Nonfiction Science

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia under Yeltsin and Putin implemented a political system of "imitation democracy," marked by "a huge disparity between formal constitutional principles and the reality of authoritarian rule." How did this system take shape, how else might it have developed, and what are the prospects for re-envisioning it more democratically in the future? These questions animate Dmitrii Furman's Imitation Democracy, a welcome antidote to books that blandly decry Putin as an omnipotent dictator without considering his platforms, constituencies, and sources of power.

Almost 7,000 fans eagerly packed into the Ringling Brothers big top on July 6, 1944. With a single careless act, an afternoon at the "Greatest Show on Earth" quickly became one of terror and tragedy as the paraffin-coated circus tent caught fire. Panicked crowds rushed for the few exits, but in minutes, the tent collapsed on those still struggling to escape below. A total of 168 lives were lost, many of them children, with many more injured and forever scarred by the events.

Journey without End chronicles the years-long journey of "extracontinentales"—African and South Asian migrants moving through Latin America, toward the United States. Based on five years of collaborative research between a journalist and an anthropologist, this book makes a narrative-driven critique of how state-level immigration policy fails extracontinental migrants.

Katherine knew it was wrong that African Americans didn't have the same rights as others - as wrong as 5+5=12. She knew it was wrong that people thought women could only be teachers or nurses - as wrong as 10-5=3. And she proved everyone wrong by zooming ahead of her classmates, starting college at 15, and eventually joining NASA, where her calculations helped pioneer America's first manned flight into space, its first manned orbit of Earth, and the world's first trip to the moon!

How does a foal grow into a horse? Follow each step in nature's cycle - from birth to stallion or mare - in this fascinating book!

What happens when conservationists meet rhinos in trouble? They arrange to airlift them to safety! Follow National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence Dereck and Beverly Joubert as they move rhinos out of harm's way and meet a courageous little Hawaiian monk seal and a pair of Siberian tiger cubs fighting for survival.

The women’s suffrage movement was decades in the making and came with many harsh setbacks. But it resulted in a permanent victory: women’s right to vote. How did the suffragists do it? One hundred years later, an eye-opening look at their playbook shows that some of their strategies seem oddly familiar. Women’s marches at inauguration time? Check. Publicity stunts, optics, and influencers? They practically invented them. Petitions, lobbying, speeches, raising money, and writing articles? All of that, too.

Late in 2013, snowy owls started showing up in places no one expected to find them - including Florida. What had caused so many of these majestic birds to leave their Arctic home and fly to southern Canada and the United States? Scientists quickly began working to find out. Author Sandra Markle brings together firsthand reports from the scientists involved along with stunning photographs of the owls to explain this rare event, known as an irruption.

What color are your eyes? Brown is the most common color. But some people have blue, green, gray, hazel, or amber eyes. What determines your eye color? Listen to this book to find out about how your genes affect your physical features.

Ring-tailed lemurs have bushy, striped tails. Newborn lemurs hold onto their mothers' bellies. Within a few weeks, they learn to walk and climb. Baby lemurs climb trees to find food and sleep. How do baby lemurs grow and change? Listen to this book to find out.

Ostriches are the largest birds in the world, but they cannot fly. Ostrich chicks hatch from their eggs. Then they grow quickly. Chicks practice running. This makes their legs strong and fast. How do baby ostriches grow and change? Listen to this book to find out! This title also includes fun facts, a glossary, and more!

Hippos are big animals that live in Africa. Hippo calves are born underwater. They are strong swimmers. Baby hippos spend most of their time in the water. Their mothers help them stay safe from predators. How do baby hippos grow and change? Listen to this book to find out! This title also includes fun facts, a glossary, and more!

Honeybees are a crucial part of our food chain. As they gather nectar from flowers to make sweet honey, these bees also play an important role in pollination, helping some plants produce fruit. But large numbers of honeybees are disappearing every year...and no one knows why. Is a fungus killing them? Could a poor diet be the cause? What about changes to bees' natural habitat? In this real-life science mystery, scientists and beekeepers are working to answer these questions...and save the world's honeybees before it's too late.

Chimpanzees live in forests in Africa. Baby chimpanzees cannot walk. They ride on their mothers' backs. Baby chimpanzees first learn to climb. They learn how to walk at about age four. How do baby chimpanzees grow and change? Listen to this book to find out! This title also includes fun facts, a glossary, and more!

Discover eye-opening facts about a collection of go-getting women who have pioneered careers in a kaleidoscope of different industries. Prepare yourself for a celebration of women who opened doors and made it possible for more women to achieve amazing things today. List of women featured: Junko Tabei, Sophie Blanchard, Maria Merian, Elizabeth Magie, the London Matchgirls, Rosa May Billinghurst, Katherine Johnson, Annette Kellerman, Katia Krafft, Rosalind Franklin, James Barry, Madam C.J. Walker and Lotte Reiniger.

African lions are powerful hunters. Newborn cubs are born with their eyes tightly closed. Their eyes open at about a week old. Lion cubs grow up in a group called a pride. Cubs learn how to hunt by watching the adults. How do baby lions grow and change? Listen to this book to find out!

How does iron turn into a brand-new car? Follow each step in the production cycle - from digging up iron ore to hitting the road - in this fascinating book!

Asian elephants and Mexican long-nosed bats are two examples of endangered mammals. Few of them exist in the wild. Other mammals have already gone extinct. What hurts these animals? What can you do to help? Read this book to find out!

Zebras are speedy, striped animals that roam the African grasslands. Zebra foals can stand right after birth. Foals eat grasses and grow quickly. They learn how to survive from their mothers. They must be fast to run from predators. How do baby zebras grow and change? Read this book to find out! This title also includes fun facts, a glossary, and more!

Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world. Baby giraffes grow fast. Soon they are almost as tall as their mothers. Baby giraffes' coats blend in with the African grasses. This keeps them safe from lions and leopards. How do baby giraffes grow and change? Listen to this book to find out!