats: From the Creators of the International Best Seller Why Cats Paint
Burton Silver , and Heather Busch
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Dance | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Cats | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Similar Items:

Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics

Why Paint Cats: The Ethics of Feline Aesthetics

Famous Painted Cats

Women Who Love Cats Too Much

Zen Cat Zen Cat

ASIN: 0811824152

Amazon.com

With a hey diddle diddle, the creators of Why Cats Paint return with another version of feline (and human) reality. And suffice it to say that in Burton Silver and Heather Busch's hands, Kipling's cat that walked by himself has turned into a deeply codependent dervish. Their first book was a brilliant parody of artspeak--Busch's photos of creative felines matched by Silver's text. Their second, Dancing with Cats--an epic three years in the making!--juxtaposes psychological and spiritual mumbo-jumbo with the language of dance criticism. As Silver explores everything from visualization to mirroring to empathy, Busch is busy with her human-feline pairs. In one sequence, Fred, clad in tabby tights, kitty-cat body paint, and a tanga with a long black tail, leaps about the place with a slightly puzzled pussy: "I share its grace, power, and oneness with the universe. I relate to Fluff and the whole spectrum of feline physicality on a profound level--I even regard birds differently."

On the very next page, chubby Helen, sporting a tie-dyed purple gown and a deeply sworn belief in feng shui, identifies perhaps a bit too deeply with chunky, amber-eyed Boots (who looks suspiciously like "Trans-Expressionist" Bootsie from Why Cats Paint). And then there's Sue and Zoot. In one photo, the recumbent gray and peach cat raises his left paw to the sky as his ecstatic human does the same. Then Sue dons a feathery jerkin "in order to dance out some of her past traumas." It's difficult to say which is funnier, the photos or the text, as Silver catches pseudo-therapy's mixture of self-affirmation and non sequitur: "Dancing with Zoot helps Sue reenact and come to terms with the joy and sorrow of a brief but painful relationship: when she fell in love with her daughter's father while he was photographing bridges in the neighborhood." Though the two-legged models must have been prepared for this inspired silliness, one does wonder what on earth the cats made of their eurythmic adventures. Alas, until interspecies communication reaches a greater height, we can only dance amid our uncertainty! --Kerry Fried

Book Description

While researching their groundbreaking book, Why Cats Paint, Burton Silver and Heather Busch uncovered another phenomenon that seemed to merit further investigation: people who dance with their cats, or, more accurately, cats who dance with their people. It turns out that thousands of people today are rediscovering the ancient practice of cat dancing, tapping into this remarkable method of channeling feline energy and bonding with their pets. Some whisper to horses; others dance with cats. Both are manifestations of humankind’s continual striving to connect with their animal companions on a higher spiritual level. Dancing with Cats presents scores of delightful and inspiring photographs of people and cats engaging in their favorite routines, as well as moving testimonies of the personal transformations brought about through this uniquely joyous form of communion. A brave leap forward in the history of human-feline relations, Dancing with Cats gives people and cats reason to rejoice, jump up in the air...and dance!

Customer Reviews:

Something Completely Different.......2007-05-11

When I first saw the cover of this book, I laughed out loud with joy and a sense of wonder about whether this book was for real. Surprisingly, DANCING WITH CATS is not a joke, and is an excellent primer on how to go about having some fun with your cats in a rather unusual way... by dancing with them. Since I don't currently have a cat, I borrowed one to get a feeling for how possible it might be to get a cat to dance. I succeeded in completely astonishing the cat as I began to notice the ways that the cat watched me moving around with movements that showed we were beginning to move together as one. Clearly, some cats enjoy dancing more than others, and this is one activity that may take a while to get fully into the swing of with your feline dancing partners. From the ancient history of cat dancing to modern age tips and techniques, this book provides a wealth of information about a subject most of us know very little about. The photographs are truly stunning, and you just might get some new ideas about what kinds of fun you can have dancing with cats. Highly recommended!

Between Joy and Terror.......2007-01-15

This book has appeared in my life several times, always with a mixture of joy and terror. The concept of the book is simple: through engaging one's cat in dance, a certain physical and spiritual equalibrium is achieved. Various people are interviewed and photos are shown of them dancing with their cats. Half of the time, though, it is not clear whether the cat is jumping or has been thrown into the shot by the photographer's assistant. Throughout the book you question yourself if cat dancing is "real"; by the end, it doesn't matter anymore.

Each one of the "cat dancers" is borderline schizophrenic, but the images are so whacky that one can't help from laughing histerically. Some people have actually recruited their children into the cat dancing way, which makes you feel sorry for them. (They will never have a normal existence.) The text that accompanies the images, however, is cause for brief moments of terror: these people actually believe they are making a spiritual connection with air-born cats. One is even concerned about creating too much spiritual energy and collapsing an astral vortex. Regardless, the book is a perfect ice-breaker, a coffee table book for all ages that allows strangers to point and laugh and sigh collectively. To say with a smile: "At least we're not them!"

Dancing with Cats.......2007-01-11

A pristine paperback copy of this extraordinary book. If cats are your thing, then this is a book for your shelf

The funniest thing I have seen/read in years..........2006-11-01

My niece got this for me as a gag gift. After 30 minutes of looking through it, I was lmao. I am lauging right now just thinking about it.

One of the best birthday presents ever.......2006-08-18

My sister got this for me for my birthday. I will tell you, I have never laughed until I broke a sweat before in my life. I cannot believe this is for real... But, it is very entertaining. I suppose, if you wanted to dance with your cat, this would teach you how...

This is the PERFECT Coffee Table book. Unfortunatly, they do not show the funniest pictures... I highly recommend this book.

If you are in the dumps, or have a friend who needs a laugh, this is perfect. :)

Average customer rating:

Dancing with Cats

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics
Dancing With Cats

ASIN: 0760735042

Average customer rating:

Dancing with Cats Solo Cat Journal
Burton Silver , and Heather Busch
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Journals | Accessories | Formats | Books

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ASIN: 0811825310

Book Description

The publication of Dancing with Cats represented a brave leap forward in the history of human-feline relations, prompting thousands of people and cats the world over to make cat dancing a part of their lives. Now, Chronicle Books is offering dancers of the two- and four-footed varieties even more ways to spread the joy and incorporate the spirit of cat dancing into their daily lives. Because there is more than one way to dance with a cat.

Average customer rating:

Dancing with Cats
Burton Silver , and Heather Busch
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics

ASIN: 0760778795

Product Description

Apx. 5" x 5" hardcover with lovely dustjacket. A truly pint sized version of the original book, with all of the charm and beauty of the larger one. If you have "Why Paint Cats" or "Why Cats Paint" this will complete your collection!

Average customer rating:

Dancing with Cats

Manufacturer: Weidenfeld-Nicolson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Cats, Dogs & Animals | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000FJEQE2

Product Description

Collection of photos and narrations depicting cats dancing with their human owners. Fun!

Average customer rating:

Dancing with Cats
Burton; Busch, Heather Silver
Manufacturer: Random House New Zealand
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 187717842X

Dancing with Cats Black and White Cat Journal (Dancing With Cats)

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Dancing with Cats Black and White Cat Journal (Dancing With Cats)
Burton Silver , and Heather Busch
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0811825787

Amazon.com

Nimble kitties juke and jive across the cover of this spiral-bound hardcover. Ideal for use as a journal or for keeping track of daily to-do's, the line paper adds to ease of organization while the handy pocketbook size means you'll never have to be without this pretty kitty notebook.

Average customer rating:

Dancing with Cats (Seuil Edition)

Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0811826937

Average customer rating:

Dancing with Cats

Dancing With Cats 2002 Wall Calendar
Chronicle Books LLC Staff , Burton Silver , and Heather Busch
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Calendar

Book Description

Nine lives, four paws, and all the right moves. These photographs celebrate feline grace and have people and cats everywhere jumping for joy.

Customer Reviews:

Dancing with Cats.......2002-01-12

Hilarious, there's nothing better than cats that dance!!

Dancing with Cats Notecards (Dancing With Cats)

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Dancing with Cats Notecards (Dancing With Cats)
Chronicle Books LLC Staff
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Cards

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ASIN: 0811825329

Book Description

The publication of Dancing with Cats represented a brave leap forward in the history ?of human-feline relations, prompting thousands of people and cats the world over ?to make cat dancing a part ?of their lives. Now, Chronicle Books is offering dancers of the two- and four-footed ?varieties even more ways to spread the joy and incorporate the spirit of cat dancing into ?their daily lives. Because ?there is more than one way ?to dance with a cat.

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