Books published by publisher Perseus Books

Designed for non-scientists, Six Easy Pieces is an unparalleled introduction to the world of physics by one of the greatest teachers of all time. The late Richard P. Feynman was Richard Chace Tolman Professor of Theoretical Physics at the California Institute of Technology. He was awarded the 1965 Nobel Prize for his work on the development of quantum field theory. He was also one of the most famous and beloved figures of the 20th century, both in physics and in the public arena.

Things weren't so peachy in Cathy's life before she and her boyfriend Victor broke up. Her father died unexpectedly, she's failing school, and her best friend Emma is mad at her. But when Cathy decides to investigate Victor's reasons for ending their relationship, things suddenly go from bad to very, very, very bad as her findings produce more questions than answers.Through Cathy's unique and irresistible voice, listeners will enter a strange and fascinating world where things often aren't how they appear.

We first met Cathy Vickers in Cathy's Book and followed her mis-adventures in the sequel Cathy's Key - Now in Cathy's Ring, the final installment in the Cathy Vickers Trilogy, Cathy cannot manage to find more than a few days to relax in her hectic (and mortal) life - she barely has time to put the mystery surrounding her father to rest before she finds herself targeted by a group of Ancestor Lu's professional killers! Recognizing she is a serious threat to everyone in her life, Cathy makes plans to leave town. But her friends, Emma, Pete, Victor, and, surprisingly, Jun, unite to convince Cathy that they must finish Lu once and for all to have any chance at peace - mortal or immortal. In order to defeat Lu, the friends must come together in a way they never have before. Meanwhile - unbeknownst to Cathy - Victor has made the ultimate sacrifice hoping it will bring him closer to a normal relationship with Cathy. But when Victor is seriously wounded and Cathy finds herself attracted to another mortal with similar feelings for her, Cathy's world turns upside down and she is forced to make a decision about her future with Victor, while his life hangs by a thread. What will Cathy decide, and how will their epic battle with Lu play out?

Famous, fascinating Benjamin Franklin-he would be neither without his accomplishments in science. In this authoritative intellectual biography of America's most brilliant and cosmopolitan Founding Father, Joyce Chaplin considers Franklin's scientific work as a career in its own right as well as the basis of his political thought. The famous kite and other experiments with electricity were only part of Franklin's accomplishments. He charted the Gulf Stream, made important observations in meteorology, and used the burgeoning science of "political arithmetic" to make unprecedented statements about America's power. Even as he stepped onto the world stage as an illustrious statesman and diplomat in the years leading up to the American Revolution, his fascination with nature was unrelenting.

In this anthology of fifteen, nearly all original, contemporary short stories, teenagers go to work, many of them for the first time. They take jobs to earn pocket money or to help their families get by. Some have a goal, like college; others use work to try on an identity or as a step toward independence. They work in fast food restaurants, sell subscriptions by telephone, do odd jobs, clerk, tutor, harvest crops, and more ... in every instance, working brings them the unexpected. Whether the job is exciting or dull, something to avoid later on or a discovered vocation, these stories lead us - and their young protagonists - to realize that work is what we do, who we are, and an important connection to others. It helps us not only to survive but also to dream of new horizons.

Based on the comic strips of everyone's favorite canine, this book reminds the kid in all of us that we can be anything! From an astronaut to a lawyer or a World War I Flying Ace to just plain cool, the many faces of Snoopy serve as inspiration. This hardcover picture book has great gift appeal for new baby, graduation, celebrating milestones, and moving up in the world.

Look and Find: Disney s Cars enables children to join Lightning McQueen, Mater, Doc, and the rest of the gang on an exciting journey through Radiator Springs. Children ages 4 to 7 can search eight colorful, action-packed scenes for dozens of hidden Cars characters and objects. Children can have fun and develop their powers of observation with this beautifully illustrated picture book. Children will delight in seeking out cleverly hidden characters and everyday items, from Cars characters to all things automotive, in each vividly drawn scene. Look and Find: Disney s Cars prompts children to: Cruise the busy streets of Radiator Springs to find the cars that live there. Search for motor-watering morsels at Flo s V8 Café. Find the mementos hidden in Doc Hudson s garage. Scour Mater s junkyard for shiny new auto parts. Find the fancy license plates in Lizzie s curio shop. Track down tires in Luigi s tire shop. Locate the portraits of town founder Stanley in the Radiator Springs courthouse. Point out the postcards of Radiator Springs.A section at the back of the book challenges children to find dozens of additional items, providing hours of additional look-and-find fun. The pictures on the 10-inch x 12-inch pages are big, bold, and filled with detail. The sturdy hard-cover binding stands up to repeated use, so children can enjoy searching these look-and-find pictures again and again.

Look and Find: Disney Cars 2 is a vividly illustrated book of eight highly detailed scenes adapted from the Disney-Pixar movie Cars 2. Kids search the scenes for Lightning McQueen, Mater, master agent Finn McMissile, Holley Shiftwell, and dozens of other hidden characters and objects. The book is recommended for children ages 4 and older. Here is a brief look at each of the scenes in Look and Find: Disney Cars 2: Memorabilia from Lightning McQueen s racing past is hidden around the Wheel Well restaurant. Holley Shiftwell, Luigi, Finn McMissile, and more world-class cars are crammed into Miles Axelrod s World Grand Prix party in Tokyo. Downtown Tokyo is crowded with hidden signs, cars, and objects. Tomber s garage in Paris is teeming with tools and car parts. Uncle Topolino hosts a homecoming party for Luigi that s overflowing with party guests. Lemons and cars from Radiator Springs have caused a traffic jam in downtown London. Royal guards pack the plaza outside Buckingham Palace. Souvenirs abound in a scene from Radiator Springs.The book s final section challenges children to revisit the Look and Find scenes and find dozens of additional items. The sturdy hardcover binding stands up to repeated use.

Look and Find: Toy Story 3 follows Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the rest of the Toy Story gang as they set off on their newest adventure. Children ages four to seven will search through colorful, action-packed scenes for dozens of hidden Disney characters and objects. Children will have fun and develop their powers of observation with this beautifully illustrated picture book.Children will delight in seeking out cleverly hidden characters and everyday items such as toys, school supplies, and household items in each vividly drawn scene. Look and Find: Toy Story 3 prompts children to: Wade through Andy s room to find the items he needs for college, including his skateboard, cell phone, and laptop Peruse the Sunnyside Daycare for playthings hidden among such favorite characters as Jessie, Rex, and Hamm Search the daycare s toddler room for big plastic keys, bouncy balls, and wooden blocks Locate the missing dishes from new friend Bonnie s kitchen set Hunt for art supplies in the daycare s bins, where Slinky Dog, Bullseye, and other Toy Story friends are trapped Track down Buzz, Woody, and Rex as they cross the playground during their escape Look in the landfill for broken toys next to Buzz, Jessie, and the others Find new pals like Chuckles the Clown, Dolly, and a unicorn named Buttercup in Bonnie s backyardA section at the back of the book challenges children to find dozens of additional items, providing hours more of look-and-find fun. The sturdy hardcover binding stands up to repeated use, so children can enjoy searching these look-and-find pictures again and again.

The Chuggington Lift and Listen Sound Book comes with an attached 10-button audio module that children press to add sound effects to a story about Koko and Brewster trying to get the messy Wilson to the chug wash. The book s pages feature nine flaps that lift and reveal surprises. The book is designed for children ages 3 and older.Children match illustrated icons on the book s pages to the buttons on the sound module. When pressed, the buttons activate one of these 10 sound effects: Wilson s train horn Silly bubbles Brewster s train horn Vee s three-tone signal Train brakes Koko s horn Peckham barking Callie s siren Walkie talkie feedback Birds tweetingThe Chuggington Lift and Listen Sound Book conforms to the toy safety requirements of ASTM F963-08. Three replaceable long-life AG-13 button cell batteries that power the sound module are included.

We all “know” that Marco Polo went to China, served Ghengis Khan for many years, and returned to Italy with the recipes for pasta and ice cream. But Frances Wood, head of the Chinese Department at the British Library, argues that Marco Polo not only never went to China, he probably never even made it past the Black Sea, where his family conducted business as merchants.Marco Polo's travels from Venice to the exotic and distant East, and his epic book describing his extraordinary adventures, A Description of the World, ranks among the most famous and influential books ever published. In this fascinating piece of historical detection, marking the 700th anniversary of Polo's journey, Frances Wood questions whether Marco Polo ever reached the country he so vividly described. Why, in his romantic and seemingly detailed account, is there no mention of such fundamentals of Chinese life as tea, foot-binding, or even the Great Wall? Did he really bring back pasta and ice cream to Italy? And why, given China's extensive and even obsessive record-keeping, is there no mention of Marco Polo anywhere in the archives?Sure to spark controversy, Did Marco Polo Go to China? tries to solve these and other inconsistencies by carefully examining the Polo family history, Marco Polo's activities as a merchant, the preparation of his book, and the imperial Chinese records. The result is a lucid and readable look at medieval European and Chinese history, and the characters and events that shaped this extraordinary and enduring myth.