Earth Science Nonfiction

Canadian botanist, biochemist and visionary Diana Beresford-Kroeger's startling insights into the hidden life of trees have already sparked a quiet revolution in how we understand our relationship to forests. Now, in a captivating account of how her life led her to these illuminating and crucial...

A revolutionary new history that reveals how climate change has dramatically shaped the development—and demise—of civilizations across time Global warming is one of the greatest dangers mankind faces today. Even as temperatures increase, sea levels rise, and natural disasters escalate, our...

Learn how fossils teach us about dinosaurs.

From glowing mushrooms to zombie bugs, shape-shifting creatures, immortal jellyfish, brain-hacking parasites, and plants that eat meat—Weird Biology dives headfirst into the strangest life-forms on Earth. This isn’t your typical science book. It’s a wild safari through evolution’s most shocking experiments, the bizarre survival tricks nature invented, and the organisms so odd you’d swear they came from a sci-fi movie. Each chapter begins with a short, fun introduction, followed by 40 bite-sized facts that bring the weirdness to life. Every fact is written in an exciting, ...

In twenty-two wonderfully articulate essays, Barbara Kingsolver raises her voice in praise of nature, family, literature, and the joys of everyday life while examining the genesis of war, violence, and poverty in our world From the author of High Tide in Tucson, comes Small Wonder, a new...

From glowing seas to deserts that bloom overnight, our planet is full of secrets waiting to be uncovered. In The Curious Earth, Nova Harrow explores the extraordinary world beneath our feet and beyond our sight — where trees communicate through hidden networks, animals use tools, and even rocks have stories to tell. Discover how lightning creates glass, why some lakes change color, and how life thrives in places thought impossible. Each fact reveals a new layer of wonder — reminding us that the Earth isn’t just our home, it’s a living, breathing masterpiece. Whether you’re a ...

An intriguing new scientific theory that explains what life is and how it emerges. What is life? This is among the most difficult open problems in science, right up there with the nature of consciousness and the existence of matter. All the definitions we have fall short. None help us understand...

”I Am Earth: This Is My Story” Emerging from the primordial forces of fire and darkness, I have witnessed the birth of oceans, the majestic rise of mountains, and the first tentative breaths of life. I have borne the weight of continents, nurtured the dreams of species, and carried the footsteps of humanity. This is my narrative, finally recounted in my own voice. From the cosmic dawn of the Big Bang to the emergence of civilization, “I Am Earth” presents an expansive and immersive account unlike any other—an autobiography of our planet. By seamlessly blending poetic storytelling ...

Earth isn’t just home to cute puppies and majestic lions. It’s also home to bizarre worms that melt themselves, birds that mimic car alarms, fish that spit lasers of water, and animals so weird they seem like they escaped from an alien zoo. Welcome to Nature’s Oddballs—a journey through the strangest, funniest, and most surprising creatures ever to wriggle, slither, glow, honk, or do… whatever it is that blobfish do. Inside, you’ll discover: 🦑 A squid that launches glowing biological “fireworks” 🌏 A tiny beast that can survive in outer space 🦘 A frog that swallows ...

"Henry Gee presents a pithy, fascinating account of the stages of biological evolution. ... a meditative and friendly listening experience. —AudioFile on A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth Written and read by the award-winning author of A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth: a history...

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE The 10th Anniversary Edition of the powerful and important work about the future of the world, blending intellectual and natural history and field reporting into a compelling account of the mass extinction unfolding before our eyes. Over the last half a billion years...

NASA Astrobiologist and renowned scientist Dr. David Grinspoon brings readers an optimistic message about humanity's future in the face of climate change. For the first time in Earth's history, our planet is experiencing a confluence of rapidly accelerating changes prompted by one species...

Discover the surprising case for how conservatism can help us achieve the epic sci-fi future we were promised. America was once the world’s dream factory. We turned imagination into reality, from curing polio to landing on the Moon to creating the internet. And we were confident that more...

From environmental activist, renowned crusader, champion fighter, maverick—a book that looks at our present situation with water and shows us how we can each take action to make changes in our cities, towns, and villages, before it is too late. "Brockovich is a vocal, no-nonsense...

An exploration of the devastating effects of global warming—current and future—adapted for young adults from the #1 New York Times bestseller. This is not only an assessment on how the future will look to those living through it, but also a dire overview and an impassioned and hopeful call...

Discover the biggest waves on Earth — and the amazing science behind them! What is a tsunami? How do they start? And what can we learn from them? Big Waves, Big Wonders! is a gentle, awe-inspiring nonfiction book written especially for curious kids ages 5–8. Packed with vivid prose and beautiful explanations, this book teaches children about the science of tsunamis, how waves travel, how warning systems work, and how animals and people stay safe — all without fear or doom. 🌊 Inside you'll find: ✔️ A child-friendly explanation of how tsunamis begin ✔️ How scientists study ...

World-renowned conservationist Bindi Irwin has a message for animal-loving kids: You can help protect the planet and all who call it home! Featuring animal fun facts. Calling all Wildlife Warriors! Step inside the Australia Zoo and see what nature has to offer. There are lemurs and rhinos...

What would you do if you turned on the faucet one day and nothing happened? What if you learned the water in your home was harmful to drink? Water is essential for life on this planet, but not every community has the safe, clean water it needs. In When the World Runs Dry, award-winning science...

By the bestselling author of The Omnivore's Dilemma, this is Michael Pollan's ingenious companion book about the surprising and close relationship between people and plants. In this entertaining young readers edition of the environmental studies classic, Michael Pollan demonstrates how people...

The Scots are one of the world's greatest nations of emigrants. For centuries, untold numbers of men, women, and children sought their fortunes in every part of the globe, from the British Empire to the United States, in cities and on prairie farms, as traders, bankers, missionaries, soldiers, politicians, and engineers.