NPR's Picks for the Best Science Books of 2023

Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World

"The Fort McMurray wildfire, known locally as “the Beast,” caused billions of dollars in damages and displaced tens of thousands of people. Vaillant takes readers back into the deep history of the boreal forests before thrusting us into the Beast’s fiery heart. Fire Weather is a report from the front lines of environmental cataclysm and a prediction of what more will surely come." — Neda Ulaby

The Last Animal

"It is the Age of Extinction, with the most recent death being that of Jane’s beloved husband, dead in a car accident. Jane, a graduate student in paleobiology, takes her daughters to Siberia on a research trip, and while there, the girls discover something miraculous: an entire baby mammoth frozen in the ice... When an opportunity to do some experimental science comes up, they jump on it, throwing caution and proper procedure to the wind."— Ilana Masad

Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

"Scharre’s clear primer on AI addresses the race to lead AI in determining the rules of the next century. He raises the possibility that AI in war accelerates past human control, undermining democracy and freedom. He urges democratic nations to shape the future of AI, arguing that the U.S. has struggled to develop an identifiable strategy for AI, unlike China, which views it as a key to national success."— Edith Chapin

The Quickening: Antarctica, Motherhood, and Cultivating Hope in a Warming World

"Books about Antarctica are always about dudes. Brave dudes who went to a cold, scary place and performed feats of strength and endurance... This book is the antidote to those. It takes place on a somewhat-claustrophobic research ship bound for Antarctica. Elizabeth Rush mixes science reporting with memoir as she ruminates on her choice to have a child, how it feels to confront climate change and how laborious it is to study Antarctica."— Rebecca Hersher

The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight

"The Country of the Blind represents Leland’s personal, cultural and historical journey into “the world of blindness and what possibilities might exist there” as he comes to terms with the total blindness he knows awaits him. This artful blend of memoir and wide-ranging investigation generously invites the reader to “discover the largely invisible terrain of blindness” and sit together with Leland in uncertainty." — Kristen Martin

Ultra-Processed People: The Science Behind Food That Isn't Food

"Humans first processed food by crushing grain to make bread, but in recent decades, ultraprocessed products made with fillers, additives and synthetic ingredients have come to dominate the food supply. To demonstrate the health impacts, Dr. van Tulleken went on an ultraprocessed diet: “I became unwell very quickly,” he says. The book is both a fascinating history lesson and a cautionary tale. And it will make you much more careful about what you eat." — Jane Greenhalgh

The Great Displacement: Climate Change and the Next American Migration

"Climate change is reshaping the world, leading to rising temperatures and sea levels, melting glaciers and increasingly severe droughts... Jake Bittle is an empathetic writer with a real gift for explaining the fraught issues that make the climate crisis so complex, and this is a fascinating look at how America has changed, and will continue to change, as the climate crisis wreaks havoc on the nation and the people who live there." – Michael Schaub

The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet

"Jeff Goodell’s writing is so engaging. He explains the science behind climate change and its effects, taking you on a journey from the halls of power where crucial decisions are made to the front lines, through personal stories of people who have been affected by climate change, which is relatable and moving... If you want to better understand the climate crisis and to feel inspired to make a difference, and not just dwell in the doom and gloom, this book is a must-read."— Natalia Fidelholtz

Whalefall

"When you read a novel about a man who is accidentally swallowed by a whale you probably expect strangeness and gore... However, it’s the book’s wealth of scientific facts and emotional content that makes this a must-read. An enthralling, claustrophobic, action-packed thriller that is also a love letter to the ocean and a beautiful tale that explores the broken relationship between a man and his dead father, this is Kraus’ best novel to date."— Gabino Iglesias

Egg: A Dozen Ovatures

"I never thought all that much about eggs. But Lizzie Stark dives into their mythology, their uses in scientific experiments and the food industry, and the many ways that they’ve been decorated. And, no yolk, there is a lot to egg-splore. Egg puns aside (and she has a lot of them!), Stark also has a difficult relationship with her own eggs: She has a genetic link to cancer. The combination of facts and whimsy makes this an egg-cellent read." — Emiko Tamagawa