Forsyth County Public Library: Nature and Science: August 2026

Recent Releases

Nightfaring: In Search of the Disappearing Darkness
by Megan Eaves-Egenes

There is nothing much simpler, more beautiful, or more terrifying in nature than darkness, yet Earth is increasingly bathed in 24-hour artificial light, disrupting circadian rhythms, invading habitats, and obscuring our view of the stars. Travel writer Megan Eaves-Egenes, following a year marked by personal trauma, journeys to dark-sky locations around the globe, sees the Milky Way in all its glory, learns about Indigenous astronomy, and discovers the healing power of the dark, expressed with “sumptuous, confessional storytelling” (Kirkus Reviews).

The Madness Pill: One Doctor's Quest to Understand Schizophrenia
by Justin Garson

Philosopher Justin Garson’s biography of Dr. Solomon Snyder, a pharmacology professor at Johns Hopkins University, examines Snyder’s research in the 1970s and '80s to isolate the cause of schizophrenia. Although Snyder’s research ultimately failed, he instead discovered the brain’s dopamine receptors, which would in turn lead to the development of a range of useful psychoactive drugs and forever change the practice of psychopharmacology. Read-alike: Lithium: A Doctor, a Drug, and a Breakthrough by Walter A. Brown.

The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, Deepmind, and the Quest for Superintelligence
by Sebastian Mallaby

Journalist and author Sebastian Mallaby’s latest is both a rich examination of the innovations in artificial intelligence being created at Google’s DeepMind project and the story of its enigmatic genius co-founder, Demis Hassabis. Mallaby takes readers inside AI laboratories, filled with relentlessly ambitious researchers and investors chasing the exciting (and for some, terrifying) achievement of artificial general intelligence, or machine “superintelligence.” For fans of: Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT, and the Race That Will Change the World by Parmy Olson.

The Book of Cannabis: The History and Future of the Plant and the Drug
by Jeremy Narby

Cannabis, a versatile member of the plant kingdom known for its many uses -- recreational and otherwise -- is enjoying a renaissance after more than a century being stigmatized as a social evil. In addition to covering its applications in medicine, agriculture, and as a natural fiber, anthropologist Jeremy Narby discusses cannabis’ intersection with disciplines including religion, sociology, psychology, and geology in a comprehensive and well-researched microhistory.

When the Forest Breathes: Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World
by Suzanne Simard

Raised in a family of loggers committed to sensible forest stewardship, trailblazing ecologist Suzanne Simard's research reveals a symphony of finely honed cycles of regeneration--from mushrooms breaking down logs to dying elder trees passing their genetic knowledge to younger ones--that hold the key to protecting our forests. Working closely with local Indigenous communities, whose models of responsible forestry have been largely dismissed, Simard examines how human interventions endanger new growth and longevity. When the Forest Breathes is a vital reminder of all the natural world has to teach us about adaptability, resilience, and community. Look for the author's other work, Finding the Mother Tree.

Trail Work: Restoring the Paths and Stories of America's Public Lands
by Dillon Osleger

Many people don’t know that there were once thousands of miles of trails connecting public lands throughout the American West. Unfortunately, more than two-thirds of them have disappeared over the centuries. Geologist, naturalist, and mountain biker Dillon Osleger’s “thoughtful and passionate” (Library Journal) debut discusses his work to rediscover, repair, and foster awareness of these trails that were once considered a public investment that has been gradually eroded by both resource extraction and neglect.

In Deep Water: A True Story of Sharks, Survival, and Courage
by Michael J. Tougias

Nonfiction author Michael J. Tougias (Fatal Forecast) tells a terrifying cautionary tale of survival on the open ocean. In 2022, three friends in coastal Louisiana embark on a fishing trip on the Gulf of Mexico in a recently purchased boat that suddenly proves un-seaworthy. The vessel sinks so quickly that the fishermen barely have time to don life vests and cling to a cooler for dear life. They spend the next 28 hours facing down stinging jellyfish, circling sharks, and their own exhaustion before being rescued. For fans of: harrowing ocean rescue stories like A Speck in the Sea by John Aldridge.

Contact your librarian for more great books!