Books I've Written

To date, I've written eight books and am working on a ninth. The following descriptions are taken directly from the publishers, and while they are written in 'marketese', I like them because they make me sound like an accomplished writer!






The Velocity of Honey
And More Science of Everyday Life
Published: October 2003
Publisher: Penguin Canada

Why doesn't honey flow out in all directions across your toast? What's the science behind the theory of 'six degrees of separation'? How do stones 'skip'? When visiting a new place, why does getting there always seem to take so much longer than returning home? In The Velocity of Honey, bestselling author Jay Ingram muses upon these and many more daily mysteries that puzzle and perplex. From mosquitoes to the Marvel Universe, baseball to baby-holding, Ingram's topics are diverse. He also makes startling connections. In some pieces, he relates anecdotes from the history of science and demonstrates their relevance to contemporary scientific debates. In others, he explores the science behind many of our proverbial expressions, common sayings such as 'time flies when you're having fun' and 'it's a small world after all.' In still others, he highlights intriguing links between the worlds of art and science.

Canadian Science Writer's Association: Science in Society Journalism Award: Shortlist 2003







Barmaid's Brain
And Other Strange Tales From Science
Published: October 1998
Publisher: Penguin Canada

In The Barmaid's Brain, Jay Ingram explores some of the little known quirks of human behaviour, including why we laugh and how we see mirages; he reports on science's various attempts to reexamine history, including startling theories about the Salem witches, a psychiatric profile of Joan of Arc and the raging debate about the first-ever map of the New World; he brings our attention to remarkable battles, from the parasitic nastiness of cowbirds, to the tiny but deadly guerrilla attacks of ant lions; and he introduces us to the sometimes odd concerns of the scientist, for instance whether it is possible that early humans spent their lives in water instead of on land, and just how does slinging drinks affect the memory and the perception of the barmaid's brain? Weird, witty and always edifying, The Barmaid's Brain serves up a splendid cocktail of fact, theory and anecdote in twenty-one of Jay Ingram's favourite tales from the world of science.

Canadian Science Writer's Association: Science in Society Journalism Award: Winner 1999






The Burning House
Unlocking the Mysteries of the Brain
Published: January 1995
Publisher: Penguin Canada

Welcome to the brain: the three and a half pounds of pinky-grey mass that is responsible for processing and storing astounding amounts of information. With compelling new research and intriguing scientific theories, Jay Ingram explores such cranial conundrums as: the stroke victim who constantly denies the existence of the world's left side, the epileptic patient who emerges from brain surgery with no capacity to store new memories, and the amputee encountering the eerie phenomenon of the "phantom limb". Ingram's customary wit and eye for the unusual shine as he investigates the mysterious, little-explored landscape of the brain.







Talk Talk Talk
An Investigation into the Mystery of Speech
Published: January 1993
Publisher: Penguin Canada

With his trademark mixture of erudition and wit, Jay Ingram explores almost everything about that most fundamental of human activities – talking. From the first words spoken on earth to the social dynamics of conversation, from the mystery-riddled philosophy of talking to the language roots of North America, from children creating new languages in one generation to the true nature of Freudian slips, Talk, Talk, Talk covers the gamut of humankind's most enigmatic and intriguing skill. Impeccably researched, lively, and accessible, this is a book you won't be able to keep quiet about.








The Science of Everyday Life
Published: January 1990
Publisher: Penguin Canada

Have you ever noticed how often you blink? Have you ever wondered why? Jay Ingram certainly has, and he sets out here to answer this and many other quizzical questions about what's intriguing in everyday events: like, do you keep drier by walking or running through a rainstorm? What makes a knuckleball move that way? What do scientists have to say about men's and women's bathroom behaviour? While we've all wondered about some daily experiences, others are so strange we've never even considered them; for example, what does asparagus do to your body chemistry? What does it mean when you show your tongue in public? Jay Ingram explains all this and more with his customary verve and wit, and in the process, helps us understand the weird, the wonderful and the everyday.







Amazing Investigations: Twins
Illustrator: Harvey Chan
Published: January 1989
Publisher: Simon & Shuster Trade

A fascinating investigation into the world of twins. Jay discusses topics such as famous twins, identical and fraternal twins, multiple births in animals, and the varied beliefs about multiple births around the world. This book is filled with scientific facts, bizarre stories, and humourous cartoon illustrations by Harvey Chan.




A Kid's Guide to the Brain
Co-author: Sylvia Funston
Illustrator: Gary Clement
Published: January 1996
Publisher: Owl Books

What does the inside of my brain look like? Why do some smells instantly make me feel good or bad? Where do the words come from when I talk? Sylvia Funston and Jay Ingram racked their brains to provide answers to these baffling questions and more! A Kid's Guide to the Brain is filled to overflowing with amazing facts, experiments, brain-bending puzzles and all the latest information about what happens inside your head.

Canadian Science Writers' Association: Science in Society Children's Book Award, Winner 1995




Real Live Science
Top Scientists Present Amazing Activities Any Kid Can Do
Illustrator: Tina Holdcroft
Published: January 1992
Publisher: Owl Books


In Real Live Science, Jay Ingram presents a unique and entertaining report of recent experiments being conducted by 21 scientists working in various universities and research labs across Canada. Each scientist offers the young readers an experiment, related to their own work, that can be carried out safely in the home environment. Topics range from animal to insect, from human to environmental.