Our latest poll question over on our Facebook page asked you to name the science book in the non-fiction genre that opened your eyes the widest, and thanks to everyone who replied. I have to admit, this isn’t my genre at all and I’m totally out of my depth with this one. However after adding up all your replies, I do have a list!
According to you, here are the 10 books about science in the broadest sense that most opened your eyes.
A Short History of Nearly Everything – Bill Bryson
We have a joint first place for this poll and the first book you selected is A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. Bryson is such a raconteur he could write about anything and the world would love it I’m sure.
A Short History of Nearly Everything – US
A Short History of Nearly Everything – UK
Cosmos – Carl Sagan
And sharing the top spot is Carl Sagan’s Cosmos. Again Sagan is such a wonderful storyteller his books appeal to almost everyone.
A Brief History of Time – Stephen Hawking
Hawking is possibly the best known scientist in the world, and many of you were awestruck with A Brief History of Time.
The Hot Zone – Richard Preston
Many of you recommended The Hot Zone and rather than a general science book, this non-fiction thriller looks into the origins of ebolaviruses and other viral haemorrhagic fevers.
The Blind Watchmaker – Richard Dawkins
Dawkins is probably the best known atheist in the world, and The Blind Watchmaker is his argument for the theory of evolution, published in 1986.
So there are our top 5 science books, guaranteed to open your eyes. We promised 10 of course and at the bottom of the list, all with the same number of votes from you guys is:
The Physics of the Future – Michio Kaku
Bad Science – Ben Goldacre
The God Delusion – Richard Dawkins
The Fabric of the Cosmos – Brian Greene
Frontiers and Frontiers – Isaac Asimov
We hope you enjoyed that list and as always you’re invited to add your own suggestions in the comments!
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I had to stop reading the Hot Zone because of the ebola-hemorrhagic descriptions of how the infected person’s body was handling the disease. While I love a good murder mystery, I had to stop at the way-too-vivid descriptions of blood and other assorted gross things. I mean, I watch Game of Thrones (gratuitous violence and bloodshed), and the book was still too much for me.