The Triumph of the Fungi by Nicholas P. Money

Nicholas P. Money in the The Triumph of the Fungi: A Rotten History covers the often futile attempts by humans to prevent plant pathogens from destroying trees, potatoes, cereal grains, coffee plants and rubber plants.

For non mycologists the discussions can be very steeped in the terms of mycology.  The author balances this with biting social commentary such as the benefits and downside of colonialism and slave labor.

For public policy experts the implications for ignoring the concerns of plant pathologists are dire.  The Japanese near monopoly on natural rubber production in WWII spurred the development of petroleum based polymers that did not work as well and the failed experiment by a US company to establish rubber trees back in South America. A local endemic pathogen killed the plants thwarting the best efforts to establish the plants.

Gold colored Urediniospores - Outside air air sample from Texas 10/2012 - N. Carlson

For mycologists the author describes the many ways the fungal organisms reproduce.  These have implications for control as some types of spores travel very short distances while the urediniospores produced in some cases by the same organism can travel across the Pacific Ocean. 

The chapter titles reflect the dark humor of the author "Cereal Killers," "The Decaffinator" and "Rubber eraser."  There are very few notes of optimism in this grimly realistic tome. After offering an uncharacteristically optimistic paragraph the author points out why this may be just wishful thinking.

The last chapter focuses on the future of fungal plant pathology and the concern for bioterrorism.  It is important to do our best to control the spread of fungal pathogens.  At a minimum the controls allow us to feed our addition to coffee and chocolate.  Lack of control results in death and deforestation. The book explores the current limits on the ability of humans to control our environment.

Nicholas P. Money -Who are the invisible rulers of the Planet?  The microbial world dwarfs the macrobiotic world - 3min.

Mushroom reproduction - 2min.

The Amoeba in the room- 30 min.  - We still can't categorize all the organisms in his pond.

Redirect by Timothy D. Wilson

Timothy D. Wilson PhD. covers the science of changing and helping people cope with difficult circumstances using a technique known as story editing in his book, Redirect: The Surprising New Science of Psychological Change . 

Mr. Wilson points to research from Association for Psychological Science and others showing that CISD (Critical Incident Stress Debriefing) that occurs after a traumatic event does not reduce the incidence of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and may in fact make it harder for people to move on and recover if they are forced to recount the event against their will.  Waiting several weeks after an event and writing down thoughts for 15 minutes on three consecutive days works much better as does cognitive behavior therapy.  This allows people time to make sense of an event.

Mr. Wilson mocks the premise of the book, The Secret, pointing out the stupidity of attracting good things while sitting at home eating snacks.  He finds it ludicrous to blame the Secret-challenged people of Darfur for their inability to attract wealth and prosperity.

He devotes considerable attention to case control research on effective ways to promote healthy behaviors by helping college students realize the actual rates of binge drinking are lower than they thought.  He also points out activities that he finds are similar to blood letting.  It is a very bad idea to bring at risk teens together for activities.  They reinforce each others bad behaviors.  It is better to have the teens mentored through a program like Big Brothers Big Sisters.  

He offers some health parenting tips backed by case control studies on ways to coax the best behavior out of your kids.  Use the minimum reward/punishment necessary to accomplish a goal.  Change in behavior sticks when it becomes a part of who a person or groups identity.  We are a class that does not litter works much better than lectures telling kids to do the right thing.  Praise kids for doing hard work studying for a test not for being smart. 

RSA talk with Timothy Wilson - 18 minutes

Social Psychology - 40 minutes