I hated studying natural sciences growing up. Never understood them. But now that I’m reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir I’ve realized two things.
1. Science is actually quite interesting.
2. I don’t know anything about it, only the very very basics.
Maybe it’s the way the story is narrated, but I found it very engaging. Are there any books that could put me up to date with everything I’ve missed, please!!!!
by eowynTA3019
8 Comments
Bio teacher: Khan Academy, Crash Course, CK-12 online textbook, Amoeba Sisters, Biomanbio .com, libre books
ETA one more suggestion
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking is an outstanding presentation of physics, including plain English explanation of quantum mechanics, and the quest for a grand unification theory that puts together Einstein and Heisenberg, who approached physics very differently (large vs. small).
Chaos by James Gleick.
Complexity: The New Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos by M. Mitchell Waldrop. Tells the story of W. Brian Arthur, founder of complexity economics inspired by evolutionary biology, Stuart Kaufman, who created an original of life theory of auto catalytics (math of the universe makes life obvious), and John Holland, an early computer scientist and pioneer on AI who was using genetic algorithms to understand how machines can think. The three meet at the Santa Fe Institute and collaborated.
Not fiction but The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Keane covers the periodic table in a fascinating way. It’s full of history, weird stories involving the elements, and behind the scenes science drama. I loved it.
Her books are more about specific topics than general fields, but Mary Roach (the author of Stiff and a bunch of other books) is fun to read.
Also, Best American (the essay collections from HarperCollins) has a science and nature writing category.
*The Body* by Bill Bryson. An organ by organ look at how the human body works from top to toe. Read by Bill Bryson
*The Disappearing Spoon* by Sam Kean. The history of the periodic table and chemistry
*Life as No One Knows It* by Sara Imari Walker. A look at physics through the lens of evolutionary mechanisms
*Eve* by Cat Bohannon read by Cat Bohannon. Natural history and evolution of the female human
A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson
*Astrobiology* by Plaxco and Gross is a great intro to several fields.
I read Wild New World by Dan Flores a couple years ago, and while it isn’t strictly science, it inspired my fascination with archeology and paleontology. I’ve literally gone to so many museums and local museum events and learned more because of that book. It changed my life