I consider myself a non-practicing artist, which is a shame. I have recommended this book to several artsy-fartsy friends. It was interesting, lovely, and made me ache for days spent in the dark room.
Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen, (List Price: $20, Random House, 9780593449240, December 2024)
Reviewed by April, Thornwell Books in Morganton, North Carolina
Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen Read More »
A powerful book that celebrates the development of the female body over 200 million years, tracing our ancestral mothers and their unique contributions to humanity. Fascinating, fun and full of facts that will leave you amazed in a multitude of ways.
Eve by Cat Bohannon, (List Price: $20, Knopf, 9780345806208, October 2023)
Reviewed by Maggie, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NC
Eve by Cat Bohannon Read More »
Such an amazing read, especially as a woman. My mom and I both read it and took away very different things, in the best way, given that we’re in different stages of life; we both felt seen. This is a project that could only be done justice by a woman, and Kat does just that: advocating for more recognition of the female sex and anatomy in the field of biology, evolution, anthropology, and medicine.
Eve by Cat Bohannon, (List Price: $20, Knopf, 9780345806208, October 2023)
Reviewed by Meghan, The Lynx in Gainesville, Florida
Eve by Cat Bohannon Read More »
This fascinating, accessible, and often witty book takes a fresh look at human evolution by tracing it from the female perspective. Starting with our earliest mammalian ancestors, author and researcher Bohannon outlines how women’s bodies developed to be both human and uniquely female, and how much of humanity’s evolution was itself spurred by our female ancestors. Despite clocking in at over 400 pages, Evewas a surprisingly quick read – or at least it would have been had I not stopped regularly to read passages out loud, each time proclaiming “I never knew that!”
Eve by Cat Bohannon, (List Price: $20, Knopf, 9780345806208, October 2023)
Reviewed by Jude, Square Books in Oxford, MS
Eve by Cat Bohannon Read More »
Mary Roach delves into the world of regenerative medicine, discussing everything from 3D-printed organs to the potential of stem cells. Not only informative, this book raises important questions about identity, mortality, and the future of medicine. Roach’s ability to blend humor with serious topics keeps readers entertained while prompting them to think critically about the implications of these technologies.
Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy by Mary Roach, (List Price: $28.99, W. W. Norton & Company, 9781324050629, September 2025)
Reviewed by Mevelyn Romay Fernandez, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi
Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy by Mary Roach Read More »
A challenging new take on responding to climate change. Dunn asks readers to learn about how humans have interacted with other beings (animals, plants, insects) and how we might act in the future to the benefit of all. He offers plenty of examples, differing opinions, and humor to balance the data. Definitely one to put on your climate change shelf.
The Call of the Honeyguide by Rob Dunn, (List Price: $32, Basic Books, 9781541605732, August 2025)
Reviewed by Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina
The Call of the Honeyguide by Rob Dunn Read More »
I read this book years ago and still think about it all the time. For years, no one in the medical community cared where HeLa cells came from. I find it fascinating that one person (Skloot) being curious enough and determined enough can lead to such a powerful story being uncovered. Henrietta Lacks’s story matters.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, (List Price: $18.99, Crown, 9781400052189, March 2011)
Reviewed by Krista Roach, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot Read More »
Fifteen short essays on science and nature, intended to inspire a sense of awe and wonder, are each paired with the work of a brilliant poet and a beautiful illustration. Popova’s extraordinary collection is a poignant, beautiful little gift book perfect for reminding us of how strange and wild it is that we get to exist and perceive this most mysterious universe at all!”
The Universe in Verse by Maria Popova, (List Price: $22, Storey Publishing, LLC, 9781635868838, October 2024)
Reviewed by Josh Niesse, Underground Books in , Georgia
The Universe in Verse by Maria Popova Read More »
A beautifully written, immediately engaging book about exploring a new area of the Antarctic, experiencing climate change on a vast yet immediate scale, and still deciding to bring a child into the world. The author pulls from her experiences as an observer on an exploration vessel to chart a path into the future. Excerpts from her interviews with others aboard the ship – scientists, but also the crew and even the ship’s cooks – bring multiple perspectives into her musings on everything from the breaking ice to birth stories. While the themes of the book are urgent, the messages are hopeful: while there is work for everyone, together, we can accomplish more; and when we mess up, which we all do, own the error and don’t make the same mistake again.
The Quickening by Elizabeth Rush, (List Price: 30, Milkweed Editions, 9781571313966, August 2023)
Reviewed by Ginger Kautz, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina
The Quickening by Elizabeth Rush Read More »
In Planta Sapiens, author Paco Calvo invites readers to challenge the notion of plants as static, reactionary organisms devoid of any agency or cognition. Through a mix of historical context, narrative, and research, Paco investigates the microscopic chemical reactions that drive plant biology and behavior – processes that he and a small contingent of his fellows believe may actually point to plant sentience.While the research findings are thought-provoking, I found myself more interested in the personal journey taken by Calvo to shift his own perspective on plant biology, as well as the significant pushback his thinking has received from the greater scientific community. Overall, I found this book entertaining, though I suspect that it may only find an audience with those who are already interested in the subject matter.
Planta Sapiens by Paco Calvo, (List Price: 28.95, W. W. Norton & Company, 9780393881080, March 2023)
Reviewed by Elliot Ambrose, E. Shaver, Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia
Planta Sapiens by Paco Calvo Read More »
This book is FASCINATING — I kept reading things out loud to my husband and saying "DID YOU KNOW THAT??" Despite being packed with information and descriptions of scientific studies, this book is such an easy read. I think part of this is that the author is a podcaster, so she knows how to explain things in a conversational manner. I am continually flabbergasted by how little work we’ve done to study uteruses. What a magical organ!
Womb by Leah Hazard, (List Price: 29.99, Ecco, 9780063157620, March 2023)
Reviewed by Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Womb by Leah Hazard Read More »
This short natural history book is a great pick for anybody who liked Sapiens or Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, anybody who likes the work of Mark Kurlansky or even Michael Pollan. It is a look at the four billion-year journey of our planet. The author is a professor of ecology and earth and planetary sciences. This book took him two decades to write but will probably only take you a couple of hours to read. It’s a fun fascinating look at the ground beneath your feet and will give you a sense of perspective and new appreciation of your home in the universe.
A Brief History of Earth by Andrew H. Knoll, (List Price: 19.99, Mariner Books, 9780062853929, April 2023)
Reviewed by Kelly Justice, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia
A Brief History of Earth by Andrew H. Knoll Read More »
Last year, I read a sweet little debut novel by Shelby Van Pelt called Remarkably Bright Creatures. You might remember it because I talked about it here and sang the praises of our octopus narrator, Marcellus. Still one of the best characters in fiction I read last year. That book led me to My Octopus Teacher, a documentary on Netflix, and several other sea creature ventures. It eventually led me to Sabrine Imbler’s memoir, How Far the Light Reaches, a memoir I didn’t know I needed.
I consider myself fairly progressive. I love a good gay rom-com and work hard to promote voices that are often found in the margins. Imbler’s book was not only a thoughtful and well written tapestry, weaving together personal experience with life under water, but it very gently allowed me inside the mind of a trans person. They are graciously and carefully sharing experiences with the reader that are so personal but at the same time so universal. Imbler covers every highlight of growing up and learning about her own body, from childhood through those terrible teenage years and into adulthood, and it was such an eye opening experience – for both of us!
The book chronicles the life of a queer, mixed race writer working in a largely white, male field. Imbler is a science and conservation journalist who has always been drawn to the mystery of life in the sea. Each essay weaves together a sea creature and Imbler’s own life experiences. These stories show us seemingly radical models of family, community, and care, but upon deeper reflection, these stories are a lot like our own stories. Stories of finding comfort with our own bodies, cultivating relationships that are important to our own survival, and adapting to severe life changes. In this book, Imbler shows us the ways in which our world – even the parts of it that we know little about or don’t quite understand, is full of miracles.
How Far the Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler, (List Price: $27, Little, Brown and Company, 9780316540537, December 2022)
Reviewed by Sara Putman from Bookish: An Indie Shop For Folks Who Read in Fort Smith, Arkansas
How Far The Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler Read More »
Look no further for a detailed overview of the carnival that is the history of natural philosophy, physics! Suzie Sheehy does a great job sending readers into the world of personality and interpersonal relationships behind some of science’s most important discoveries. As a casual reader, I found at its center a variety of tales of endurance, innovation, and resourcefulness. In “The Matter of Everything” you will find that revelations can start with just a piece of glass and an unquenchable curiosity. This is a must-read for anyone looking to dip their toes into one of the most complex topics of human history: the search for understanding the deep mechanics of our own world.
The Matter of Everything by Suzie Sheehy (List Price: $30, Knopf, 9780525658757, January 2023)
Reviewed by Amanda Depperschmidt, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia
The Matter of Everything by Suzie Sheehy Read More »
A 2022 December Read This Next! Title
Wholly original, astonishingly informative, and powerfully written. Imbler describes marine life with reverence and compelling detail, and deftly intertwines the lives of the sea creatures with stories of their own experiences with gender, queerness, and identity.
How Far the Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler (List Price: $27, Little, Brown and Company, 9780316540537, December 2022)
Reviewed by Sarah Arnold, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee
How Far the Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler Read More »
