Most Popular Books by John Farndon

How do hurricanes form? Why do the seasons change? What are tetonic plates? Step inside the inner workings of Planet Earth to find out... This book takes you on an access-all-areas tour of the planet you call home. Dig deep underground, float amoung the clouds, and surf the ocean currents to get a close-up look at the fascinating processes that shape our world.

Discusses such elements of weather as clouds, wet air, frost, ice, wind, and air pressure. Includes some projects.

Meet some of the coolest land animals on Earth, and learn about their amazing abilities—from camouflage and communication to super senses and use of tools. Find out how these clever creatures and others use their smarts and skills to thrive in even the harshest environments.

The direct correspondence between image and text and consistent format make these books ideal for the emergent reader and mathematician.

Full of amazing illustration and information about the Universe, from stars to galaxies, black holes and more.

"Explores and explains physics concepts--including energy, motion, simple machines, gravity, flight, electricity, and magnetism--and provides experiments to aid in understanding physics"--Provided by publisher.

Meet some of the most interesting birds on Earth, and learn about their remarkable abilities—from elaborate nest-building and singing to logical thinking and language skills. Discover how these fascinating birds and others use their smarts and skills to thrive in diverse environments.

Meet some of the most intriguing sea-dwelling animals on Earth and learn about their superstar abilities—from hunting and hiding to solving puzzles and playing. Discover how these spectacular marine animals and others use their smarts and skills to thrive in oceans all over the world.

Being sick is horrible. But it used to be worse. Inside this book, you''ll see evidence of the plagues of the past—rotting skin, dissolving lungs, and sinister swelling all over the body. Diseases like the Black Death wiped out whole towns and villages. Tuberculosis consumed young people like a bloodsucking vampire. And Smallpox left its victims scarred for life—if they survived. At the time, no one knew where these killer diseases came from or how to treat them. But eventually doctors discovered how these diseases and others were spread. Being sick isn''t quite as sickening as it was in the past!

From the ever-curious mind that brought you the bestselling Do You Think You''re Clever? comes a brand-new trip to the far reaches of the intellectual universe, courtesy of even more notoriously provocative Oxbridge interview questions. How would you poison someone without the police finding out? (Medicine, Cambridge) What makes a strong woman? (Theology, Oxford) Instead of politicians, why don''t we let the managers of IKEA run the country? (Social and Political Sciences, Cambridge) How do you organise a successful revolution? (History, Oxford) Whether you''re interested in going to Oxbridge or just want to give your brain a workout, join polymath John Farndon on another exhilarating journey through the twists and turns of thought, and explore just what it means to be genuinely clever – rather than just smart.

Every single thing and person consists of elements, and this informative series will help young readers understand just how important the elements are and what role they play in the science of chemistry. Enhanced by easy-to-follow diagrams and full-color illustrations, the text explains how elements behave, their individual characteristics and their importance in everyday life. In addition to informative "fact boxes, " each volume also contains "Did You Know" features which explore topics such as why carbon makes soft drinks fizz. A wonderfully balanced combination of color photographs, paintings and drawings enhance the text and assist in learning about each element.

Meet some of the most fascinating insects and arachnids on Earth, and learn about their incredible abilities—from building and weight-lifting to long-distance migration and hunting. Find out how these surprising creatures use their instincts and skills to thrive despite their small size.

How to have a super-smart baby in 50 bite-sized chapters. From pregnancy to toddlerhood, Super Bright Baby: 50 Things You Really Need to Know will help parents nurture their child''s burgeoning mind. Expert author John Farndon recommends strategies--including ways to bond, intelligence--building play and teaching your child to read--that can be used throughout every stage of a baby''s development. With a timeline covering learning and growing milestones, boxes outlining the scientific facts for each topic, and quotes from leading childcare experts, this book is the smart choice for parents who want a great future for their children.

From the extraordinary distance our food can travel to reach our tables to the remarkable benefits of eating avocados, John Farndon shows the amazing, often shocking, truth behind the food we eat. Covering everything from the big businesses that control food production around the world to the dangers of food dyes, this book reveals the complex facts behind the simplest of meals.

The molten rock just under Earth''s solid crust sometimes erupts suddenly and violently, causing streams of red-hot lava and scorching high-speed avalanches called pyroclastic flows. Volcanoes can bury entire cities in ash, poison the air with suffocating gases, trigger earthquakes and tsunamis, and drastically alter our climate. Witness the world''s most extreme volcanic disasters throughout history, from the Yellowstone supervolcano to Vesuvius and Krakatoa, and find out what could happen if they erupt again. Learn how volcanoes form, what causes them to erupt, and why the benefits may outweigh the dangers for the people who live near them. Discover the science and technology that could help volcanologists save lives by predicting future devastating explosions.

Describes the discovery, versatility and other special characteristics, various uses, and affect on the human body of this most common metal in the world.

This book, divided into one hundred illustrated topic panels, presents information on aardvarks to zebras.

These DK books are a convenient, affordable source of information that fits perfectly in a knapsack or a briefcase or as ready reference on a desk. The DK Concise Encyclopedia is an illustrated guide to the world around us and the DK Dictionary/Thesaurus offers definitions plus synonyms for thousands of words. For those interested in foreign languages, DK Spanish Dictionary and DK French Dictionary offer a world of homework and conversational help!

The ancient birthplace of some of the world''s major religions and now a modern nuclear power, India is experiencing spectacular economic growth. In twenty-five years its population will overtake that of China, making it one of the most populous and rapidly-developing countries in the world. We all need to know more about this intriguing country. John Farndon explores the changing face of modern-day India and its fundamental contradictions. The country is leading the world in cutting edge technology and research, but it is also home to 40 per cent of the world''s malnourished children. It is a liberal democracy, yet its political processes are influenced by some of the most conservative religious ideas in the world. The booming economy is at times both global and archaic. Getting to the heart of these inconsistencies, Farndon gives a fascinating insight into the country as it is now and as it will be in the future, and reveals how the changes in India will affect us all.

How did the Universe begin? Who first measured the distance to a star? What is the mysterious force called dark energy? This title tells the amazing story of astronomy, from the ancient belief that all the planets revolve around Earth to the latest discoveries about how fast the universe is expanding.

With more than 20 million copies sold in 41 languages and more than 88 countries worldwide, DK Eyewitness has been the most trusted series in reference publishing for more then three decades. Visually engaging, informative, and lively, the more than 100 titles in the Eyewitness series focus on subjects that complement students'' personal interests and areas of study to make learning simple and fun.The most trusted nonfiction series for teachers, librarians, and parents. Perfect for homework help. Combination of pictures and text make the series perfect for reluctant readers and ESL students.

Modern medicine''s understanding of bacteria, germs, and viruses evolved over time. What were some early beliefs about what caused illnesses? And what ground-breaking discoveries advanced medical knowledge? Learn the history behind the science of what makes us sick.

Iran’s President Ahmadinejad shocked the world when he described the Holocaust as a myth and called for Israel to be “wiped off the map.” Could Iran build and use nuclear weapons? How would we be affected if Iran cut off oil supplies? Many see Iran as part of the “axis of evil,” and America is not alone in arguing that it presents a huge danger. But is Iran really the rabid Islamic dog that some paint it? Or is it in fact the most prosperous, sophisticated, cultured nation in the Middle East, despite its president’s belligerence? This book gives you the facts and lets you form your own opinion.

Ba-boom, ba-boom, ba-boom . . . your incredible heart beats more than once every second, no matter what you''re doing. And your lungs pull in up to 145 gallons of oxygen each day. So how are your heart and lungs connected, and what do they do? Join the Stickmen as they explore your body to find out how your heart pumps blood, how oxygen travels through your body, and how your body fights off germs. You''ll discover why you need two trillion red blood cells, how exercise affects the body, and what exactly is inside your lungs. Colorful diagrams and fascinating text show how your circulatory system works to keep you fit, warm, and alive!

This book introduces the fields of astronomy, science, natural history, geography, the earth sciences, history, botany and human biology.

Stunning picture sequences zoom in even closer revealing the metamorphosis of a butterfly, how a spider spins its web and a wasp community building their nest.

This volume describes the properties and facts about stars and galaxies.

Presents an introduction to the solar system and provides information on the Sun, its planets, and their moons.

Imagine facing a storm so vast you can only see it all from space, or winds that uproot trees and hurl cars in the air. The unleashed power of extreme storms can flatten homes and drown low-lying land in torrential rain, and they come with a steep cost in dollars—and lives. Learn all about the science behind horrifying hurricanes, terrible typhoons, and catastrophic cyclones. See the damage done by the world''s worst tornadoes. Discover the drone and satellite technology for forecasting and tracking powerful storms and the storm chasers who risk their lives to increase our understanding of these devastating disasters.