The Geek Atlas--New from O'Reilly

For Immediate Release
For more information, a review copy, cover art, or interview with the
author, contact:
Sara Peyton (707) 827-7118 or peyton@oreilly.com

The Geek Atlas--New from O'Reilly
128 Places Where Science & Technology Come Alive

Sebastopol, CA--The history of science is all around us, if you know where
to look. And if you're a traveler who loves science, you'll definitely
want to check out at a timely new resource from O'Reilly, "The Geek Atlas:
128 Places Where Science & Technology Come Alive" ($29.99), by John
Graham-Cumming. Arriving just in time for summer vacation planning, this
unique travelers' guide covers 128 interesting destinations around the
globe where major breakthroughs in science, mathematics, or technology
occurred--or are happening now. 

"Unfortunately, finding great scientific places to visit isn't as easy as
finding homes of long-dead poets, painters, or writers," notes
Graham-Cumming, a self-described wandering programmer. "This is a pity,
because if there's one thing that makes science stand apart, it's the
willingness of scientists to freely share what they do."

And unlike many travel books, this one is written for scientists. "In the
technical descriptions, I've tried to simplify the science without dumbing
it down to the point of using analogies and metaphors instead of actually
describing ideas," writes Graham-Cumming. "So as you flip through the
book, you'll see the sorts of pictures you'd find in a travel guide, but
also a lot of diagrams and equations. (Any reader who doesn't want to deal
with the equations can safely read the first part of each chapter.)

Each site in "The Geek Atlas" focuses on discoveries or inventions, and
includes information about the people and the science behind them. Full of
interesting photos and illustrations, the book is organized geographically
by country (by state within the U.S.), and comes complete with latitudes
and longitudes for GPS devices. 

The destinations covered in "The Geek Atlas" include: 

- Bletchley Park in the UK, where the Enigma code was broken
- The Alan Turing Memorial in Manchester, England
- The Horn Antenna in New Jersey, where the Big Bang theory was confirmed
- The National Cryptologic Museum in Fort Meade, Maryland
- The Trinity Test Site in New Mexico, where the first atomic bomb was
exploded
- The Joint Genome Institute in Walnut Creek, California

Every site in this book has genuine scientific, mathematical, or
technological interest--places guaranteed to make every geek's heart beat
a little faster.

"One thing that I've been asked by reviewers again and again is to
recommend one single must-see place. Picking one place is next to
impossible--there's just so much great science out there--but I will admit
to shedding a tear every time I see the Difference Engine at the Science
Museum in London (Chapter 77)," writes Graham-Cumming. "It's mathematics
in motion and arithmetic in action."

About the Author
John Graham-Cumming is a wandering programmer who's lived in the UK, the
U.S., and France. He's worked for a succession of technology start-ups,
written the POPFile email program, and contributed articles to The
Guardian, Dr. Dobb's Journal, and Linux Magazine.

For more information about the book, including table of contents, index,
author bio, and samples, see:
http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596523206/

The Geek Atlas: 128 Places Where Science and Technology Come Alive
John Graham-Cumming
ISBN: 9780596523206, $29.99 
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000
http://www.oreilly.com
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Sebastopol, CA 95472

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