Science Nonfiction Book Top Picks

March 10, 2021July 10, 2023 Science Connected books, science books

Here at Science Connected, we spend a lot of time writing about science, but we spend even more time reading books about it! At the moment, we’re really excited about environmental science, wildlife preservation, astrophysics, and genetics. These books are our staff’s current top picks for science nonfiction.

If you buy a book using one of the links in this article, we may receive a small commission. All proceeds help to support our nonprofit science communication programs.

1. Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink by Jane Goodall

“I am currently reading Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink by Jane Goodall. I enjoy reading this book because it can be easy to focus on the negatives, and this book (like the title suggests) gives me hope for the future. It discusses several species that have been brought back from near extinction and the great lengths people will go to to save them. I especially enjoyed learning about the black footed ferret and the rufous-hare wallaby.” —Kelly Derham, Science Connected Development Specialist

2. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan

“As a Michigander, I feel a deep connection to and investment in the Great Lakes. But this book is for anyone who enjoys a well-researched rollercoaster of a story — especially one that impacts all of us. I was astonished by some of the things lawmakers and even scientists have experimented with in 20 percent of the world’s surface freshwater. Egan’s book took me deeper into issues I’ve already heard of (hi, zebra mussels) and introduced me to entirely new aspects of the Great Lakes. It made me grateful for the scientific advancements we’ve made, and even more grateful for this precious resource!” —Mackenzie Myers Fowler, Science Connected Staff Journalist

3. Letters from an Astrophysicist by Neil deGrasse Tyson

“I am not an astrophysicist, nor any kind of physicist for that matter, but I love learning about space from the point of view of a layperson (and as a science journalist), so I attend Dr. Tyson’s lectures whenever he’s in town. The last one I went to pre-pandemic was part of the tour to promote this book. Dr. Tyson receives a lot of letters, so this book is a collection of his replies to those letters. It’s not only informative about astrophysics, but also reminds readers that scientists are people, not mysterious beings in lab coats. It combines space, humanity, good communication, and a healthy reminder of our tiny place in a big, big universe.” —Kate Stone, Science Connected Editor in Chief.

4. Pleased to Meet Me: Genes, Germs, and the Curious Forces That Make Us Who We Are by Bill Sullivan

“Published back in 2019, my top science nonfiction pick for 2021 is Pleased to Meet Me. So much working from home. So much time for introspection. I love how Dr. Sullivan explains so much about genetics (spoiler alert: they do a lot more than many people realize) and does it with a sense of humor. It’s kind of like being in a class with a really cool professor, except at home in your comfy pants. Humor also helps with memory, so it’s a double win!” —Mia Beaufort, Science Connected Editorial Assistant

More science nonfiction book reviews

Do you have a new or favorite book about science that you’d like to recommend? We’d like to know about it!

1. Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink by Jane Goodall

2. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan

3. Letters from an Astrophysicist by Neil deGrasse Tyson

4. Pleased to Meet Me: Genes, Germs, and the Curious Forces That Make Us Who We Are by Bill Sullivan

More science nonfiction book reviews

Animals, Alive and Extinct

Astronomy and Space Exploration

Citizen Science

Technology and Communications

Other

For Children

Recommended for You