Indiana University Press blog

Win A Copy of Award-Winning 'UFOs, Chemtrails, and Aliens'

We're delighted to announce that UFOs, Chemtrails, and Aliens has won the 2017 Robert P. Balles Annual Prize in Critical Thinking from the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the 2018 IPPY Gold Medal for Science. To celebrate, we're giving away a free copy of the book!

Lights in the sky over Area 51. Unnatural cloud formations. A crash and a cover-up in Roswell.

These are the phenomena that spark conspiracy rants on message boards across the internet, ongoing fascination with unexplained sightings the world over, and even a campaign promise from presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to release what the U.S. government knows about alien visitors.

But Donald R. Prothero and Timothy D. Callahan are here to fight conspiracy fire with scientific fact, offering explanations for the events that lead to theories about aliens, the paranormal, and beyond. Using the basic tenets of the scientific method to take on everything from eyewitness testimony to reported sightings of UFOs, Prothero and Callahan give an impressive challenge to even the most ardent believers in the unexplained.

If the truth is out there, UFOs, Chemtrails, and Aliens is your first step towards finding it.

Enter your name and email address below by 11:59 pm on Thursday, May 10 for your chance to win a copy of this compelling book. 

Daniel Duzdevich to speak at Columbia University Feb. 9

IUP author Daniel Duzdevich and Harvard University Press author James T. Costa will give a joint presentation on "Wallace and Darwin: Inspiration, Legacy, and the Origins of Evolutionary Theory" February 9 at 7 p.m. at Columbia University. The event is free and open to the public.

Duzdevich is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Biological Sciences at Columbia University, where he studies the interactions between DNA and proteins at the scale of individual molecules. He is author of Darwin's On the Origin of Species: A Modern Rendition. Learn more about his book on our website.

Two IUP books win 2013 IndieFab Awards

We are pleased to announce that two of our books received 2013 IndieFab Awards (formerly known as the Book of the Year Awards) from Foreword Reviews. Reality Check by Donald R. Prothero was the silver winner in the Science category, and Pere Marie-Benoit and Jewish Rescue by Susan Zuccotti was the gold winner in the History category.

Representing hundreds of independent and university presses of all sizes, the winners were selected after months of editorial deliberation over more than 1,500 entries in 60 categories. These books exemplify the best work coming from today’s indie authors and publishers. View the complete list of 2013 IndieFab winners.

Three IUP books win Independent Publisher Book Awards

We are pleased to announce that three of our books have won 2014 Independent Publisher Awards (IPPY)!

The following books all received Gold in their respective categories:

World History: Pere Marie-Benoit and Jewish Rescue by Susan Zuccotti

Science: Sabertooth by Mauricio Anton

Transportation: Railroads and the American People by H. Roger Grant

The IPPY Awards, launched in 1996, are designed to bring increased recognition to the deserving but often unsung titles published by independent authors and publishers. Since the inaugural contest nearly 5,000 books have received IPPY Awards.

The awards will be presented May 28 in New York, on the eve of the BookExpo America convention.

Two IUP books selected as Foreword Book of the Year Award finalists

Last week, Foreword Reviews announced the finalists for its 2013 Book of the Year Awards. Two IUP books are on this distinguished list of indie authors and publishers whose groundbreaking work stands out from the crowd. Reality Check by Donald R. Prothero is a finalist in the Science category, and Pere Marie-Benoit and Jewish Rescue by Susan Zuccotti is a finalist in the History category.

In the next two months, a panel of more than 100 librarians and booksellers will determine the winners of these prestigious awards. A celebration of the winners will take place during the American Library Association Annual Conference in Las Vegas on Friday, June 27 at 6 p.m. with awards in over 60 categories, cash prizes for the best in fiction and nonfiction, and widespread recognition.

View the complete list of Foreword Reviews' 2013 Book of the Year Award finalists. Congratulations to our authors on receiving this honor!

Book Culture to host launch for Daniel Duzdevich's new book

Book Culture in New York City will host a launch party for Daniel Duzdevich's new book Darwin's On the Origin of Species: A Modern Rendition February 25 at 7 p.m. Duzdevich will discuss how he transformed Darwin’s most famous book into a modern English rendering for today's readers. Learn more about the book on our website or in this podcast.

Podcast: Daniel Duzdevich discusses Darwin's On the Origin of Species

Charles Darwin’s most famous book On the Origin of Species is one of the most important books ever written, but it is also notoriously difficult to read. Daniel Duzdevich offers a clear, up-to-date English rendering of Darwin’s first edition in his new book Darwin's On the Origin of Species: A Modern Rendition. On this episode of the IU Press podcast, he discusses the process he went through to modernize Darwin's book for today's readers, yet still remain true to the original.

IUP author Alan Titus to introduce newest dinosaur

IUP author Dr. Alan Titus will introduce the newest dinosaur, the Lythronax, on Friday, February 7 at 7 p.m. This event will take place at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Kanab Visitor Center and is free and open to the public.

Copies of Titus's book At the Top of the Grand Staircase: The Late Cretaceous of Southern Utah will also be available for sale and signing by the author during the event.

3 IU Press books named Choice Outstanding Academic Titles of 2013

We are pleased to announce that three of our books have been named Choice Outstanding Academic Titles of 2013! Selected by Choice's subject editors, this prestigious list of publications reflects the best in scholarly titles. IU Press honorees include: 

The Complete Dinosaur
Second Edition
Edited by M. K. Brett-Surman, Thomas R. Holtz, Jr., and James O. Farlow
Bob Walters, Art Consultant

"This 'encyclopedia,' written by more than 60 paleontologists recognized for their ongoing work with these amazing creatures, is a rich source of information. . . . Highly recommended."

Gaining Ground
The Origin and Evolution of Tetrapods
Second Edition
Jennifer A. Clack

"[A] remarkable reference work, with detailed anatomical descriptions of early tetrapods and their ancestors, a discussion of the environments these creatures inhabited, a chronicle of important fossil sites and discoveries, and an expert summary of the tetrapod family tree. The text is clear . . . and the book is well illustrated, making it an ideal reference for students and researchers. . . . Highly recommended."

A History of Women in Russia
From Earliest Times to the Present
Barbara Evans Clements

"Clements's writing is engaging, clear, and jargon free, making this book easily accessible to a general audience. . . . Highly recommended."

For a complete list of Outstanding Academic Titles, visit Choice Reviews Online.

Choice reviews - December 2013

The following books were reviewed in the December issue of Choice (requires subscription):

American Post-Judaism

"[R]equired reading for anyone directly concerned with Jewish survival, and for everyone interested in the state of institutional religion and personal spirituality in the US today. ...Highly recommended."

In Pursuit of Early Mammals

"[A]n assortment of excellent figures, e.g., drawings and reconstructions of fossils and wonderful photos of fieldwork and nearly all of the major Mesozoic mammal researchers. ...Highly recommended."

Zimbabwe's Cinematic Arts

"Thompson analyzes identity discourses through cinematic arts—films, documentaries, television programs, videos—consumed (whether or not produced) in Zimbabwe. ... Beside bringing issues of race, financing, ethnicity, and language to the discussion, she also considers the 2001 Broadcasting Services Act, which was meant to liberalize the field and stem Western influence. ...Recommended."

Muslim Societies in Africa

"Loimeier's impressive book presents a critical assessment of scholarship on the 1,300 years of the historical development and evolution of Muslim societies in Africa. ...Highly recommended." 

Land, Mobility, and Belonging in West Africa

"The author shows how competing historical narratives have been invoked in contemporary struggles over resources; she highlights growing conflicts over who belongs and who is stranger in the current climate of economic scarcity. This significant study enhances understanding of the dynamics of rural societies across the continent. ...Highly recommended."