Descartes's revolutionary treatise on reason and scientific thought, which sparked radical breakthroughs in mathematics, philosophy, and metaphysics After he finished school, René Descartes was left with more doubts than certainties. His Jesuit education included some of the best teaching available in mathematics, physics, and letters, and yet Descartes found the foundations of his schooling hollow. Determined to discover for himself what was real,...

Contained here in this volume, are two of the most influential works of philosophy ever written, Descartes' "Discourse on Method" and "Meditations on First Philosophy." First published in 1637, "Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason and Seeking for Truth in the Sciences," as it is more fully known, is a foundational work of modern philosophy, which is noted for being one of the first to apply the scientific method to the discipline....

"This accessible and introductory guide to critical thinking will help you think like a scientist, learn to question everything, and understand how your own brain can trip you up. This fresh and exciting approach to science, skepticism, and critical thinking will enlighten and inspire readers of all ages. With a mix of wit and wisdom, it challenges everyone to think like a scientist, embrace the skeptical life, and improve their critical thinking...

Contains ideas for cool science projects using items found around the house or at a nearby store.

"What is history and why should we study it? Is there such a thing as historical truth? Is history an art or science? One of the most accomplished historians at work today, John Lewis Gaddis, answers these and many other questions in this witty, engaging, and humane book. The Landscape of History provides a searching look at the historian's craft, as well as a strong argument for why a historical consciousness should matter to us today."--Jacket.

If you're one of the fans of ghost hunting TV shows, itching to get off the couch and track some spirits on your own, this book provides everything you need to know to conduct a successful paranormal investigation.

“A splendid, edifying report from the front lines of theorectical physics” (San Francisco Chronicle).
 
In this illuminating book, renowned physicist Lee Smolin argues that fundamental physics—the search for the laws of nature—is losing its way.
 
Ambitious ideas about extra dimensions, exotic particles, multiple universes, and strings have captured the public’s imagination—and...

Discovering a smelly creature in her garbage can that she names after herself, Olga befriends and studies the eccentric Olgamus using the scientific method, the practices of Jane Goodall, and other scientific concepts.

"Reveals how professional historians and other equally significant witnesses, such as the writers of the Bible, novelists, and political propagandists, influence what becomes the accepted record."--

Fourth-graders Drake Doyle and Nell Fossey combine their detective and scientific investigation skills to solve cases involving a crooked carnival barker, a mysterious ghost, an alien plant species invading wildlife habitats, and a wobbly bridge.