The best science books, as recommended by some of the most eminent academics and public figures in the field. Reading lists on subjects including popular science, physics, applied mathematics, computer science, biology, chemistry and astronomy.
To get inspired by the great minds who brought us this far, don't miss our interviews on the history of science, science and Islam, and Albert Einstein.
We also spoke with Sean Carroll, Helene Guldberg, Paul Falkowski, and Carl Zimmer, to delve into the mysteries and wonders of natural sciences and life on Earth.
For children we have selected the best science books for kids.
If you're more interested in what goes on far beyond the limits of our planet, take a look at our selection of books on astronomy and its history, cosmology, the Sun, meteorites, and other wonders of our Universe.
Every year we discuss the best science books of that year; Professor Maria Fitzgerald discusses the best science books of 2022.
The most recommended scientific books in our interviews include Brian Greene's The Elegant Universe, Richard Dawkins's The Blind Watchmaker, and of course Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species. Other popular recommended science writers include Steven Strogatz, Hannah Fry and Gaia Vince
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1
An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us
by Ed Yong -
2
Breathless: The Scientific Race to Defeat a Deadly Virus
by David Quammen -
3
Jellyfish Age Backwards: Nature's Secrets to Longevity
by Nicklas Brendborg -
4
Nuts and Bolts: Seven Small Inventions That Changed the World in a Big Way
by Roma Agrawal -
5
Taking Flight: The Evolutionary Story of Life on the Wing
by Lev Parikian -
6
The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science
by Kate Zernike
The Best Science Books of 2023: The Royal Society Book Prize, recommended by Rebecca Henry
The Best Science Books of 2023: The Royal Society Book Prize, recommended by Rebecca Henry
The Royal Society, set up in the 1660s, is a fellowship of some of the world’s most eminent scientists. It also has an annual book prize, celebrating the best popular science writing. Neuroscientist Rebecca Henry, one of this year’s judges, talks us through the fabulous books that made the 2023 shortlist—and explains how good science writing can change the way you see the world around you.
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1
The Great Animal Orchestra: Finding the Origins of Music in the World's Wild Places
by Bernie Krause -
2
Of Sound Mind: How Our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World
by Nina Kraus -
3
The Musical Human: A History of Life on Earth
by Michael Spitzer -
4
Doctor Faustus: The Life of the German Composer Adrian Leverkuhn As Told by a Friend
by Thomas Mann, translated by John E. Woods -
5
The Sounds of Life: How Digital Technology Is Bringing Us Closer to the Worlds of Animals and Plants
by Karen Bakker
The best books on Sound, recommended by Caspar Henderson
The best books on Sound, recommended by Caspar Henderson
Sound encodes incredible amounts of information—not only words, music, and other audible forms of communication, but complex spatial data too. Caspar Henderson, author of the ‘auraculous’ new essay collection The Book of Noises, selects five of the best books on sound, from the buzzing of bees to the ghostly whisper of the aurora.
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1
Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey
by Florence Williams -
2
Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage
by Rachel E. Gross -
3
Sounds Wild and Broken
by David George Haskell -
4
An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us
by Ed Yong -
5
The Big Bang of Numbers: How to Build the Universe Using Only Math
by Manil Suri
The Best Literary Science Writing: The 2023 PEN/E.O. Wilson Book Award, recommended by David Hu
The Best Literary Science Writing: The 2023 PEN/E.O. Wilson Book Award, recommended by David Hu
Every year, the judges of the PEN/E.O. Wilson Award highlight the best new literary science writing. The 2023 shortlist consists of five fascinating books on subjects including the science of heartbreak, the sensory worlds of animals, and the development of mathematics. David Hu, a professor of mechanical engineering and a member of this year’s judging panel, talks us through their choices.
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1
The Greywacke: How a Priest, a Soldier and a School Teacher Uncovered 300 Million Years of History
by Nick Davidson -
2
Different: What Apes Can Teach Us About Gender
by Frans de Waal -
3
Spike: The Virus vs. The People - the Inside Story
by Jeremy Farrar & with Anjana Ahuja -
4
A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth: 4.6 Billion Years in 12 Chapters
by Henry Gee -
5
Age Proof: The New Science of Living a Longer and Healthier Life
by Rose Anne Kenny -
6
Hot Air: The Inside Story of the Battle Against Climate Change Denial
by Peter Stott
The Best Popular Science Books of 2022: The Royal Society Book Prize, recommended by Maria Fitzgerald
The Best Popular Science Books of 2022: The Royal Society Book Prize, recommended by Maria Fitzgerald
The renowned UCL neuroscientist Professor Maria Fitzgerald, chair of the 2022 Royal Society Book Prize, talks us through the judges’ selection of the best popular science books of the year—including a whistle-stop tour of the history of the Earth, a self-help book offering evidence-based advice on how to live a longer life, and a primatologist’s study of gender among apes.
Best Books on the Neuroscience of Consciousness, recommended by Anil Seth
Nearly every human has a sense of self, a feeling that we are located in a body that’s looking out at the world and experiencing it over the course of a lifetime. Some people even think of it as a soul or other nonphysical reality that is yet somehow connected to the blood and bones that make up our bodies. How things seem, however, is quite often an unreliable guide to how things are, says neuroscientist Anil Seth. Here he recommends five key books that led him to his own understanding of consciousness, and explores why it is that what is likely an illusion can be so utterly convincing.
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1
The Double X Economy: The Epic Potential of Empowering Women
by Linda Scott -
2
The Great Pretender
by Susannah Cahalan -
3
Transcendence: How Humans Evolved Through Fire, Language, Beauty, and Time
by Gaia Vince -
4
The Body: A Guide for Occupants
by Bill Bryson -
5
The World According to Physics
by Jim Al-Khalili -
6
Explaining Humans: What Science Can Teach Us about Life, Love and Relationships
by Camilla Pang
The Best Science Books of 2020: The Royal Society Book Prize, recommended by Anne Osbourn
The Best Science Books of 2020: The Royal Society Book Prize, recommended by Anne Osbourn
The Royal Society is the world’s oldest independent scientific academy, dedicated to promoting excellence in science—and that includes an annual prize for the best popular science book. Here Professor Anne Osbourn, Fellow of the Royal Society and chair of this year’s judging panel, talks us through the six books that made the 2020 shortlist—and what makes them intriguing, accessible and exciting.
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1
The Killer of Little Shepherds: A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensic Science
by Douglas Starr -
2
Murder and the Making of English CSI
by Ian Burney & Neil Pemberton -
3
The Red Parts: Autobiography of a Trial
by Maggie Nelson -
4
Killer in the Shadows: The Monstrous Crimes of Robert Napper
by Laurence Alison & Marie Eyre -
5
Suspect Identities: A History of Fingerprinting and Criminal Identification
by Simon A. Cole
The best books on Forensic Science, recommended by Jim Fraser
The best books on Forensic Science, recommended by Jim Fraser
Jim Fraser, veteran forensic investigator and author of Murder Under the Microscope, selects five of the best books about forensic science. Forget what you think you know about the subject from crime fiction and television dramas, and bring a healthy scepticism: this line of work can be as much a craft as a science.
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1
Wonders and the Order of Nature 1150-1750
by Lorraine Daston and Katharine Park -
2
Science and the Secrets of Nature: Books of Secrets in Medieval and Early Modern Culture
by William Eamon -
3
Leviathan and the Air-Pump
by Simon Schaffer & Steven Shapin -
4
Probability and Certainty in 17th Century England. A Study of the Relationships between Natural Science, Religion, History, Law and Literature
by Barbara Shapiro -
5
The Business of Alchemy: Science and Culture in the Holy Roman Empire
by Pamela Smith
The best books on The Scientific Revolution, recommended by Vera Keller
The best books on The Scientific Revolution, recommended by Vera Keller
The scientific revolution is often seen as having transformed the way we think and ushered in the modern world, but in highlighting the work of a few key individuals, it has distorted the reality of how science advances in society and how it interacts with truth. Here, Vera Keller, Professor of History at the University of Oregon, challenges popularly held assumptions about the scientific revolution and explains how its meaning, significance and importance have been disputed and misunderstood.
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1
The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy's Vanishing Explorers
by Emily Levesque -
2
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art
by James Nestor -
3
The End of Bias, A Beginning: The Science and Practice of Overcoming Unconscious Bias
by Jessica Nordell -
4
The Sleeping Beauties: And Other Stories of Mystery Illness
by Suzanne O'Sullivan -
5
Science Fictions: How Fraud, Bias, Negligence, and Hype Undermine the Search for Truth
by Stuart Ritchie -
6
Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures
by Merlin Sheldrake
The Best Popular Science Books of 2021: The Royal Society Book Prize, recommended by Luke O'Neill
The Best Popular Science Books of 2021: The Royal Society Book Prize, recommended by Luke O'Neill
Every year the Royal Society, the world’s oldest independent scientific academy, awards a prize for the best new popular science book. Here, Luke O’Neill—Professor of Biochemistry at Trinity College, Dublin, and chair of the 2021 judging panel—discusses the latest shortlist: six new popular science books that are topical, accessible and infinitely interesting.
The best books on Evolution, recommended by Jerry Coyne
Evolutionary biologist Jerry Coyne tells us why Darwin is still essential reading and sifts the vast amount of more recent writing on evolution for books that are both inspiring to scientists and accessible to general readers. He picks the best books on evolution.
Books on the Deep Future, recommended by David Farrier
What trace of our lives will we leave, and what stories might they tell about us? In Footprints, David Farrier explores how our generation will be remembered in the traces it leaves behind in myths, stories… and the fossil record. Here he talks to Caspar Henderson about books to help reflect on ‘the deep future.’
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1
Micrographia: The Complete Facsimile of the First Printing of 1665
by Robert Hooke -
2
Stonehenge Decoded
by Gerald S Hawkins -
3
A Brief History of Time
by Stephen Hawking -
4
The Double Helix
by James Watson -
5
The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms with Observations on their Habits
by Charles Darwin
The best books on Popular Science, recommended by Adam Hart-Davis
The best books on Popular Science, recommended by Adam Hart-Davis
Adam Hart-Davis says clear simple writing is the key to an accessible science book. Selects the five books he believes offer the best introduction to Popular Science. Includes works from Darwin, Watson and Hawking
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1
The Moon: A History for the Future
by Oliver Morton -
2
The Second Kind of Impossible: The Extraordinary Quest for a New Form of Matter
by Paul J. Steinhardt -
3
The Snow Leopard Project: And Other Adventures in Warzone Conservation
by Alex Dehgan -
4
The Gendered Brain
by Gina Rippon -
5
Waters of the World
by Sarah Dry
The Best Science Books of 2019, recommended by Barbara Kiser
The Best Science Books of 2019, recommended by Barbara Kiser
It’s been another fabulous year for science books that make important scientific developments accessible to a general audience. Barbara Kiser, Books & Arts Editor at Nature, talks us through her favourite science books of 2019.
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1
Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art
by Rebecca Wragg Sykes -
2
Evolution's Bite: A Story of Teeth, Diet, and Human Origins
by Peter Ungar -
3
Paleofantasy: What Evolution Really Tells Us about Sex, Diet, and How We Live
by Marlene Zuk -
4
Tales Teeth Tell: Development, Evolution, Behavior
by Tanya M. Smith -
5
Our Human Story
by Chris Stringer & Louise Humphrey
The best books on Anthropology, recommended by Brenna Hassett
The best books on Anthropology, recommended by Brenna Hassett
New techniques have uncovered an enormous amount of information about how humans evolved and new human species continue to pop up on a regular basis. Biological anthropologist Brenna Hassett, author of Growing Up Human, recommends books to learn more about our ancestors and how we became the human beings we are today.
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1
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
by Caroline Criado Perez -
2
Six Impossible Things: The ‘Quanta of Solace’ and the Mysteries of the Subatomic World
by John Gribbin -
3
The Remarkable Life of the Skin
by Monty Lyman -
4
Clearing the Air: The Beginning and End of Air Pollution
by Tim Smedley -
5
The Second Kind of Impossible: The Extraordinary Quest for a New Form of Matter
by Paul J. Steinhardt -
6
Infinite Powers: The Story of Calculus
by Steven Strogatz
The Royal Society Science Book Prize: the 2019 shortlist, recommended by Nigel Shadbolt
The Royal Society Science Book Prize: the 2019 shortlist, recommended by Nigel Shadbolt
“Science is a profoundly human endeavour. The stories of triumph and success in science, alongside the failures and despair, are compelling.” From a data-driven account of air pollution to a book that makes calculus fun, 2019 has been a great year for science books. Nigel Shadbolt, chair of judges, discusses the six books shortlisted for the 2019 Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize.
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1
The Art of Statistics: Learning from Data
by David Spiegelhalter -
2
Do Dice Play God?: The Mathematics of Uncertainty
by Ian Stewart -
3
Humble Pi: A Comedy of Maths Errors
by Matt Parker -
4
Infinite Powers: The Story of Calculus
by Steven Strogatz -
5
The Creativity Code: Art and Innovation in the Age of AI
by Marcus du Sautoy
The Best Math Books of 2019, recommended by Kit Yates
The Best Math Books of 2019, recommended by Kit Yates
As math becomes increasingly important in our daily lives, eminent mathematicians and statisticians have stepped up to the plate, writing books that are engaging for non-experts—and sometimes even funny. Kit Yates, a mathematical biologist and author of The Math of Life and Death, recommends the best math books of 2019.
The best books on Time, recommended by Carlo Rovelli
Our experience of time is only weakly related to the fundamental realities of physics, says the physicist and best-selling author Carlo Rovelli. Here he selects five works for understanding the nature of time in its truer sense.
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1
Never at Rest: A Biography of Isaac Newton
by Richard S. Westfall -
2
A Portrait of Isaac Newton
by Frank E. Manuel -
3
Newton and the Origins of Civilization
by Jed Z. Buchwald & Mordechai Feingold -
4
Priest of Nature: The Religious Worlds of Isaac Newton
by Rob Iliffe -
5
Isaac Newton and Natural Philosophy
by Niccolò Guicciardini
The best books on Isaac Newton, recommended by William Newman
The best books on Isaac Newton, recommended by William Newman
John Maynard Keynes famously cast Isaac Newton not as the first scientist of the age of reason, but the last of the magicians. How should we interpret the million words he wrote, in secret, on alchemy? What should we make of Newton’s heretical religious views? William Newman talks us through the best books for a better understanding of the complex man who was one of the greatest physicists of all time.
The Best Apollo Books, recommended by Christopher Riley
The lesson of the Apollo programme is that anything is possible, says filmmaker and author Christopher Riley. He talks us through the best books (and one documentary) about America’s race with the Soviet Union to put the first man on the Moon.
Space Travel and Science Fiction Books, recommended by Christopher Mason
Space travel may be the stuff of science fiction but some of it is getting closer and closer to becoming reality. What’s more, we have a duty to pursue it, says Christopher Mason, Professor of Genomics, Physiology, and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine and author of The Next 500 Years, a blueprint of how to set about leaving our solar system. Here, he recommends his favourite science fiction about space travel, and an essential philosophy book.
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1
Beyond Weird: Why Everything You Thought You Knew about Quantum Physics Is Different
by Philip Ball -
2
Hello World: How to Be Human in the Age of the Machine
by Hannah Fry -
3
Inventing Ourselves: The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain
by Sarah-Jayne Blakemore -
4
The Order of Time
by Carlo Rovelli -
5
A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived: The Human Story Retold Through Our Genes
by Adam Rutherford
The Best Science Books to Take on Holiday, recommended by Jim Al-Khalili
The Best Science Books to Take on Holiday, recommended by Jim Al-Khalili
Aah, the holidays! Time to lie on the grass and read the latest novel. Or are you looking for something more demanding? Physicist and popular science author Jim Al-Khalili, who has just written his first sci-fi thriller, Sunfall, suggests some highly readable science books for those who prefer their holiday reads to be nonfiction.
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1
The Simple Science of Flight: From Insects to Jumbo Jets
by Henk Tennekes -
2
Cosmos
by Carl Sagan -
3
In Pursuit of the Unknown: 17 Equations That Changed the World
by Ian Stewart -
4
Power Speed and Form: Engineers in the Making of the Twentieth Century
by David P. Billington and David P. Billington & Jr -
5
Ausgepowert: Das Ende des Olzeitalters als Chance
by Marcel Hänggi
The best books on Engineering, recommended by Ante Shoda
The best books on Engineering, recommended by Ante Shoda
What should a budding engineer—or even an experienced one—read for a better understanding of the science and trade? And how does engineering help make our lives better every day? Ante Shoda, an engineer for Honda Racing in California, recommends the best books for a fundamental understanding of engineering.
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1
Lost in Math: How Beauty Leads Physics Astray
by Sabine Hossenfelder -
2
The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life
by David Quammen -
3
Chasing New Horizons: Inside the Epic First Mission to Pluto
by Alan Stern & David Grinspoon -
4
The Biological Mind: How Brain, Body, and Environment Collaborate to Make Us Who We Are
by Alan Jasanoff -
5
A Lab of One’s Own: Science and Suffrage in the First World War
by Patricia Fara
The Best Science Books of 2018, recommended by Barbara Kiser
The Best Science Books of 2018, recommended by Barbara Kiser
“As life on Earth is rocked by conflict and environmental crisis, these serene little scientific emissaries remind us of how different it can be when we collaborate selflessly in the getting of knowledge.” Barbara Kiser, veteran science journalist and the books and arts editor at Nature, chooses the best science books of 2018.
The best books on Science and Wonder, recommended by Caspar Henderson
When we see a rainbow or another beautiful spectacle in nature, what is that sense of wonder we are filled with? How can we nurture it? Caspar Henderson, author of A New Map of Wonders (and Five Books science and environment editor) recommends the best books to help us develop our sense of wonder.
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1
A Lab of One’s Own: Science and Suffrage in the First World War
by Patricia Fara -
2
Eve to Evolution: Darwin, Science, and Women's Rights in Gilded Age America
by Kimberly Hamlin -
3
Wally Funk's Race for Space: The Extraordinary Story of a Female Aviation Pioneer
by Sue Nelson -
4
The Woman That Never Evolved
by Sarah Blaffer Hrdy -
5
The Naked Ape: A Zoologist's Study of the Human Animal
by Desmond Morris
The best books on Scientific Differences between Women and Men, recommended by Angela Saini
The best books on Scientific Differences between Women and Men, recommended by Angela Saini
Consideration of differences between men and women has been obscured by centuries of biological essentialism, argues Angela Saini – author of Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong. Here she discusses five books that examine or demonstrate the misogynistic lens through which female capability has been viewed.
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1
Statistical Evidence: A Likelihood Paradigm
by Richard Royall -
2
Visualize This: The FlowingData Guide to Design, Visualization, and Statistics
by Nathan Yau -
3
Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals
by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic -
4
An Introduction to Statistical Learning: with Applications in R
by Daniela Witten, Gareth James, Robert Tibshirani & Trevor Hastie -
5
Design Thinking: Understanding How Designers Think and Work
by Nigel Cross
The best books on Data Science, recommended by Roger D. Peng
The best books on Data Science, recommended by Roger D. Peng
From complex techniques only used by academic statisticians, data science has risen to extreme popularity in only a few years. Roger D. Peng, Professor of Biostatistics at Johns Hopkins University and founder of one of the largest data science online courses, helps us understand this discipline and recommends the five best books to delve into it.
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1
X and the City: Modeling Aspects of Urban Life
by John A. Adam -
2
In Pursuit of the Traveling Salesman: Mathematics at the Limits of Computation
by William J. Cook -
3
Who's #1?: The Science of Rating and Ranking
by Amy N. Langville and Carl D. Meyer -
4
50 Visions of Mathematics
by Sam Parc -
5
In Pursuit of the Unknown: 17 Equations That Changed the World
by Ian Stewart
The best books on Applied Mathematics, recommended by Nick Higham
The best books on Applied Mathematics, recommended by Nick Higham
It can be used to understand everything from bedbugs to traffic jams and helps us take photos and fly planes. Maths professor and author Nick Higham picks five books that show the many wonders of applied maths.
The best books on Transhumanism, recommended by Mark O'Connell
The journalist and author Mark O’Connell explored the nature of transhumanism—the belief that technology will help us evolve beyond our current physical and mental limitations—in his award-winning book To Be A Machine. Here he selects five key books that speak directly to the movement.
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1
Leonhard Euler: Mathematical Genius in the Enlightenment
by Ronald S. Calinger -
2
A Concise History of Mathematics
by Dirk S. Struik -
3
The History of Mathematics: A Reader
by Jeremy Gray & John Fauvel -
4
The Mathematical Pamphlets of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson and Related Pieces
by Charles Dodgson -
5
Mathematical Models
by H. M. Cundy and A. P. Rollett.
The best books on The History of Mathematics, recommended by Robin Wilson
The best books on The History of Mathematics, recommended by Robin Wilson
Why should we be interested in the history of mathematics? Mathematics, like painting, music, literature, has a long history, says Robin Wilson. Indeed, it’s longer than most, since the first writing is believed to be numerical. Mathematics is also multicultural, with its historical origins in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
The best books on Volcanoes, recommended by David Pyle
Volcanoes not only play a vital role in the Earth’s ecosystem but have fascinated us down the ages. Oxford University volcanologist David Pyle recommends some of his favourite books about volcanoes.
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1
Handbook of Item Response Theory (3-volume series)
by Wim van der Linden (editor) -
2
Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling
by Rex Kline -
3
Handbook of Test Development
by Mark Raymond and Thomas Haladyna (Editors) & Suzanne Lane -
4
The Skilled Facilitator: A Comprehensive Resource for Consultants, Facilitators, Coaches, and Trainers
by Roger Schwarz -
5
Hamilton: The Revolution
by Jeremy McCarter & Lin-Manuel Miranda
The best books on Educational Testing, recommended by André Rupp
The best books on Educational Testing, recommended by André Rupp
Nearly everyone has had to sit a standardised test at some point in their lives and felt the grip it might hold over their future—and not always in a good way. André Rupp, research director at ETS, the nonprofit company that runs some of the most well-known tests, talks us through what’s going on at the forefront of research and the new kinds of tests that are being developed.
Jim Baggott on Writing about Physics
Contemporary physics is so complex that no single physicist can be said to have a decent grasp of the full picture. This makes communicating physics a formidable challenge. Acclaimed popular science writer, Jim Baggott, talks us through this challenge by discussing his favourite physics books.
The best books on Life Below the Surface of the Earth, recommended by Tullis Onstott
The ‘subterranaut’ describes how the discovery of ancient bacteria miles beneath the Earth’s surface opens the possibility of finding life on Mars. He picks five books that show how our knowledge of life deep in this planet could lead us to discover it elsewhere.
Arthur Ammann recommends the best books on the HIV/Aids Plague
When dealing with epidemics, science does not have all the answers and relying on a new miracle drug is not always the solution. We must also learn the lessons of history, argues the veteran doctor of the HIV/Aids epidemic, Arthur Ammann. He picks the best books on ‘plagues.’
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1
In the Name of Eugenics: Genetics and the Uses of Human Heredity
by Daniel Kevles -
2
The Nazi Connection: Eugenics, American Racism, and German National Socialism
by Stefan Kuhl -
3
Eugenic Nation: Faults and Frontiers of Better Breeding in Modern America
by Alexandra Minna Stern -
4
The Hour of Eugenics: Race, Gender, and Nation in Latin America
by Nancy Leys Stepan -
5
Heredity and Hope: The Case for Genetic Screening
by Ruth Schwartz Cowan
The best books on Eugenics, recommended by Philippa Levine
The best books on Eugenics, recommended by Philippa Levine
The term ‘eugenics’ elicits queasiness amongst those who associate it with the Nazis. But Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw and Margaret Sanger were among its many proponents in the interwar period. Why? Philippa Levine, professor of history at the University of Texas, explains.
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1
The Selfish Gene
by Richard Dawkins -
2
Not by Genes Alone: How Culture Transformed Human Evolution
by Peter J. Richerson & Robert Boyd -
3
Guns, Germs and Steel
by Jared Diamond -
4
The Creation of Inequality: How Our Prehistoric Ancestors Set the Stage for Monarchy, Slavery, and Empire
by Joyce Marcus & Kent Flannery -
5
The Cultural Origins of Human Cognition
by Michael Tomasello
The best books on Cultural Evolution, recommended by Joseph Henrich
The best books on Cultural Evolution, recommended by Joseph Henrich
What role did culture play in human evolution? Why did human brains get so big so quickly? When and why did inequality first emerge in human society? Harvard professor and author Joe Henrich picks some of the best books for understanding ‘cultural evolution.’
The best books on Nature of Reality, recommended by Andrew Briggs
When addressing the really fundamental questions in science, researchers must assume that there is an objective reality to describe. But the nature of that reality may be more subtle, allowing space for the existence of God, says Andrew Briggs, professor of nanomaterials at Oxford University.
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1
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
by Siddhartha Mukherjee -
2
Thunderstruck
by Erik Larson -
3
Moneyball
by Michael Lewis -
4
The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements
by Sam Kean -
5
Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation
by Dan Fagin
The best books on Radiation, recommended by Timothy J. Jorgensen
The best books on Radiation, recommended by Timothy J. Jorgensen
Public understanding of radiation needs to improve if people are to properly assess its benefits and risks argues author and academic, Timothy Jorgensen. From the discovery of radio to a cancer cluster in New Jersey, he chooses highly readable books illuminating different aspects of radiation.
Alice Bell recommends her Favourite Science Books for Kids
Children learn in many different ways and the best science books for young people reflect that, says science writer Alice Bell. She recommends some of her favourite science books for kids.
The best books on Quantum Theory, recommended by Vlatko Vedral
The professor of quantum information theory at Oxford tells us about books that successfully popularise quantum physics and the science of complex systems. Look, no equations!
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1
The Eighth Day of Creation: Makers of the Revolution in Biology
by Horace Freeland Judson -
2
Darwin: The Life of a Tormented Evolutionist
by Adrian Desmond & James Moore -
3
The Man Who Found the Missing Link
by Pat Shipman -
4
The Statue Within: An Autobiography
by Francois Jacob -
5
The Song of the Dodo
by David Quammen
The Best Biology Books, recommended by Sean B Carroll
The Best Biology Books, recommended by Sean B Carroll
What do molecules in a cell have in common with lions in the Serengeti? They all follow rules, says scientist and author Sean B Carroll. He chooses the best books on biology, from the death of the dodo to the discovery of DNA.
The best books on Science Writing, recommended by Tim Radford
What makes for good science writing? The longtime Guardian science editor, Tim Radford, chooses his five favourite science books.
The best books on Extinction and De-Extinction, recommended by Beth Shapiro
Evolutionary biologist Beth Shapiro tells us why it’s impossible to clone a mammoth, and why we might want to. She guides us through five inspiring books to get us thinking about extinction and the role genetics could potentially play in maintaining biodiversity.
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1
The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God
by Carl Sagan -
2
The Atheist's Guide to Reality: Enjoying Life without Illusions
by Alex Rosenberg -
3
God in the Age of Science?: A Critique of Religious Reason
by Herman Philipse -
4
Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
by Daniel Dennett -
5
A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom
by Andrew Dickson White
The best books on The Incompatibility of Religion and Science, recommended by Jerry Coyne
The best books on The Incompatibility of Religion and Science, recommended by Jerry Coyne
Embracing a scientific worldview excludes the possibility of also believing in God, says evolutionary biologist Jerry Coyne. He picks five non-accommodationist books.
The best books on Pseudoscience, recommended by Stephen Law
Human beings have a tendency to get sucked into dodgy belief systems, often never to escape, argues the philosopher. From UFOs to homeopathic medicine, Stephen Law chooses the best books on ‘pseudoscience.’
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1
Polio: An American Story
by David Oshinsky -
2
Vaccine: The Controversial Story of Medicine's Greatest Lifesaver
by Arthur Allen -
3
The Cutter Incident: How America's First Polio Vaccine Led to the Growing Vaccine Crisis
by Paul Offit -
4
Microbe Hunters
by Paul de Kruif -
5
The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic
by Steven Johnson
The Best Vaccine Books, recommended by Seth Mnookin
The Best Vaccine Books, recommended by Seth Mnookin
The history of vaccines is fascinating, and we highly recommend all the books discussed in this interview with Seth Mnookin, author of The Panic Virus and Professor of Science Writing at MIT. These are gripping reads that tell the story of vaccines, medicine’s greatest life-saver, and the risks people took to find them.
Books on the Wonders of The Universe, recommended by Philip Plait
Philip Plait urges us to remember that “science isn’t an encyclopedia of facts to memorise. It’s alive.” The astronomer and author of the acclaimed Bad Astronomy blog discusses books that can’t help but light the fire of interest in all things astronomical. He looks at how we can date the age of the universe, the danger of solar flares, and why Pluto is no longer classed as a planet.
The best books on String Theory, recommended by Steven Gubser
What is string theory, and why should we bother finding out? Princeton physics professor Steven Gubser, author of The Little Book of String Theory, explains.
The best books on Maths, recommended by Alex Bellos
The author of Alex’s Adventures in Numberland tells us about popular attempts to explain the history of counting and numbers. He chooses the best books to read about maths.
The best books on Man and Ape, recommended by Helene Guldberg
It’s fashionable today to liken humans to animals but the developmental psychologist says it’s more interesting to study the ways in which we’re remarkably different from other creatures