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Take a break with a prizewinning book from this year’s Aventis Science Book Prize. Chris McManus, professor of psychology at University College London, won – having already received a Wellcome Trust prize to write his book, publication guaranteed. Right Hand, Left Hand: The origins of asymmetry in brains, bodies, atoms and cultures (Weidenfeld & Nicolson/Harvard, $20) was reviewed by Douglas Palmer (29 June 2002, p 57). McManus tackles laterality from the most familiar – your left and right hands – to the twist in a molecule.

The runners-up in a strong list all offer rewarding reads. Liz Sourbut commended Gerd Gigerenzer’s Calculated Risks:…

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