Periodic Roundtable Book Discussions

Hope is the Thing with Feathers: A Personal Chronicle of Vanished Birds - May 5, 2008

At the height of Spring migration, May's Periodic Roundtable Book Discussion will feature Christopher Cokinos' book Hope is the Thing with Feathers on May 5, 2008 from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

The book discussion will be facilitated by Linda Hall Library's Head of Marketing and Reference Librarian, Eric Ward. This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required, but seating may be limited. To ensure your seat, please R.S.V.P. by emailing Eric Ward or calling (816) 926-8753.

Beyond Oil: The View from Hubbert's Peak - June 9, 2008

June's Periodic Roundtable Book Discussion will feature Kenneth Deffeyes's book Beyond Oil on June 9, 2008 from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

The book discussion will be facilitated by Linda Hall Library's Head of Reference, Scott Curtis. Calling upon his background as a petroleum industry geologist and university professor, Ken Deffeyes argues that we have just passed "peak oil" and are headed for diminishing returns. He pragmatically addresses how we can extract more oil from the earth, the economic costs involved in these extraction methods, and the energy alternatives available beyond oil. This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required, but seating may be limited. To ensure your seat, please R.S.V.P. by emailing Scott Curtis or calling (816) 926-8739.

2008 One Book Program featuring The Selfish Gene

Mark your calendars for the first One Book Program of 2008 at Linda Hall Library! On Tuesday, February 5, 2008, from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., staff will lead a community discussion of Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene. What if, instead of explaining evolution by the survival of desirable individuals, we view evolution as a competition between genes for supremacy? Does this make understanding evolution easier? Although The Selfish Gene was published in 1976, the book has never been out of print and has gained status as one of the rare popular books on science that exerts influence over both scientific and popular thought. For more information, please call Jenny Bruenger at (816) 926-8725 or email at bruengej@lindahall.org.