Technology & Science
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs
Steve Brusatte
An epic account of where dinosaurs came from, how they rose to dominance, how some of them became colossal and others developed feathers and wings and turned into birds, and then how the rest of them disappeared, ultimately paving the way for the modern world, and for us. It conveys how we’ve pieced together this story using the fossil clues that we have, and give some sense of what it’s like to be a paleontologist whose job it is to hunt for dinosaurs.
The Rules of Contagion
Adam Kucharski
Explore the hidden rules that govern the spread of everything from disease to ideas. Adam Kucharski reveals the underlying principles of contagion, offering insights into why outbreaks occur and how we can better understand and manage them.
The Signal and the Noise
Nate Silver
A groundbreaking exploration of the world of prediction, revealing how we can distinguish a true signal from a universe of noisy data. From the stock market to the weather, from baseball to terrorism, award-winning statistician Nate Silver provides an illuminating and essential guide to understanding the world.
The Sports Gene
David Epstein
An exploration into the science and genetics behind athletic performance, examining the interplay of nature and nurture in creating elite athletes. From speed genes to the impact of training, this book delves into the fascinating world of sports science.
The Strange Order of Things
Antonio Damasio
A groundbreaking exploration of the crucial role of feelings in the creation of human cultures. Antonio Damasio connects the origins of human societies to the fundamental principles of life regulation, revealing how feelings, as expressions of homeostasis, have driven the development of art, morality, governance, and technology. Delve into the surprising links between early life forms and the complex tapestry of human civilization.
The Thing with Feathers
Thor Hanson
A captivating exploration of feathers, from their evolutionary origins to their profound impact on human culture, revealing the surprising connections between birds and humanity.
Until the End of Time
Brian Greene
A journey across time, from our most refined understanding of the beginning to the closest science can take us to the very end. It explores how life and mind emerge from the initial chaos, and dwells on what a collection of curious, passionate, anxious, self-reflective, inventive, and skeptical minds do, especially when they notice their own mortality.
What Makes Us Human?
Charles Pasternak
What truly distinguishes us as human? This thought-provoking collection of essays from leading experts in diverse fields explores the multifaceted nature of humanity. From cognitive abilities and language to culture and cooking, delve into the scientific, philosophical, and evolutionary perspectives on what makes us uniquely human.