Rachel Riley
Proud maths geek and fan of Occam’s razor. Trying to make a difference with #BeLouder Instagram @rachelrileyrr
Book Recommendations:
Recommended by Rachel Riley
“I’ve been lucky enough to have been sent an advanced copy of @DrEmilyGrossman’s new book #WorldWhizzing Facts - it’s brilliant! Never mind kids, I’ve learnt loads! 😝🌍 Recommended for any budding scientists, eco-warriors or fans of weird facts. 🦥💩👍 https://t.co/sOt6kTMP8u https://t.co/B2rxTJoyLW” (from X)
by Dr Emily Grossman·You?
by Dr Emily Grossman·You?
'Never mind the kids, I've had an education from reading this book! ... Recommended for any budding scientists, eco-warriors or fans of weird facts' Rachel Riley, TV presenter and mathematician 'The best way to get out of being bored is discovering something new. The great thing about this book is it whizzes you off to a world of facts you had never heard of. Result: not being bored. Result!' Michael Rosen, Children's poet and author 'Every page bursting with fantastic facts you never thought you needed to know. Indispensable, planet-saving, fact-tastic fun for all the family!' Dallas Campbell, BBC Science presenter In this new book, TV science expert Dr Emily Grossman answers incredible and important questions about our natural world. You'll find out silly things like why some animals do square-shaped poos and which direction a dog is likely to face while weeing, but you'll also learn what climate change and wildlife loss are actually doing to our planet and what YOU can do to help. Covering a diverse range of key science topics, from human biology and animals and plants to the weather and space, Dr Emily shows readers why Earth is so weird and wonderfully great. Did you know there's a planet in our solar system where it actually rains diamonds? Imagine that! If you lived there, you'd always be picking them out of your hair, your pockets and probably your pants! Dr Emily also tackles Earth's BIGGEST problem: climate change. Through clear, sensitive explanations, you'll find out what is actually happening to our Earth and what this means for both humans and wildlife - and what we can all do to help! Written by TV science expert, STEM ambassador and advocate for women in science Dr Emily Grossman, this book will make your eyebrows rise, your jaw drop and your world WHIZZ! It will also give you hope about our future and how we can ALL make a difference. 'I love this book! It's funny, accessible and quirky and has exactly the right balance of questions and information to light the flame of scientific inquiry in young minds. A must-read for all budding young scientists' Lucy Hawking, Children's science author 'Since we got this book, all my kids want to talk about is diamond rain, tuna fish eyeballs and how to save the planet . thank goodness Emily has written down the answers to their insatiably curious questions in a single handy and hilarious volume' Helen Arney, Science presenter, comedian and author Emily Grossman's first book Brain-fizzing Facts: Awesome Science Questions Answered was shortlisted for the Teach Primary Book Awards 2020.
Recommended by Rachel Riley
“It’s an amazing book! Even with me in it, which I’d usually mark it down for 😝 See you tomorrow! 💙 https://t.co/xkqqR4WExd” (from X)
by Ben Freeman·You?
by Ben Freeman·You?
In Jewish Pride: Rebuilding a People, Ben M. Freeman, inspired by his experiences with LGBTQ+ pride, aims to educate, inspire and empower Jewish people to reject the shame of antisemitism imposed on Jews by the non-Jewish world as well as non-Jewish perceptions of what it means to be a Jew. Enabling them to begin the process of defining their own identities as proud Jews through Jewish experience, Jewish history and Jewish values. Jewish Pride is an urgent and essential read.
Recommended by Rachel Riley
“In other news this puzzle book by the brilliant @alexbellos is keeping me nice and entertained while I sit on my butt and try to convince the baby to come out. Very clever. Thanks Alex 😝👍 https://t.co/VSuoHaFx60” (from X)
by Alex Bellos·You?
Thought you had it bad? In this book, you will be: Imprisoned by a sadistic logician. Challenged to raise dogs from the dead. Trapped on a burning island. And much more besides . . . Everything is at stake in this compendium of more than 150 ingenious puzzles, selected to reveal the wonderful diversity of brainteasers that have confounded and intrigued solvers for the last thousand years. You'll need to pit your wits against probability problems, wrestle with wordplay, grapple with geometry and scrabble for survival. Along the way you will discover stories of whip-smart thinkers, eccentric novelists and a poodle with allegedly supernatural powers. You will absorb fascinating and important mathematical ideas. Some solutions will rely on ingenuity, some will challenge you to spot hidden patterns, others call for extreme rationality. All will surprise, entertain and stretch your brain. Will you make it out with your puzzling pride intact?
Recommended by Rachel Riley
“Podcast alert! 🎧📱 Recorded just before I listened to @CCriadoPerez’s brilliant book which every man/woman/feminist/woman-hater/everyone should get/read! Full on with facts, no bull, should come with a warning: will probably change your mindset, wherever your starting point. https://t.co/4PjKBuNMuT https://t.co/YH6kQ2Rw1p” (from X)
by Caroline Criado Perez·You?
by Caroline Criado Perez·You?
#1 International Bestseller “A rallying cry to fight back.” —Sunday Times (London) Winner, 2019 Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award Winner, 2019 Royal Society Science Book Prize Data is fundamental to the modern world. From economic development, to healthcare, to education and public policy, we rely on numbers to allocate resources and make crucial decisions. But because so much data fails to take into account gender, because it treats men as the default and women as atypical, bias and discrimination are baked into our systems. And women pay tremendous costs for this bias in time, money, and sometimes with their lives. Celebrated feminist advocate Caroline Criado Perez investigates the shocking root cause of gender inequality and research in Invisible Women, diving into women’s lives at home, the workplace, the public square, the doctor’s office, and more. Chapters here include: Can Snow-Clearing Be SexistThe Myth of MeritocracyThe Henry Higgins EffectOne-Size-Fits-MenYentl SyndromeFrom Purse to WalletWomen’s Rights Are Human Rights Perez writes in her preface, “It’s when women are able to step out from the shadows with their voices and their bodies that things start to shift. The gaps close. And so, at heart, Invisible Women is also a call for change. For too long we have positioned women as a deviation from standard humanity and this is why they have been allowed to become invisible. It’s time for a change in perspective. It’s time for women to be seen.” Built on hundreds of studies in the US, the UK, and around the world, and written with energy, wit, and sparkling intelligence, this is a groundbreaking, unforgettable exposé that will change the way you look at the world.
Recommended by Rachel Riley
“Also a recommendation of @JohnMannMP’s fantastic book! A cleverly compiled mix of essays & speeches from Einstein, Obama, John & others. It offers history & warnings, as well as hope for a more tolerant future for everyone. A great read with wide context. https://t.co/2mUE6uBYgA https://t.co/Nci7sHu3Xv” (from X)
by John Mann·You?
by John Mann·You?
'The Jewish people in its very being constitutes a living protest against a world of hatred, violence and war' Emeritus Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks The history of Jewish persecution is as old as the written word, though the epithet `antisemitism` was only conceived in the late nineteenth century as it reached the beginning of its most horrifying chapter. Throughout Christian history the hatred and prejudice towards the Jewish people have often been blamed on the betrayal and crucifixion of Christ, but ethnic Jewish oppression began long before. It is beyond dispute that antisemitism in our societies is on the increase. Following the Israeli bombing of Gaza, antisemitic feeling has grown significantly - though a prominent group of French Orthodox Jews in Paris recently demonstrated with placards saying 'Israeli action in Gaza is not the action of the Jewish people`. Yet still Jewish graves are desecrated and Synagogues daubed with swastikas. John Mann has assembled a Reader on the theme of antisemitism ranging from the writings of Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein and Jean-Paul Sartre to George Washington, Jesse Jackson and Emile Zola. The book is published under the auspices of the 'All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Anti-Semitism' and will come to be seen as a contribution of major importance on a subject of incipient lethal danger.
Recommended by Rachel Riley
“Dave Rich makes sense of the nonsensical with his uniquely gentle and pragmatic yet insightful style. Charting ancient irrational libels to their modern internet incarnations today, he issues a measured warning of what has come before and what could come again. Essential reading for anyone wanting to be able to recognise the ever-changing face of anti-Jewish hate, with up to the minute examples and a rallying call for the modern age, adding something new for everyone from the completely uninitiated to the fully up to speed anti-antisemite.” (from Amazon)
by Dave Rich·You?
Antisemitism is supposed to have disappeared long ago, but despite our abhorrence of racism and oppression in all its forms, this ancient prejudice continues to thrive. Anti-Jewish hate crime is rising, Jewish blood is spilt in Europe once more and arguments over antisemitism, whether in politics or music, theatre or sport, are increasingly hard to avoid. At a time of economic, political and social turmoil, fueled by conspiracy theories on your smartphone or conflict in the Middle East, antisemitism is back, and we need to know why. It would be tempting to put this down to a handful of extremists, but antisemitism endures at an everyday level in the stereotypes and assumptions about Jews that are woven into the fabric of our world. It is these almost-unnoticed prejudices that perpetuate violent hatred, and until we all understand where they came from, how they are sustained and how they can be challenged, they will continue to do so. Blending personal anecdotes, contemporary examples and historical insights, Everyday Hate takes you on a journey through this contentious and often confusing subject. Spanning Shakespeare to South Park, Israel to Covid-19 and ancient stereotypes to internet memes, it reveals surprising truths about how antisemitism continues to thrive in the interactions, assumptions and views of decent people around the world – and how we can change this for the better.