Book Recommendations

STAFF BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

As much fun as it is to read textbooks and journal articles, everyone likes to read something a little more engaging on occasion—our staff included! We asked our staff for their top popular science book recommendations and compiled their responses in this column. So, the next time you are looking for something to read other than Organic Chemistry by David Klein, make sure to check out some of the titles below!

Image courtesy of Penguin Random House

From Eternity to Here: The Quest for the Ultimate Theory of Time by Sean Carroll

“This book talks about concepts ranging from thermodynamics, space-time, quantum entanglement, and black holes, showing how they all relate to time. The concepts are high-level (I’ve read it multiple times hoping to get a good grasp on them) but they are explained in a really engaging way. If you’re looking for something that will totally change your perception about the nature of time and the universe itself, this is the book for you.” - Becca

Animal Wise: How We Know Animals Think and Feel by Virginia Morrell

“This popular science book covers research in animal cognition from the smallest ant to the largest elephant, seeking to determine how non-human animals experience the world. It’s a quick, thought-inspiring read focusing as much on the stories of the people performing the research as on the explorations of intelligence and empathy in the animals themselves.” - Kaela

Birding Without Borders: An Obsession, a Quest, and the Biggest Year in the World by Noah Strycker

“On January 1, 2015, Noah Strycker embarked on a yearlong journey to set a record for the most bird species seen in one year. He recounts this travels in this book, not only introducing the reader to all manner of colorful and rare bird species, but also documenting the truly global nature of the birding community.” - Erin

Image courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Timefulness: How Thinking Like a Geologist Can Help Save the World by Marcia Bjornerud

“Marcia Bjornerud takes readers on a journey through time to provide a shocking perspective on how geology can give critical insights into environmental challenges. This book dives into how anthropocentric mindsets can cause endless issues in the fight against climate change, while perhaps a geological perspective provides the tools we need to fight such a complex issue.”

- Anna

Endless Forms Most Beautiful: The New Science of Evo Devo and the Making of the Animal Kingdom by Sean B. Carroll

“How is the complex diversity of life possible? Carroll writes of evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) and how small changes in genes can lead to significant changes in organisms. Through the use of examples and analogies, any reader will understand the fundamental laws of evolution and be inspired by the endless forms most beautiful surrounding them every day.” - Noah D.

Image courtesy of Vintage Books Image courtesy of W.W. Norton & Co. Image courtesy of Princeton University Press

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

“This autobiography follows a female geobiologist through her scientific journey. Jahren will take you through the scientific process with a narrative of her studies on plant life. Not only will this book inspire you to work in a lab, it will make you laugh at the loveable, absurd relationship Jahren has with her lab partner Bill.”

- Beatrice

One River: Explorations and Discoveries in the Amazon Rain Forest by Wade Davis

“A book that blends ethnobotany, history, and anthropology and does a great job of describing discovery, wonder, and perseverance. It is the story of Richard Evans Schultes, an early ethnobotanist, as told by Davis, one of his students, who revisits many of the places Schultes visited from 1930–1960.”

The Vaccine Race: Science, Politics, and the Human Costs of Defeating Disease by Meredith Wadman

“This book is a wonderful exploration into the history of vaccines. In it, Wadman seamlessly intertwines the political and scientific narratives that underlie the development and evolution of vaccines. And now, especially, in the time of COVID-19, this book is all too important and meaningful. Give it a read; you won’t be disappointed.”

- Noah B.F. Image courtesy of Penguin Random House

The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World by Michael Pollan

“This book explores mankind’s connection to four different species of plants and our processes of domestication. Pollan describes our relationship with apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes through their respective four human desires— sweetness, beauty, intoxication, and control. It is full of interesting and humorous anecdotes from Pollan’s research and personal experiences cultivating all of them.”

- Rachael

BONUS RECOMMENDATIONS: PODCASTS!

Image courtesy of Penguin Random House

“Produced by Scientific American, this is my favorite podcast to listen to when I only have 60 seconds. Ok, you got me... maybe not 60 seconds; more like 3 minutes. In just a few minutes you can learn more than you could in an hour by reading an entire article. The topics are sometimes related to current events and sometimes challenge you to learn and think about something that you didn’t know existed.”

- Noah B.F.

“I’ve listened to Science Friday for as long as I can remember. If you’re someone who doesn’t always have time to sit down and read about your favorite topics, this podcast makes it easy to stay up-to-date with current happenings in the science world. Ira Flatow (the show’s host) always has a wide variety of guests on the program and it makes listening an absolute joy. Recent topics have ranged from the nitty-gritty of the COVID-19 vaccine development to the specifics of how the first image of a black hole was captured! Check it out!” - Noah B.F.

BY ANNA PERLMUTTER

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