The best science book will not only educate; it will also enlighten and entertain. It has the power to transform a dry subject you dreaded in school into a mind-blowing and captivating story. And it will give you a different perspective on the world around you. However, there are thousands of science books available on a wide variety of topics – which one to choose?
Lucky for you, we’ve curated a list of the best science books you shouldn’t miss, from captivating accounts of the history of the planet and the universe to enlightening insights into the human mind and body. These books make science accessible to everyone, and we think the list will have something for everyone, whether you’re interested in understanding how everyday objects work or the intricacies of how the universe came to be.
We’ve included a mix of best-selling popular science classics as well as modern versions. This list is not a ranking, as each of the books deals with a different topic, but each has something special and unique to offer. So, get ready to be blown away with our list of the best science books.
If you’re looking for more specific science knowledge, our guides to the best physics books and the best astronomy books will enlighten you. Or, if you like fiction, check out our list of the best science fiction books.
Best science books
1. A Short History of Nearly Everything
“A sometimes profound, sometimes funny and always extremely clear and entertaining adventure into the realms of human knowledge” To see also : Gravitational wave radar can probe deep space for tiny stellar objects.
Specifications
Reasons to buy
+A fascinating and fascinating exploration into the realms of human knowledge+Explains a variety of scientific topics in a vivid and comprehensive manner+No scientific knowledge is assumed
A fascinating and fascinating quest into the realms of human knowledge
It explains a variety of scientific topics in a vivid and comprehensive manner
Reasons to avoid
How did it all start? And how did we get here? Blending history and science, A Short History of Nearly Everything provides a comprehensive yet entertaining answer to these questions. Written out of dissatisfaction with his own scientific knowledge, Bill Bryson takes the reader on a dazzling journey through history’s greatest scientific discoveries.
Armed with his poignant wit and dry humor, Bryson infuses dry subjects with color by telling the stories of discoveries through the lives of the scientists who made them. These quirky, eccentric, competitive, sometimes tragic, but resilient scientists bring the story to life.
Even if you’re not interested in science, this book will evoke a sense of wonder about the universe, encourage you to think big, and make you marvel at the amazing world we live in. This book is for anyone who wants to learn more about our world and how it came to be.
2. Thing Explainer
Complicated things in simple words See the article : Prineville author Rick Steber says the High Desert Museum has “banned” his books; the museum says they weren’t selling.
Specifications
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Reasons to buy
+Explains complex concepts using illustrations and only the most common English words+Fun and easy to understand+Some of the topics (eg the periodic table) also include detailed drop-down diagrams
Explains complex concepts using illustrations and only the most common English words
Entertaining and easy to understand
Some of the topics (for example, the periodic table) also include detailed drop-down diagrams
Reasons to avoid
-Also, providing the “right” vocabulary (i.e. a more technical term) could have improved understanding and the learning experience
Also, providing the ‘right’ vocabulary (ie a more technical term) could have improved understanding and the learning experience
How do helicopters work? Or elevators? Or cells? Randall Munroe, creator of the webcomic XKCD (opens in a new tab), explains how things work using illustrations and just the most common 1,000 words in the English language. Washing machines become “boxes that make clothes smell better”, airplanes are “skyships” and microwaves are “radio boxes for heating food”.
Thing Explainer is an informative and entertaining guide to the science and technology around us, without confusing jargon. This book will change your perspective and approach to explanation. So next time you try to explain how something works instead of just calling it by its name. A fun must-read for curious minds who wonder how things really work and why.
Best physics books
3. The God Equation
The search for a theory of everything Read also : Civic science on a yacht – how you can help change.
Specifications
Reasons to buy
+ Clear and concise language + Great historical overview of theoretical physics + Requires no prior knowledge of physics
Great historical overview of theoretical physics
It does not require any prior knowledge of physics
Reasons to avoid
– It may be too basic for those who have already read popular science books on this topic
It may be too basic for those who have already read popular science books on the subject
In The God Equation, theoretical physicist Michio Kaku writes about his lifelong quest to find the “Holy Grail of physics”: a theory of everything. A theory to explain everything from the beginning to the end of the universe, unifying all the forces at play.
Sounds like too much bedtime reading? Rest assured, Kaku writes about this mind-blowing subject in an understandable and engaging manner. You’ll get a great historical insight into the major milestones in theoretical physics—both the scientists and the technologies that ultimately led to the development of string theory—the concept that our universe is made up of tiny strings whose vibrations produce all physical phenomena. .
Along the way, Kaku doesn’t lose sight of the practicalities of everyday life and explains how the scientific ideas he presents apply to our everyday lives.
4. Ask an Astronaut
Specifications
Reasons to buy
+Entertaining question-and-answer format makes it easy to find answers quickly+Suitable for both kids and adults+Accompanying graphics illustrate some of the more complex ideas
The entertaining question-and-answer format makes it easy to find answers quickly
Suitable for both children and adults
The attached graphics illustrate some of the more complex ideas
Reasons to avoid
-The question and answer format can become tedious due to the lack of a captivating narrative
The question and answer format can become tedious due to the lack of an engaging narrative
What does it feel like to fly in space? How do you prepare for it? And what is it like to return to Earth? In his book, astronaut Tim Peake answers all the questions you never knew you had about going to space. Using an engaging question-and-answer format, he answers the questions he’s been asked most frequently since returning to Earth after his Principia mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2015-16. The book provides information on cutting-edge science, as well as practical aspects and day-to-day life aboard the ISS. The format of the book lends itself to both extensive cover-to-cover reading and a quick read of just a couple of questions and answers. The accompanying illustrations, diagrams and photos, combined with Peak’s humor and wit, make this book a great read for armchair astronauts.
5. Brief Answers to the Big Questions
Specifications
Reasons to buy
+ Does not require prior knowledge of physics; there’s only one equation in the whole book!+Complex ideas communicated in simple, understandable language+Great introduction to Stephen Hawking’s thoughts
No prior knowledge of physics required – there is only one equation in the entire book!
Complex ideas communicated in simple and understandable language
Great introduction to the thoughts of Stephen Hawking
Reasons to avoid
-Some repetition of sentences and explanations between chapters-Could be too basic for more advanced readers
Some repetition of sentences and explanations between chapters
It may be too basic for more advanced readers
Published posthumously, Stephen Hawking’s book tackles 10 of the universe’s biggest questions, for example: Is time travel possible? Is there a God? Will we survive on Earth? The book is the final project of the physicist, who sparked curiosity and fascination with physics among the general public with his best-selling books, including A Brief History of Time (opens in a new tab).
Completed after Hawking’s death with the help of his family, friends and academic colleagues, this book is based on the physicist’s personal archive of essays, lectures and speeches. It covers big physics concepts like gravitational waves, the Big Bang and general relativity, but it also doesn’t shy away from addressing topics related to the future of humanity.
Brief Answers to the Big Questions is a must-read for the inquisitive and inquisitive mind about the big questions of the universe. And it certainly instills a sense of wonder and curiosity, in Hawking’s own words: “So remember to look up at the stars and not at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and ask yourself what makes the universe exists. Be curious. And no matter how hard life seems, there’s always something you can do and succeed at. It’s important not to give up. Let your imagination run wild. Shape the future.”
Best biology books
6. The Gene
Specifications
Reasons to buy
+Complex ideas packed into a well-written and entertaining narrative+Comprehensive historical overview of gene history+No prior knowledge of genetics required
Complex ideas packed into a well-written and entertaining narrative
Complete historical view on the history of the gen
No prior knowledge of genetics is required
Reasons to avoid
-Some long descriptions that can be hard to follow
Some long descriptions that can be hard to follow
Oncologist and 2011 Pulitzer Prize winner Siddhartha Mukherjee distills the complex history of genetics into an engaging and understandable narrative. The author takes us on a dizzying journey describing how the mystery of the gene was slowly revealed. From the discovery of the gene as the individual unit of heredity thanks to the garden pea experiments of the monk Gregor Mendel, to the most recent revolution in biotechnology, genomics and gene editing technologies.
The author links the story of human genes with his personal story of how hereditary diseases have affected his own family, staying true to his promise of an “intimate” story. Looking to the future of the human race, Mukherjee questions the implications of our technical capabilities and warns to consider the ethical implications of emerging new technologies. This stimulating read is for anyone interested in learning more about the history, biology, and ethics of the units that form the foundation of ourselves: our genes.
7. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
Specifications
Reasons to buy
+Neurological case studies both informative and emotional+Fascinating insight into the mysteries of the human mind
Both informative and moving neurological case studies
A fascinating insight into the mysteries of the human mind
Reasons to avoid
-The use of medical jargon can make this a difficult read at times
The use of medical jargon can make this a difficult read at times
Neurologist Oliver Sacks takes us on a journey into the devastating yet fascinating world of neurological conditions. In this collection of medical case reports, considered by some to be Sacks’ best work, the author recounts the stories of patients with surprising neurological disorders that affect their perceptions, emotions, memories, and actions: a musician who has lost the ability to recognize faces. or known objects; a sailor whose mind is permanently stuck in 1945 and cannot form new memories; A woman who has lost the ability to perceive the relative position of her limbs.
Rather than portraying his patients as merely interesting cases, Sacks paints them as deeply human through his poetic prose and vivid imagery. His narration is both compassionate and informative. These essays are more than just neurological case histories, they are, in Sacks’ own words, “clinical tales.” If you enjoy exploring the wonders of the human mind, this collection of essays is for you!
8. Explaining Humans
What science can teach us about life, love and relationships
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Dr Camilla Pang, PhD in computational biology from UCL, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of eight and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at 26. As a child struggling to understand the world around her, Pang asked her mother for an instruction manual to explain humans in order to help her understand and fit into it. In a way, he created his own manual on how to be human with this book, which won the 2020 Royal Society Science Book of the Year award.
In her book, Pang shares how seeing the world through a scientific lens helped her understand and interpret human behavior. Each chapter draws analogies from a different field of science to explain the complexities of human nature, covering a variety of scientific concepts: machine learning, biochemistry, thermodynamics, quantum physics, and game theory. For example, Pang compares emotions to chemical bonds and reflects on how our relationships, like chemical bonds, undergo changes.
Part memoir, part manual, the book is an illuminating and insightful guide to understanding the world around us. A must read for anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of humans.
Best paleontology books
9. Deep Time
A journey through 4.5 billion years of our planet
Specifications
Release date: September 28, 2021
Reasons to buy
+Tells the history of our planet in chronological order+Both informative and visually appealing with fascinating high-quality images
It tells the history of our planet in chronological order
Both informative and visually appealing with fascinating high quality images
Reasons to avoid
– Assessing the size of some objects in photos is difficult due to the lack of a scale bar or known object
Assessing the size of some objects in photos is difficult due to the lack of a scale bar or known object
Our planet is old. 4.5 billion years, to be exact. An unimaginable period of time. Riley Black, science writer specializing in paleontology, takes us on a journey through the geological events that have shaped our planet, making those years palpable and, at the same time, underlining the impressive age of our planet.
This book shows the history of our world as we know it, presented in a chronological and visually appealing way. Magnificent photos are supported by bite-sized, easily digestible explanations of key historical moments, such as the dawn of the dinosaurs. But this book is not just about fossils. It also expands on key concepts in geology (the formation of the Grand Canyon), astronomy (Hubble’s deep field) or biology (mitochondria or evolution).
Deep Time illuminates the traces and artifacts of antiquity that we can still find today, all around us. An informative and beautiful coffee table to dive into rather than devour in one sitting.
10. Sapiens
Specifications
Publisher: Editorial Dvir
Reasons to buy
+Engaging and easy-to-digest writing style with short, simple paragraphs+Photos and diagrams to illustrate concepts
Engaging and digestible writing style with short, simple paragraphs
Photographs and diagrams to illustrate concepts
Reasons to avoid
-The expansive scope allows some aspects to be touched only superficially. Full of information, which can make for a slow and difficult read.
The expansive scope allows some aspects to be touched only superficially
With a lot of information, it can make for a slow read and hard to digest
At least six different human species inhabited the Earth 100,000 years ago. Today there is only one: homo sapiens. How did this happen? In his international number one bestseller, history teacher Yuval Noah Harari takes us on a journey through the history of homo sapiens.
Harari tackles the colossal task of telling the story of our species with an engaging and often provocative narrative and draws on knowledge of history, anthropology, and evolutionary biology. Harari concludes with a skeptical look to the future, given our current scientific and technological advances in fields such as genetic engineering and artificial intelligence, which could blur the definition of “human.” While you may not agree with all the claims and inferred causal connections, the book will certainly provoke thoughts, questions, and reflections about the past, present, and future of the humanities.
Mihaela Bozukova is a science journalist based in Germany. He has a Ph.D. in molecular and computational biology from the Max Planck Institute for the Biology of Aging and the University of Cologne in Germany. He is passionate about making science accessible to everyone. You’ll find her covering a variety of life science topics for outlets such as Massive Science, Laborjournal, and Microbites.
Mihaela Bozukova is a science journalist based in Germany. He has a Ph.D. in molecular and computational biology from the Max Planck Institute for the Biology of Aging and the University of Cologne in Germany. He is passionate about making science accessible to everyone. You’ll find her covering a variety of life science topics for outlets such as Massive Science, Laborjournal, and Microbites.
