11 Mind-Blowing Science Books For Everyone

	Title	Author(s)	More by the Author
1.	Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?	Frans de Waal	The Age of Empathy	Chimpanzee Politics
2.	Brainstorm	Daniel J. Siegel, MD	The Whole-Brain Child Workbook	Mindsight
3.	The Big Picture	Sean Carroll	From Eternity to Here	The Serengeti Rules
4.	Bad Science	Ben Goldacre	Bad Pharma	I Think You'll Find It's a Bit More Complicated Than That
5.	Soonish	Kelly Weinersmith & Zach Weinersmith	Polystate	Science: Ruining Everything Since 1543
6.	Big Data	Viktor Mayer-Schönberger & Kenneth Cukier	Reinventing Capitalism in the Age of Big Data	Delete
7.	Superintelligence	Nick Bostrom	Human Enhancement	Global Catastrophic Risks
8.	The Brain	David Eagleman	The Runaway Species	Incognito
9.	Eaarth	Bill McKibben	Radio Free Vermont	Deep Economy
10.	The Case Against Sugar	Gary Taubes	Why We Get Fat	Good Calories, Bad Calories
11.	Predictably Irrational	Dr. Dan Ariely	Dollars and Sense	The Honest Truth About Dishonesty

How To Get Kids Interested in Science

If you're a parent who loves learning about how the world works, you might want to pass this intellectual curiosity onto your children. Of course, capturing a child's attention is easier said than done. Here are a few tips for how you can make learning fun for your little ones:

Look at common plants and objects under a microscope
Sign them up for a science summer camp
Take a trip to a natural history museum
Watch educational movies and TV shows
Go hiking with them and teach them about nature
Play board games that encourage learning
Explain the chemistry behind cooking and baking
Mix a few science toys in with their birthday gifts

The History of the Scientific Revolution

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In Depth

The science behind the physical, natural, and technological worlds helps us understand our reality better. It enables us to comprehend why we are a certain way, how we relate to the world around us, and what problems we can solve in the future. In no particular order, we've compiled a list of eleven mind-blowing books, on various topics ranging from the human mind to artificial intelligence, to health and nutrition, and even climate change. You don't need a degree to understand these works, just curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.

First at #1, is "Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?" by Frans De Waal. In this book, De Waal explores the fascinating cognition of various animals, from octopuses using coconut shells as armor, to elephants identifying human gender and language. With an entertaining tone, the text reminds us just how little we know about our fellow earthlings, and how we often unwittingly assume that humans sit atop the list of brainiest creatures. It contains in-depth studies that consider the nature of each animal, rather than judging their smarts solely on human experience.

At #2, is "Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain." Dr. Daniel Siegel debunks misconceptions about adolescence, especially the negative perception most parents have of this challenging developmental stage in their child's growth. According to Siegel, it is during teenage years that people begin to learn vital skills, connect with others, and experiment on their own. With support from interpersonal neurobiological research, the book provides insight and analysis on how the brain works, in order to change how we treat adolescents, and in turn, nurture their growth rather than hinder it.

According to Siegel, it is during teenage years that people begin to learn vital skills, connect with others, and experiment on their own.

Coming in at #3, is "The Big Picture" by Sean Carroll. In this book, the acclaimed writer of modern physics challenges readers to ask existential questions, and find purpose and meaning through a scientific lens. With historical anecdotes, references, and personal input, Carroll interweaves how the world is connected at a quantum, cosmic, and human level. He points out the vastness of space and how we are minuscule in the grand scheme of things, but our ability to comprehend gives our lives deeper meaning. He explores the concepts of evolution, origins of life, consciousness, and the universe.

In at #4, is "Bad Science" by Ben Goldacre. In this book, Goldacre busts myths that disguise themselves as scientific studies, telling consumers either the benefits or health risks of certain foods, drugs, and the like. He separates biased information from legitimate facts, and exposes pseudo doctors and nutritionists. He also teaches readers how to evaluate things like the placebo effect and double-blind studies, and challenges both the media and the public to be more skeptical and to always be on the lookout for misleading content.

At #5, is "Soonish" by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith. Merging scientific research with hilarious comic illustrations, the authors analyze ten emerging technologies, and try to predict their benefits or challenges if taken to the next level. Taking into consideration that no invention is merely the work of an isolated genius, and that ideas always come from a number of previous discoveries and advances, Soonish takes the readers to the near future where brain computer interfaces and bioprinting are already the norm. The book gives insights on the limitless and unimaginable possibilities that can emerge from the collection of human minds and the progress of civilization.

The book gives insights on the limitless and unimaginable possibilities that can emerge from the collection of human minds and the progress of civilization.

At #6, is "Big Data" by Viktor Mayer-Schonberger and Kenneth Cukier. The authors demonstrate how the digital age is drastically changing how our society operates on a macro and micro level through big data. They discuss how collecting vast arrays of information and assessing patterns and trends have become a huge part of scientific research, how businesses improve their services, and the economy as a whole. The book also explores the threats that this technology poses, especially to the concept of privacy, and its ability to calculate one's future actions, giving us a broader view of just how much it is affecting our lives both positively and negatively.

At #7, is "Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies" by Nick Bostrom. In this book, Bostrom explores the worlds of possibilities that exist in the field of artificial intelligence, once it surpasses the capacity of the human mind. Demonstrating the significant correlation between the IQ of man and other animals, the progress of AI can either be a powerful tool that can further transcend and improve our way of life, or become an uncontrollable force that will control the fate of mankind. Bostrom investigates the wonders and risks of enabling machine superintelligence to develop further, and how we can best utilize it.

At #8, is "The Brain: The Story of You" by David Eagleman. The renowned neuroscientist brings to light the wonders of gray matter, and just how much of our reality and identity is shaped by our mind and vice versa. He explores the questions that ponder on existence, perception, decision, and how technology is shifting the definition of what it means to be human, as well as our intellectual need for social interaction. From facial expressions to extreme sports activities, brain surgery, and genocide, this book paints a clear picture of the magnitude of every received stimuli in one's brain function, and how the mind gravely affects personal experiences.

He explores the questions that ponder on existence, perception, decision, and how technology is shifting the definition of what it means to be human, as well as our intellectual need for social interaction.

At #9 is "Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet" by Bill McKibben. Written as a second warning twenty years after his book "The End of Nature," McKibben urges people to take a closer look at the effects of global warming that mankind has subjected themselves to. He insists that the longer we wait, the bigger the cost and the more challenging it will be to repair our home. The book tackles and promotes radical change such as completely revising our way of building communities, in order to adapt accordingly and live harmoniously with nature.

In at #10, is "The Case Against Sugar." US Journalist Gary Taubes demonstrates how obesity in America is caused by calories consumed versus calories expended, and that refined sugar is the biggest culprit in most common health-related problems including Alzheimer's and gout. He exposes the problems that lie deep within food corporations' profit motives, and the controlled information about the hazardous effects of certain foods. The book contains arguments that debunk common misconceptions about sugar, and the perspective we need in order to make more conscious and informed decisions about what we consume.

And lastly at #11, is "Predictably Irrational" by Dr. Dan Ariely. In this revised and expanded edition, Dr. Ariely points out the many ways in which we think we behave rationally, when we actually don't. He examines how our perception gravely affects our decisions, whether or not they are "logically" calculated. The author supports this theory with studies of consumers' buying behavior, such as how we tend to overvalue and undervalue products based on their price, as well as how current trends and fads can cloud our judgement.