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Nature and Science December 2024 |
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| The Age of Melt: What Glaciers, Ice Mummies, and Ancient Artifacts Teach Us About...
by Lisa Baril
Environmental journalist Lisa Baril explains the world of ice patch archaeology in her fascinating debut. As scientists extract increasing numbers of mummies and other human artifacts from melting glaciers, Baril reminds us that the growth of this discipline is made possible by the troubling speed of climate change. For more about glaciers and climate, check out: The End of Ice by Dahr Jamail; When the Ice Is Gone by Paul Bierman. |
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| Our Green Heart: The Soul and Science of Forests
by Diana Beresford-Kroeger
Botanist Diana Beresford-Kroeger blends science, nature writing, and a bit of Druidic mysticism in this rapt, lyrical consideration of ancient forests, medicinal botany, and interdependence in the natural world. For more about forest biomes, try: Twelve Trees by Daniel Lewis; The Power of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. |
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| Frog Day: A Story of 24 Hours and 24 Amphibian Lives
by Marty Crump; illustrated by Tony Angell
Herpetologist Marty Crump teams with illustrator Tony Angell to present 24 species of frogs and toads (one for each hour of the day) in startling detail that highlights the features each has adapted for survival. Amphibian fans are in for a treat! For other books about animal anatomy and adaptation, try: Great Adaptations by Kenneth Catania; Superlative by Matthew D. LaPlante. |
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| Infinite Life: The Revolutionary Story of Eggs, Evolution, and Life on Earth
by Jules Howard
Science writer Jules Howard dives deep into the evolution of the egg as a mechanism for animal reproduction, but it’s his delighted enthusiasm for his subject that really sells this book that Kirkus Reviews calls “high-quality natural history.” Want more about the intersection of reproduction and evolution? Check out: Sex in the Sea by Marah J. Hardt; Nature’s Nether Regions by Menno Schilthuizen. |
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| Crisis Averted: The Hidden Science of Fighting Outbreaks
by Caitlin Rivers, PhD
Epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers debuts with a captivating and inspiring narrative of how health scientists and the World Health Organization formulated a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic and are even now preparing for future outbreaks around the world. Other compelling reads that address medicine and public policy include: The Premonition by Michael Lewis; COVID-19 by Debora Mackenzie. |
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| Devil in the Stack: A Code Odyssey
by Andrew Smith
Journalist Andrew Smith’s interrogation of algorithmic code, the people who create it, and the implications for society arrives at some sobering conclusions, namely that modern coding involves a level of abstraction that can alienate tech companies from the real-life consequences of their code. Fascinated? Try these next: Bitwise by David Auerbach; Thinking Machines by Luke Dormehl. |
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| Take Care of Them Like My Own: Faith, Fortitude, and a Surgeon’s Fight...
by Ala Stanford, M.D.
Physician Ala Stanford shares her inspiring story of overcoming numerous obstacles while becoming one of a very small number of Black women surgeons. She also addresses America’s racial health gap and recounts her founding of the Black Doctors Consortium. For other inspiring medical narratives, try: Legacy by Uche Blackstock; Renegade M.D. by Susan Partovi. |
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| Four Ways of Thinking: A Journey into Human Complexity
by David Sumpter
Ever wondered how complex mathematics applies to your life? Mathematician David Sumpter can help with that! He categorizes human thinking into four main groups (statistical, interactive, chaotic, and complex), and illustrates the benefits of each with accessible examples. Other books that will have you thinking twice about math include: Is Math Real? by Eugenia Cheng; The Data Detective by Tim Harford. |
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| Facing the Unseen: The Struggle to Center Mental Health in Medicine
by Damon Tweedy, M.D.
With psychiatry currently on the margins of health care, patients often don’t get the help they need. Practicing psychiatrist Damon Tweedy makes a compassionate call for change to the medical profession, allowing mental health to be better integrated into primary care treatments. More books about psychiatrists and their work include: Head First by Alastair Santhouse; Desperate Remedies by Andrew Scull. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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