Task 2: Read a Nonfiction Book About Science

[Ashley]

Laura wrote: "I'm considering the book Moody Bitches: The Truth About the Drugs You're Taking, the Sleep You're Missing, the Sex You're Not Having, and What's Really Making You Crazy. Does anyone know anything a..."

I'm actually looking at reading that for Nonfiction Book/Feminism. I'll be eager to read it and hear what we both think!

[Astrid]

A while back my book club was reading Ada's Algorithm: How Lord Byron's Daughter Ada Lovelace Launched the Digital Age and I never started it until recently. I think that counts. However, the The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks also looks interesting as does Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness and Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife

[Kathy]

I plan to read the book suggested by NYPL, The Only Woman in the Room: Why Science Is Still a Boys' Club.


I finished this book and appreciated the detail of Elaine Pollack's study of women in science. The book is highly readable, interesting, and eye-opening! I gave it 4 stars. Recommended!

[Leslie]

Nonfiction Science

How We Die: Reflections of Life's Final Chapter- by Sherwin B. Nuland
Adventures in Human Being: A Grand Tour from the Cranium to the Calcaneum -by Gavin Francis

[Amelia]

Would SuperBetter by Jane McGonigal count?

[Niffer]

Time Traveler: A Scientist's Personal Mission
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...

This one for me. Remember seeing him on a tea time chat show, of all things - his own personal story is as interesting as his theory. Have been looking forward to reading this for a while.

[Joy]

I'm thinking of What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained by Robert L. Wolfe.

[[deleted user]]

I'm going to tackle 'A Brief History of Time' by Stephen Hawking for this challenge.

[Britta]

I just completed the first task, and, moving on to the second, I will probably read either The Quantum Universe: Everything That Can Happen Does Happen or The Unfolding of Language: An Evolutionary Tour of Mankind's Greatest Invention. Are any of you planning on reading either book?

[Sarah]

I'm another one who is going with Spillover - David Quammen as I know I'm going to love it.

For lighter reading something like It's Not Rocket Science - Ben Miller is a good read.

[sarah]

Another genre that barely interests me. I've chosen Sweetness #9 as per my co-workers recommendations

[Maria U.]

I'm going to read Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife for this challenge. Starting today!

[Michelle]

I'd love some input here.. What do you think, do either of these titles "count" as a non-fiction book about science (social science)? Or is this a bit of a stretch?

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin

[Ashley]

Michelle wrote: "I'd love some input here.. What do you think, do either of these titles "count" as a non-fiction book about science (social science)? Or is this a bit of a stretch?

Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Bet..."

Hi Michelle! Looking at the different genres Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking is shelved in, I would say this is a safe bet for the Science task. Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives, while likely a great book, may be more of a psychology/self-help vibe. Just my two cents - I say read whichever you want!

[Michelle]

I appreciate your two cents, Ashley! Thank you!

[Carrie]

Rainey wrote: "I plan on reading Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void or Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. Haven't decided which one yet."

If you haven't yet chosen, I read Stiff years ago and really enjoyed it. It's got that touch of humor to offset the gross factor. Though, after reading it you may never eat Rice Krispies again. ;)

[Carrie]

Trudie wrote: "I am a scientist by training so this is in my wheel-house but I really admire authors who write science accurately and interestingly for non-scientists - it takes a lot of skill. Bill Bryson nailed..."

Thank you. I had no idea what to choose for this task but this note has made me interested in this book.

[Bethany]

I am hoping to tackle The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History. I'm not a scientist by any means, so I'm hoping I don't get frustrated by this one! Have any of you read it?

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks has been on my list for a very long time as well, but I may save that one for my Audie Award winning audio book.

[Jennifer]

I have had 'The Beginner's Guide to Winning the Nobel Prize: a Life in Science' by Peter Doherty on my bookshelf for awhile. It's an ACTUAL book so I may be at a loss since everything I have read for the last 5 years has been on my phone.

[Bonnie G.]

Sarah wrote: "Another genre that barely interests me. I've chosen Sweetness #9 as per my co-workers recommendations"

Sweetness #9 is fiction. My teenager gave it a thumbs up, but it doesn't fit this category.

[Bonnie G.]

Carrie wrote: "Rainey wrote: "I plan on reading Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void or Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. Haven't decided which one yet."..."

Both are super fun (I like all her books) but I thought Stiff was the better read. If you are up for a very graphic (yet wholly non-erotic) book about sex I also recommend "Bonk"

[Cristina]

I haven't decided what to read yet for this one, but I can highly recommend The Double Helix! Makes the discovery of the structure of DNA read like a detective novel. ;)

[Sarah]

Also in my TBR currently is Forensics: The Anatomy of Crime - Val McDermid which would count under this challenge too...

[Dan]

I'll be reading Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life

[Hubert]

I was wondering whether I could use one book for three slots:

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddharta Mukherjee

1) an author originally from India
2) a non-fiction book about science
3) a biography

What do you say?

[Jan]

Bonnie wrote: "Carrie wrote: "Rainey wrote: "I plan on reading Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void or Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. Haven't decided ..."

I'm also planning on 'Packing for Mars' and have just bought my copy. It looks interesting and entertaining.

[Dain]

I'm not a huge fan of NF in general, and I love pretty much anything by this author, but STIFF is my favorite! If you do audio, I'd highly recommend this on audio-it's fabulous & hilarious=fabularious-LOL! :-)
Allie wrote: "Rainey wrote: "I plan on reading Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void or Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. Haven't decided which one yet."..."

[[deleted user]]

I was planning to read ASAP Science, but may change my mind. :)

[Dhruv]

I would severely recommend this book.
Survival of the Sickest: A Medical Maverick Discovers Why We Need Disease
It has some dubious unproven hypothesis in there but overall it makes an interesting read :)

[[deleted user]]

I am listening to the audiobook of THE SOUL OF AN OCTOPUS by Sy Montgomery for this challenge. Last year I heard from several people that it is a must read. So far, it is very interesting (and it has been good during cleaning and exercise times).

[Britta]

I just started with this taks and decided on Quantum: Einstein, Bohr and the Great Debate About the Nature of Reality. I am listening to the audiobook, 14hrs of science, we shall see...

[Sophia]

Just finished A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie by Kathryn Harkup for this task. It was a very readable look at the science behind the various poisons Christie used to bump off victims in her novels. Harkup offers up a lot of detailed information on the chemistry, uses, and effects of the poisons, along with a sampling of real life murder cases where they were used.

[Jennifer]

This category is my favourite genre of book, so I knew I'd have a lot of choices for this one, but I'm going with What If? : Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe, which I'm reading at the moment and is constantly making me giggle. As a science blogger, it's a book I wish I'd written. Randall Munroe is fantastic

[Cristina]

Jennifer wrote: "This category is my favourite genre of book, so I knew I'd have a lot of choices for this one, but I'm going with [book:What If? : Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions|214136..."
A friend gave that to me last year for Christmas (2014) and I haven't read it yet! You're right, perfect for this Challenge!

[Emilie]

I'm reading "We Are Our Brains" by D.F. Swaab. Halfway through, really interesting and thought-provoking.

[Trudie]

Sophia wrote: "Just finished A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie by Kathryn Harkup for this task. It was a very readable look at the science behind the various poisons Christie used t..."

Oh, that is a great suggestion, I know a big Agatha Fan who will love it

[Britta]

Emilie wrote: "I'm reading "We Are Our Brains" by D.F. Swaab. Halfway through, really interesting and thought-provoking."

Oh, I loved this book! Really interesting. I think I will have to re-read this one.

[Miz]

Is it demanded for a book to be strictly medical (or any other mainstream science) or can I go read a book about political science? After the Welfare State would be for tasks 2 and 3, it would kill me if I'd have to pick something else. It is more on an economically political side.

[Karin]

I got What If? just a few weeks back, I'll read that for this challenge too!

[Sophia]

Trudie wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Just finished A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie by Kathryn Harkup for this task. It was a very readable look at the science behind the various poisons ..."

It was great! As someone without a science background, I never found it dry or boring. The author has a good sense of humor too.

[Mark]

Read Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, DNA and More Tell Us About Crime last year and enjoyed it. It did well in the GR book of the year last year too.

I'm going to go for The Knowledge : How to Rebuild Our World from Scratch

'Maybe it was a viral pandemic, or an asteroid strike, or perhaps nuclear war. Whatever the cause, the world as we know it has ended and you and the other survivors must start again. What key knowledge would you need to start rebuilding civilisation from scratch?

Once you've scavenged what you can, how do you begin producing the essentials? How do you grow food, generate power, prepare medicines, or get metal out of rocks? Could you avert another Dark Ages or take shortcuts to accelerate redevelopment?'

[Carter]

Bonnie wrote: "Carrie wrote: "Rainey wrote: "I plan on reading Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void or Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. Haven't decided ..."

I just finished Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex for this challenge, and I second the recommendation. Lot's of fun!

I haven't gotten around to Stiff yet, but Packing for Mars was also enjoyable -- Mary Roach always finds a great mix of interesting, funny, and weird details -- bones shrinking in zero gravity, chimp astronauts, etc.

[Carter]

Bethany wrote: "I am hoping to tackle The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History. I'm not a scientist by any means, so I'm hoping I don't get frustrated by this one! Have any of you read it?

[boo..."

I thought [book:The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History|17910054] was excellent and very accessible, even without a background in science. Plus, Kolbert moves through a number of different topics and examples to build her case, so each chapter covers something a little different and kept me interested. I'd say give it a try!

[Bonnie G.]

I started reading Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness for my book about mental illness, and it turned out it was a book about science! This may be a good choice for people who like "science light" with a very interesting personal story (kind of like Oliver Sachs' books.)

[Bonnie G.]

Caitlin wrote: "I think I am going to read The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. It's about locked-in syndrome after a stroke."

Its a beautiful book (and a great movie) but not really about science.

[Dixie]

Read Michio Kaku's "The Future of the Mind." Fascinating, and so well written.

[Maria U.]

I read Spook by Mary Roach for this challenge, and it was ok. It just scratched the surface of "the afterlife" though, but it was an interesting read. But still no answers to the question "is there life after death?". Just as well. It's one of my favorite mysteries! :D

[Cheri]

I just finished Beating Back the Devil: On the Front Lines with the Disease Detectives of the Epidemic Intelligence Service by Maryn McKenna for this topic and really enjoyed it! I recommend it to anyone who is still looking for a book. It documents the incredible experiences of the CDC staff who are trained to deal with emerging epidemics.

[Amelia]

I'm planning to read either The Sixth Extinction or The Swerve.

[SibylM]

Bethany wrote: "I am hoping to tackle The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History. I'm not a scientist by any means, so I'm hoping I don't get frustrated by this one! Have any of you read it?

I'm not a scientist either, and I read that book and loved it. It's very engaging IMO!