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Nature and Science February 2026 |
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A Body Made of Glass: A History of Hypochondria
by Caroline Crampton
Journalist and cancer survivor Caroline Crampton reflects on her own health-related anxiety as she recounts the history of hypochondria, tracing its evolution from physiological to psychiatric diagnosis. You may also be interested in: Jeffrey A. Lieberman's Malady of the Mind; Roy Richard Grinker's Nobody's Normal; Lucy Foulkes' Losing Our Minds.
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Breaking Through: My Life in Science
by Katalin Karikó
In this memoir, biochemist Katalin Karikó recounts her upbringing in post-WWII Hungary, her scientific education, and her work on messenger RNA (mRNA), which would prove essential to the development of the Covid-19 vaccine. You might also like: Longshot: The Inside Story of the Race for a Covid-19 Vaccine; The Plant Hunter: A Scientist's Quest for Nature's Next Medicines by Cassandra Leah Quave.
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Better Living Through Birding: Notes From a Black Man in the Natural World
by Christian Cooper
What it is: an engaging memoir from birder and activist Christian Cooper, whose Central Park encounter with a white dog walker went viral in 2020.
Read it for: Cooper's love for the natural world; insights on how his hobby informs his experiences as a gay Black man; tips for birdwatching.
Media buzz: Cooper is the host of the National Geographic Wild series Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper.
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Alien Worlds: How Insects Conquered the Earth & Why Their Fate Will Determine Our Future
by Steve Nicholls
We could all learn a lot from insects and their 400 million-year reign, according to entomologist and documentary filmmaker Steve Nicholls, who examines the secrets of their "phenomenal success" as well as the threats to their future that could take us down with them. Further reading: Oliver Milman's The Insect Crisis; Dave Goulson's Silent Earth.
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| The Breath of the Gods: The History and Future of the Wind by Simon WinchesterAuthor and journalist Simon Winchester presents a celebration of wind. Drawing fascinating references from science, engineering, and literature, Winchester is clearly enraptured by this natural force, evidenced by his vivid depictions of its role in civilization’s destruction (typhoons, tornadoes, wildfires) and salvation (wind-powered energy solutions). This is a captivating ode to elemental nature in the vein of Cynthia Barnett’s Rain: A Natural and Cultural History. |
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| How Birds Fly: The Science and Art of Avian Flight by Peter CavanaghAuthor, photographer, and pilot Peter Cavanagh is uniquely suited to the subject of How Birds Fly, his illustrated exploration of this amazing natural phenomenon. Filled with fascinating facts about bird anatomy and aerodynamics as well as the author’s gorgeous photographs of various species in every stage of flying, this comprehensive volume will delight fans of Supernavigators: The Astounding New Science of How Animals Find Their Way by David Barrie. |
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Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing
by Lili Taylor
Award-winning actor Lili Taylor first became a birdwatcher and nature advocate about 15 years ago during a break between film projects. She noticed how observing the sparrows and jays outside her house awakened her senses, especially her ability to listen, a skill she prizes in her acting work. Today she goes birding whenever she can, in the city and country, and will inspire her readers to rediscover the gift of noticing the world around them. For fans of: Amy Tan’s The Backyard Bird Chronicles.
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What An Owl Knows: The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds
by Jennifer Ackerman
What it is: a "captivating survey" (Booklist) of owls, their biology and behavior, by the author of The Genius of Birds and The Bird Way.
Did you know... that owls can recognize one another by voice alone? And that some species decorate their nests?
Further reading: Miriam Darlington's The Wise Hours or Jonathan C. Slaght's Owls of the Eastern Ice.
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| The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne by Chris SweeneyJournalist Chris Sweeney's richly detailed debut profiles pioneering forensic ornithologist and Smithsonian Institution taxidermist Roxie Laybourne (1910-2003), who utilized her avian expertise to solve murders, investigate poaching activities, and inspect bird-related plane crashes, the latter of which led to aircraft safety reforms. For fans of: The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century by Kirk Wallace Johnson. |
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Birding to Change the World: A Memoir
by Trish O'Kane
Former journalist and "accidental birder" Trish O'Kane describes how her passion for birdwatching transformed her into an environmental activist. You might also like: Mya-Rose Craig's Birdgirl; Susan Fox Rogers' Learning the Birds; Christian Cooper's Better Living Through Birding.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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