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Nature and Science August 2026 |
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| Nightfaring: In Search of the Disappearing Darkness by Megan Eaves-EgenesThere 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). |
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| In Defense of Sunlight: The Surprising Science of Sun Exposure by Rowan JacobsenThe inherited wisdom concerning sunlight on skin these days is the less the better. Not so, according to science writer Rowan Jacobsen. He argues that while sun exposure has been linked to some skin cancers, the most recent studies indicate that UV rays are less harmful to skin than we thought and, furthermore, moderate daily sun exposure is good for you, triggering production of vitamin D, increasing alertness, and improving mood. The big takeaway: just try not to burn! |
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| A Pox on Fools: The True Believers, Grifters, and Cynics Who Convinced Us to Reject... by Thomas LevensonEven a glance at the data on vaccines -- increasing life expectancy by 30 years since 1900; an estimated 150+ million lives saved in the last 50 years -- would seem to negate any argument against their use. And yet… Science writer and MIT professor Thomas Levenson’s diatribe against modern-day antivaxxers reveals that the playbook hasn’t changed much since vaccines were introduced, except that today’s influencers often cynically accept payouts from powerful interests. Read-alike: Virus: Vaccinations, The CDC, and the Hijacking of America’s Response to the Pandemic by Nina Burleigh. |
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Noticing: Intimate Encounters with the Natural World
by Richard Louv
Internationally bestselling author Richard Louv explores his personal connection to nature in Noticing, showing how engaging our many senses can deepen our understanding of the natural world and ourselves. Drawing on personal essays, California wilderness, neuroscience, Indigenous traditions, mindfulness, and nature photography, Louv encourages readers to experience nature more fully and rediscover a sense of wonder and “bioenchantment.”
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The Book of Birds: A Field Guide to Wonder and Loss
by Robert MacFarlane
Birds are disappearing worldwide, with nearly half of species in decline. Inspired by classic bird books, The Book of Birds by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris celebrates nearly fifty endangered species—from avocets to nightingales. More than a field guide, it is a love letter to birds and a call to protect them.
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| The Infinity Machine: Demis Hassabis, Deepmind, and the Quest for Superintelligence by Sebastian MallabyJournalist 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. |
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The Beasts of the East: The Fall and Rise of America's Eastern Wilderness
by Andrew Moore
Before industrialization, elk, bison, wolves, and cougars roamed the eastern U.S. in a remarkably wild and biodiverse landscape. In The Beasts of the East, Andrew Moore explores how these animals nearly disappeared—and how conservationists are now working to bring them back. Through stories of rewilding, he examines the challenges and possibilities of restoring wildlife to a changing East.
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| The Book of Cannabis: The History and Future of the Plant and the Drug by Jeremy NarbyCannabis, 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. |
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| In Deep Water: A True Story of Sharks, Survival, and Courage by Michael J. TougiasNonfiction 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. |
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Our Wild Familiars: How Animals Are Adapting to Cities and Reshaping the Natural World
by Dan Werb
In Our Wild Familiars, award-winning writer and scientist Dan Werb explores the hidden lives of synanthropes—wild animals and plants that thrive alongside humans. From raccoons and crows to bats and the Giant Pacific Octopus, these creatures reveal how environmental disruption and expanding cities are bringing nature closer to our doorsteps. With vivid storytelling, Werb considers whether we can move beyond resisting these species and learn to coexist with them, offering a compelling look at our changing relationship with the wild.
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