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| The Camel's Nose: Memoirs Of A Curious Scientist | 
| Author: Knut Schmidt-nielsen
Publisher: Island Press
Category: Book
List Price: $35.00
Buy New: $31.85
You Save: $3.15 (9%)
New (2) Collectible (1) from $31.85
Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 344336
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 349
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.1
ISBN: 1559635126
Dewey Decimal Number: 571.1092
EAN: 9781559635127
ASIN: 1559635126
Publication Date: May 1, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: In excellent condition! 100% Guaranteed. Immediate shipping with recycled materials!
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
"It has been said that the primary function of schools is to impart enough facts to make children stop asking questions. Those with whom the schools do not succeed become scientists." So begins Knut Schmidt-Nielsen in his autobiography "The Camel's Nose," a fascinating reflection on his life and more than forty years of studies and adventures in locations ranging from the Sahara Desert to the Arctic Circle.One of the world's most prominent animal physiologists, Schmidt-Nielsen has throughout his career sought answers to seemingly simple questions: How can camels go for days without drinking? Do marine birds drink seawater? Why don't penguins' feet freeze? How do animals find food and water in the desert? By asking questions about the animals around us, we learn more about who we are, and the answers Schmidt-Nielsen discovered have not only helped us understand animals, but have provided us with insight into fundamental principles of life and survival.In "The Camel's Nose," Schmidt-Nielsen relates the story of his life and work, interweaving tales of his childhood in Scandinavia and his personal and professional struggles in the United States with first-hand accounts of field work in Africa, Australia, and around the globe. He recounts how he sought out peculiar problems of animal form and function and details his remarkable discoveries. He also provides a glimpse into the personal life of a world-renowned scientist, from the rewards and difficulties of growing up in a family of scientists to the challenges of his early career to the redeeming power of love later in life."The Camel's Nose" reveals a passionate curiosity for seeking out and finding answers. The reader is fortunate toshare in Schmidt-Nielsen's lifelong quest and to be given an inside look into the life of a scientist who has witnessed the better part of a century of breathtaking discovery and change.
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| Customer Reviews:
An excellent description of a life of scientific adventure. June 9, 1999
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
As an ecologist, I knew little of Prof. Schmidt- Nielsen's research. However, I was impressed by three aspects of his autobiography:1. He showed that research in the field or the lab can be a real adventure. 2. His approach to research was a strong combination of observation and humane experiment- ation. 3. He is a scientist who can write clearly, with no reliance on jargon used only by scientists in his profession. This is a book I recommend to scientists, budding scientists, and anyone curious about the way scientists live and love!
Exceptionally gripping to the curious scientist in all of us September 18, 1998
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Schmidt-Nielsen's book, "The Camel's Nose..." is a history of science in the 20th C., a textbook on physiology, and a personal journal. From the first page I was as fascinated with his research subjects as he was! It was refreshing to learn of a time when personal curiosity and professional work were not at odds with each other, but worked to create the best possible research and a happy life. Schmidt-Nielsen believes that scientific literature should not be convoluted, and his memoirs follow this rule. I highly recommend this book to anyone who still has their childhood curiosity about how non-human animals work! A science degree is not necessary to be totally enthralled by his work and life.
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Wildlife, nature and the Environment
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