The Experiment http://theexperimentpublishing.com An independent publisher of practical nonfiction: cookbooks, parenting, relationships, memoir, popular science, and more! Fri, 22 Jul 2016 19:08:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.4.4 A Summer Sale for the Rational Reader http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/07/a-summer-sale-for-the-rational-reader/ http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/07/a-summer-sale-for-the-rational-reader/#respond Wed, 13 Jul 2016 00:00:33 +0000 http://theexperimentpublishing.com/?p=10165 Continue reading ]]>

From YouTube comments to presidential debates, many of us have suffered through (or stumbled into) more than our fair share of irrational arguments. Flimsy thinking might seem like a hallmark of our time, but The Experiment has a cure: Ali Almossawi‘s An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments, a handy guide for anyone who wants to hone their fallacy detector, brings a much-needed dose of old-school logic to the internet age.

BOBA.3DThis book gives clear explanations of the straw man fallacy, the slippery slope argument, the ad hominem attack, and other common attempts at reasoning that actually fall short—plus a beautifully drawn menagerie of animals who (adorably) commit every logical faux pas. Once you learn to recognize these abuses of reason, they start to crop up everywhere—which makes this book a must for anyone in the habit of holding opinions.

If everyone went about their lives with a copy of An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments in tow, we think the world might make a little more sense. Public discourse could use a healthy injection of logic, which is why we’re proud to offer An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments as an ebook for only $0.99 until July 18. A great gift, reference, and coffee table read for fans of rational thought, this book is truly the antidote to fuzzy thinking—with furry animals!

Still having doubts? Maybe you need to clear your head a bit. See below for three bad appeals—fallacious arguments all—illustrated and systematically dispelled with excerpts from the book itself. After getting a glimpse of these gorgeous illustrations in action, you’ll see why it would be irrational to pass this limited offer up:

1. Appeal to Irrelevant Authority

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An appeal to authority is an appeal to one’s sense of modesty, which is to say, an appeal to the feeling that others are more knowledgeable, which may often— but of course not always—be true. One may reasonably appeal to pertinent authority, as scientists and academics typically do. A vast majority of the things that we believe in, such as atoms and the solar system, are on reliable authority, as are all historical statements, to paraphrase C. S. Lewis. An argument is more likely to be fallacious when the appeal is made to an irrelevant authority, one who is not an expert on the issue at hand. A similar appeal worth noting is the appeal to vague authority, where an idea is attributed to a faceless collective. For example, “Professors in Germany showed such and such to be true.”

One type of appeal to irrelevant authority is the appeal to ancient wisdom, in which a belief is assumed to be true just because it originated some time ago. For example, “Astrology was practiced in ancient China, one of the most technologically advanced civilizations of the day.” This type of appeal often overlooks the fact that some things are idiosyncratic and change naturally over time. For example, “We do not get enough sleep nowadays. Just a few centuries ago, people used to sleep for nine hours a night.” There are all sorts of reasons why people might have slept longer in the past. The fact that they did is insufficient evidence for the argument that we should do so today.

2. Hasty Generalization

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This fallacy is committed when one forms a conclusion from a sample that is either too small or too special to be representative. For example, asking ten people on the street what they think of the president’s plan to reduce the deficit can in no way be said to gauge the sentiment of the entire nation.

Although convenient, hasty generalizations can lead to costly and catastrophic results. For instance, it may be argued that an engineering assumption led to the explosion of the Ariane 5 rocket during its first test flight: The control software had been extensively tested with the previous model, Ariane 4—but unfortunately these tests did not cover all the possible scenarios of the Ariane 5, so it was wrong to assume that the data would carry over. Signing off on such decisions typically comes down to engineers’ and managers’ ability to argue, hence the relevance of this and similar examples to our discussion of logical fallacies.

There is another example in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, where Alice infers that, since she is floating in a body of water, a railway station, and thus help, must be close by: “Alice had been to the seaside once in her life, and had come to the general conclusion, that wherever you go to on the English coast you find a number of bathing machines in the sea, some children digging in the sand with wooden spades, then a row of lodging houses, and behind them a railway station.”

3. Not a Cause for a Cause

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This fallacy assumes a cause for an event where there is no evidence that one exists. When two events occur one after the other (or simultaneously), this may be by coincidence, or due to some other unknown factor. One cannot conclude that one event caused the other without evidence. “The recent earthquake was because we disobeyed the king” is not a good argument.

This fallacy has two specific types: “after this, therefore because of this” (post hoc ergo propter hoc) and “with this, therefore because of this” (cum hoc ergo propter hoc). With the former, because one event preceded another, it is said to have been the cause. With the latter, because an event happened at the same time as another, it is said to have been the cause. In various disciplines, this is known as confusing correlation with causation.

Here is an example paraphrased from comedian Stewart Lee: “I can’t say that, because in 1976 I did a drawing of a robot and then Star Wars came out, they must have copied the idea from me.” And here is another that I recently saw on an online forum: “The hacker took down the railway company’s website, and when I checked the train schedule, what do you know, they were all delayed!” What the poster failed to realize is that trains can be late for all kinds of reasons, so without any kind of scientific control, the inference that the hacker was the cause is unfounded.

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This promotion is part of a limited summer sale, which also includes My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me. Click here to read about the physical book, or to find out where you can buy the ebook for only $0.99. To learn more about An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments, click here to see some more of Ali’s illustrations in action, or click here to read the entire ebook for free in your browser. Don’t sleep on this amazing deal: it only lasts until July 18!

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An Unforgettable Summer Read http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/07/an-unforgettable-summer-read/ http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/07/an-unforgettable-summer-read/#respond Sat, 09 Jul 2016 13:04:52 +0000 http://theexperimentpublishing.com/?p=9736 Continue reading ]]>

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At age 38, Jennifer Teege happened upon a horrifying fact by complete chance: Her grandfather was Amon Goeth, the vicious Nazi commandant depicted in Schindler’s List. The more Teege learned about him, the more certain she became: If her grandfather had met her—a black woman—he would have killed her.

My Grandfather PB 3D_no shadowJennifer Teege recounts her harrowing journey of self-discovery in the internationally bestselling memoir, My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me. Hailed as “haunting” (Washington Post), “unforgettable” (Publishers Weekly), and “stunning” (Booklist), My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me is a chilling reflection on family, identity, and the sobering weight of history. This memoir traces the steps of Teege’s personal search for truth, which leads to the possibility of liberation and understanding.

We believe in the value of spreading a deeper awareness and understanding, and Teege’s haunting story has the potential to do exactly that. We want it reach as wide an audience as possible, which is why we are offering the ebook on sale for only $1.99 through July 18. Click here to find out where to purchase the ebook, or to learn more about the new paperback edition of Teege’s book. Click here to see the hardcover.

To learn more about this incredible author, check out her exclusive Q&A with The Experiment. If you are planning on delving into Teege’s story as part of a reading group or with friends, you may want to consult our official Reader’s Guide, which features questions that cut into the deeper themes and implications of Teege’s writing. Both the Q&A and the Reader’s Guide are included in the most recent edition of My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me.

We are profoundly excited to be offering this exceptional story as an ebook for only $1.99. We hope that you will help us in spreading the word, and in ensuring that Jennifer’s important words touch as many readers as possible.

PRAISE FOR MY GRANDFATHER WOULD HAVE SHOT ME

“Haunting and unflinching . . . . A memoir, an adoption story and a geopolitical history lesson, all blended seamlessly into an account of Teege’s exploration of her roots.”—Washington Post

“A stunning memoir of cultural trauma and personal identity.”—Booklist, starred review

“An important addition to narratives written by descendants of war criminals. A gripping read, highly recommended for anyone interested in history, memoirs, and biography.”—Library Journal, starred review

“[Jennifer Teege’s] memoir has much to teach us about the ordinary, intimate conditions in which political violence—and the reckoning that follows—take place.”—Public Books

“The high quality of the writing helps to convey this incredible but amazingly true story.”
Association of Jewish Libraries

“This book is not for the faint of heart, but it is fascinating and fair. There are no easy answers to the issues raised in this book, but they exist for both groups of descendants. Readers will be challenged to think about a major event in world history from a perspective that is rare but surely significant.”—History Book Club

“In honest, direct, and absorbing prose, Teege and coauthor Nikola Sellmair confront highly personal repercussions of the Holocaust. . . . The book’s real triumph is in its nuanced, universally appealing portrait of an individual searching for her place in the world. Just as Teege’s chance encounter with a library book led her to question the fundamental assumptions of her life, so too the reader. . . will be forced to reconsider the wide-ranging impact of past injustices on present-day relationships.”—The Jewish Book Council

“A discomfiting but clear-eyed journey of self-discovery and identity reconciliation that first-time author Teege relates with admirable straightforwardness and equanimity.”
In These Times

“The alternating narrative between Teege and co-author Sellmair offers a refreshing and ultimately impartial analysis. Teege’s heartfelt commentary and Sellmair’s objective narrative produce a layer of balanced interpretation and insight.”—New York Journal of Books

“Teege’s story is at times heart wrenching, and yet, full of her own stark honesty and surprising wisdom as she ponders the impacts of one’s family history.”
Manhattan Book Review

“A powerful account of Teege’s struggle for resolution and redemption, the book [is] itself a therapeutic working-through of her history, as well as a meditation on family.”—The Independent

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**From July 11, 2016 through July 18, 2016, if you email your ebook receipt to publicity@nulltheexperimentpublishing.com, you will be entered to win a signed copy of the hardcover edition of My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me! Please also include your mailing address. The winner will be notified July 18.**

Jennifer Teege.author photo. Thorsten WulffJennifer Teege has worked in advertising since 1999. She lived for four years in Israel, where she became fluent in Hebrew. She holds a degree from Tel Aviv University in Middle Eastern and African studies. Teege lives in Germany with her husband and two sons. This is her first book.

NS for webNikola Sellmair graduated from Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and has worked in Hong Kong, Washington, D.C., Israel, and Palestine. She has been a reporter in Hamburg at Germany’s Stern magazine since 2000. Her work has received many awards, including the German-Polish Journalist Award, for the first-ever article about Jennifer Teege’s singular story.

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Care for Your Gut the low-FODMAP Way http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/07/care-for-your-gut-the-low-fodmap-way/ http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/07/care-for-your-gut-the-low-fodmap-way/#respond Wed, 06 Jul 2016 22:10:09 +0000 http://theexperimentpublishing.com/?p=9522 Continue reading ]]>

If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or if you know someone who does, then you know just how unpleasant it can be. A common gut disorder, IBS is believed to be the culprit in cases of abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, indigestion, and other gastrointestinal symptoms in about 1 in 10 people. The cause of IBS is currently unknown, but there are effective strategies for symptom relief. Chief among them: the low-FODMAP diet, featured in the forthcoming 2-Step Low-FODMAP Eating Plan by Dr. Sue Shepherd.

The low-FODMAP diet is a dynamic eating plan that helps people with IBS recognize and avoid foods that cause gastrointestinal distress. IBS affects different patients in different ways, which is why the low-FODMAP diet can be easily personalized according to individual need.2-Step Low FODMAP

The 2-Step Low-FODMAP Eating Plan delivers new strategies for managing the symptoms of IBS and a whole new host of delicious low-FODMAP recipes. The 2-step plan is simple:

First: Restrict FODMAPs (certain poorly absorbed carbs) to discover a new baseline of health.
Next: Slowly reintroduce them, step-by-step, to learn which FODMAPs are tolerable for you, and in what amounts.

The Result: A custom-made eating plan with delicious food that will make you happy and healthier!

With added information for traveling, eating out, food labels, and menu plans for adults, children, vegans, vegetarians and omnivores, Dr. Shepherd makes it even easier to stick to this enriching and gut-healthy plan.

Before you can cut down on FODMAPs, though, you will need to know what they are and how they work… and if you’re scratching your head on that point, don’t worry, because we’ve put together this handy infographic (click the image to view or download it as a PDF):

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UntitledEven with the willpower and the know-how, the low-FODMAP diet might seem like a tough plan to follow at first. It’s never easy to cut old staples out of your meals, but there are plenty of delicious dishes to comfort your gut and your palette all at once! If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out The Complete Low-FODMAP Diet, co-authored by Sue Shepherd and Peter Gibson, a noted gastrointestinal expert. A joint effort by two noted gastrointestinal experts, this book is a great resource for anyone who suffers from IBS. Dr. Shepherd’s follow up title, The Low-FODMAP Diet Cookbook, is packed with 150 flavorful, gut-friendly recipes to follow the diet plan and help ease IBS symptoms. Along with Sue’s latest book, these are a great way to work the low-FODMAP diet into your life.

NOT JUST FOR IBS: The low-FODMAP diet is proven to ease the symptoms of a wide range of gut health issues, including lactose intolerance, gluten sensitivity, Crohn’s disease, fructose intolerance, and more. This guide is for anyone with gut problems who wants to pinpoint the culprit and remove it from their diet.

COMING THIS FALL: Gut issues often go undiagnosed in teens, who are often too embarrassed to seek the medical help and dietary guidance that they need. Rachel Meltzer Warren tackles these issues in her forthcoming book, A Teen’s Guide To Gut Health, an accessible guide to the low-FODMAP diet that addresses the unique concerns of teens.

So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start eating the low-FODMAP way today!

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Vegan Grilling for July 4th http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/06/vegan-grilling-for-july-4th/ http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/06/vegan-grilling-for-july-4th/#respond Wed, 29 Jun 2016 22:00:11 +0000 http://theexperimentpublishing.com/?p=10000 Continue reading ]]>

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Fireworks and good company can turn a 4th of July celebration into something unforgettable, but the grill is the irreplaceable bedrock at the heart of any halfway-respectable celebration of America’s independence. That’s easy enough to say, but firing up the barbie can involve a bit more nuance if you’re cooking for a crowd of vegans—especially if you want to satisfy a carnivore or two as well.

If you’re an omnivorous grillmeister planning a meal for vegan guests, or vice versa, have no fear: we’ve put together a 4th of July grill-menu that will please revelers of every dietary persuasion!

For an appetizer, try Lee Watson’s Seitan & Sweet Potato Kebabs, originally published in Peace & Parsnips. And for the main dish, don’t forget the all-mighty burger: Lukas Volger’s Portabello Burgers from Veggie Burgers Every Which Way prove that you don’t need beef for a satisfying patty. Finally, if anyone at your 4th party still thinks that vegan food “just doesn’t have enough flavor,” try Kristy Turner’s famous Barbecue Sauce, originally published in But I Could Never Go Vegan!

We wish all our readers a Very Vegan July 4th! See below for the recipes.
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SEITAN & SWEET POTATO KEBABS
From Peace & Parsnips by Lee Watson
Prep and cook time: 160 minutes
Seitan & Sweet Potato Kebabs with Mango Barbecue Sauce
Full of tang and sweetness, these kebabs are the perfect skewer to whip out when you have friends and family coming over who are not part of the tofu brigade. Try to buy seitan in big chunks for these kebabs – it tastes like meat (which will confuse everybody!).

Makes 6 Large Kebabs
• 8½ ounces (240g) seitan, well drained, cut into 2-inch (5cm) chunks
• 2 tablespoons tamari
• 2 sweet potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1-inch (2.5cm) cubes
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 2-inch (5cm) chunks
• 1 green bell pepper, cut into 2-inch (5cm) chunks
• 1 plantain, cut into 2-inch (5cm) chunks
• 1 red onion, cut into quarters, then halved
• 6 large red chilies (if you like chilies!)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Sea salt and freshly ground
• Black pepper
• 6 handfuls of watercress or spinach (optional, for garnish)

1. You will need six long wooden or metal skewers. If you are using wooden ones, soak them in water for 1 hour beforehand (this stops them from burning).
2. Either preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) or start heating your barbecue grill. You can also use a grill pan on the stove. Put the seitan into a bowl (squeezing out any excess liquid) and add the tamari. Mix together and leave to marinate for 30 minutes in the fridge. Toss the sweet potatoes in a little vegetable oil and roast in the oven for 20 minutes to soften them slightly before barbecuing.
3. Have all your ingredients handy. You don’t have to be exact, just get a good spread of seitan and vegetables on each kebab, completing each one with a nice fat chili. Place on a large tray or platter, brush well with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. Make the mango barbecue sauce. Leave 6 tablespoons of the sauce in the food processor and blend until smooth. This will be your marinade for the kebabs. The rest will be your sauce.
5. The key here is to not burn the kebabs on the barbecue (it’s a lot easier to control the temperature in an oven). The heat must be constant, but not blazing. Wait until the flames have died down and there is a white glow to the embers – about 30 minutes. Spread them out a little to form a good base of heat, then place your oiled kebabs on the grill.
6. Barbecue the kebabs for 10 minutes, turning them regularly but not overdoing it. Once they are well colored, begin to brush on your marinade and continue turning and basting for 10 minutes. If using a grill pan, set it on medium and turn the kebabs every few minutes. They should take 15–20 minutes – baste them regularly towards the end of cooking. You can also oven-roast the veggies.

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BEST PORTOBELLO BURGERS
From Veggie Burgers Every Which Way by Lukas Volger
Prep and cook time: 30 minutes

No matter how many variations on a hamburger a typical burger joint menu offers, the prevailing way of preparing portobello mushroom burgers in restaurants is to drench them in cheap, cloyingly sweet balsamic vinegar. The first thing I realized when I began developing my portobello burger was that the mushroom needed a savory marinade. Enter miso paste, the fermented soybean paste that is the basis of miso soup and soy sauce. For years I’ve been adding miso to salad dressings and marinades—why not use it to season a portobello burger? 9781615190195The results blew me away. Miso offers a warm, nuanced saltiness that perfectly complements the natural earthiness of the mushroom.

Makes 4 Burgers
• 4 medium portobello mushrooms
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 2 teaspoons miso paste
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Trim off the stems of the mushrooms and scrape out the gills with a spoon. Place the caps in a large baking dish or mixing bowl.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, miso, and pepper. Pour over the mushrooms and, using your hands, toss to ensure that all the mushrooms are evenly coated. Marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours.
3. Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, rounded tops down, and cook for 10 to 15 minutes total, flipping them halfway through. The mushrooms should be tender in the thick center. Watch for them to release their juices, and then for most of the liquid to cook off the pan.

Grill Method: Prepare a medium fire over a charcoal or gas grill. Grill the mushrooms over an open flame for a total of 10 to 12 minutes, beginning with the rounded top down and flipping halfway through.

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BARBECUE SAUCE
From But I Could Never Go Vegan! by Kristy Turner
Prep and cook time: 35 minutes
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You may be wondering, “What about BBQ sauce isn’t vegan?” Well, often the sugar used in barbecue sauces (and in a majority of processed foods) is refined through bone char (charred animal bones). Some brands also use honey or other non-vegan ingredients. Several vegan BBQ sauces are out there, but if you’re on a budget, a pricy bottle of vegan BBQ sauce may not make the cut. Luckily, making it at home is a snap and tastes so much better! The rich, smoky-sweet flavor of this sauce makes it a must-have staple for any vegan kitchen.

Makes 4 cups
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ medium red onion, very finely chopped
• One 30-ounce can (890 ml) or two 15-ounce (445 ml) cans unsalted tomato sauce
• ¼ cup (40 g) + 1 tablespoon coconut sugar or vegan brown sugar
• ¼ cup (60 ml) apple cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons blackstrap molasses
• 2 tablespoons liquid aminos
• 2 tablespoons ume plum vinegar or plain distilled vinegar
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon ancho chile powder
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
• Salt and black pepper to taste

1. Heat the oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add the onion and sauté until
just beginning to become translucent. Remove from the heat.
2. Transfer the onion mixture to a blender; add the tomato sauce, coconut sugar, apple cider vinegar, blackstrap molasses, liquid aminos, ume plum vinegar, cumin, paprika, and chile powder. Blend until smooth.
3. Transfer the mixture to the pot, bring to a boil, and quickly reduce the heat to low. Let simmer 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Add the mustard, liquid smoke, salt, and pepper. Remove the pot from the heat. Let cool before transferring to a jar or bottle. Refrigerate until ready to use, up to 10 to 14 days.

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Recipes from Peace & Parsnips: Adventurous Vegan Cooking For Everyone © Lee Watson, 2016; Veggie Burgers Every Which Way: Fresh, Flavorful and Healthy Vegan and Vegetarian Burgers–Plus Toppings, Sides, Buns and More © Lukas Volger, 2010; But I Could Never Go Vegan!: 125 Recipes that Prove You Can Live Without Cheese, It’s Not All Rabbit Food, and Your Friends Will Still Come Over for Dinner © Kristy Turner, 2014. All reprinted by permission of the publisher, The Experiment. Available wherever books are sold. theexperimentpublishing.com

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Ancient Heritage, Modern Rites: The Solstice at Stonehenge http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/06/ancient-heritage-modern-rites-the-solstice-at-stonehenge/ http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/06/ancient-heritage-modern-rites-the-solstice-at-stonehenge/#respond Mon, 20 Jun 2016 21:49:18 +0000 http://theexperimentpublishing.com/?p=9949 Continue reading ]]>
Credit: Paul Townsend

Photo Credit: Paul Townsend

Today marks the summer solstice: the longest day of the year for anyone living north of the equator, it’s a cause for celebration across the globe. Between the Day of Private Reflection in Northern Ireland, Guru Purnima in India, Juhannus in Finland, Tiregān in Iran, and many more, this astrological phenomenon is acknowledged by diverse populations across the hemisphere.

The summer solstice may be a holiday for the north, but it also happens to coincide with a special observation in the south of England: every year, in the rural heart of Wiltshire county, the sun rises and sets through the gates of Stonehenge. An annual event that was forgotten for millennia before its eventual rediscovery by 18th century English archaeologist William Stukeley, the passage of the solstice sun across the ancient monument’s orientation seems too perfect for coincidence.

Academics still debate the true purpose of Stonehenge, believed to have been constructed between 3100 and 2500 BCE, but astronomy has dominated mainstream interpretation ever since Stukeley’s discovery. With later scientists detailing elaborate models to explain Stonehenge as a complex astrological calendar that could predict events like solar and lunar eclipses, it seems only natural that the placement of these ancient stones was mapped onto the starry night sky.

It is impossible to say how the ancient Celts might have celebrated the midsummer solstice, but Stonehenge has mightily regained its status as a site for acknowledging the longest day in the northern hemisphere. English Heritage has begun a new tradition, allowing revelers of all stripes to visit the monument, free of charge (although it costs money to park), for the sunset and sunrise that flank the shortest night of the year. A rare opportunity to watch the sun travel through these mysterious rocky pillars, ITV News estimates that 40,000 people saw the sunrise in this otherwise-quaint part of Wiltshire county during last year’s solstice.

A long forgotten relic from England’s storied history, it is comforting to know that the solstice celebration has returned to Stonehenge. The Experiment wishes a happy summer solstice to everyone in the northern hemisphere, from stones of southern England, to the steppes of Mongolia!

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Stonehenge pb.3D coverTo learn more about the modern interpretation of Stonehenge, see Stonehenge—A New Understanding by Mark Parker Pearson. As the leader of the Stonehenge Riverside Project—a hugely ambitious, seven-year dig by today’s top archaeologists—Pearson delivers the most thorough investigation of the monument to date. Surveying, rectifying, and clarifying the bulk of our previous knowledge about the site, Stonehenge—A New Understanding is an authoritative and essential read for anyone who wants to get the most complete history of this ancient structure.

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Father’s Day Shopping with The Experiment http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/06/fathers-day-shopping-with-the-experiment/ http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/06/fathers-day-shopping-with-the-experiment/#respond Fri, 10 Jun 2016 17:05:25 +0000 http://theexperimentpublishing.com/?p=9744 Continue reading ]]>

With Father’s Day coming up on June 19, children across the country are starting to wonder: “what to get?”

A thoughtful gift is a great way to show thanks, and what better way to show you care than with a carefully-chosen book? Everyone’s tastes are different, but we have a few suggestions from our own list here at The Experiment. Whether your dad is looking for a great summer read, gearing up for a summer of grilling, basking in the thrill of baseball season, or planning his next excursion into the great outdoors, we have a wide range of choices:

9781615190461The Natural Navigator
by Tristan Gooley

A writer, navigator, and worldwide explorer, Tristan Gooley’s passion for reading the signs of the natural world comes from firsthand experience. If your father is an adventurer with a taste for the great outdoors, then he will love The Natural Navigator, which combines literary elements with practical advice to provide an exhaustive guide for deciphering nature’s signs. On sale as an ebook for just $2.99 until June 22, this book connects readers with a wealth of anecdotal knowledge that draws from cultures across the world and predates GPS, the compass, and even cartography. Also the author of The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs and the forthcoming How to Read Water, Gooley is driven in his mission to keep readers on course, and to open their eyes to the wonders of the natural world.

9781615193288Baseball Field Guide
by Dan Formosa and Paul Hamburger

Baseball season is well underway, but even the most diehard fans have to admit: an umpire’s call can be a little baffling at times. And for newer fans, Major League Baseball’s nuanced rules—developed and revised over decades—can be downright perplexing. If your father keeps up with our national pastime, he will adore this pocket-sized reference guide to the ins and outs of outfields and innings. Easily navigable, impeccably designed, and updated throughout with the latest changes, Baseball Field Guide is a welcome blessing to anyone who has ever tried to slog through an official MLB rulebook. With crystal clarity, authors Dan Formosa and Paul Hamburger cover all the bases in this entertaining reference that will help your dad understand much more about the sport—even if he thinks he already knows it all.

9781615190195Veggie Burgers Every Which Way
by Lukas Volger

Summer is in the air, and grills across the country are rolling out of their garages. If your father fancies himself a grill master, this genre-defining veggie burger cookbook is a must-have for his barbecue repertoire. Author Lukas Volger, a veggie burger aficionado since childhood, has assembled a gauntlet of delicious recipes that are sure to challenge any preconceptions about what can go into a burger patty. Many recipes are vegan and/or gluten-free, and a wide variety of tastes and flavors will excite every palate and suit every craving. Whether your father already subsists on veggie burgers or believes there can be no true replacement for beef, Veggie Burgers Every Which Way belongs on his shelf.

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From parenting books for the stay-at-home father, to biographies for the literary-minded, to adult coloring books, science books, and more, it can be hard to know where to start with our expansive and encompassing list of titles! Be sure to check our backlist for further inspiration, or our Fall 2016 catalog for a look at what’s to come.

Happy gift-hunting!

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Peace & Parsnips & Breakfast Bowls http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/06/peace-parsnips-breakfast-bowls/ http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/06/peace-parsnips-breakfast-bowls/#respond Wed, 01 Jun 2016 16:31:34 +0000 http://theexperimentpublishing.com/?p=9746 Continue reading ]]>

Peace and Parsnips 3DChef Lee Watson was once, in his own words, “the mightiest nose-to-tail carnivore of them all.” Since adopting a healthful vegan lifestyle, though, his culinary vision has truly come into focus: combining influences from east to west, Watson’s recipes are at once excitingly adventurous and comfortingly homey. Available now, his new cookbook Peace & Parsnips is perfect for anyone interested in flavorful, worldly, plant-based cooking. With 200 vegan recipes inspired by love and travel, Watson brings plant-based inspiration from all around the world right to your kitchen. Packing plenty of ready-made summertime recipes, the timing couldn’t be better.

Peace & Parsnips: Adventurous Vegan Cooking for Everyone
by Lee Watson

To celebrate the U.S. release of Peace & Parsnips, we’d like to share a fresh, healthy, summer-friendly breakfast with you all. Taken straight from Lee Watson’s new cookbook, this berry breakfast bowl is sure to please all:

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Raw Chia Seed Breakfast Bowl with Seasonal Berries
For 2

When the body wakes up it needs gentle, nutritious food. It craves a good start to the day, and chia seeds mixed with healthy berries are just the ticket. Use any berries you prefer – summer and early autumn are the finest times for making this breakfast bowl. Chia, a member of the Mexican mint family, is a hero of the plant world and can seed within days of planting. They have more omega-3 fats than salmon, are a complete source of protein, boast more fiber than flaxseeds and have a huge amount of antioxidants and minerals. You can add them to a cake/bread mix, sprinkle them on soups and salads, and pop them into smoothies.

I sometimes like to serve this kind of breakfast bowl with arugula. It’s a real surprise to the taste buds, as you can imagine, but it completes the amazing nutritional properties of this dish and adds a dash of greenery.

THE BITSRawChiaSeedBreakfastBowlwithSeasonalBerries
• ½ cup (80g) chia seeds
• 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds or hemp seeds (sprouted is best)
• 2 teaspoons brown rice syrup (adjust sweetness accordingly)
• ½ a handful of fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
• 4 tablespoons organic coconut milk or unsweetened soy yogurt
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 peach/nectarine/small pear, or 2 plums, finely diced
• ½ a handful of raspberries or strawberries
• a handful of blackberries or blueberries
• a handful of arugula leaves (optional)

DO IT

Put the chia seeds into a bowl and cover with about 1 inch (2.5cm) of fresh water. Leave to sit for 15–20 minutes. Make sure all the chia seeds are covered, and add a little more water if needed. The chia seeds should resemble a cold rice pudding crossed with frog spawn (YUM!).

Stir in the rest of the ingredients, sprinkling the berries and arugula on top last.

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Recipe from Peace & Parsnips: Adventurous Vegan Cooking For Everyone © Lee Watson, 2016. Reprinted by permission of the publisher, The Experiment. Available wherever books are sold. theexperimentpublishing.com

LeeWatson.CREDIT Al RichardsonPassionate about vegan food without being preachy, Lee Watson brings a singular sensibility to the vegan cookbook shelf. He has worked in restaurants for more than 20 years, has cooked on TV as one half of the presenting team on Fox’s Meat v Veg and helped open a restaurant on the beach in Murcia, Spain. Besides growing his own organic fruit and vegetables, Lee writes poetry and plays guitar, practices yoga, hikes in the mountains, swims in the sea, surfs and enjoys nature. He lives “the good life” with his partner, Jane, in western Wales, where he works as a vegan chef at an idyllic retreat center in Snowdonia National Park.

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Brooklyn is for Birders http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/05/brooklyn-is-for-birders/ http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/05/brooklyn-is-for-birders/#comments Sat, 28 May 2016 01:38:49 +0000 http://theexperimentpublishing.com/?p=9798 Continue reading ]]>

Hope is the thing with feathers . . . 

It’s a rare Sunday that finds me awake in time to look east for the sun. I’m not normally upright until it’s overhead. But this Sunday is special: I have to get to Brooklyn by 10 am . . . for my first-ever bird-watching experience.

“Really,” you say, “in Brooklyn? Will there be much to see, beside pigeons?” Back in 2012, Heather Wolf wondered the same thing. But lucky for us, she grabbed her binoculars and went birding anyway, in brand-new Brooklyn Bridge Park. There—in what had been a decaying industrial waterfront just two years before—she found mergansers cavorting in the water, gray catbirds scrambling to feed their young, and eventually, with patience, even the rare mourning warbler.

Heather’s finds spurred her on to a Quest: to photograph 100 distinct species in the park. The Quest grew into a book, Birding at the Bridge. And her beautiful book has convinced me to actually get up this morning, to join the Experiment team on a birding tour with Heather as our guide.

Gray catbird, photo © Heather Wolf

Wild goose chase

I have trouble with the subway: The A train is re-routed, so it won’t stop at High Street. I get off at York, but now I need directions. City life! If only I could have gone as the crow flies. Let’s see, here’s the carousel . . . St. Ann’s (a theater) . . . oh, there they are!

Photo © Ana Ban

Photo © Ana Ban

I had thought there might be a long wait before someone spotted a bird—but no, everyone is rapt, so I tiptoe up. Vivienne offers me binoculars and points to a somewhat distant tree, where there’s a heron. Wait—a heron?

It’s not a small trick to focus the binoculars on the right cluster of leaves, and I’m nervous I won’t succeed before the heron takes flight. But then there he is—a black-crowned night-heron—poised calmly on a branch that looks not 12 feet off the ground. Jeanne, The Experiment’s birder-in-residence, takes photos through a long lens.

Black-crowned night-heron, photo © Jeanne Tao

Black-crowned night-heron, photo © Jeanne Tao

I love this heron. He’s big, but looks so light and soft—huggable even. His stern beak is all survival, but that trailing white plume is pure whimsy. I lower the binoculars and he’s tiny once again; I can’t imagine how someone first spotted him from this distance. At the same time, I see another group of park-goers walk practically beneath the heron without noticing. I can imagine myself doing that, all too easily.

A bird’s-eye view

The next two hours change my perspective not just on birds, but on the city. Heather is a detective: To look for birds is to look at your surroundings like a bird—and one micro-climate might be just five paces from the next. Heather has names for them: A slightly muddy clearing is the Magical Knoll. A little grouping of young trees is the Dark Forest.

“It gets darker,” Heather explains, “the leaves are still filling in.”

Map copyright © Holly Graham

Map © Holly Graham

We traverse the Dark Forest in quiet single file, so we won’t disturb a roosting mother robin. Her nest is right at eye level—a perk, Heather explains, of birding where the trees are young.

At the water’s edge, we meet not only double-crested cormorants, but also darting, swooping barn swallows, with tails that look like crescent moons in flight. “Barn” swallows—in Brooklyn!

swallow

Juvenile barn swallow, photo © Heather Wolf

And then we find a gold mine: A deeper stand of trees slowly reveals an ovenbird, a catbird, an American goldfinch, and more. I’m not birder enough to glimpse them all, but when I finally pick out the finch through binoculars, even in shadow, he’s dazzling.

Ask the most enthusiastic city-dweller you know: Wouldn’t a bit more space be nice, now and then? That’s a sure yes. But without leaving Pier 1, we have just visited five different habitats. I spent ten minutes contentedly scanning a single tree. Birding has made the space around me bigger.

Photo © Ana Ban

Photo © Ana Ban

Birds of a feather

As we come up against noon, prime birding hours draw to a close—at least until early evening. We circle back to near our starting place, and Heather points out the heron’s tree once again, from a different angle. He’s still there, looking as relaxed as ever—a bird I would have called “exotic,” smack in the middle of a metropolitan park.

“Unless he’s disturbed,” Heather tells us, “he’ll stay there until nightfall. That’s when his day starts.” My kind of bird!

Thank you, Heather, for a wonderful morning in the park. And to my fellow park-goers: Look up!

Links

Birding_website banner

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Battle of the Books: The Bathroom Bill and Cultural Boycott http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/05/battle-of-the-books-the-bathroom-bill-and-cultural-boycott/ http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/05/battle-of-the-books-the-bathroom-bill-and-cultural-boycott/#respond Thu, 19 May 2016 20:38:59 +0000 http://theexperimentpublishing.com/?p=9733 Continue reading ]]>

If transgender rights don’t normally register a blip on your radar, that has most likely changed over the past few weeks. North Carolina’s controversial House Bill 2, which requires transgender people to use the bathroom connected to the sex on their birth certificate, has inspired national backlash, heated rhetoric, and a wave of private-sector activism. News outlets like NPR are finally putting gender variance on the daily agenda.

In a resounding show of anti-discriminatory solidarity, a long line of celebrities and companies from Ringo Starr to Pepsi swiftly took to the press to announce their intention to boycott the state of North Carolina. In line with an ongoing legal battle being pushed by the Department of Justice (Attorney General Loretta Lynch has firmly argued that “state-sanctioned discrimination never works and never looks good in hindsight”), these boycotts aim to pressure the North Carolina government into reversing its controversial decision. However, some argue that these boycotts do more to hurt the effort that they claim to support.

Independent bookstores across North Carolina have become sites of debate around the question of whether or not private boycotts are an effective tactic. Linda-Marie Barrett, the general manager of the award-winning Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe, penned an open letter in Shelf Awareness that plead authors not to cancel their events in the state. Writing that “we work hard every day […] to guard against censorship and intolerance in whatever form it appears,” Linda-Marie expresses regret over a canceled event that she argues “could have served as a platform to address an audience that would be empowered by [the author’s] outrage.”

Screen Shot 2016-05-19 at 2.57.34 PM

Malaprop’s Bookstore in Asheville, NC. Photo by J.H. Fearless.

Amidst these tactical disagreements, a wide coalition has mounted against HB2. After nearly a month of mounting political pressure, Obama issued his now-famous “Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Rights” last week. Arguing that schools are legally obligated to “ensure nondiscrimination on the basis of sex,” Obama interprets HB2 as a violation of Title IX, going further to state that all schools that receive federal funds must “provide transgender students equal access to educational programs and activities.” In the letter, Obama formally distinguishes between Gender identity, Sex assigned at birth, Transgender and Gender transition in non-biological terms, effectively recognizing the existence of gender fluidity and non-binary gender variance.

In returning to question of cultural boycotts in North Carolina, it is important to remember that this language did not appear out of thin air. Academics, activists, and writers have been promoting ideas about gender variance and gender inclusivity for quite some time, and have certainly contributed to the cultural climate that now speaks so strongly in support of trans rights. As an example, Diane Ehrensaft, author of The Gender Creative Child and Gender Born, Gender Made, not only led the push to have “gender dysphoria” removed as a disorder in the newest edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, but also pioneered much of the language that is now being employed by none other than the President of the United States.

The movement against HB2 draws upon a rich tradition of trans advocacy that flourishes amongst independent authors, publishers, and booksellers. These voices are important and transformative: by refusing to lend their presence, voices, and measured anger to the cultural venues of North Carolina, many participants of the cultural boycott may be shutting down an invaluable opportunity to contribute to the very change that they want to see.

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Live from BEA 2016! http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/05/live-from-bea-2016/ http://theexperimentpublishing.com/2016/05/live-from-bea-2016/#respond Wed, 11 May 2016 20:03:56 +0000 http://theexperimentpublishing.com/?p=9652 Continue reading ]]>

Live from Chicago: IT’S WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON!

A preview of our booth at #BEA2016

A preview of our booth at #BEA2016

This week marks the first time BookExpo America has returned to the McCormick Place in Chicago since 2004, and The Experiment is thrilled to be a part of it. BEA is a great opportunity to link up with publishers, booksellers, authors, librarians, members of the press, and other industry professionals—we’re so excited to see everyone!

The overview schedule is packed this year, but we like to think that we’re bringing plenty to offer at our own little booth–#1829! Between massive galley giveaways on Thursday and Friday, as well as a book signing with Edmund Harriss, author of Patterns of the Universe, this afternoon, this is certainly shaping up to be a whirlwind of a week. See below for our schedule of special offerings, including dates and times for this week:

Wednesday, May 11, 3:00-4:00 PM
Author Edmund Harriss will sign finished copies of Patterns of the Universe. Be sure to ask him about his new book, Visions of the Universe, coming in the Fall!

Thursday, May 12, 1:00-200 PM
Galley giveaway of Sixty by Ian Brown

Friday, May 13, 10:00-11:00 AM
Galley giveaway of A Woman on the Edge of Time by Jeremy Gavron

Edmund Harriss prepares to sign copies of his recent mathematical coloring book, Patterns of the Universe

Edmund Harriss prepares to sign copies of his recent mathematical coloring book, Patterns of the Universe

Even if you can’t manage to make it to any of these events, we would love for you to stop by our booth and check out a sampling of our Fall 2016 list at any time during convention hours. We’ve got spreads, galleys, catalogs, sample pages, handouts, cover displays—you name it. If you’re interested in our budding list of practical and narrative nonfiction, be sure to come say hi!

Happy #BEA2016!

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