National Network for Equitable Library Service

Hot on the heels of his previous bestsellers, award-winning author Dr. Joe Schwarcz’s latest book, The Fly in the Ointment, doesn’t disappoint. From pesticides and environmental estrogens to lipsticks and garlic, Dr. Joe is back to demystify the science that surrounds us. Why do some people drill holes in their heads for “enlightenment”? How did a small chemical error nearly convict the unfortunate Patricia Stallings for murdering her son? Where does the expression “take a bromide” come from?

Interesting anecdotes and engaging tales make science fun, meaningful, and accessible. Separating sense from nonsense and fact from myth, these essays cover everything from the ups of helium to the downs of drain cleaners and provide answers to numerous mysteries, such as why bug juice is used to colour ice cream and how spies used secret inks. Mercury in teeth, arsenic in water, lead in the environment, and aspartame in food are discussed. Mythbusters include the fact that Edison did not invent the light bulb and that walking on hot coals does not require paranormal powers.

Joe Schwarcz tells it like it is. Whether he's plumbing the mysteries of chicken soup or tracing the development of polyethylene, Schwarcz takes a little history, adds a dash of chemistry, and produces a gem of an essay every time. I wish he'd been my chemistry professor when I was in school.--Christine Gorman, senior writer.

What are the odds of winning at poker if you don’t know the odds in poker?

Practical Poker Math provides a complete and easy-to-understand explanation of the basic odds, probabilities and expectations in Hold’Em and Omaha. All the formulations are completelyopen and are demonstrated via easy-to-follow, colour-codedcalculations.

Thousands have paid big bucks to learn winning poker strategies from Angel Largay – one of the world’s most consistent winners in maximum buy-in no-limit games. Now, Largay offers a wider audience his poker teaching expertise in No-Limit Texas Hold’em.

Although millions play, only a few have the skill to cash in on the explosion fueled by maximum buy-in no-limit games. Whether you’re a novice or a veteran, an online player, casino regular, or home game specialist, Largay’s progressive teaching method takes you step-by-step through the intricacies of the game.

Quacks and pundits beware! The internet is a powerful beast when it comes to science; the answer to any query you may have is just a few keystrokes away. But when there are multiple answers from various sources, how do we know what information is reliable? In Monkeys, Myths, and Molecules, bestselling author Dr. Joe Schwarcz takes a critical look at how facts are misconstrued in the media. He debunks the myths surrounding canned food, artificial dyes, SPF, homeopathy, cancer, chemicals, and much more.

Making advanced stats simple, practical, and fun for hockey fans

How do you grow the best pot in the world? Whether it's medical marijuana (cannabis indica) or recreational marijuana (cannabis sativa), a grower needs clear information and helpful tips presented in a straightforward way. Medical marijuana must be free of contaminants, which could prove harmful to patients using it, and so it's usually grown indoors where the environment can be controlled. Temperature and humidity need to be carefully monitored, and the grower must watch out for and get rid of any insects, moulds, or fungi through the use of air filters and positive ventilation.

Imagine you’re sitting next to a pilot on a flight and he’s eager to answer all those nagging questions you have about air travel. Are those bumps and noises normal? Why are some take-offs delayed? What happens if there’s a storm? How does this plane stay in the air, anyway?

Linus Pauling, one of the most celebrated scientists of the twentieth century, once remarked that satisfying curiosity is one of the greatest sources of pleasure in life. Dr. Joe and What You Didn’t Know to act as both the source and satiation of such curiosity, providing pleasure through a series of 99 chemistry-related questions and answers designed to both inform and entertain. Ranging from the esoteric to the everyday, Dr. Joe Schwarcz tackles topics from Beethoven’s connection to plumbing to why rotten eggs smell like rotten eggs.