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Nature and Science June 2026 |
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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. Read-alike: the anthology The Catch of a Lifetime: Moments of Flyfishing Glory edited by Peter Kaminsky. |
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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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In Trees: An Exploration
by Robert Moor
Moor learns the art of tree-thinking, which, he discovers, has the power to break open some of humanity's oldest questions: What is the secret to truly growing old? How do we set down deeper roots in an increasingly chaotic world? Most importantly, how should we--as individuals, as communities, as stewards of the earth--live? A witty and relentlessly curious excursion through philosophy, history, and science, what begins as an ode to the miracle of trees blossoms into a joyous, daring, fiercely hopeful endeavor to arborize humanity.
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The God Test: Artificial Intelligence and Our Coming Cosmic Reckoning
by Robert Wright
From bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Robert Wright comes a sweeping new view of artificial intelligence--as an evolutionary force that will pose deep political and spiritual challenges and could, in the process, give our species a unifying sense of purpose. The God Test is the first book to capture the power behind the AI revolution--to clearly explain the breakthroughs that sparked the current wave of advance and compellingly show why this wave will grow in magnitude and meaning.
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Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, the Untold Story
by Jeffrey Kluger
After we first launched Americans into space but before we touched down on the moon's surface, there was the Gemini program. It was no easy jump from manned missions in low-Earth orbit to a successful moon landing, and the ten-flight, twenty-month celestial story of the Gemini program is an extraordinary one. There was unavoidable darkness in the program --the deaths and near-deaths that defined it, and the blood feud with the Soviet Union that animated it.
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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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Infested: How the Bed Bug Infiltrated Our Bedrooms and Took Over the World
by Brooke Borel
Bed bugs. Few words strike such fear in the minds of travelers. In cities around the world, lurking beneath the plush blankets of otherwise pristine-looking hotel beds are tiny bloodthirsty beasts just waiting for weary wanderers to surrender to a vulnerable slumber. Though bed bugs today have infested the globe, the common bed bug is not a new pest at all. Indeed, as Brooke Borel reveals in this unusual history, this most-reviled species may date back over 250,000 years, wreaking havoc on our collective psyche while even inspiring art, literature, and music--in addition to vexatious red welts.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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