“Imagine having the power to become resilient to all that is hostile to us.”
From the origins of the universe and the wonders of the stars, the animals, flora, and mechanics of our planet, to the latest developments in technology, there’s no end to the fascination that science can evoke. Science books not only have the ability to keep us in the loop with the latest discoveries, insights, and challenges but also hook us with breakthroughs that can feel almost fictional. Join us at What We Reading as we blend the fascinating with the freaky and round up the best science books from 2023!
Wasteland: The Secret World of Waste and the Urgent Search for a Cleaner Future – Oliver Franklin-Wallis
In Wasteland, investigative journalist Oliver Franklin-Wallis delves into the global waste crisis and the secretive multi-billion-dollar world that underpins our modern society. From the waste-pickers in India tackling the plastic crisis head-on to encountering nuclear waste in UK sewers, and from goodwill donations clogging African landfills to a shocking journey inside the waste industry, the book reveals the devastating impact on our planet.
At times mesmerizing and at other times terrifying, Wasteland showcases humanity through what we leave behind. Franklin-Wallis also introduces readers to campaigners and innovators pushing for change, providing a blueprint for building a healthier, more sustainable world before we find ourselves buried in rubbish.
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Starborn: How The Stars Made Us – Roberto Trotta
Cosmologist Roberto Trotta paints an intimate portrait of the night sky and its enduring impact on human history in his 2023 book, Starborn.
For as long as humans have existed, the night sky has played a vital role in shaping the course of civilizations. Acting as timekeepers, navigators, muses, and even deities, Trotta ponders how the span of human history might have differed had our ancestors not been able to gaze upon the stars above them. In an attempt to answer that question, he presents an alternative timeline featuring a world without stars. The result is a stunning read that bridges the gap between civilizations and astronomy, revealing how our understanding of science, art, and ourselves has depended so much on the night skies.
Ultra-Processed People: The Science Behind Food That Isn’t Food – Chris van Tulleken
Ultra-Processed People is a 2023 science book by Professor Chris van Tulleken, delving into our addiction to Ultra-Processed Foods, and addressing how we can transform our eating habits and perspectives on our bodies.
In this award-winning book, the doctor, scientist, and broadcaster presents compelling evidence of how governments, doctors, and scientists have allowed transnational food companies to unleash a pandemic of diet-related diseases. Van Tulleken challenges the myth of personal willpower and responsibility by embarking on a month-long diet, consuming 80% Ultra-Processed Foods – the average intake in the United States. This fast-paced and eye-opening narrative explores the origins, science, and economics of UPF, revealing its catastrophic impacts on both our bodies and the planet. Filled with solutions that Van Tulleken has advocated to lawmakers and intellectuals, the book stands out as one of the most powerful science books, inspiring readers to reconsider how they shop and eat.
Eve: How The Female Body Drove 200 Million Years Of Human Evolution – Cat Bohannon
Cat Bohannon presents one of the most sweeping and significant revisions of human history in Eve. This myth-busting, eye-opening examination of the female body – what it is, how it originated, and its ongoing evolution – challenges readers’ assumptions about evolution and explores how Homo sapiens became the dominant species on planet Earth.
Delivered with stunning curiosity and sharp wit, Bohannon lifts the lid on over two hundred million years of history to delve into the development of the female sex. Recognized as one of the best science books of 2023, Eve serves as a comprehensive ‘manual of the female mammal.’ Bohannon’s work is extensively researched and compelling in its storytelling, addressing a critical gap in a field that has long been dominated by a focus solely on the male body.
Talking Heads: The New Science Of How Conversation Shapes Our Worlds – Shane O’Mara
Our brains have distinctive functions for talking about everything from thoughts, memories, feelings and the future. Neuroscientist Shane O’Mara blends scientific expertise, a warm tone and a personal journey of discovery to showcase the wonder of the brain and how we communicate in Talking Heads.
One of the best 2023 science books, Talking Heads offers a new perspective on the mechanics and what happens when we talk. O’Mara utilises the latest neurological research to examine why and how we talk about ourselves to others, offering fascinating insights into everything from building trust, rapport and solid bonds with others, the concept of story-telling and how we disclose information, to the fragility and fallibility of our autobiographical memories.
How Far The Light Reaches: A Life In Ten Sea Creatures – Sabrina Imbler
How Far the Light Reaches is the fascinating 2023 science book from conservation journalist Sabrina Imbler. In this work, Imbler compiles a comprehensive collection of essays and works dedicated to the most radical examples of family, community, and care found in the form of uncanny creatures living under the sea.
From the giant octopus mother who starves herself to protect her eggs, to the bizarre Bobbitt worm and the deep-sea crabs whose sustenance comes from the chemicals and heat throbbing from the Earth’s core, How Far the Light Reaches is an incredible examination of adaptability, dependence, sexuality, and survival. It invites readers to ponder grander, more abundant possibilities for how we live.
Einstein In Time And Space: A Life In 99 Particles – Samuel Graydon
Not only is Einstein in Time and Space one of the best science books of 2023, but it also stands out as one of the best biographies. Science journalist Samuel Graydon provides an illuminating insight into the character and complexities of Albert Einstein.
Aiming to pay homage to the man whose likeness has become synonymous with the term ‘genius’ and for the field of scientific study as a whole, Graydon’s work is both comforting and shocking in its material. ‘Einstein in Time and Space’ introduces readers to the failed slacker who could never secure a job, the charismatic figure who dominated every party he attended, and the avid civil rights supporter who was capable of incredible prejudice. Graydon’s 2023 book tracks how Einstein came to be science’s rockstar and how his posthumous influence has continued to inspire generations of young physicists worldwide.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
