Summer Reads

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*Radio 4 Book of the Week*This is the story of a race - not against other vaccines or other scientists, but against a deadly and devastating virus.On 1 January 2020, Sarah Gilbert, Professor of Vaccinology at Oxford University,...

In the bestselling tradition of Stuff Matters and The Disappearing Spoon: a clever and engaging look at materials, the innovations they made possible, and how these technologies changed us. Finalist for the 41st Los Angeles Times Book Award in Science...

Quantum physicist, New York Times bestselling author, and BBC host Jim Al-Khalili offers a fascinating and illuminating look at what physics reveals about the worldShining a light on the most profound insights revealed by modern physics, Jim Al-Khalili...

A captivating adventure tale in a far-off land, in pursuit of a rare and endangered owl with a 6-foot wingspan and a body resembling a "yearling bear", covered with patches of feathers. Who can resist that sense of quixotic romance? But equally moving,...

One of the Best Books of 2020 — Financial TimesOne of the "Most 2020 Books of 2020" — Washington PostOne of the Best Science Books of 2020 — The Times of LondonOne of the Best Science Books of 2020 — The GuardianFrom fake news to COVID-19, a "smart and...

An "elegant", "engrossing" (Carol Tavris, Wall Street Journal) examination of what we think we know about the brain and why — despite technological advances — the workings of our most essential organ remain a mystery. "I cannot recommend this book...

A rigorous, skeptical, deeply reported look at the new science behind the mind's surprising ability to heal the body.Have you ever felt a surge of adrenaline after narrowly avoiding an accident? Salivated at the sight (or thought) of a sour lemon? Felt...

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Genius of Birds, a radical investigation into the bird way of being, and the recent scientific research that is dramatically shifting our understanding of birds — how they live and how they think.“There...

An exciting and accessible new view of the evolution of human and animal life on Earth. From the author of national bestseller, Your Inner Fish, this extraordinary journey of discovery spans centuries, as explorers and scientists seek to understand the...

Once Upon a Time I Lived on Mars is an essay collection, inspired by the author's four-month stay inside a simulated Martian habitat.When it comes to Mars, the focus is often on how to get there: the rockets, the engines, the fuel. But upon arrival, what...

A piercing and scientifically grounded look at the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic and how it will change the way we live—"excellent and timely." (The New Yorker) Apollo's Arrow offers a riveting account of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as...

In this “deeply personal and lyrical book” (Publishers Weekly) from the New York Times bestselling author of The Horse, Wendy Williams explores the lives of one of the world’s most resilient creatures—the butterfly—shedding light on the role that they...

A blueprint for thriving in your job and building a career by applying the lessons of Silicon Valley’s most innovative entrepreneurs. LinkedIn cofounder and chairman Reid Hoffman and author Ben Casnocha show how to accelerate your career in today’s...

In the darkness of night, magic awaits… The Nutcracker for adults, perfect for fans of Robert Dinsdale’s The Toymakers, Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus and Stephanie Garber’s Caraval ’It was a rainy day that the magic came, and once magic has...

THE UNFORGETTABLE AND FEEL-GOOD NEW NOVEL THAT WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH AND CRY, FROM THE AUTHOR OF SATURDAYS AT NOON'Wise and wonderful. I adored it!' --  MIRANDA DICKINSON'Heartbreaking, heartwarming, perfect!' --  ROSIE GOODWIN'You find yourself laughing...

With an Introduction and Notes by Michael Irwin, Professor of English Literature, University of Kent at Canterbury. The Diary of a Nobody is so unassuming a work that even its author, George Grossmith, seemed unaware that he had produced a masterpiece...

An international bestseller and the basis for the hugely successful film, Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is one of the defining works of the 1960s.In this classic novel, Ken Kesey’s hero is Randle Patrick McMurphy, a boisterous, brawling,...

From the award-winning author of Snap and Rubbernecker, Exit is the story of Felix Pink, an older man with a group that helps people who have chosen to die with dignity. But there’s been a mistake, and Felix’s life is about to change forever.   Belinda...

Ranging across decades and continents, Zayyan’s debut novel is rooted in the brutal regime of Idi Amin’s Uganda yet opens up to make profound, compelling arguments about immigration and identity that sweep the reader along.  Winner of the Merky Books...

"While Quinn writes with spirit on weighty subjects like domestic abuse, polygamy and religious cults, her primary and most poignant theme seems to be female friendship."—New York Times Book Review   "An absolutely thrilling novel. I devoured it over a...