The Books That Helped Shaped Neil DeGrasse Tyson's Childhood

 

I enjoyed watching this long video where Neil DeGrasse Tyson talks about the books that shaped his childhood. He had a great story about his encounter with Carl Sagan at the end of the video. Most of the books feature science in some way.

SciManDan Science Book Club - A New Book Club For 2026 For Science Lovers!

 

Are you a lover of science and also an avid book reader? 

Then I have great news for you! Popular YouTuber, SciManDan, has created a new science based book club that starts next year in March 2026 called the SciManDan Book Club.

This will be a curated book club by SciManDan himself. Six science based books will be available for this book club in either a physical format or a digital format. The choice is yours!

There are plenty of perks that come with SciManDan's Book Club. Below are a few of the benefits:

* A thoughtfully curated science title chosen for depth and readability.
* An A6 card with personal notes, thoughts, or context about the book and a QR code to a Book Club ONLY video from Dan.
*Access to the private Book Club Discord server.

To learn more about the SciManDan Book Club, please watch the above eight minute YouTube video. Or click on the above link to read more about the SciManDan BookClub and join!

Humming Heroes: Inside The Nose That Almost Nobody Knows by John McMillan and Philip McMillan

 

I first learned about Humming Heroes: Inside The Nose That Almost Nobody Knows by John McMillan and Dr. Philip McMillan by periodically watching Dr. Philip McMillan's YouTube Channel, Vejon Health. It was by watching the Vejon Health channel on YouTube that I discovered Humming Heroes was a Kickstarter project. I am thrilled to see that this book was fully funded and has been published.

Humming Heroes by John McMillan and Philip McMillan is a nonfiction children's/young adult book and is geared for ages 8 to 18 years old. I read the paperback edition, which is 64 pages in length.

What did I love about this nonfiction book? I loved the illustrations for this book. The illustrations are charming and beautifully rendered by Isil Gül. I love the creative approach taken by the authors to explain how the immune system works to children and how humming supercharges one's immune system. The way this book is formatted is excellent... It's part poetry with added additional text to express in more detail for older audiences the science involved with our immune system.

What did I dislike about Humming Heroes by John McMillan and Philip McMillan? The cardstock used for this book feels flimsy to me. In fact, the book itself arrived already dinged from Amazon. So, I have doubts that the cardstock will hold up over time no matter how careful I am with this book itself. Additionally, the paperback edition of Humming Heroes by John McMillan and Philip McMillan sells for $15.99, which I think is pricey for a 64 page paperback book printed on what feels like flimsy cardstock. Everything else about this book is fine.

The publisher's summary for Humming Heroes: Inside The Nose That Almost Nobody Knows by John McMillan and Philip McMillan I found on Amazon's website states the following:

Set within a child’s nose, ‘Humming Heroes’ features a family of Lymphocytes led by a wise Mother, brave Father, determined Brother, and heroic Baby, confronting invading microorganisms. The story takes an imaginative turn, emphasizing the power of working together, when the child humming melody combines with the Lymphocytes’ song to repel the invaders and restore inner harmony. This project bridges the gap between scientific knowledge and public understanding, providing both children and adults with an opportunity to explore the fascinating world of the immune system.

I am giving Humming Heroes: Inside The Nose That Almost Nobody Knows by John McMillan and Philip McMillan a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Eloquence of the Sardine: Extraordinary Encounters Beneath the Sea by Bill François

 

Eloquence of the Sardine: Extraordinary Encounters Beneath the Sea by Bill François was my 20th read for 2024! I listened to the unabridged audio version of this nonfiction book, which was nicely narrated by Graham Halstead. 

Listening time for Eloquence of the Sardine is 5 hours, 1 minute, which made for another quick read/listen for me.

Eloquence of the Sardine by Bill François is such a wonderful read as it combines science, natural history, and various oceanic animals among its topics. I really enjoyed learning about the different animals discussed by the author as well as the natural history and other science related topics the author brought up in his book. The Eloquence of the Sardine is well written and flowed nicely from chapter to chapter. The content for Eloquence of the Sardine is also engaging with just the right amount of science in it without making it dry or boring.

Below is the publisher's summary for Eloquence of the Sardine: Extraordinary Encounters Beneath the Sea by Bill François from Chirp's website:

If we listen to the ocean, what do we hear? What can it teach us? How can it change us?

Written by a marine scientist (and winner of French eloquence competitions), this work of narrative nonfiction blends Bill François’s personal story with that of sea creatures to create an original and exciting work. In poetic prose, he describes his unlikely journey from being a Parisian child, afraid of the water and crippled by self-consciousness, to an eloquent and self-assured young man with a passion for the ocean and all who inhabit it. In doing so, he tells the stories of sardines, anchovies, eels, suckerfish, and whales (to name a few), and demystifies their fascinating conversations.

A mix between science and storytelling from the past and present, Eloquence of the Sardine is an invitation to dive deep and learn from the secrets of the ocean.

I am giving Eloquence of the Sardine: Extraordinary Encounters Beneath the Sea by Bill François a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Overkill: When Modern Medicine Goes Too Far by Paul A. Offit M.D.

Overkill: When Modern Medicine Goes Too Far by Paul A. Offit M.D. is the third book by Paul A. Offit M.D. I've read and I look forward to reading more of his books in the future... In fact, I already have Offit's most recently published book, Tell Me When It's Over: An Insider's Guide to Deciphering Covid Myths and Navigating Our Post-Pandemic World, in my 'tbr' pile... Let's just say that Paul A. Offit M.D. has become an author I have on auto-buy as his books are really well written and very informative!

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Overkill: When Modern Medicine Goes Too Far by Paul A. Offit M.D. and narrated by Tim H. Dixon. If you love listening to nonfiction books that fall into the science, health, and medicine categories, then this book is for you! It's a truly excellent read and packed with tons of information. The only think I wasn't in love with was the narrator for this book. Tim H. Dixon is a decent narrator, but overall not that great. Otherwise, the book itself is WONDERFUL!!

I love how Overkill: When Modern Medicine Goes Too Far by Paul A. Offit M.D. is organized into six distinct health/medical sections (infections, supplements and drugs, cancer screening, surgery, etc.) with individual chapters in each section. Each chapter discusses a specific medical/health topic that falls into one of the six areas Offit focused on in his book. Some of these chapters are titled  'Antibiotic Drops Don't Treat Pinkeye', 'The False Security of Sunblock', 'Heart Stents Don't Prolong Lives', and 'Don't Ice Sprains'. Each of these chapters goes into much detail as to why modern science has had it wrong.

Below is the publisher's summary for Overkill: When Modern Medicine Goes Too Far by Paul A. Offit M.D. I discovered on Chirp's website:

An acclaimed medical expert and patient advocate offers an eye-opening look at many common and widely used medical interventions that have been shown to be far more harmful than helpful. Yet, surprisingly, despite clear evidence to the contrary, most doctors continue to recommend them.

Modern medicine has significantly advanced in the last few decades as more informed practices, thorough research, and incredible breakthroughs have made it possible to successfully treat and even eradicate many serious ailments. Illnesses that once were a death sentence, such as HIV and certain forms of cancer, can now be managed, allowing those affected to live longer, healthier lives. Because of these advances, we now live 30 years longer than we did 100 years ago.

But while we have learned much in the preceding decades that has changed our outlook and practices, we still rely on medical interventions that are vastly out of date and can adversely affect our health. We all know that finishing the course of antibiotics prevents the recurrence of illness, that sunscreens block harmful UV rays that cause skin cancer, and that all cancer-screening programs save lives. But do scientific studies really back this up?

In this game-changing book, Dr. Paul A. Offit debunks fifteen common medical interventions that have long been considered gospel despite mounting evidence of their adverse effects, from vitamins, sunscreen, fever-reducing medicines, and eyedrops for pink eye to more serious procedures like heart stents and knee surgery. Analyzing how these practices came to be, the biology of what makes them so ineffective and harmful, and the medical culture that continues to promote them, Overkill informs patients to help them advocate for their health. By educating ourselves, we can ask better questions about some of the drugs and surgeries that are all too readily available—and all too heavily promoted.

I am giving Overkill: When Modern Medicine Goes Too Far by Paul A. Offit M.D. a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Zapped: From Infrared to X-rays, the Curious History of Invisible Light by Bob Berman

 

Zapped: From Infrared to X-rays, the Curious History of Invisible Light by Bob Berman and narrated by Peter Ganim is my second read (or listen rather) I finished during the month of September 2023.

I am most definitely not a science geek! With the exception of biology, I always shied away from the sciences and math in high school and college. I wish I hadn't been so disinterested in learning more about math or science now, as I find these areas fascinating, especially the sciences in general. Not to mention, my husband is a scientist and his job sounds like one I'd love to be doing as a career.

Bare with me here on how I ended up choosing to read Zapped: From Infrared to X-rays, the Curious History of Invisible Light by Bob Berman. First off the topic of invisible light and its history did sound intriguing. Additionally, my husband's college educational background is in physics as he has both undergraduate and graduate degrees in physics. My husband focused his area of attention/studies in graduate school on optics, photonics, and lasers. So, the subject matter contained within Zapped: From Infrared to X-rays, the Curious History of Invisible Light is essentially stuff he is very familiar with as he has applied what he has learned to his choice of career. I ended up choosing to listen to Zapped: From Infrared to X-rays, the Curious History of Invisible Light by Bob Berman not only out of interest, but also because it would be fun to discuss what I was learning with my husband. I was also able to ask my husband questions I had about the different topics I was hearing discussed in the book, which was great as it helped me understand some of the concepts I was curious about in more detail.

Now for the review of Zapped: From Infrared to X-rays, the Curious History of Invisible Light by Bob Berman. I truly enjoyed this book! I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading nonfiction, science, and physics related books especially. This book is well narrated, well organized, and covers a lot of ground! I learned so much from this book. If you aren't a science geek, you'll still be able to enjoy this book and learn a lot.

Below is the publisher's summary for Zapped: From Infrared to X-rays, the Curious History of Invisible Light by Bob Berman I discovered on the Goodreads website:

How much do you know about the radiation all around you?

Your electronic devices swarm with it; the sun bathes you in it. It's zooming at you from cell towers, microwave ovens, CT scans, mammogram machines, nuclear power plants, deep space, even the walls of your basement. You cannot see, hear, smell or feel it, but there is never a single second when it is not flying through your body. Too much of it will kill you, but without it you wouldn't live a year.

From beloved popular science writer Bob Berman, Zapped tells the story of all the light we cannot see, tracing infrared, microwaves, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays, radio waves and other forms of radiation from their historic, world-altering discoveries in the 19th century to their central role in our modern way of life, setting the record straight on health costs (and benefits) and exploring the consequences of our newest technologies.

Lively, informative, and packed with fun facts and "eureka moments," Zapped will delight anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of our world.

I am giving Zapped: From Infrared to X-rays, the Curious History of Invisible Light by Bob Berman a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!! 

18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb

 

I truly enjoy reading nonfiction books on a wide array of topics. I especially enjoy topics on forensic science and true crime in general. So, I took a chance on listening to the unabridged audio version of 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb and narrated by Nan McNamara. 

What a delightful book! 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb not only covers modern forensics, it also encompasses the interesting life of Frances Glessner Lee and her major contribution to modern day forensics. Frankly, I'd never even heard of Frances Glessner Lee before discovering Bruce Goldfarb's book!

I really enjoyed listening to 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb. It's packed with a lot of information from start to finish and well narrated by Nan McNamara. If you're fascinated by science, history, biography, and nonfiction in general, then this book may be right up your alley.

Below is the publisher's summary for 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb from Chirp's website:

The story of a woman whose ambition and accomplishments far exceeded the expectations of her time, 18 Tiny Deaths follows the transformation of a young, wealthy socialite into the mother of modern forensics… Frances Glessner Lee, born a socialite to a wealthy and influential Chicago family in the 1870s, was never meant to have a career, let alone one steeped in death and depravity. Yet she developed a fascination with the investigation of violent crimes, and made it her life’s work. Best known for creating the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, a series of dollhouses that appear charming until you notice the macabre little details: an overturned chair, or a blood-spattered comforter. And then, of course, there are the bodies splayed out on the floor, draped over chairs clothed in garments that Lee lovingly knit with sewing pins. 18 Tiny Deaths, by official biographer Bruce Goldfarb, delves into Lee’s journey from grandmother without a college degree to leading the scientific investigation of unexpected death out of the dark confines of centuries-old techniques and into the light of the modern day. Lee developed a system that used the Nutshells dioramas to train law enforcement officers to investigate violent crimes, and her methods are still used today. 18 Tiny Deaths transports the reader back in time and tells the story of how one woman, who should never have even been allowed into the classrooms she ended up teaching in, changed the face of science forever.

I am giving 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Pandora's Lab: Seven Stories of Science Gone Wrong by Paul A. Offit, M.D.

 I received a finished hardback copy of Pandora's Lab: Seven Stories of Science Gone Wrong by Paul A. Offit, M.D. for FREE through the Goodreads Giveaways program. 

Below is my honest, unbiased review of Pandora's Lab: Seven Stories of Science Gone Wrong by Paul A. Offit, M.D.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Pandora's Lab: Seven Stories of Science Gone Wrong by Paul A. Offit, M.D. If you like reading about science and also the topic of medicine, then this is the nonfiction book to read. Paul A. Offit, M.D. discusses seven stories about science going wrong from opioids, margarine, lobotomies, DDT, eugenics, and so much more!

I thought Pandora's Lab: Seven Stories of Science Gone Wrong by Paul A. Offit, M.D. was nicely organized, well written, and filled with plenty of material and background information for readers to gain significant insight into why certain scientific findings that initially seemed like sound science went awry and weren't that great after all.

Chapter 8 titled, 'Learning From The Past', was one of my favorite chapters in Pandora's Lab: Seven Stories of Science Gone Wrong by Paul A. Offit, M.D. as it discusses seven areas to focus on in order to avoid science disasters in the future. Chapter 8 even sites more cases/examples of science gone wrong with hot topics like e-cigarettes, BPAs, GMOs, and Autism.

The following is a summary for Pandora's Lab: Seven Stories of Science Gone Wrong by Paul A. Offit, M.D. from Amazon:

What happens when ideas presented as science lead us in the wrong direction?

History is filled with brilliant ideas that gave rise to disaster, and this book explores the most fascinating—and significant—missteps: from opium's heyday as the pain reliever of choice to recognition of opioids as a major cause of death in the U.S.; from the rise of trans fats as the golden ingredient for tastier, cheaper food to the heart disease epidemic that followed; and from the cries to ban DDT for the sake of the environment to an epidemic-level rise in world malaria.

These are today's sins of science—as deplorable as mistaken past ideas about advocating racial purity or using lobotomies as a cure for mental illness. These unwitting errors add up to seven lessons both cautionary and profound, narrated by renowned author and speaker Paul A. Offit. Offit uses these lessons to investigate how we can separate good science from bad, using some of today's most controversial creations—e-cigarettes, GMOs, drug treatments for ADHD—as case studies. For every "Aha!" moment that should have been an "Oh no," this book is an engrossing account of how science has been misused disastrously—and how we can learn to use its power for good.

I am giving Pandora's Lab: Seven Stories of Science Gone Wrong by Paul A. Offit, M.D. a rating of 5 stars put of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!!