Hey there! It’s been a while since I shared some book recommendations, and I thought it was about time to suggest a few that I’ve really enjoyed over the past couple of years. These books have broadened my horizons and sparked my curiosity, and I think you’ll like them too. Let’s dive in!
The first two books are perfect for anyone interested in science. The first is “Letters to a Young Scientist” by Edward O. Wilson. Edward Wilson is a renowned Harvard biologist who studies ants and is considered one of the most important scientists of our time. This book is a must-read if you’re thinking about a career in science but feel unsure about your skills. It offers practical advice to help ease your worries and inspire you.
The second book is “Dinosaur Empire” by Abby Howard. This is the first in a series of three books about the dinosaur era. It follows a character named Ronnie, who struggles with a school test about dinosaurs. Ronnie meets a teacher, Miss Learning, who takes her on a time-traveling adventure to explore the Mesozoic period. This book is not just about dinosaurs; it also covers the evolution of parasites and insects. It’s an exciting and emotionally engaging read!
The next three books delve into natural history and museums, with a couple focusing on the Field Museum. The first is “The Snake Charmer” by Jamie James. It tells the story of Joe Slowinski, a herpetologist at the California Academy of Sciences. The book explores the challenges of fieldwork and Joe’s passion for snakes, centering around a significant expedition. It’s a fascinating and impactful read.
The second book is “The Lady and the Panda” by Vicki Croke. It’s about Ruth Harkness, a woman in the 1920s who was determined to bring the first live panda to the United States. This book offers a deeper appreciation for the significance of that panda specimen at the museum.
The third book is by Lance Grande, one of the curators at the Field Museum. It provides insights into the role of curators in museums and shares behind-the-scenes stories. If you’re curious about museum work, you’ll find this book intriguing. Fun fact: I’m even mentioned in a footnote!
The last three books are science-related and enjoyable reads. The first is “I Contain Multitudes” by Ed Yong. It explores the world of bacteria and microbiomes, discussing how these tiny organisms play a crucial role in our lives and the latest discoveries in this field.
Next is “The Poisoner’s Handbook” by Deborah Blum. Set in New York City during the Jazz Age, it covers the rise of forensic chemistry. The book details how two scientists developed methods to detect poison in murder cases, with each chapter focusing on different cases and poisons. It’s a thrilling read for mystery fans.
Finally, I recommend “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” by Caitlin Doughty. Known for her YouTube channel “Ask a Mortician,” Caitlin shares her experiences working in a crematory and encourages a positive approach to discussing death. It’s an insightful book that promotes open conversations about mortality.
These are some of the top books I’ve read recently. If you’ve read any of these or have recommendations for me, I’d love to hear from you. I enjoy reading nonfiction and graphic novels about dinosaurs. Let me know your thoughts!
Choose one of the recommended books from the article and write a detailed review. Share your thoughts on the main themes, your favorite parts, and what you learned. Post your review on a class blog or a shared online platform. This will help you practice critical thinking and writing skills while engaging with your peers.
Pick a book that interests you, such as “Letters to a Young Scientist” or “The Snake Charmer,” and create a presentation about the scientific concepts or historical events discussed in the book. Use visuals and interesting facts to make your presentation engaging. Present it to your class to enhance your public speaking skills and share knowledge.
Inspired by “Dinosaur Empire,” write your own short story where you travel back in time to a historical period of your choice. Include interactions with key figures or events from that era. This activity will help you develop creative writing skills and deepen your understanding of history.
Imagine you are a curator at a museum, like the Field Museum mentioned in the article. Design a new exhibit based on one of the books, such as “The Lady and the Panda.” Create a layout, include descriptions of artifacts, and explain the educational purpose of your exhibit. This will enhance your research and design skills.
Form a debate club where you discuss topics from the science-related books, like the role of microbiomes from “I Contain Multitudes” or forensic chemistry from “The Poisoner’s Handbook.” Prepare arguments for and against certain scientific theories or ethical questions. This will improve your analytical thinking and public speaking abilities.
Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
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Hey YouTube! I realize it’s been a while since I’ve done a recommended reading video. I haven’t done one since I’ve been at the Field Museum, which means it’s been about four and a half years. So, I thought it was about time to suggest some books that I’ve read in the last couple of years that I really enjoyed, which broadened my horizons and piqued my curiosity. I think you will like them as well, so that is what we are doing today. Okay, let’s go!
The first two books I want to recommend are great for a younger audience. The first book is “Letters to a Young Scientist” by Edward O. Wilson. I think this book is super important for anyone interested in pursuing a field of science. Edward Wilson is a Harvard biologist who studies ants and is one of the most important scientists of our generation. If you think you’re interested in pursuing a field of science but are unsure about your skills, this book will help alleviate a lot of your anxiety by providing practical advice.
The other book I want to recommend for a younger audience is “Dinosaur Empire” by Abby Howard. This is the first in a series of three books that Abby has written and illustrated about the dinosaur era. This one focuses on the Mesozoic period and follows a character named Ronnie, who struggles with a school test about dinosaurs. She meets a teacher, Miss Learning, who takes her on a time-traveling adventure to learn about the various animals and plants of the Mesozoic. It’s not just about dinosaurs; it also covers the evolution of parasites and insects. I found it emotionally moving!
The next three books are all about natural history and various natural history museums, with two of them focusing on the Field Museum. The first is “The Snake Charmer” by Jamie James, which tells the story of Joe Slowinski, a herpetologist at the California Academy of Sciences. The book dives into the challenges of fieldwork and Joe’s life story, detailing his passion for snakes and his career. It centers around a significant expedition, and I found it to be a very impactful read.
The second book is “The Lady and the Panda” by Vicki Croke, which may be familiar if you watched our video “The Flapper and the Panda.” It’s about Ruth Harkness, a woman in the 1920s who became determined to bring the first live panda to the United States. Reading this book gave me a deeper appreciation for the significance of that specimen at the museum.
The third book is by one of our curators, Lance Grande. We’ve done a couple of videos with him, and this book discusses the role of curators in museums. If you’re interested in behind-the-scenes stories, you’ll enjoy this one. A fun fact: I’m even mentioned in a footnote!
The last three books I want to discuss don’t necessarily focus on natural history but are science-related and enjoyable reads. The first is “I Contain Multitudes” by Ed Yong, which explores the world of bacteria and microbiomes. It discusses how these microscopic organisms play a crucial role in our lives and the ongoing discoveries in this field.
Next is “The Poisoner’s Handbook” by Deborah Blum, which covers New York City in the Jazz Age and the rise of forensic chemistry. It details how two scientists developed methods to detect poison in murder cases, structured around various cases and poisons. It’s well-written and perfect for fans of mystery.
Finally, I recommend “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” by Caitlin Doughty, known for her YouTube channel “Ask a Mortician.” This book recounts her experiences working in a crematory and promotes a positive approach to discussing death. It’s insightful and encourages open conversations about mortality.
So, those are some of the top books I’ve read in the last year or so. I would love to know if you’ve read any of these or if you have book recommendations for me. I enjoy reading nonfiction and graphic novels about dinosaurs. Let me know in the comments! Okay, goodbye!
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This version removes any informal language and emotional expressions while retaining the core content and recommendations.
Science – The systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. – Science helps us understand the universe, from the smallest particles to the vastness of space.
Books – Written or printed works consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers. – Books can transport readers to different worlds, offering knowledge and inspiration through their pages.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – History allows us to learn from past civilizations and understand how they have shaped the present.
Dinosaurs – A diverse group of reptiles of the clade Dinosauria that were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years. – Dinosaurs roamed the Earth long before humans existed, leaving behind fossils that tell their story.
Microbiomes – The ecological community of microorganisms that share our body space, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. – Scientists study microbiomes to understand their impact on human health and disease.
Evolution – The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth. – Evolution explains how species adapt to their environments over time through natural selection.
Museums – Institutions that collect, preserve, and exhibit objects of historical, cultural, or scientific importance. – Museums offer a glimpse into the past, showcasing artifacts that tell the story of human and natural history.
Chemistry – The branch of science concerned with the substances of which matter is composed, the investigation of their properties and reactions, and the use of such reactions to form new substances. – Chemistry helps us understand the composition of everything around us, from the air we breathe to the food we eat.
Curiosity – A strong desire to know or learn something. – Curiosity drives scientists to explore the unknown and make new discoveries.
Adventure – An unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity. – Reading a novel can be an adventure, taking readers on a journey through thrilling and unexpected events.
