From the night sky to the frontiers of AI, here are ten must-reads from our Science & Popular Science collection.
1. 101 Things You Didn't Know about Einstein — Cynthia Phillips
This book collects lesser-known biographical facts about Albert Einstein alongside accessible explanations of his key scientific contributions. Cynthia Phillips holds a PhD in planetary geology and has co-written several popular science titles aimed at general readers. Rather than a full biography, it's structured as a browsable collection of discrete facts, making it easy to dip into rather than read linearly. It covers both the well-known parts of Einstein's story — relativity, the Nobel Prize, his flight from Nazi Germany — and more obscure personal details. The 'X Things You Didn't Know About' format is part of a wider Adams Media series applying the same treatment to other historical and scientific figures. It's a light, engaging entry point for readers who find full scientific biographies too dense.
2. 50 Biology Ideas You Really Need to Know — J V Chamary & Nicholas Mee
Part of a well-established '50 Ideas' series published by Quercus/Hachette, this title distills fifty essential concepts in modern biology into short, standalone chapters. J V Chamary is a science writer and former researcher whose work focuses on making evolutionary biology accessible to non-specialists. Topics typically span genetics, evolution, cell biology, and ecology, moving from foundational ideas toward more current research. The '50 Ideas' format is designed explicitly for readers without a science background, avoiding heavy technical jargon. Each chapter is short enough to read in a single sitting, making the book suited to non-linear reading. It pairs naturally with other 'Ideas You Really Need to Know' titles already featured in this collection, like the psychology and philosophy volumes.
3. 50 Greatest Engineers — Paul Virr
This book profiles fifty engineers whose innovations have shaped infrastructure, transportation, and technology across history. Paul Virr has written multiple accessible reference titles for Arcturus Publishing covering science, history, and biography in profile format. The book likely spans a broad historical range, from early civil engineering pioneers to modern technologists, given its scope. Profile-collection books like this are designed for browsing rather than sequential reading, letting readers jump to figures that interest them. It complements the store's broader Nature & Technology shelf, which includes other engineering and innovation-focused titles. It suits readers who enjoy history told through individual achievement rather than abstract narrative.
4. 100 Ways You Can Help Save the Planet — Joanna Gray
This is a practical guide offering one hundred concrete, everyday actions for reducing personal environmental impact. Joanna Gray writes for the Earthtopia imprint, which focuses specifically on environmental and sustainability titles for general readers. Rather than dense environmental science, the format favours short, actionable tips readers can implement immediately. Books in this genre typically cover areas like household waste, energy use, food choices, and consumer habits. It's aimed at readers who want practical guidance rather than a deep dive into climate science itself. This complements titles like 100 Ways You Can Help Save the Planet alongside the store's Food & Lifestyle sustainability picks.
5. 100 Things to See in the Night Sky — Dean Regas
Dean Regas is an astronomer and long-time co-host of the PBS series Star Gazers, and has written several accessible stargazing guides. This illustrated guide walks readers through a hundred visible sky objects — planets, satellites, meteor showers, and constellations — with practical viewing tips. It's designed for amateur observers rather than professional astronomers, prioritizing what's visible to the naked eye or a basic telescope. The structure typically moves through the night sky season by season, helping readers know what to look for and when. A companion volume, 100 Things to See in the Southern Night Sky, extends the same approach for Southern Hemisphere observers, and is also featured in this collection. It's an approachable entry point for anyone wanting to start stargazing without technical astronomy background.
6. 100 Things to See in the Southern Night Sky — Dean Regas
This is the Southern Hemisphere companion to Dean Regas's 100 Things to See in the Night Sky, adapting the same stargazing format for skies visible from Australia, South Africa, and South America. Regas draws on his experience as an astronomer and public educator to keep explanations approachable for beginners. The Southern sky includes constellations and objects not visible from the Northern Hemisphere, like the Southern Cross, making this a genuinely distinct guide rather than a reprint. Like its companion, it's structured around practical, seasonal observation rather than dense astrophysics. It's a useful pick specifically for readers in or traveling to the Southern Hemisphere. Together, the two books cover naked-eye astronomy for readers anywhere in the world.
7. 51 Greatest Modern Heroes — Lucas Otto
This book profiles fifty-one modern figures recognized for scientific, humanitarian, or social contributions. It follows the same short-profile format as several other titles in this collection, prioritizing accessibility over depth on any single figure. Books structured around 'greatest' lists are designed to introduce readers to a wide range of names they can then research further. Given its placement in the Science & Popular Science collection, its focus likely leans toward scientific and technological figures alongside broader humanitarian ones. It's published by Jaico, an Indian publisher with a large catalogue of accessible nonfiction and reference titles. It suits readers who enjoy short biographical sketches over long-form biography.
8. 75 Fantastic Physics Facts Every Kid Should Know! — Anne Rooney
Anne Rooney is a prolific science writer with many titles aimed at making STEM subjects engaging for younger readers. This book presents seventy-five physics facts in a fun, fact-a-page format designed for curious kids rather than a structured physics course. It's published by Arcturus, whose catalogue includes several similarly formatted fact-based children's science titles. The short-fact format is designed to spark curiosity rather than build sequential understanding, making it good for browsing. It's a natural companion to other approachable science titles in this collection for younger or newer science readers. This is a good gift pick for a child showing early interest in how the physical world works.
9. 200+ Ways to Protect Your Privacy — Jeni Rogers
This is a practical handbook of concrete steps for improving personal privacy and security, both online and offline. Jeni Rogers writes for Simon & Schuster's Adams Media imprint, which publishes a range of accessible, tip-driven nonfiction. Given the pace of change in digital privacy threats, books like this typically cover both digital hygiene (passwords, social media settings) and physical-world privacy habits. The format favours short, actionable entries over deep technical explanation, aimed at general readers rather than IT professionals. It sits within the store's Nature & Technology strand of the Science collection, reflecting growing reader interest in tech-literacy topics. A useful, practical pick for readers who want concrete privacy improvements rather than abstract discussion of surveillance.
10. 101 Q&A AI and Technology — Penguin Random House India
This is a question-and-answer format primer addressing common questions readers have about artificial intelligence and emerging technology. The Q&A structure is designed to make an often intimidating topic approachable, breaking it into discrete, digestible questions rather than a continuous technical narrative. Books in this format are typically aimed at general readers and students rather than technologists, prioritizing conceptual clarity over depth. Given how quickly AI has entered public conversation, accessible primers like this serve an important role in general science literacy. It complements the store's other technology-focused Science & Popular Science titles for readers wanting a grounding in current tech topics. A solid starting point for readers who want AI explained plainly rather than through jargon.
