Best Popular Science Books on Goodreads

1.
The Selfish Gene
The Selfish Gene 4.16 avg rating — 189,062 ratings
2.
Cosmos
Cosmos 4.40 avg rating — 155,626 ratings
3.
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales 4.05 avg rating — 239,814 ratings
4.
The Origin of Species
The Origin of Species 4.01 avg rating — 120,189 ratings
5.
A Brief History of Time
A Brief History of Time 4.21 avg rating — 467,027 ratings
6.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks 4.13 avg rating — 787,073 ratings
7.
A Short History of Nearly Everything
A Short History of Nearly Everything 4.22 avg rating — 412,839 ratings
8.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind 4.34 avg rating — 1,201,800 ratings
9.
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies 4.04 avg rating — 445,042 ratings
10.
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry 4.08 avg rating — 199,992 ratings
11.
The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark 4.29 avg rating — 78,415 ratings
12.
Outliers: The Story of Success
Outliers: The Story of Success 4.19 avg rating — 845,801 ratings
13.
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking 3.96 avg rating — 614,704 ratings
14.
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference 4.01 avg rating — 844,262 ratings
15.
The Double Helix
The Double Helix 3.84 avg rating — 19,753 ratings
16.
Silent Spring
Silent Spring 4.05 avg rating — 53,318 ratings
17.
The Martian
The Martian
by: Andy Weir
4.42 avg rating — 1,238,827 ratings
18.
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers 4.06 avg rating — 234,458 ratings
19.
Hidden Figures
Hidden Figures 3.96 avg rating — 112,015 ratings
20.
Relativity: The Special and the General Theory
Relativity: The Special and the General Theory 4.20 avg rating — 22,702 ratings
21.
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions 4.14 avg rating — 191,217 ratings
21.
The God Delusion
The God Delusion 3.90 avg rating — 279,328 ratings
23.
The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus
The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus 4.16 avg rating — 119,583 ratings
24.
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams 4.37 avg rating — 215,781 ratings
25.
Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time
Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time 3.99 avg rating — 75,027 ratings
26.
Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think
Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think 4.36 avg rating — 197,297 ratings
27.
The Blind Watchmaker: Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe Without Design
The Blind Watchmaker: Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe Without Design 4.09 avg rating — 41,142 ratings
28.
Brief Answers to the Big Questions
Brief Answers to the Big Questions 4.27 avg rating — 84,152 ratings
29.
The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York
The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York 4.01 avg rating — 36,514 ratings
30.
Fermat's Enigma
Fermat's Enigma 4.30 avg rating — 32,758 ratings
31.
The Theory of Everything: The Origin and Fate of the Universe
The Theory of Everything: The Origin and Fate of the Universe 4.18 avg rating — 27,444 ratings
32.
Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War
Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War 3.94 avg rating — 22,977 ratings
33.
QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter
QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter 4.27 avg rating — 19,187 ratings
33.
The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood
The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood 4.04 avg rating — 16,839 ratings
33.
An Anthropologist on Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales
An Anthropologist on Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales 4.15 avg rating — 23,340 ratings
36.
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything 4.01 avg rating — 885,835 ratings
37.
Homo Deus: A History of Tomorrow
Homo Deus: A History of Tomorrow 4.19 avg rating — 278,901 ratings
37.
A Briefer History of Time
A Briefer History of Time 4.26 avg rating — 42,072 ratings
37.
The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World
The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World 4.32 avg rating — 28,488 ratings
40.
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions 4.03 avg rating — 29,126 ratings
41.
A Universe from Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather Than Nothing
A Universe from Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather Than Nothing 3.94 avg rating — 30,330 ratings
41.
The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal
The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal 4.08 avg rating — 28,336 ratings
43.
Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps, and the Tenth Dimension
Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps, and the Tenth Dimension 4.15 avg rating — 23,942 ratings
44.
The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry
The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry 3.95 avg rating — 155,562 ratings
45.
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End 4.49 avg rating — 210,902 ratings
46.
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer 4.34 avg rating — 111,146 ratings
46.
Thinking, Fast and Slow
Thinking, Fast and Slow 4.17 avg rating — 564,597 ratings
48.
"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!": Adventures of a Curious Character
"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!": Adventures of a Curious Character 4.27 avg rating — 213,217 ratings
49.
The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos
The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos 4.11 avg rating — 20,663 ratings
49.
Parallel Worlds: A Journey through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos
Parallel Worlds: A Journey through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos 4.21 avg rating — 22,367 ratings
49.
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World 4.21 avg rating — 38,326 ratings
52.
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals 4.19 avg rating — 208,898 ratings
53.
I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life
I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life
by: Ed Yong
4.18 avg rating — 30,338 ratings
54.
The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language
The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language 4.01 avg rating — 22,310 ratings
54.
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed 3.93 avg rating — 73,872 ratings
56.
The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence 4.19 avg rating — 21,187 ratings
56.
How the Mind Works
How the Mind Works 3.99 avg rating — 20,872 ratings
56.
An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth
An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth 4.17 avg rating — 61,769 ratings
59.
Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained by Its Most Brilliant Teacher
Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained by Its Most Brilliant Teacher 4.21 avg rating — 30,072 ratings
60.
The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory
The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory 4.10 avg rating — 101,036 ratings
60.
The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives
The Drunkard's Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives 3.95 avg rating — 24,070 ratings
62.
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void 3.95 avg rating — 59,461 ratings
62.
In Search of Schrödinger's Cat: Quantum Physics and Reality
In Search of Schrödinger's Cat: Quantum Physics and Reality 4.06 avg rating — 21,372 ratings
62.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking 4.08 avg rating — 465,731 ratings
62.
Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions
Algorithms to Live By: The Computer Science of Human Decisions 4.13 avg rating — 34,097 ratings
66.
Physics of the Future: How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100
Physics of the Future: How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100 really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 17,924 ratings
67.
Einstein: His Life and Universe
Einstein: His Life and Universe 4.17 avg rating — 197,573 ratings
68.
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex 3.85 avg rating — 59,578 ratings
68.
The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography
The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography 4.30 avg rating — 28,489 ratings
70.
The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements
The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements
by: Sam Kean
3.93 avg rating — 54,826 ratings
71.
The Grand Design
The Grand Design 4.06 avg rating — 76,524 ratings
71.
Lab Girl
Lab Girl 3.98 avg rating — 70,900 ratings
73.
Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World
Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvelous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World 4.11 avg rating — 20,496 ratings
73.
Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain
Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain 3.95 avg rating — 72,840 ratings
75.
Billions & Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium
Billions & Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium 4.30 avg rating — 17,621 ratings
75.
The Making of the Atomic Bomb
The Making of the Atomic Bomb 4.40 avg rating — 23,886 ratings
77.
The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution
The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution 4.16 avg rating — 55,476 ratings
77.
The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World
The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World 4.06 avg rating — 58,652 ratings
79.
The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History
The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History 4.15 avg rating — 77,287 ratings
79.
Bad Science
Bad Science 4.06 avg rating — 44,418 ratings
79.
Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History
Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History 4.14 avg rating — 10,151 ratings
82.
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics 3.99 avg rating — 64,374 ratings
82.
Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything
Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything 3.88 avg rating — 93,077 ratings
84.
The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality
The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality 4.13 avg rating — 40,011 ratings
84.
"What Do You Care What Other People Think?": Further Adventures of a Curious Character
"What Do You Care What Other People Think?": Further Adventures of a Curious Character 4.19 avg rating — 30,239 ratings
86.
The Gene: An Intimate History
The Gene: An Intimate History 4.36 avg rating — 54,021 ratings
86.
Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal
Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal 3.93 avg rating — 50,607 ratings
88.
Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid 4.29 avg rating — 51,680 ratings
89.
Physics of the Impossible
Physics of the Impossible 4.10 avg rating — 40,954 ratings
89.
The Mismeasure of Man
The Mismeasure of Man 4.05 avg rating — 9,212 ratings
91.
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men 4.34 avg rating — 156,607 ratings
92.
The World Without Us
The World Without Us 3.81 avg rating — 42,954 ratings
92.
The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable
The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable 3.96 avg rating — 119,252 ratings
94.
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife 3.60 avg rating — 40,173 ratings
94.
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women 4.16 avg rating — 176,385 ratings
96.
Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst
Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst 4.39 avg rating — 29,594 ratings
96.
Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation
Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation
by: Bill Nye
4.14 avg rating — 13,630 ratings
98.
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? 3.97 avg rating — 16,186 ratings
99.
The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic—and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World
The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic—and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World 3.89 avg rating — 55,256 ratings
99.
The Order of Time
The Order of Time 4.13 avg rating — 36,608 ratings
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