#isaac tobin

[judgeitbyitscover]

Dawn of the Deed by John A. Long

Cover art by Isaac Tobin

University of Chicago Press, October 2012

We all know about the birds and the bees, but what about the ancient placoderm fishes and the dinosaurs? The history of sex is as old as life itself—and as complicated and mysterious. And despite centuries of study there is always more to know. In 2008, paleontologist John A. Long and a team of researchers revealed their discovery of a placoderm fish fossil, known as “the mother fish,” which at 380 million years old revealed the oldest vertebrate embryo—the earliest known example of internal fertilization. As Long explains, this find led to the reexamination of countless fish fossils and the discovery of previously undetected embryos. As a result, placoderms are now considered to be the first species to have had intimate sexual reproduction or sex as we know it—sort of.

Inspired by this incredible find, Long began a quest to uncover the paleontological and evolutionary history of copulation and insemination. In The Dawn of the Deed, he takes readers on an entertaining and lively tour through the sex lives of ancient fish and exposes the unusual mating habits of arthropods, tortoises, and even a well-endowed (16.5 inches!) Argentine Duck. Long discusses these significant discoveries alongside what we know about reproductive biology and evolutionary theory, using the fossil record to provide a provocative account of prehistoric sex. The Dawn of the Deed also explores fascinating revelations about animal reproduction, from homosexual penguins to monogamous seahorses to the difficulties of dinosaur romance and how sexual organs in ancient shark-like fishes actually relate to our own sexual anatomy.

The Dawn of the Deed is Long’s own story of what it’s like to be a part of a discovery that rewrites evolutionary history as well as an absolutely rollicking guide to sex throughout the ages in the animal kingdom. It’s natural history with a naughty wink.

[judgingbooksbycovers]

The Dawn of the Deed: The Prehistoric Origins of Sex

By John A. Long.

Design by Isaac Tobin.

[judgingbooksbycovers]

Wild Thought: A New Translation of La Pensée sauvage

By Claude Lévi-Strauss.

Design by Isaac Tobin.

[judgingbooksbycovers]

Pressed for Time: The Acceleration of Life in Digital Capitailsm

By Judy Wajcman.

Design by Isaac Tobin.

[book0ftheday]

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, published 1979, this edition produced as 1 of 15 for the 2007 We The People Bookshelf on the Pursuit of Happiness by the National Endowment for the Humanities in cooperation with the American Library Association with support from Scholastic Incorporated. This is a strange copy. It is a reprinting of the 25th anniversary paperback edition, but rebound as a hardcover. Everything is a little crooked, but you could say it adds charm. It's original paperback form was part of a series called Bluestreak, which celebrates "innovative literary writing by women of all colors." Cover design by Isaac Tobin, cover art by Jana Leon, cover model is Chastity Jackson. I personally love this cover. The expression on Chastity's face, as well as her body language, is incredibly relatable. Also, as a side note, Butler has quickly become my favorite author, if you haven't read anything by her yet, you absolutely should.

[thebookcoverollector]

An Ethics of Interrogation by Michael Skerker Design by Isaac Tobin (University of Chicago Press/ May 15, 2010) ISBN: 978-0226761619

[covershaven]

An Ethics of Interrogation Michael Skerker Design: Isaac Tobin

[winematchesbook]

Le livre : Cartographies of Travel and Navigation de James R. Akerman, publié par The University of Chicago Press (USA). Design : Isaac Tobin.

Le vin : Nyitány 2012, produit par Csernyik Pince (Bulgarie). Design : Peltan-Brosz Roland & Rohmann Nóra.

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Book : Cartographies of Travel and Navigation by James R. Akerman, published by The University of Chicago Press (USA). Design : Isaac Tobin.

Wine : Nyitány 2012, produced by Csernyik Pince (Bulgaria). Design : Peltan-Brosz Roland & Rohmann Nóra.