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Nature and Science June 2026 |
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| The Laws of Thought: The Quest for a Mathematical Theory of the Mind by Tom GriffithsTom Griffiths, director of Princeton’s Computational Cognitive Science Lab, fascinates with an accessible survey of the attempts to reduce human thought to a discreet set of mathematical principles. While some approaches have proved useful in modeling certain kinds of problem solving, the failure of any single framework to capture the mind’s versatility is at the center of Griffiths' book, and has implications for the development of AI. For fans of: Why Machines Learn by Anil Ananthaswamy. |
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| To Catch a Fish: Essays on the Joy, Frustration, Curiosity, and Allure of Fishing by Mark Kurlansky; illustrations by Bri DostieNonfiction author Mark Kurlansky (The Boston Way) proves an entertaining guide to his favorite pastime. Along with advice on how, where, and with what equipment to catch various species of fish, Kurlansky’s book of essays includes enlightening tangents about fishing in literature, cooking tips, fly-tying, and the obsessive nature of hobbies, as well as vivid paintings by artist Bri Dostie. |
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| The Edge of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry, and the Cosmic Dream Boogie by Chanda Prescod-WeinsteinPhysicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein leverages her Black, Jewish, and queer identity to bring an adventurous cultural context to hard science. Through accessible explanations of theoretical physics concepts like relativity, dark matter, and quantum mechanics, drawing parallels with ideas drawn from literature, Hebrew spirituality, and Indigenous folklore, Prescod-Weinstein rescues physics from its white, male, heteronormative enclave while stressing inclusion, wonder, and joy. For fans of: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson. |
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| Becoming Martian: How Living in Space Will Change Our Bodies and Minds by Scott Solomon; foreword by Scott KellyIn his sobering take on the idea of human settlement of other planets, evolutionary biologist Scott Solomon focuses on the stresses that conditions in places like Mars -- low gravity, lack of oxygen, high radiation levels -- would place on the humans living there, and what effect they might have over generations. We would face the paradox of leaving Earth for the purpose of preserving humanity and then possibly evolving into a different species. Solomon’s astute study ably “balances aspiration with reality” (Booklist). |
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| Insectopolis: A Natural History by Peter KuperEisner Award-winning graphic novelist Peter Kuper’s illustrated ode to insect life incorporates multiple timelines, talking bugs, and a human de-populated world where the insects happily visit museum exhibits devoted to them! Kuper provides a wealth of science information alongside his stunning illustrations in inventively arranged panels that will draw in readers who like graphic nonfiction. For something similar, try The Hidden Life of Trees, Fred Bernard’s and Benjamin Flao's graphic adaptation of the book by Peter Wohlleben. |
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| Tales from the Ant World by Edward O. WilsonAnts are not only fascinating but an easy insect to observe -- take it from the foremost ant expert, Pulitzer Prize winner Edward O. Wilson, whose obsession with ants began as a child in his backyard and never stopped. Readers will be captivated by Wilson’s explanation of ants’ complex social behavior, and how thousands of individuals can communicate and act cooperatively in service to the colony -- a trait all species of ant have in common. For fans of: Super Fly by Jonathan Balcombe. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Forsyth County Public Library
585 Dahlonega Street, Cumming, Georgia 30040
770-781-9840ForsythPL.org |
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