Our April 2025 Picks   Recent Releases Superbloom: How Technologies of Connection Tear Us Apart by Nicholas Carr Journalist Nicholas Carr argues convincingly that social media has taken over our society and brains so rapidly that we haven’t been able to formulate a response, much less calculate the damage it’s wreaking. Carr points to research citing epidemic levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among users, especially teenagers. Other revealing reads on this topic include Alone Together by Sherry Turkle and The End of Absence by Michael Harris. Vanishing treasures : a bestiary of extraordinary endangered creatures by Katherine Rundell Learn about the world's most extraordinary endangered animals and their remarkable characteristics. From the seahorse's lifelong dance to the American wood frog's ability to survive freezing, and the matriarchal society of lemurs, these creatures are fascinating yet incredibly at risk. Vanishing Treasures is a call to appreciate and protect these underappreciated animals and recognize the magic they bring to our world. The miraculous from the material : understanding the wonders of nature by Alan P. Lightman "The Miraculous from the Material" pairs 36 stunning photos of nature with personal essays exploring the science behind natural phenomena, addressing questions like why rainbows arc and how hummingbirds fly, and highlighting the connection between extraordinary natural events and their scientific explanations. Author Alan Lightman introduces the concept of "spiritual materialism," suggesting that we can appreciate spiritual experiences while maintaining a scientific perspective. Subjects include a variety of environments and expands from atoms to the cosmos, celebrating the beauty and wonder of the universe. Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton Debut memoirist Chloe Dalton, a political consultant, spent much of the COVID-19 pandemic raising a baby hare she rescued near her country home. This fascinating, endearing, and rarely domesticated creature became Dalton’s companion for a time, awakening her senses to the natural world around her. For more moving encounters with wildlife, try The Puma Years by Laura Coleman or Alfie & Me by Carl Safina. The serviceberry : abundance and reciprocity in the natural world by Robin Wall Kimmerer The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Braiding Sweetgrass explains how to orient our lives around gratitude, reciprocity and community, based on the lessons of the natural world Everything is tuberculosis : the history and persistence of our deadliest infection by John Green An award-winning bestselling author explores of tuberculosis's historical and social impact, highlighting global healthcare inequities, personal stories like a young patient in Sierra Leone and the urgent need for action against this preventable yet deadly disease. How To Feed the World: The History and Future of Food by Vaclav Smil Geography professor Vaclav Smil’s book about the world’s food supply, while sounding some alarms, takes an optimistic view provided we start implementing sustainable agricultural practices and changing food policy immediately, and provides abundant data to back up his arguments. For other practical discussions about world food issues, try The End of Plenty by Joel K. Bourne Jr. or How the World Eats by Julian Baggini. When the Earth Was Green: Plants, Animals, and Evolution's Greatest Romance by Riley Black Science writer Riley Black stuns with a panoramic natural history that acquaints readers with the interactive nature of life among Earth’s plants, animals, and habitats through the eons. Black’s accessible writing “illuminat[es] natural history into sparkling descriptions of what the Earth was like millions of years ago” (Publishers Weekly). Read-alike: A Brief History of Earth by Andrew H. Knoll. Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe by Carl Zimmer Science writer Carl Zimmer puts airborne pathogens under the microscope, taking readers on a tour spanning from the 14th century to COVID-19 that exposes how much we have yet to learn about communicable diseases in the Earth’s atmosphere. Other accessible reads about microbes and disease include The Secret Body by Daniel M. Davis and Immune by Catherine Carver.   Eco-centric Book Club   Our Next Meeting: Thursday, May 15, 6:30 pm Library Lower Level, Conference Room If you're a regular reader of non-fiction about nature and science, consider joining our Eco-centric Book Club! The club usually meets on the third Thursday of the month at 6:30, but we do recommend confirming details on our events calendar in case of changes. Copies of our next book are on reserve at the Circulation Desk. We hope to see you there! Our next Eco-centric Book Club pick: Fashionopolis: Why What We Wear Matters by Dana Thomas Examines the renewal of fashion in a host of developments, including printing 3-D clothes, clean denim processing, smart manufacturing, hyperlocalism, fabric recycling, even lab-grown materials, highlighting the companies big and small that are leading the crusade   Want to explore more ideas? Check out our library's Nature & Science book lists to browse recommendations!