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Best Science Books

Expand your understanding of the universe with this compilation of outstanding science books, frequently spotlighted by esteemed science publications and bloggers.

Recommendations from 53 articles, Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Hrithik Roshan and 220 others.
100 books on the list
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Brief History of Time book cover
Brief History of Time
From the Big Bang to Black Holes
Stephen Hawking - 1998-09-01 (first published in 1988)
Goodreads Rating
Explore the mysteries of the universe with this acclaimed masterpiece by a celebrated physicist. From the origins of time to the boundaries of the universe, delve into the secrets of space and time. Discover the great theories of the cosmos from Newton to Einstein, and explore the wonders of the Big Bang, black holes, and more. Written in clear and concise language, this book offers a fascinating and accessible introduction to the universe and its wonders. This new edition includes exciting updates from the author, along with a companion app, Stephen Hawking's Pocket Universe.
On the Origin of Species book cover
On the Origin of Species
Charles Darwin - 2004-01-01 (first published in 1859)
Goodreads Rating
A groundbreaking exploration of natural selection, this book challenges orthodox beliefs by asserting that no species or being has been specifically created. While exploring the harsh competition for survival, it showcases the interrelatedness between animal and plant life, and the environment, offering an inspirational and human perspective. Written with a combination of scientific rigor and literary style, this remains one of the most important works of modern times.
A Short History of Nearly Everything book cover
A Short History of Nearly Everything
Bill Bryson - 2004-09-14 (first published in 2003)
Goodreads Rating
Explore the universe and the human experience with one of Bill Bryson's biggest books. From the Big Bang to the rise of civilization, Bryson seeks to answer the oldest, biggest questions we have posed about ourselves and the world around us. Join him on an adventure to understand how we got from there being nothing to there being us, as he learns from some of the world's most advanced archaeologists, anthropologists, and mathematicians. A Short History of Nearly Everything is a profoundly clear and entertaining journey through the depths of human knowledge.
Cosmos book cover
Cosmos
Carl Sagan - 2002-05-07 (first published in 1980)
Goodreads Rating
Explore the universe and the evolution of our existence in this iconic science book. Written with poetic prose, discover the vastness of space and the incredible journey of life on Earth. With stunning illustrations and contributions from astrophysicists, this must-read covers topics such as the origin of life, the human brain, technology advancements, and the forces that shaped modern science. Let Cosmos take you on a thrilling journey through time and space.
Recommended by
Richard Branson
The Selfish Gene book cover
The Selfish Gene
40th Anniversary Edition (Oxford Landmark Science)
Richard Dawkins - 2006-01-01 (first published in 1976)
Goodreads Rating
Explore the fascinating world of evolutionary thought with this classic exposition. The author offers a gene’s eye view of evolution, placing the importance on the units of information that persist, and viewing organisms as vehicles for their replication. This powerful and stylistically brilliant work galvanized the biology community, generating much debate and stimulating whole new areas of research. This 40th anniversary edition includes a new epilogue from the author discussing the continuing relevance of these ideas in evolutionary biology today, as well as the original prefaces and foreword. Join the millions of readers worldwide who have fallen in love with The Selfish Gene.
Invisible Women book cover
Invisible Women
Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
Caroline Criado Perez - 2019-03-12
Goodreads Rating
Discover how women are systematically ignored and discriminated against in a world largely built for and by men in this eye-opening book. With case studies, stories, and research from across the globe, it exposes the gender data gap and its profound impact on women's lives. From government policy to medical research and technology, Invisible Women reveals the biased data that excludes women and the urgent need for change. A powerful and provocative read that will make you see the world anew.
Gödel, Escher, Bach book cover
Gödel, Escher, Bach
An Eternal Golden Braid
Douglas R. Hofstadter - 1999-01-01 (first published in 1979)
Goodreads Rating
This inquisitive book by Douglas R. Hofstadter delves into the very essence of cognitive science - the intricate links between formal systems. Hofstadter explains how the system behind mental activity goes beyond its support system, and questions whether machines may one day attain human-level intelligence. Gödel, Escher, Bach covers a range of captivating topics from reduction to recursion, offering readers an intriguing exploration of the intricacies of meaning.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks book cover
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Rebecca Skloot - 2010-02-02
Goodreads Rating
Discover the remarkable story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells were taken without her knowledge in 1951, becoming one of the most important tools in medicine. Her cells have been bought and sold by the billions for medical advancements, but her story and legacy remain virtually unknown. This New York Times bestseller tackles the collision between ethics, race, and medicine, and the daughter consumed with questions about the mother she never knew. A riveting tale of scientific discovery and faith healing that will leave you questioning the ethics of medical advancements.
The Elegant Universe book cover
The Elegant Universe
Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory
Brian Greene - 2010-10-11 (first published in 1999)
Goodreads Rating
This fascinating book by a leading string theorist explores the mysteries of the universe, revealing its complex fabric of eleven dimensions and the vibrations of energy that generate all matter. With engaging prose, the book makes even the most esoteric scientific concepts accessible and thoroughly entertaining, offering a new understanding of the world around us.
Silent Spring book cover
Silent Spring
Rachel Carson - 2022-02-01 (first published in 1962)
Goodreads Rating
This influential book was published in 1962 and sparked a movement to protect the environment. Written by Rachel Carson, it exposes the harmful effects of DDT and led to changes in laws regarding our air, land, and water. Carson's powerful words and concern for the future of our planet launched the environmental movement, making it a landmark book of the twentieth century.
Recommended by
Ramachandra Guha
Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver W. Sacks
The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Bottle of Lies by Katherine Eban
The Science of Shakespeare by Dan Falk
The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan
Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan
What If? by Randall Munroe
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
She Has Her Mother's Laugh by Carl Zimmer
How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
Women in Science by Rachel Ignotofsky
"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" by Richard P. Feynman
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte
The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins
The Greatest Show on Earth by Richard Dawkins
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
Good to Go by Christie Aschwanden
Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt
Superior by Angela Saini
The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
The Universe in a Nutshell by Stephen William Hawking
Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
The Feynman Lectures on Physics by Richard P. Feynman
The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham
The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan
The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons by Sam Kean
The Mismeasure of Man by Stephen Jay Gould
1491 by Charles C. Mann
The Second Kind of Impossible by Paul Steinhardt
The Science Book by National Geographic
Bad Science by Ben Goldacre
The Coming Plague by Laurie Garrett
Because Internet by Gretchen McCulloch
Six Easy Pieces by Richard P. Feynman
The Disordered Cosmos by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
The Book of Why by Judea Pearl
Stiff by Mary Roach
Science Encyclopedia by National Geographic Kids
Collapse by Jared Diamond
Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
The Accidental Universe by Alan Lightman
Evolution by Annu Kilpelainen
Under a White Sky by Elizabeth Kolbert
The Human Age by Diane Ackerman
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
The Body by Bill Bryson
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
The Book of Trees by Manuel Lima
The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean
Nothing by New Scientist
Archaeology from Space by Sarah Parcak
The Dinosaur Artist by Paige Williams
Neurocomic by Hana Ros
Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty
Losing the Nobel Prize by Brian Keating
Nine Pints by Rose George
Spying on Whales by Nick Pyenson
The Double Helix by James D. Watson
Spillover by David Quammen
The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes
Wilding by Isabella Tree
The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber, David Wengrow
Brief Answers To The Big Questions by Stephen Hawking
Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard
Elements by Theodore Gray
Black Holes and Time Warps by Kip S. Thorne
What the Eyes Don't See by Mona Hanna-Attisha
Mama's Last Hug by Frans de Waal
Encounters with the Archdruid by John McPhee
Undeniable by Bill Nye
Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik
Hyperspace by Michio Kaku
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasseTyson
The Fabric of the Cosmos by Brian Greene
A Sting in the Tale by Dave Goulson
Chaos by James Gleick
The Bastard Brigade by Sam Kean
The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking
A Nest Is Noisy by Dianna Hutts Aston
The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum
The Soul of an Octopus by SY Montgomery
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
Relativity by Albert Einstein
Phantoms in the Brain by V. S. Ramachandran
Origins by Neil Degrasse Tyson
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures by Julia Finley Mosca