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The Nature of Nature: Why We Need the Wild by Enric Sala"The Nature of Nature explores how the natural world works, outlines the consequences of its unraveling by our activities, and offers practical solutions-with a description of societal and economic benefits. The first ten chapters of this book are a step-by-step crash course in ecology-you might call it "ecology for people in a hurry": what species do, how they co-exist, and how the natural world self-assembles and works, compared to our human-built environment-with ideas on how to run our society and economy more efficiently. Chapter 11 discusses the moral case for the conservation of life on Earth, because utility cannot be the only lens through which we see the world. In other words: Do other creatures have a right to exist, and why? And finally, Chapter 12 explains why it makes more economic sense to protect more of the natural world than to degrade it. By talking to the brain and the heart, and at the same time reaching into the pocket, this book illuminates an inner appreciation for all life on Earth, instills a greater sense of humility, and helps us understand why we need a world with wild places"
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The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back The Planet by Michael E. MannExplaining how misleading environmental campaigns by major consumers of fossil fuels have primarily served to redirect responsibility to individuals, a leading climate scientist outlines recommendations for compelling governments and businesses to take action on a global level. 20,000 first printing.
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| Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary RoachWhat's inside: An investigation into the curious conflicts between humans and wildlife, featuring stories from animal-attack forensics investigators and Vatican workers using lasers to battle birds set on destruction.
The elephant in the room: Was not a metaphor when author Mary Roach visited a tea plantation in West Bengal, India. Read the book to find out why!
Read it for: Roach’s signature wit and the practical suggestions of how to ethically deal with wildlife problems in everyday life. |
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| Seven and a Half Lessons about the Brain by Lisa Feldman BarrettWhat it is: Seven concise and accessible essays (plus one small story) clarifying the cutting edge of neuroscience research, such as the brain's methods of constructing social reality.
Read it for: The dismantling of popular myths and misconceptions, like the existence of the "lizard brain."
Fun fact: A drink of water immediately relieves thirst despite the water taking 20 minutes to reach the bloodstream because the brain makes a prediction and preemptively "turns off" thirst. |
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| Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain by David EaglemanWhat it's about: This incisive work about neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reconfigure itself under new circumstances, explores the cooperation and competition within the mysterious computational organ.
Don't miss: The enthusiastic exposition on the intersection of neuroscience and technology, which promises new therapies to restore sensory damage or loss.
About the author: Author David Eagleman is a Stanford University professor, a CEO, and the host of the PBS documentary series The Brain with David Eagleman. |
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| Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting by Lisa GenovaYou must remember this: Blending science and self-help, this accessible and engaging volume elucidates the science of memory formation, retention, and recall.
Forget me not: Author and neuroscientist Lisa Genova, known for her novel Still Alice, also explains how everyday instances of forgetfulness are not necessarily cause for alarm.
So how can you remember the name of that person you just met? The handy appendix includes tips to improve recall. |
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| Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World that Wasn't Designed for You by Jenara NerenbergWhat it is: A reframing of how to understand women with autism, ADHD, and other neurological differences. The author argues these differences have long been overlooked and undertreated due to how the symptoms present in women and girls.
Who it's for: Women who've always felt "different," or anyone interested in a broader understanding of neurodiversity.
Reviewers say: This incisive book is "an extraordinary, jaw-dropping take on a topic with which many women will identify" (Library Journal). |
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