Reading Time – 5 Minutes, Difficulty Level – 1/5
World Book Day is on April 23rd and bibliophiles around the globe eagerly anticipate celebrating literature’s timeless influence on our lives. In honor of this special occasion, the Average Scientist organization reached out to its writers to explore the books that ignited their passion for science and learning.
Books have always been more than mere collections of words bound together; they are portals to new worlds, windows into the minds of others, and catalysts for intellectual growth. For many scientists, their journey into the realm of discovery was sparked by the pages of a book that captured their imagination and kindled a curiosity for the mysteries of the universe.
So we asked our writers at The Average Scientist what books sparked their love of science. Let’s check out some of the books and novels that our science writers loved!
Amelia, Food Science – “A book that sparked my interest in scientific explanations for everyday occurrences was 101 Problems for the Armchair Scientist by Joel Levy. Also, as someone who never did a single course in philosophy, The Philosophy Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained from DK Publishing was a super interesting read that made classic theories cool.”
Basia, Evolutionary Genetics – “World Book Day is a fantastic opportunity for me to promote the world of Deborah Harkness’s All Souls Trilogy, especially ‘A Discovery of Witches’. The story resonates with me on so many levels, mixing fantasy, history, romance, and strangely enough, science. As a geneticist, it’s so fascinating how Harkness blends scientific concepts into her universe of magic, creating something that feels both fantastical and plausible simultaneously. Watching the live-action adaptation of the trilogy allowed me to witness the stories of Diana, a determined historian and witch, and Matthew, a research scientist and vampire, beautifully intertwine and unfold.”
Zhala, Biology – “My favourite in science is not necessarily in my field but it’s actually called A Primate’s Memoir by Robert Sapolsky, this was one of the first times I read a book that really wove together how social histories and science are tied together. It made me better visualize how interconnected we are with each other and within various ecosystems! The author also had a clear authentic voice, and I realized that I want to emulate this in my own writing.
As for a favorite book in general, it’s quite hard to choose one but I would like to go with Roadside Picnic. It’s a strange science fiction book by Strugstsky and it seemed to answer a question that I never consciously thought about before but realize that I have wondered about – what would happen in the aftermath of an alien invasion. Beautifully written and really compelling”
Rebecca, Anthropology – “My favorite book that sparked my love of history, archaeology and anthropology was Introduction to Archaeology by Lesley and Roy Adkins that I received on my 10th birthday! My most favorite book of all time to read for the sheer joy of it is The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery.“
Ian, Astrophysicist and Founder of The Average Scientist – “A book that left a mark on me……Pale Blue Dot – Carl Sagan. A book I love for enjoyment…..Moby Dick.”
Farouk, Geology – “My favorite book in my field of study…is Treatise on Geochemistry -it covers a wide range of topics that explains and dive into the Earth and universal Geochemical characteristics. It helps you identify the basics of geochemistry and Its different applications in a very simple and illustrative way. There is a huge amount of references included with academic and highly complicated scientific facts that both researchers and simple readers can use in their work. It has different editions and it has helped me understand the major Geochemical insights of my speciality.
For fun, I read science fiction novels, and I like “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress” by Robert A. Heinlein. It illustrates and discusses libertarian ideals.”
Mercedes, Biochemistry – “One author that sparkled my interest in biology and medicine was Robin Cook, my mom introduced me to his books when I was a teenager. One of my favorite books that I can read is “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss and Anton Chekhov’s short stories, a thousand times and never get tired!”
Mala, Computers – “The Chariots of the Gods by Erich von Däniken. The mythological and religious tales I grew up with suddenly made sense and became very relatable to the environment around me. It taught me to reimagine civilizations, and fantasy or not, the book taught me to view the achievements of past generations with wonder and humility.“
It’s clear that books have been more than just reading material for our scientists. They’ve been like rocket fuel for curiosity, launching them into the wild universe of discovery. So, let’s keep flipping those pages, because who knows what amazing adventures and insights await us in the next chapter of our reading journey!
Although not a typical scientist, I adore languages, technology, space, literature, and history. BA Honors Degree in Anthropology and English. Daughter of a physicist/engineer and descendant of an esteemed astronomer ancestor (heliocentric model of the solar system, anyone?). I aim to make my own mark by promoting lifelong learning in all fields. A total dork for Star Trek, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Outlander, Quantum Leap and anything Futuristic/Sci-Fi or Dystopian.
