…and this is a 
What science books ought a bookstore stock?
Category: Books
Posted on: November 3, 2008 2:25 PM, by PZ Myers
I have a little metric for rationality that I exercise now and then: when I visit a bookstore, I compare the sizes of the religion/new age sections to the size of the science section…if I can find it. Typically, there's at least a 10:1 disparity in the amount of shelf space dedicated, and it's often much worse — there have been a few bookstores where, when I ask to find the science books, the clerk will point me to a small shelf labeled "Pets/Nature". Bleh.
Anyway, I got a good question on Saturday at Guelph, which also mentioned this cluelessness by too many bookstores. Could we compile a list of excellent science books, that is, books that should appeal to the lay public, have some chance of commercial success, and that we think do a good job of presenting an interesting and accurate view of science? I suspect there are a few people here who read books, and might have some opinions here — how about expressing them in the comments?
What I'd like to accumulate is actually a couple of lists. If you went to the religion section of the local Barnes & Noble, you'd be quite surprised if the Christian bible were absent — similarly, I'd like a list of the essential books a good bookstore ought to carry, the ones that are perennially useful and popular. This would be handy for confronting an owner and asking him why he has so many obvious omissions.
Another list would be of commercially viable popular science books. These would be books that present good science, but ought also to be popular among readers. Bookstore owners want to make money, so doing a little pre-screening for them and helping them to make an informed decision would be productive and helpful, and maybe they'd actually listen if we showed a list like that.
So here's the deal: nominate some books. For each one, say whether it is essential or popular. It might also be useful to assign a broad category (math, physics, chemistry, biology, geology, psychology, for instance) to each. I'll compile them later this month and put together some simple pdfs that you can download and use at your local bookstore to try and encourage some upgrading of the stock.
Education & Careers
Comments
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM | November 3, 2008 2:45 PM
I enjoyed Zimmer's book on evolution
Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea.
Posted by: Coralius | November 3, 2008 2:46 PM
I'd throw Antigravity by Steve Mirsky into the popular list. They articles reprinted in the book are fun to read, and expose the "lighter" side of science at times. It shows that science isn't all old white men with beards pronouncing the secrets of the universe.
Posted by: Facehammer | November 3, 2008 2:46 PM
The Ancestor's Tale by Richard Dawkins ought to be in there. It's detailed and broad while still being inspiring and well-written enough to make it accessible to most people.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM | November 3, 2008 2:47 PM
Sorry I think it would fit into popular... but could be essential. It presents the science and stories around it in an easily digestible but solidly science way.
Posted by: Doug Smith | November 3, 2008 2:47 PM
The God Particle by Leon Lederman is a really well written and entertaining history of the search for the indivisible.
Bonus points for also being titled like a Trojan Horse, and Dr Lederman's consistent reference to the divine as female.
Posted by: Corey | November 3, 2008 2:48 PM
Creativity by Robert Sternberg
Posted by: brain | November 3, 2008 2:48 PM
In a half priced books store in Burleson Texas, in the religion section, there is a shelf labeled "Science". It is full of Scientology books and Christian Science books.
Posted by: NathanielT | November 3, 2008 2:49 PM
Hmm... My bibles:
"CRC Handbook"
"Numerical Recipes in [your favorite langauge here]" - Press et al
"The Art of Electronics" - Horowitz and Hill
"Radiation Detection and Measurement" - Knoll
Plus a good table of isotopes...
These are working texts, though, not introductory texts. There's no real 'bible' in the sense of a single master document that is both authoritative and useful.
Posted by: Darth Wader | November 3, 2008 2:51 PM
In the book store here it is the bottom two shelves on a case. Above it, next to it, and the whole 2 cases across from it are bibles and religion. To make it worse, most of the "science" books are stuff like Darwin Black Box.
Posted by: Chad | November 3, 2008 2:51 PM
I would have to say
A Brief History Of Time by S. Hawking
and
A Short History Of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
I'm what is generally considered a layperson in the scientific fields, but I found both to be very challenging and interesting.
Posted by: Jolly Bloger | November 3, 2008 2:52 PM
Excellent idea - I love it.
I could write a huge list, but I'll just nominate my top pick:
"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman"
Richard Feynman
Popular
Biography/physics
I think this book more than any other got me charged about the reasons to do science and appreciation for the natural world.
Posted by: Jeff K. | November 3, 2008 2:52 PM
I work at Barnes & Noble and I'm sorry to say, PZ that the reason the Bible isn't in the religion section is because it has its own "bible" section specifically dedicated to it.
And yes, the science books in our store are also relegated to pets/nature, I'm sad to say.
Posted by: Simon | November 3, 2008 2:53 PM
Bad astronomy and Death from the Skies by Phil Plait. Both books are easy and fun to read.
Posted by: Mike B | November 3, 2008 2:54 PM
I second "A Brief History Of Time." That book should be on everyone's book shelf.
Posted by: Ferrous Patella | November 3, 2008 2:54 PM
I am a bookseller for a living. Notice the second half of that word: seller.
As a wholesaler, we constantly have shops asking us for recommendations. We frequently pass over better books for ones we know will sell better, especially for shops just starting a new line. If the better book just sits on the shelf, the shop will give up. But if the more "accessible" sells there is a good chance the shop will later expand their line to include the better book and their clientele will be ready to upgrade as well.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM | November 3, 2008 2:54 PM
These may be broader than what you are asking, but the Audubon Society's field guides are essential. I have a number of the series. Trees, Insects, Birds, Mammals, Stars, Reptiles and Amphibians, Fishes, and a few others.
Posted by: Natasha | November 3, 2008 2:55 PM
Essential:
The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
Popular:
The Canon by Natalie Angier
Mutants by Armand Marie Leroi
Posted by: Richard Harris | November 3, 2008 2:56 PM
Darwin's "On the Origin of Species..."
Everyone should read that book. There'd be a lot fewer Creationists, assuming they'd got the intelligence to understand it, that is.
Posted by: Steve Courtright | November 3, 2008 2:56 PM
How about the Jared Diamond books?
Posted by: Jelle Waltman | November 3, 2008 2:56 PM
Richard Dawkins - Selfish Gene
This book changed my view on life, and OF life. It introduced me to a scientific way of thinking, or, a more constructive way of thinking. This was the first book ever to tickle my mind, great stuff. this book is better for introducing someone to science then any school book I ever read.
Posted by: tsg | November 3, 2008 2:57 PM
Carl Sagan's Demon Haunted World, Cosmos and Pale Blue Dot.
Posted by: AJ Milne | November 3, 2008 2:57 PM
Two classics:
Sagan's Demon-Haunted World. Popular, I believe. General science/critical thinking.
In the same category, Dawkins' Unweaving the Rainbow.
Not precisely science, more history, but relevant to critical thinking (and a bit of crowd psychology), MacKay's Extraordinary Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.
Posted by: Bill Ringo | November 3, 2008 2:57 PM
Wonderful Life. Classic Stephen Jay Gould.
Posted by: Bostonian | November 3, 2008 2:57 PM
Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, which is a general reader that covers all areas of science. Extremely readable, I'd categorize it more as popular book than an essential one. But if you want a general overview of the state of our knowledge, it's a must have.
Posted by: Sam B | November 3, 2008 2:58 PM
I would say the "The Science of Discworld" series, but they'll go under fantasy/comedy as Pratchett co-authored it, and the book is half science/half comedy-fantasy.
Bloody good read though.
Posted by: Matt | November 3, 2008 2:58 PM
Life on Earth by David Attenbrough (popular category)
Posted by: John Atkeson | November 3, 2008 2:58 PM
Relativity for the Million, by Martin Gardner
Old but still great. This is the first book on relativity that I ever read and understood.
Posted by: PGE | November 3, 2008 2:58 PM
Though it won't get you the most recent advances, a bookstore science department wouldn't go too wrong just by sticking to everything Dover re-prints. I don't know how many titles I've bought over the years, but two that come to mind are a nicely footnoted/annotated edition of Euclid's Elements (3 volumes) and Newton's Optics.
Posted by: Bjørn Østman | November 3, 2008 2:59 PM
A few essentials:
Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel.
Jared Diamond, Collapse.
Sean B. Carroll, Endless Forms Most Beautiful: The New Science of Evo Devo.
Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene.
Robert Axelrod, The Evolution of Cooperation.
Posted by: Niels Leenheer | November 3, 2008 2:59 PM
When I go to a book store I always look for The Origin of Species and The Decent of Man. Bonus points if they have The Voyage of the Beagle.
Posted by: BobC | November 3, 2008 3:02 PM
This would be handy for confronting an owner and asking him why he has so many obvious omissions.
A bookstore owner could also be told any book that invokes intelligent design magic (any book by Behe for example) belongs in the religion section, not the science section.
A science book I've never seen in a bookstore but I would recommend for a scientifically illiterate person like myself is The Making of the Fittest: DNA and the Ultimate Forensic Record of Evolution by Sean B. Carroll. The "there's no evidence for evolution" creationists should be forced to read this book.
Posted by: Steve Courtright | November 3, 2008 3:02 PM
And I liked a lot of the E.O. Wilson books.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM | November 3, 2008 3:02 PM
Good call!! I guess Guns, Germs and Steel is a good mix of science and history.
Under Popular
Posted by: PZ Myers | November 3, 2008 3:02 PM
See Ferrous Patella's comment above. There are a lot of books I love that I could list, but the criterion here is that it must also be commercially viable -- something that, for instance, a doting grandma might pick out for her brilliant granddaughter, or that someone all fired up over a political issue might grab to get some background.
Posted by: Ben D | November 3, 2008 3:02 PM
Consilience - E.O. Wilson. An essential book for understanding how the entire scientific edifice fits together.
Guns, Germs, and Steel - Jared Diamond. A popular attempt to bring a more scientific outlook to the history of the world, and why some nations are and were more advanced than others.
Darwin's Dangerous Idea - Daniel C. Dennett - Maybe I just liked its takedown of Gould, but I thought it was brilliant.
I can second "Surely you're joking Mr. Feynman", and add the collection of his letters, "Don't you have time to think?".
All fantastic books.
Posted by: Ian Sharkey | November 3, 2008 3:02 PM
Popular science books I've enjoyed:
Geography:
Longitude - Dava Sobel
The Mapmakers - John Noble Wilford
Biology:
Endless Forms Most Beautiful - Sean Carroll
Physics:
Elegant Universe - Brian Greene
Computer Science:
The Code Book - Simon Singh
An Introduction to Information Theory - John R. Pierce
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead | November 3, 2008 3:03 PM
Even though its dated, Asimov's Guide to Science should be an essential book.
Posted by: dave | November 3, 2008 3:03 PM
a lot of stephen j gould's books should appeal to the lay public. they're very entertaining to read and at the same time fairly in depth and very insightful. flamingo's smile, for instance, is a pretty good one
Posted by: D- | November 3, 2008 3:03 PM
Much harder to have a succint list than to come up with some.
Gotta start out with the classics,
Origin and Voyage of the Beagle, on their own, as well as a part of one of the many Darwin compendiums having been published in the last couple years.
Relativity by Einstein
Silent Spring by Carson (although that might be in environment/ nature section)
Demon-Haunted World and Cosmos would be my Sagan picks (if I only had two).
What evolution is by Mayr.
And would someone for the love of pete tell them that The God Delusion is not a science book, and should not be put there. It's about religion...put it in the right spot.
D-
Posted by: Saint Pudalia | November 3, 2008 3:03 PM
I like the Barnes & Noble in San Bruno, CA. That store has an excellent science section -- truly awe-inspiring. I, too, am currently enjoying Carl Zimmer's outstanding "Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea." Biology, obviously. And I'd say it's both essential AND popular. I also thought V.S. Ramachandran's "Phantoms in the Brain" to be one of the best non-fiction books -- period -- I've ever read. Psychology/Popular. People rave about Dawkins' "The Blind Watchmaker", which is wonderful, but I found "Climbing Mount Improbable" to be a much more enjoyable read, somehow. Biology/Essential. I loved "Mind of the Raven" by Bernd Heinrich (biology) which I'd describe as popular as well as essential.
Posted by: nokin | November 3, 2008 3:04 PM
Geology: Annals of the Former World, by John McPhee
Posted by: geniusofevil | November 3, 2008 3:04 PM
Evolution's Rainbow: Diversity, Gender, and Sexuality in Nature and People by Joan Roughgarden
in the popular or evolution sections
Posted by: nanoAl | November 3, 2008 3:05 PM
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. I'd go so far as to call it essential. it neatly summarizes just about everything we know so far about biology, physics, astronomy, chemistry and geology. and has some very cool random facts, like the same jerk invented both leaded gasoline and CFC's.
Posted by: Darth Wader | November 3, 2008 3:05 PM
The Illustrated A Brief History of Time/The Universe in a Nutshell, Pale Blue Dot, The Elegant Universe, The Joy of Pi
Posted by: Matt Heath | November 3, 2008 3:06 PM
Some maths books: "Innumeracy" by John Allen Paulos is an essential book (in the strong sense that everyone ought to have read it). "A Mathematician's Apology" by G.H. Hardy should be in every bookshop. They are both also "popular" (could be read by an intelligent layperson ). "Proofs from THE BOOK" by Aigner and Ziegler would be mark out a really GOOD bookshop.
Good popular books are Simon Singh's "Code Book" and "Fermat's Last Theorem" and "The Music of the Primes" by Marcus du Sautoy ( Dawkin's successor about whom I refuse to shut up lately).
Posted by: makita | November 3, 2008 3:06 PM
I don't get to read much these days except papers for my research. But one book that I truly enjoyed last Summer was
"Lonely Planets" by David Grinspoon. He lists arguments for the presence of extraterrestrial life. Very well done. Very accessible. I nominate it for the popular astronomy section.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM | November 3, 2008 3:07 PM
Another good one that is a mix of history and science in the vein of Guns, Germs and Steel (more history than science in this one) is Salt:A World History by Mark Kurlansky
Again that may be broader than you are asking, but its a hell of a good book with enough science in it to be included (IMHO).
Posted by: cactusren | November 3, 2008 3:09 PM
Essential: On the Origin of Species. I recommend the Harvard University Press Facsimile of the First Edition.
Popular: Your Inner Fish, by Neil Shubin. I also second Jared Diamond's books, and A Brief History of Time.
Posted by: Jason | November 3, 2008 3:09 PM
There isn't any money in it. Typically these days, if someone wants a text book or a science based book it's because they found some reference to recommendation to it on the web. From there it's a simple hop to amazon to purchase the book.
When I go to a bookstore I look at the science section and see about what I'd expect. A lot of novels with scientific issues and I've picked up a couple for that purpose. 'Your Inner Fish' by Neil Shubin was the last one I picked up.
I'd say 10:1 people don't go to the bookstore for science books. Hence the 10:1 sales difference.
Posted by: rowmyboat | November 3, 2008 3:10 PM
Math: Flatland, by Edwin Abbott; How to Lie With Statistics, by Darrell Huff.
There's always Silent Spring and Al Gore's book for environmental stuff.
Posted by: Abstruse | November 3, 2008 3:10 PM
Taylor Books in Charleston WV has no "new age" or "religion" sections.
It's got a decent science section too!
Posted by: Pekka S | November 3, 2008 3:11 PM
Stumbling on Happiness - Daniel Gilbert
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat - Oliver Sacks
Descartes Error - Antonio Damasio
Posted by: BB | November 3, 2008 3:11 PM
The Selfish Gene - Richard Dawkins - Essential
A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson (sp?) Essential (This one would fit in well with the "a doting grandma".
Unweaving The Rainbow - Richard Dawkins - Essential
Why religion is like masturbation - PZ Myers - Essential
Unfortunately many of Richard's books aren't named the way they should be if you were hoping for a "doting grandma" to pick them up.
I also don't think "On The Origin of Species" would be "viable".
Posted by: Notorious P.A.T. | November 3, 2008 3:11 PM
"And would someone for the love of pete tell them that The God Delusion is not a science book, and should not be put there. It's about religion...put it in the right spot."
Nothing stopping you from doing that ; )
Posted by: Greg Peterson | November 3, 2008 3:12 PM
Popular only:
At the Water's Edge, Carl Zimmer
Parasite Rex, Carl Zimmer
Ancestor's Tale, Richard Dawkins
Climbing Mount Improbable, Richard Dawkins
Endless Forms Most Beautiful, Sean Carrol
Making of the Fittest, Sean Carrol
Your Inner Fish, Neil Shubin
Evolution: What the Fossils Say..., Donald Prothero
Physics of Star Trek, Lawrence Kraus
Demon-Haunted World, Carl Sagan
Physics of the Buffyverse, Jennifer Ouellette
The Way Life Works, Mahlon Hoagland & Bert Dodson
Molecular Biology Made Simple and Fun, David Clark & Lonnie Dee Russell
Richness of Life, Stephen J. Gould
Moral Minds, Marc Hauser
Off the top of my head. That's one very small shelf.
Posted by: Eamon Knight | November 3, 2008 3:12 PM
Unhelpfully, I'll just say: anything by Zimmer (on the strength of having read Parasite Rex and At The Water's Edge, which means I've got lots more to look forward to). By that, I mean: stocking at least some of the Z opus is essential, and faithfully stocking them all would be fantastic. They're both readable AND good science AND they handle evolution in a matter-of-fact way.
Posted by: Trevor | November 3, 2008 3:12 PM
In the Maths, this one is reasonably popular:
Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid, by Douglas R. Hofstadter
http://www.amazon.com/Godel-Escher-Bach-Eternal-Golden/dp/0465026567
Granted, I have yet to finish it (I'll be darned if I ever will), but I've loved it so far. Seems to be a must-read for computer scientist types.
Posted by: rowmyboat | November 3, 2008 3:12 PM
And maybe they're in the biography section instead, but biographies of famous science people -- Einstein, Currie, Newton, etc.
Posted by: Sven DiMilo | November 3, 2008 3:12 PM
Ditto on the McPhee; all of his stuff is great but Annals is the motherlode.
Roughgarden? Too iconoclastic to recommend very strongly.
One that should definitely be included, though is Quammen's Song of the Dodo. Biology/ecology/conservation, and totally totally excellent.
Posted by: tsg | November 3, 2008 3:13 PM
Maybe they would if they carried more.
Posted by: Greg | November 3, 2008 3:14 PM
How about Science As a Way of Knowing by John Moore?
Posted by: Stuart Mitchell | November 3, 2008 3:14 PM
The Ascent of Man by Jacob Bronowski
Posted by: Leslie in Canada | November 3, 2008 3:15 PM
As a non-scientist, I tend to pick my science books for their accessibility and writing styles, so along with most of the Stephen Jay Gould books, I would recommend David Quammen's "The Song of the Dodo," Jonathon Weiner's "The Beak of the Finch," Neil Shubin's "Your Inner Fish" and B.Holldobler/E.O Wilson's "Journey to the Ants."
Posted by: gma | November 3, 2008 3:15 PM
Key science books that open up your mind:
- The Selfish Gene, Richard Dawkins
- Unweaving the Rainbow, RIchard Dawkins
- The Ancestor's Tale, Richard Dawkins
- Climbing Mount Improbable, RIchard Dawkins
- The Blind Watchmaker, Richard Dawkins
To counterbalance the vast sections on superstition/religion:
- The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins
- God's Problem, Bart Ehrman
- Misquoting Jesus, Bart Ehrman
- Papal Sin, Garry Wills
- Only A Therory, Kenneth Miller
- The End of Faith, Sam Harris
- God, The Failed Hypothesis, Victor Stenger
Posted by: p4limpsest | November 3, 2008 3:15 PM
I'm not sure if it fits the bill, but I think it does.
Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter. I consider it to be both potentially popular and absolutely essential. Covers a lot about mathematics, genetics, logic and computer science, while also having some wonderfully scientific types of insights into music. In fact, I highly, highly, highly recommend that book to anyone on Pharyngula who hasn't read it. It might just be your next favorite book.
Posted by: Matt | November 3, 2008 3:16 PM
Essential:
Elegant Universe - Brian Greene
Selfish Gene- Richard Dawkins
Ancestors Tale- Richard Dawkins
Your Inner Fish- Neil Shubin
The Demon Haunted World- Carl Sagan
Death by Black Hole- Neil DeGrasse Tyson
The Discoverers- Daniel Boorstin
Germs, Guns and Steele- Jarod Diamond
Posted by: lambic | November 3, 2008 3:16 PM
Anything by Richard Dawkins (Biology)
Anything by Carl Sagan (Astronomy/Skepticism)
Anything by Joe Schwarcz (Chemistry)
Nature via Nurture, Matt Ridley (Biology)
The Agile Gene, Matt Ridley (Biology)
And then there's this:
http://cosmicvariance.com/2008/08/29/the-thousand-best-popular-science-books/
Posted by: Amanda Montel | November 3, 2008 3:16 PM
As a lay person, I really enjoyed Chaos: The Making of a New Science by James Gleick. I think it would fit into the popular category?
Posted by: The Chemist | November 3, 2008 3:16 PM
Oooh! I love this! I especially want to share some popular chemistry books since they seem to be rather few and far between.
My list is repeated in easy-to-read list form for your convenience.
Stars (*) indicates it's also popular since I can't think of one popular book that hasn't also been essential, Hashes (#) indicate chem books-
Essential
Anything by Carl Sagan* (Duh!)
Bad Astronomy by Phil Plait
Death from the Skies by Phil Plait (I'm not just saying this because it's new, the fact is that it's the only book of its kind.)
Radar, Pigs, & Hula Hoops by Joe Schwarcz#
Asimov on Chemistry by Issac Asimov#*
The Same and Not the Same by Roald Hoffman#
Why People Believe Weird Things by Michael Shermer
A Brief History of Time by Steven Hawking*
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins*
Nuclear Weapons by Jeffery Bernstein
Six Easy Pieces by Richard Feynman
The Thirteenth Element by John Emsley#
Uncle Tungsten: Memoirs of a Chemical Boyhood by Oliver Sachs#*
Posted by: travc | November 3, 2008 3:17 PM
Darwin among the machines by George Dyson
IMO a really engaging angle mixing history of science with a bit of philosophy and a lot of 'I didn't know that'. It is kind of hard to describe "what it is about" in a single sentence, but it is really a great book in my estimation... and it is about my chosen field.
Posted by: druidbros | November 3, 2008 3:17 PM
The Fabric of the Cosmos by Brian Greene. Its very meaty mental chewing and expands a readers thought process about the universe.
Posted by: Jonathan Flint | November 3, 2008 3:18 PM
The Science of Discworld series - it may or may not be in the fiction section, but there is such a wealth of scientific knowledge in the even - numbered chapters (by Jack Cohen and Ian Stewart) to make it a book I still use, and which got me interested in Big and little science. (I am applying to university at this point in my education)
Posted by: Hermanito | November 3, 2008 3:21 PM
Of course everything by Richard Dawkins, all must reads...
Then I particularly liked "The Big Bang" by Simon Singh, a nice and popular review of how the big bang theory grew mature.
In software you'd have "Code Complete" by Steve McConnell.
There are others, but I'm not near my bookshelf at the moment... I'll try to post again when I am...
Very nice idea by the way. You know, PZ, I live in Belgium and here it is even more difficult to find a decent technical/science book. Most shops don't want to have English books, too little people buying maybe. And books in Dutch (translated or original, doesn't matter) aren't up to par to most English editions.
Posted by: Notorious P.A.T. | November 3, 2008 3:22 PM
"Why religion is like masturbation "
Hehe, I'd buy that.
I nominate "The Big Bang" by Simon Singh.
Posted by: SteveC | November 3, 2008 3:23 PM
@#40: I agree with you about V. S. Ramachandran's "Phantoms in the Brain", and with your assessment of "Climbing Mount Improbable" vs. "The Blind Watchmaker."
To those, I'd add "What Makes You Tick; The Brain in Plain English." by Thomas B. Czerner.
Posted by: Blake Stacey | November 3, 2008 3:23 PM
Under the "popular" heading should go the Cartoon Guides by Larry Gonick, in particular those for genetics, statistics, chemistry and physics. I browsed through David Macaulay's The Way We Work in the bookstore, and other than one (forgivable) oversimplification and an instance of "textbook cardboard" historical blunder. it was delicious. Both it and The Way Things Work belong on any decent science shelf.
Also a worthwhile inclusion would be James Gleick's biography of Feynman, Genius. I haven't read the Isaacson biography of Einstein, but I hear it's very good.
Posted by: Ed Baker | November 3, 2008 3:24 PM
I would like to see 'Just six numbers' by Martin Rees and 'The Elegant Universe' by Brian Greene. For a lay audience 'Life on Earth' and any of the books that accompany David Attenborough's series would be good.
Posted by: The Chemist | November 3, 2008 3:24 PM
@Matt and others
Jared Diamond is only ever going to be shelved under history I'm afraid. Otherwise I'd nominate "Black Swan".
As for my list, I have to scrap The Same and Not the Same. It's not commercially viable. I would add however the two Richard Rhodes books about the atom bombs, as well as Glenn Seaborg's Adventures in the Atomic Age. The latter of the two is put in specifically because I can imagine a grandmother both picking it up for her grandkid, as well as enjoying it herself.
Posted by: nigel gomm | November 3, 2008 3:25 PM
Essential :
Scientific Companion (Cesare Emiliani).
Popular :
The Third Chimpanzee (Jared Diamond)
Religion Explained (Pascal Boyer)
Einstein for Beginners (ISBN 978-0375714597)
A Short History of Nearly Everything (Bryson)
Posted by: Jackal | November 3, 2008 3:25 PM
Popular sciency books:
Carl Zimmer's Microcosm: E. coli and the New Science of Life
Neil Shubin's Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body
Posted by: Raynfala | November 3, 2008 3:26 PM
Seconded (thirded?) on Godel Escher Bach. I, too, have yet to finish it, but the parts I did manage to get through were quite fascinating. It's not that it's a "hard read", it's just that the stuff it covers is so heady that I found myself having to take a break while I let it all sink in.
Great stuff for math / computer types, and those that just want to play one on TV.
Posted by: BobC | November 3, 2008 3:27 PM
This book hasn't been published yet: "Only a Theory?" by Richard Dawkins. I plan to buy it.
I'm also impatiently waiting for a book to be published by PZ.
Posted by: MikeD | November 3, 2008 3:27 PM
I recommend that booksellers carry ALL of Larry Gonick's books. They are highly accessible, lots of fun, and actually informative.
http://www.larrygonick.com/html/pub/pub.html
Cartoon Guide to Chemistry
Cartoon Guide to Physics
Cartoon Guide to Genetics
Cartoon Guide to Statistics
Along the same lines, I recommend Joy Hosler's "Sandwalk Adventures" for introductory exposure to evolution:
http://www.jayhosler.com/Sandwalk.html
His "Clan Apis" is quite good also.
http://www.jayhosler.com/Chapter1.html
Posted by: Norm Olsen | November 3, 2008 3:28 PM
Here's three random nominations; the first two I would call essential, and the last, popular.
"The Growth of Biological Thought" by Ernst Mayer
"Biogeography and Adaptation: Patterns of Marine Life" by Geerat J. Vermeij
"Climbing Mount Improbable" by Richard Dawkins
Posted by: bob | November 3, 2008 3:29 PM
Some skepticism: "Demon-Haunted World" and "Why People Believe Weird Things" (popular, essential, skepticism/critical thinking).
I think everyone should read Bill Bryson's "A Short History Of Nearly Everything" (popular, essential, general science) ... if someone don't find that book interesting, there's no hope for them. (A highly scientifically literate person might find it a touch too light, but that's not who this list is for.)
Hawking's books (popular, essential, physics) and Greene's books (popular, physics) are good, but not for the faint of heart. Einstein's "Relativity" (physics) could also be grouped with these, albeit harder and less popular.
Posted by: Kurt | November 3, 2008 3:29 PM
Second (or third) on the Dawkins, Diamond, McPhee, and Zimmer recommendations among others.
Simon Winchester: The Map That Changed the World: William Smith and the birth of Modern Geology (Popular, Geology)
Kurlansky also has Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World (Popular, Biology/History) [links well with his book on salt]
- Kurt
Posted by: Susan | November 3, 2008 3:30 PM
PZ wants:
Then you need a few women in here.
Broadsides from the Other Orders: A Book of Bugs by Sue Hubbell-- in fact, just about anything from Hubbell. Popular.
My mother recommended it to me and my many sisters, and I passed it on to my daughter, and we all loved it. If you're interested in bugs (and we are), you'll enjoy Hubbell.
Also, the LA Times had a really good science writer (I'm not sure if she's still there) and her books seemed to sell really well in LA, where folks were familiar with her: KC Cole. She's written Mind Over Matter: Conversations with the Cosmos; The Hole in the Universe: How Scientists Peered Over the Edge of Emptiness and Found Everything; and The Universe and the Teacup, the Mathematics of Truth and Beauty. (I especially liked that one.) She's also been published in The Best American Science Writing(for x year) series, the latest edition of which should always be available in a bookshop. All Popular.
Posted by: ggab | November 3, 2008 3:30 PM
Demon Haunted World- Sagan
Only a Theory- Miller
Selfish Gene- Dawkins
Ancestors Tale- Dawkins
The First Three Minutes- Weinberg (out of date but great stuff)
Darwin's Dangerous Idea- Dennet
Man's Place In Nature- Huxley (historical interest)
Anything from Sagan. Tyson's always good for the layman.
I like Brian Greene, but some don't.
Getting ready to start At The Water's Edge by Zimmer. Not sure yet on that one.
Posted by: Blake Stacey | November 3, 2008 3:30 PM
Among the free swag I've received during my time as a science blogger are two books which I'd say could fit into the "commercially viable" list: The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing, an anthology edited by Richard Dawkins; and The Drunkard's Walk, by Leonard Mlodinow. I reviewed the former book here, and have been meaning to post a review of the latter book for several months now.
I second the nomination of Phil Plait's Bad Astronomy, also under "popular", partly because it's a good book but mostly to goad P-Zed into finishing his own. You're letting the astronomers win!
Posted by: tcb | November 3, 2008 3:30 PM
What about Climbing Mount Improbable? Great grandma-friendly title.
I'd also go with Godel, Esher, Bach. Disadvantages: 1) Fermat is proved 2) Who will understand what the groove of a record is these days?
As a practical handbook of all-around fun stuff, I'd second Horowitz and Hill, The Art of Electronics. There really needs to be a third edition though - many of the projects use obsolete components.
Posted by: Kraid | November 3, 2008 3:31 PM
The Blind Watchmaker and Climbing Mount Improbable by Richard Dawkins. - essential Biology (although I recall these overlap considerably, it's been too long since I read either... I can't recall which would be the better recommendation of the two). Despite being thoroughly debunked long ago, the watchmaker argument is alive and well in the US. I was taught to believe in it as a child!
Another vote for Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins as essential also.
Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan - popular science (general). Great introduction to how science works and why it's valuable. Deep material with classic Sagan easy-to-readness.
Posted by: Cyan | November 3, 2008 3:31 PM
"Six Easy Pieces" and "Six Not-So-Easy Pieces", both by Richard Feynman.