Make me read it: Science Nonfiction edition

In my last Make me read it post, I asked blog readers to help me choose from one of the classic books languishing on my e-reader. I actually ended up reading two of these while on vacation in October, but I find I do not have much to say about them. So I’ll refer you to my Goodreads reviews of Captain Blood and In the Mountains, and move on to my next batch for selection.

This month, since it’s Nonfiction November, please help me to choose which one of my many unread nonfiction books to put out of its misery. To help balance out my recent tendency to read mostly memoirs and books about spirituality and psychotherapy, I’m putting in some science-related titles that I keep meaning to read but never seem to get around to. With my last “make me read it” posts it’s been a bit hard to tell which book you actually recommend, so I’m going to put a poll here to make it easier. However, please do add your thoughts and explanations in the comments below.

So here are the choices, four nonfiction titles plus one rogue novel (Measuring the World) that got in there by mistake, but that certainly fits the “science” part of the topic:

I’ll be delighted with any one of these, only a bit daunted if I get The Feeling of What Happens or The Language Instinct, because those two are quite long and dense. However, I shall bow to your wishes.

If you have more than one to recommend, please pick your top choice in the poll, but then tell me more in the comments.

Over to you! What should I read next?

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7 thoughts on “Make me read it: Science Nonfiction edition

  1. Daunting choices indeed! (Pssst: Kehlmann‘s „Measuring the World“ is fiction. Might I suggest instead, on the same topic — Humboldt‘s journeys and scientific research — Andrea Wulf‘s „The Invention of the World“?

    1. Oops, my mistake! I’ll put a note in the introduction to explain. And if that one is chosen I’m sure I’ll want to read some nonfiction on the same topic, so thanks for the recommendations.

    1. Even though it’s the only one of your titles I’ve completed I second Liz’s recommendation: I read the Pinker years ago and remember it as a relatively easy read for the most part.

  2. The only one I’ve read is How We Learn and I thought that one was just okay (3/5). The highest rated of the four nonfiction books on Goodreads is Mr. Feynman, so I’ll vote for that one.

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