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23 Science Books That Are So Exciting They Read Like Genre Fiction

Some of the greatest nonfiction books about science read like novels. They borrow tropes and narrative tricks from science fiction, fantasy, horror, and more — turning great discoveries into great adventures. Here are twenty-three science books that are better than genre fiction because they're true.
This is just a starter list for you because there are dozens more books I could have included from the dawn of scientific writing up through stuff published last month. I've tried to offer a representative sample, picking from classic works as well as science books that borrow their styles from a few popular genres.
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from io9.gizmodo.com · made by Bobbi Green
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1
On the Origin of Species (Charles Darwin)
On the Origin of Species (Charles Darwin)
2
Coming of Age in Samoa (Margaret Mead)
Coming of Age in Samoa (Margaret Mead)
3
Silent Spring
Silent Spring
4
Encounters With the Archdruid (John McPhee)
Encounters With the Archdruid (John McPhee)
5
Future Shock (Toffler Alvin)
Future Shock (Toffler Alvin)
6
Sociobiology (E O Wilson)
Sociobiology (E O Wilson)
7
Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
8
The World Without Us (Alan Weisman)
The World Without Us (Alan Weisman)
9
Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet (Bill McKibbin)
Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet (Bill McKibbin)
10
Death From the Skies!: These Are the Ways the World Will End... (Philip Plait)
Death From the Skies!: These Are the Ways the World Will End... (Philip Plait)
11
Collapse by Jared Diamond
Collapse by Jared Diamond
12
The Coming Plague (Laurie Garrett)
The Coming Plague (Laurie Garrett)
13
Cosmos
Cosmos
14
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
15
Physics of the Impossible
Physics of the Impossible
16
Unnatural Selection: Choosing Boys Over Girls, and the Consequences Of
Unnatural Selection: Choosing Boys Over Girls, and the Consequences Of
17
Regenesis (George Church)
Regenesis (George Church)
18
The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York (Deborah Blum)
The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York (Deborah Blum)
19
Blood Work: A Tale of Medicine and Murder in the Scientific Revolution
Blood Work: A Tale of Medicine and Murder in the Scientific Revolution
20
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes (Maria Konnikova)
Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes (Maria Konnikova)
21
1491
1491
22
The Medea Hypothesis (Peter Ward)
The Medea Hypothesis (Peter Ward)
23
The Technology of Orgasm (Rachel Maines)
The Technology of Orgasm (Rachel Maines)
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