The best nature books, as recommended by the most eminent writers, ecologists and biologists in the field. Below you'll find reading lists on a variety of subjects including wilderness, climate change, pollution, the Anthropocene, ocean life, deserts and renewable energy.
The natural world is one of our most precious resources. Learning about nature and how to protect it is vital for a sustainable future.
Our nature books section is edited by the journalist and author Caspar Henderson.
Some of the most recommended books in our interviews include David MacKay's Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air, Douglas Adams's Last Chance to See, and Elizabeth Kolbert's Field Notes From a Catastrophe.
The Best of Nature Writing 2019, recommended by Charles Foster
What do we talk about when we talk about nature? Almost everything, says the academic and bestselling author of Being a Beast, Charles Foster. Here he selects five of the best works of nature writing in 2019; books that seek to connect us more deeply with the non-human world.
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The Outermost House: A Year of Life on the Great Beach of Cape Cod
by Henry Beston -
2
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
by Annie Dillard -
3
Findings
by Kathleen Jamie -
4
Dark Emu: Aboriginal Australians and the Birth of Agriculture
by Bruce Pascoe -
5
A Natural History of the Future: What the Laws of Biology Tell Us about the Destiny of the Human Species
by Rob Dunn
The best books on Natural History, recommended by David George Haskell
The best books on Natural History, recommended by David George Haskell
Natural history can offer a “portal into wonder and astonishment,” says David George Haskell, the biologist and award-winning author of nonfiction works including Sounds Wild and Broken and The Forest Unseen. But natural history books, in the past, have also been guilty of reinforcing prejudices. Here he recommends five natural history books that celebrate the diversity of life.
The best books on Wilderness, recommended by Mark Boyle
Author and environmentalist Mark Boyle lived for three years without money; now he lives entirely off-grid and eschews all forms of modern technology, in search of a wilder way of living—and of being more in tune with the natural world. Here he discusses his literary inspirations: the best books on wilderness.
The best books on Wilding, recommended by Isabella Tree
Is there room for both humans and wild nature to flourish on an increasingly crowded planet? The author Isabella Tree argues that ‘wilding’ can be benefit both, and chooses five books to support her case.
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The Animal Mind: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Animal Cognition
by Kristin Andrews -
2
What Would Animals Say If We Asked the Right Questions?
by Vinciane Despret, translated by Brett Buchanan -
3
An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us
by Ed Yong -
4
The Emotional Lives of Animals
by Marc Bekoff -
5
Why Look At Animals?
by John Berger
The best books on Animal Consciousness, recommended by David Peña-Guzmán
The best books on Animal Consciousness, recommended by David Peña-Guzmán
The more we learn about the minds of other species, the more we are forced to question any assumptions that might previously have been made about their inner lives. Here, the philosopher David Peña-Guzmán talks us through the profound questions thrown up by research into animal cognition, perception and emotion, as he recommends five of the best books on animal consciousness.
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Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don't Have To
by David A. Sinclair -
2
Eat Like the Animals: What Nature Teaches us About the Science of Healthy Eating
by David Raubenheimer & Stephen Simpson -
3
The Human Advantage: A New Understanding of How Our Brain Became Remarkable
by Suzana Herculano-Houzel -
4
Long for this World: The Strange Science of Immortality
by Jonathan Weiner -
5
Charlatan: America’s Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam
by Pope Brock
The best books on Longevity, recommended by Steven Austad
The best books on Longevity, recommended by Steven Austad
The promises of potions or techniques to achieve longevity have been with us since time immemorial, the outlandishness of some claims matched only by our willingness to believe them. And, yet, today’s scientific research does give some clues on how to live longer and healthier lives. Biologist Steven Austad, Distinguished Professor and Endowed Chair in Healthy Aging Research at the University of Alabama, recommends a range of books that give insight into longevity.
The best books on Sense of Place, recommended by Patrick Galbraith
Novelists, non-fiction writers and poets all attempt to create immersive and atmospheric settings in their books—what is called a ‘sense of place’ in literary terms. Here, the British journalist Patrick Galbraith selects five books that explore and evoke a sense of place—including works by Joan Didion, Mark Kurlansky and John McPhee.
The Best Ocean Novels for 10-14 Year Olds, recommended by Helen Scales
Marine biologist Helen Scales reflects on the power of stories to bring all kinds of readers into the ocean realm. She recommends books for children and young adults, and explains why her selection focuses on novels for readers age 10-14.
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Who's Hiding in the Jungle?
by Katharine McEwen -
2
Wild Lives: 50 Extraordinary Animals that Made History
by Ben Lerwill & Sarah Walsh (illustrator) -
3
Look and Say What You See at the Seaside
by Sebastien Braun -
4
South African Animals
Lindiwe Mabuza, Alan Baker (illustrator) -
5
The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids: 500 Wild Facts!
by Ginjer Clarke
The best books on Wild Animals for Kids, recommended by Margaret Darawanda
The best books on Wild Animals for Kids, recommended by Margaret Darawanda
Children tend to be fascinated with animals, and wild animals particularly capture the imagination. Margaret Darawanda, an Akashinga ranger in the Lower Zambezi Valley, talks us through her pick of books for kids about animals in the wild.
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'The Voyage of St Brendan,' in The Age of Bede
edited by J.F. Webb and D.H. Farmer -
2
Sea Room
by Adam Nicolson -
3
Selkirk's Island: The True and Strange Adventures of the Real Robinson Crusoe
by Diana Souhami -
4
A Woman in the Polar Night
by Christiane Ritter -
5
Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I Have Never Set Foot On and Never Will
by Judith Schalansky
The best books on Islands, recommended by Gavin Francis
The best books on Islands, recommended by Gavin Francis
Generations of writers, explorers and armchair travellers have found a focal point of fascination in the idea of the remote island. Why so? Gavin Francis, the award-winning writer, explains the everlasting appeal of the lonely isle – and why the fantasy is at least as powerful as the salt-sprayed reality – as he selects five of the best books on islands.
Amy Liptrot chooses the best of Nature Writing
Amy Liptrot, whose bestselling memoir The Outrun won the 2016 Wainwright Prize for nature writing, talks to Five Books about her favourite writing about landscape—and how her immersion in island life helped her recover from alcoholism.
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Trace: Memory, History, Race, and the American Landscape
by Lauret Savoy -
2
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
by Robin Wall Kimmerer -
3
Earth's Wild Music: Celebrating and Defending the Songs of the Natural World
by Kathleen Dean Moore -
4
The Next Great Migration: The Beauty and Terror of Life on the Move
by Sonia Shah -
5
Landmarks
by Robert Macfarlane
The Best Books For Environmental Learning, recommended by Mitchell Thomashow
The Best Books For Environmental Learning, recommended by Mitchell Thomashow
We are surrounded by nature but it’s easy to miss it and spend time either in our heads or on screens. Here Mitchell Thomashow, a longtime teacher of environmental learning, picks books to broaden our vistas and help us see the natural world with fresh eyes.
The best books on Summer, recommended by Melissa Harrison
Temperatures ratcheting, tinderbox conditions, a pressure cooker atmosphere… summer is a handy literary shorthand for rising tensions. But in the natural world, summer is a quiet time when the flowers die back and the fruits and seeds are ripening. Here, Melissa Harrison—the novelist, nature writer and podcaster—recommends five of the best summer books, for those who like to read in step with the seasons.
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The Tempest
by William Shakespeare -
2
Photographic Guide to the Sea & Shore Life of Britain & North-west Europe
by Alex Rogers, Benedict Hextall & Ray Gibson -
3
The Presocratic Philosophers
by G. S. Kirk, J. E. Raven & M. Schofield -
4
Omphalos: An Attempt to Untie the Geological Knot
by P. H. Gosse -
5
Setting Foot on the Shores of Connemara and other writings
by Tim Robinson
The best books on Tides and Shorelines, recommended by Adam Nicolson
The best books on Tides and Shorelines, recommended by Adam Nicolson
The tidal zone is among the most vital and dynamic environments on Earth, but also one of the least well known. Here, the author Adam Nicolson explores formative works on the subject that have informed his book, The Sea Is Not Made of Water.
The best books on Pets For Young Kids, recommended by Catherine Rayner
Feathered, scaly or furry, children form powerful and enriching bonds with their pets. If you don’t have room in your house (or lifestyle) for a multitude of birds and beasts—you can always read about them in books! Catherine Rayner, one of the UK’s leading creators of children’s picture books and devoted animal lover, recommends her favourite illustrated picture books celebrating pets.
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Wild Child: Coming Home to Nature
by Patrick Barkham -
2
English Pastoral: An Inheritance
by James Rebanks -
3
Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures
by Merlin Sheldrake -
4
The Flip: Epiphanies of Mind and the Future of Knowledge
by Jeffrey J Kripal -
5
Vesper Flights
by Helen Macdonald (author and narrator)
The Best Nature Books of 2020, recommended by Charles Foster
The Best Nature Books of 2020, recommended by Charles Foster
Charles Foster—the barrister, ethicist and bestselling author of Being a Beast—selects five brilliant nature books that reflect a new boom in nature writing in 2020, many of which ask us to examine more closely the interconnectedness of all things.
The Best Nature Books of 2018, recommended by Charles Foster
There has been a rash of books about epiphanic incursions into wilderness—but the best nature writing digs too into the complexities of our relationship with the natural world, says Charles Foster, the bestselling author of Being A Beast. Here, he discusses the best nature books of 2018.
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.’
Fresh Voices in Nature Writing, recommended by Jessica J. Lee
Writing about nature and landscape need not be stuffy or traditionalist. Jessica J Lee, editor of The Willowherb Review—a literary journal dedicated to diversity in nature writing—recommends five books that offer a breath of fresh air: encompassing the whole of life, from sex in the woods to birding in the city.
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The Call of the Wild and White Fang
by Jack London -
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The Killing of Wolf Number Ten: The True Story
by Thomas McNamee -
3
The Secret World of Red Wolves: The Fight to Save North America's Other Wolf
by T DeLene Beeland -
4
The Biology and Conservation of Wild Canids
David W. Macdonald and Claudio Sillero-Zubiri -
5
Dogs: Their Fossil Relatives and Evolutionary History
Xiaoming Wang and Richard Tedford
The best books on Dogs, recommended by José Castelló
The best books on Dogs, recommended by José Castelló
Next time you look at your cute pooch, remember its DNA is the same as that of a wolf. José Castelló, author of the delightful field guide, Canids of the World: Wolves, Wild Dogs, Foxes, Jackals, Coyotes, and Their Relatives recommends some of the best books to read on dogs and other canids.
The best books on Predators, recommended by Nick Pyenson
The predators that stalked our ancestors have been marginalised to the brink of extinction, but these animals still fill us with awe, says Nick Pyenson. They play a vital role in life on Earth, and we need to understand them if we are to survive.
The best books on Trees For Younger Readers, recommended by Neal Layton
Award-winning author and illustrator Neal Layton is passionate about the natural world—especially trees. Among his five recommendations are trees that provide raw materials for building, food and profit; trees that are perfect for climbing; lofty enchanted trees full of adventure; and small yet perfect Christmas trees. Each has a story to tell.
The best books on Honeybees, recommended by Helen Jukes
Humanity has a long history of keeping bees. But what do we really know about them? Beekeeping memoirist Helen Jukes selects five books that examine both the behaviour of bees as individuals and colonies as ‘superorganisms.’
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The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals
by Charles Darwin -
2
Primate Visions: Gender, Race, and Nature in the World of Modern Science
by Donna J Haraway -
3
Savages and Beasts: The Birth of the Modern Zoo
by Nigel Rothfels -
4
Dolly Mixtures: The Remaking of Genealogy
by Sarah Franklin -
5
Beastly Natures: Animals, Humans, and the Study of History
by Dorothee Brantz
The best books on The History of Human Interaction With Animals, recommended by Harriet Ritvo
The best books on The History of Human Interaction With Animals, recommended by Harriet Ritvo
Animals have played a significant role in human history, and the manner by which we interpret their behaviour says a lot about our own culture and social mores. Harriet Ritvo, professor of history at MIT, selects five of the best books from the field of animal history.
Laura Dassow Walls on Henry David Thoreau
Again and again we return to the question: how should we live? To Henry David Thoreau, the 19th-century author, philosopher and naturalist, the answer was simplicity itself. Here his biographer Laura Dassow Walls selects five key texts that explore the Thoreauvian way of thinking.
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Femmes de la préhistoire
by Claudine Cohen -
2
Femmes, naissance de l'homme: Icônes de la préhistoire
by Alexandre Hurel & Florian Berrouet -
3
L'homme préhistorique est aussi une femme
by Marylène Patou-Mathis -
4
The Invisible Sex: Uncovering the True Role of Women in Prehistory
J. M. Adovasio, Olga Soffer and Jake Page -
5
Our Human Story
by Chris Stringer & Louise Humphrey
The best books on Prehistoric Women, recommended by Thomas Cirotteau
The best books on Prehistoric Women, recommended by Thomas Cirotteau
Thanks to scientific advances, we’re finding out more and more about prehistoric people, including women and their lives during the Upper Paleolithic era. French filmmaker Thomas Cirotteau, director of the documentary and co-author of a book about Lady Sapiens, recommends books to find out more about our female ancestors, who while separated from us by tens of thousands of years, have been brought tantalizingly close by new techniques and discoveries.
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.
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The Planet in a Pebble: A journey into Earth's deep history
by Jan Zalasiewicz -
2
Life on a Young Planet: The First Three Billion Years of Evolution on Earth
by Andrew H Knoll -
3
The Emerald Planet
by D J Beerling -
4
Gaining Ground
by Jennifer Clack -
5
The Cradle of Humanity: How the changing landscape of Africa made us so smart
by Mark Maslin
The best books on Evolution of the Earth, recommended by Andrew Scott
The best books on Evolution of the Earth, recommended by Andrew Scott
How has the Earth changed over time and what role has fire played in those changes? A leading geologist, Andrew Scott, identifies key stages and books to help understand them
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.
The best books on Anthropocene Oceans, recommended by Jan Zalasiewicz
Geologist Jan Zalasiewicz tells us about the danger posed to oceans by the Anthropocene – and how we can work together to protect them
The best books on Spiders, recommended by Lawrence Bee
You don’t have to be a professional arachnologist to study and get excited about spiders—nor do you need to travel away from home. The author of Britain’s Spiders, Lawrence Bee, recommends all the books you need to become an amateur arachnologist.
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Swimming With Seals
by Victoria Whitworth -
2
Animals Strike Curious Poses
by Elena Passarello -
3
Science and Spiritual Practices: Transformative Experiences and their Effects on our Bodies, Brains and Health
by Rupert Sheldrake -
4
Islander: A Journey Around Our Archipelago
by Patrick Barkham -
5
The Seabirds Cry: The Lives and Loves of Puffins, Gannets and Other Ocean Voyagers
by Adam Nicolson
The Best Nature Writing of 2017, recommended by Charles Foster
The Best Nature Writing of 2017, recommended by Charles Foster
Sales of nature books have been booming, but only the most exacting of authors get right to the heart of our own interconnectedness with the natural world, says Charles Foster, bestselling author of Being A Beast. Here, he chooses five of the best books of nature writing published in 2017.
The best books on Ocean Life, recommended by Helen Scales
We plunder the ocean for food, dump our waste in it, respect its wildlife less than land-based creatures. Why? Is it a case of “out of sight, out of mind”? Marine biologist Helen Scales tells us what’s down there and what we’re doing to it.
The best books on Beatrix Potter, recommended by Libby Joy
In spite of the huge popularity of her work, Beatrix Potter has often been underappreciated as an artist and a writer, argues Libby Joy of the Beatrix Potter Society. Here she chooses five books to help you appreciate Potter’s life as an author, artist and pioneering conservationist.
The Best Sci Fi Books on Space Settlement, recommended by Erika Nesvold
We look to the stars and imagine a new home for humanity, an escape from the troubles that plague us here on Earth, but as astrophysicist Erika Nesvold points out, many of our problems will join us on our voyage. Here, she selects five science fiction books that illuminate the challenges and possible conflicts we’ll face if we head for this new frontier.
George Monbiot — with An Essential Reading List
Writer and investigative journalist George Monbiot recommends books that have shaped him, and that are crucial reading for those wishing to navigate the current economic and environmental crises.
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Ecology of a Cracker Childhood
by Janisse Ray -
2
Handbook of Nature Study
by Anna Botsford Comstock -
3
The New Sylva: A Discourse of Forest and Orchard Trees for the Twenty-First Century
by Gabriel Hemery & Sarah Simblet -
4
Chuang Tzu: The Inner Chapters
by David Hinton & Zhuangzi (aka Chuang Tzu) -
5
The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World
by Michael Pollan
The best books on Trees, recommended by David George Haskell
The best books on Trees, recommended by David George Haskell
‘The wood that frames our houses, holds up our furniture, and gives us paper arrives with signs of its ecological history purged.’ We’re a long way from the campfire where our relationship with trees got going. Here, David George Haskell takes us back, deep into the forest.
M G Leonard recommends the best Nature Books for Kids
Author M G Leonard talks about the importance of getting our children engaged with the natural world. She recommends her favourite nature books for kids.
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.
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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 Cosmology, recommended by David Goldberg
David Goldberg, professor of physics at Drexel University, recommends the best books to start learning about cosmology. He explains his choices to high school student, Eric Bolton.
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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.
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Field Notes From a Catastrophe: Man, nature and climate change
by Elizabeth Kolbert -
2
When The Rivers Run Dry: Journeys into the heart of the world's water crisis
by Fred Pearce -
3
Last Chance to See
by Douglas Adams & Mark Carwardine -
4
The End of Nature
by Bill McKibben -
5
Our Dying Planet: An ecologist's view of the crisis we face
by Peter Sale
The best books on The Anthropocene, recommended by Gaia Vince
The best books on The Anthropocene, recommended by Gaia Vince
In 2015 Gaia Vince became the first woman to win the Royal Society’s science book of the year prize for her book, Adventures in the Anthropocene. She spent two years on the road investigating how communities across the world are coping with climate change. Here, she shares the five best books on climate change and the Anthropocene – the geological epoch of man.
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Micrographia: The Complete Facsimile of the First Printing of 1665
by Robert Hooke -
2
Life on a Young Planet: The First Three Billion Years of Evolution on Earth
by Andrew H Knoll -
3
The Genesis of Germs
by Alan L. Gillen -
4
Plankton: Wonders of the Drifting World
by Christian Sardet -
5
Microcosmos: Four Billion Years of Microbial Evolution
by Dorion Sagan & Lynn Margulis
The best books on Microbes, recommended by Paul Falkowski
The best books on Microbes, recommended by Paul Falkowski
Without them, plants and animals wouldn’t exist and even the Earth’s geology would be different. Paul Falkowski recommends the best books on microbes.
The best books on Dog Food, recommended by Jonathan Self
Dogs are like wolves and should be fed raw meat and bones, says the author and founder of Honey’s Real Dog Food company. He chooses the best books on dog food.
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.
The best books on The Trash Trade, recommended by Adam Minter
Recycling is more than just a blue and green bin in your pantry, says journalist Adam Minter – it’s a global trade with centuries of history that stretches from American scrapyards to Chinese e-waste recycling villages
The best books on William and Dorothy Wordsworth, recommended by Lucy Newlyn
William Wordsworth probably did not get his greatest creative impetus from solitude, but from his extremely close relationship with his sister, suggests Oxford scholar Lucy Newlyn
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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.
The Best Books for Growing up in the Anthropocene, recommended by Caspar Henderson
Welcome to life in the Anthropocene, a new epoch in the history of life where the impact of humanity on the Earth system is so great, we need a new term for it. Author and journalist Caspar Henderson offers a rich reading list to help ourselves and our children grow up in the Anthropocene.