Most read Science & Nature books

Harari's account of how Homo sapiens rose from an unremarkable ape to the dominant species on Earth, tracing the cognitive, agricultural, and scientific revolutions that shaped human societies.

John Green, known for his advocacy in global healthcare, shares a deeply human story about the fight against tuberculosis. Through the personal journey of a young patient named Henry in Sierra Leone, Green explores the history of the disease, its connection to poverty and injustice, and the ongoing efforts to combat it. This book highlights the critical need for increased access to treatment and awareness of healthcare inequities.

In 1996, journalist Jon Krakauer joined a climbing expedition on Mount Everest, a journey that tragically became the deadliest in the mountain's history. Krakauer details the extreme conditions and harrowing events that unfolded on the treacherous slopes. This account explores the immense physical dangers and the powerful human drive that leads people to face such extreme risks.

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Trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain and body. Drawing on more than three decades of work with combat veterans, abused children, and survivors of assault and disaster, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk shows how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers' capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control and trust. Blending clinical case studies with cutting-edge neuroscience, van der Kolk explains why traumatized people are haunted by intolerable sensations and emotions long after the danger has passed, and why talk therapy alone is often not enough. He then explores a range of treatments — from EMDR and neurofeedback to yoga, theatre, and mindfulness — that can help the brain to "rewire" itself and reactivate the innate capacity for healing. The Body Keeps the Score is a landmark work on the science of trauma and recovery, arguing with clarity and compassion that by understanding how trauma lives in the body, we can find genuine paths back to wholeness.

Having charted humanity's rise in Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari turns from the past to the future. For most of history, humans struggled against famine, plague, and war; now, he argues, we have largely brought these ancient scourges under control and are setting ourselves new goals—immortality, bliss, and a god-like power to engineer life itself. Homo Deus asks what happens to a species that has run out of things to conquer except its own nature. Drawing on history, biology, and the study of intelligence, Harari examines how liberalism, humanism, and free will may give way to new creeds built on data and algorithms, and how biotechnology and artificial intelligence could split humanity or render most of it economically and politically irrelevant. Provocative and wide-ranging, this bestselling work of big-picture nonfiction is less a prediction than a set of urgent questions about where our newfound powers are taking us—and who will be left behind.

Stephen Hawking's landmark work of popular science explains the universe in plain language: where it came from, how it works, and where it may be going. From the Big Bang and the nature of space and time to black holes, the uncertainty principle, and the search for a single theory of everything, Hawking makes the deepest questions of modern physics accessible to readers with no scientific background.

Bill Bryson sets out to answer the biggest questions there are: how the universe began, how the Earth was formed, how we came to know its age, what everything is made of, and how life — and eventually we — arose from it all. Rather than simply reciting facts, he tracks down the answers and the often eccentric, quarrelsome, and brilliant scientists who found them. Ranging from the Big Bang to quantum physics, from the depths of geologic time to the fragility of life on a small blue planet, Bryson translates dense and forbidding science into vivid, funny, endlessly curious storytelling. Along the way he conveys just how improbable, precarious, and astonishing our existence really is. A hugely popular work of science writing, it turns the history of nearly everything into an accessible and genuinely delightful adventure.

This book tells the incredible true story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor black woman whose cells were taken without her knowledge in 1951. These cells, known as HeLa, became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine and countless other breakthroughs. Yet, Henrietta's family remained unaware of her contribution and its impact for decades, living in poverty while her cells were bought and sold worldwide.

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What if you tried to hit a baseball at near light speed? Or what if humanity faced a robot apocalypse? Randall Munroe, the creator of xkcd, uses science and humor to answer these wild questions. He explores bizarre 'what ifs' with hilarious, often explosive, results.

Caroline Criado Perez exposes the "gender data gap" — the pervasive bias that follows from treating men as the default human. Marshalling studies from medicine, technology, urban planning, workplaces, and disaster relief, Invisible Women shows how a world measured around male bodies and lives quietly costs women in time, money, health, and safety, and makes the case for finally counting the other half of the population.

Jared Diamond argues that the broad sweep of history was shaped by geography and biology — not race — tracing how access to domesticable crops and animals gave some societies guns, germs, and steel. A Pulitzer-winning synthesis of world history.

Hired to paint watch dials with glowing radium paint, young women are told it is safe. Then their teeth fall out and their bones break, and the companies that knew the risk deny everything while the women take them to court.

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A music teacher cannot recognise a glove and mistakes his wife's head for his hat. Oliver Sacks recounts 24 neurological cases, from a sailor stuck in 1945 to twins who trade prime numbers, asking how a damaged brain adapts.

Psychiatrist Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey reframe how we think about adversity and behaviour: not "What's wrong with you?" but "What happened to you?" Through candid conversations, they explain how early trauma and stress physically shape the developing brain and echo into adult life — and chart a hopeful, science-grounded path toward resilience and healing. A bestselling, widely used framework for trauma-informed understanding.

This book tells the incredible true story of the African American women who were the brains behind America's launch into space. Despite facing segregation and discrimination, these brilliant mathematicians, known as "human computers," performed the complex calculations essential for NASA's early missions. Their vital contributions helped make the Space Race a success, proving that talent and determination can overcome any barrier.

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From Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of the beloved Braiding Sweetgrass, comes The Serviceberry. This short, inspiring work explores the Indigenous wisdom of reciprocity and gratitude, using the serviceberry tree as a powerful metaphor. Kimmerer invites readers to consider how we can shift our focus from scarcity to abundance, and from competition to community, by learning from the natural world.

Robin Wall Kimmerer, a botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, offers a unique perspective on the natural world. She skillfully combines scientific knowledge with Indigenous wisdom to show the profound connection between people and the living earth. Learn how paying attention to the messages from plants and animals can guide us toward a more harmonious and giving existence.

This singular book explores the profound and often disturbing impact of scientific discovery on the world. It weaves together narratives of real breakthroughs, from the accidental creation of Prussian blue leading to deadly cyanide, to the mathematical genius of Grothendieck descending into madness. Readers will encounter the fierce intellectual battles of quantum mechanics and a dying friend's letter to Einstein predicting black holes. This work blurs the lines between science and literature, revealing the human cost and unexpected consequences of pushing the boundaries of knowledge.

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Oliver Sacks, a renowned neurologist, invites you into the fascinating world of music and the human brain. Through the stories of individuals with unique relationships to music, he explores its power to affect memory, emotion, and even physical capabilities. Discover how music can profoundly shape and heal our lives.

Neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin explores the profound connection between music and the human brain. He investigates how we compose, perform, listen to, and enjoy music, arguing that it is fundamental to our species. Drawing on scientific research and diverse musical examples, Levitin reveals the mechanisms behind our emotional attachment to music, the nature of musical expertise, and why songs get stuck in our heads.

Curious about the cosmos but short on time? Neil deGrasse Tyson makes understanding black holes, dark matter, and the Big Bang simple in this quick guide. It's the perfect way to get up to speed on the universe's biggest questions.

This book provides a definitive account of the Chernobyl disaster, moving beyond myths to reveal the human stories behind the catastrophe. Journalist Adam Higginbotham spent over a decade interviewing survivors and sifting through declassified documents to reconstruct the events of April 26, 1986. It's a harrowing look at how secrecy and misinformation compounded one of the 20th century's worst technological failures.

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Richard Preston explores the terrifying world of deadly viruses, including Ebola, tracing their origins and impact. This non-fiction account examines the science of these pathogens and the stories of those affected. It offers a chilling look at the potential for global pandemics.

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Jon Ronson learns to spot psychopaths from the psychologist who built the famous checklist, then tests it on a paramilitary leader, a corporate cost-cutter and a Broadmoor patient. The more he uses it, the less sure he is that anyone should.

This book explores the fascinating ways our brains deceive us, leading us to believe we are more rational than we truly are. Drawing from a popular blog, it offers a witty and insightful look into the psychology behind our daily choices. Discover how our inherent irrationality is a fundamental part of the human experience.

This book chronicles the extraordinary true story of the Galvin family, who lived in upstate New York. Six of their twelve children were diagnosed with schizophrenia, and their family's experiences became a significant part of scientific research into the disease. It's a look at how one family navigated a devastating illness and contributed to understanding it.

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Explore the surprising connection between your gut health and overall well-being, from weight to mood and skin conditions. A young medical doctor humorously advocates for the often-overlooked intestine, guiding readers through the digestive system. Discover the latest scientific research on the gut's role as our 'second brain' and learn practical steps to improve your diet and digestion.

Feeling lost in math or science? This book offers practical advice to help you learn difficult subjects more effectively. Author Barbara Oakley shares her personal journey from struggling student to successful engineer, revealing techniques that anyone can use to improve their understanding of technical topics and approach problems with new confidence.

Chris Hadfield, the celebrated astronaut, invites you aboard for an extraordinary look at life beyond Earth. From his early days dreaming of space to commanding the International Space Station, Hadfield shares candid lessons on preparation, resilience, and finding wonder in the everyday. Discover how the mindset of an astronaut can help you navigate your own challenges and reach for the seemingly impossible.

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Sam Harris, a neuroscientist, challenges the common understanding of free will in his 2012 book. He presents a case for free will being an illusion, yet argues this doesn't diminish the value of morality or personal freedom. Harris suggests that accepting this perspective can lead to a significant shift in how we view life's core questions.