Book cover of Genuine Fakes: How Phony Things Teach Us About Real Stuff by Lydia Pyne
Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

Genuine Fakes: How Phony Things Teach Us About Real Stuff

Does an authentic Andy Warhol painting need to be painted by Andy Warhol? Why do audiences feel outraged when they find out that scenes from their beloved blockbuster documentaries are staged? Can people move past assuming that a diamond grown in a lab is a fake? What happens when a forged painting or manuscript becomes more valuable than its original? […Learn More]

Book cover of Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey by Florence Williams

Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey

When her twenty-five-year marriage suddenly falls apart, journalist Florence Williams expects the loss to hurt. But when she starts feeling physically sick, losing weight and sleep, she sets out in pursuit of rational explanation. She travels to the frontiers of the science of “social pain” to learn why heartbreak hurts so much—and why so much of the conventional wisdom about it is wrong. […Learn More]

Book cover of Why You Like It: The Science and Culture of Musical Taste by Nolan Gasser
Biological Sciences

Why You Like It: The Science and Culture of Musical Taste

From the chief architect of the Pandora Radio’s Music Genome Project comes a definitive and groundbreaking examination of why we respond to music the way we do.

Everyone loves music. But what is it that makes music so universally beloved and have such a powerful effect on us? […Learn More]

Book cover of The Joy of Science by Jim Al-Khalili
Science & Math

The Joy of Science

Quantum physicist, New York Times bestselling author, and BBC host Jim Al-Khalili reveals how 8 lessons from the heart of science can help you get the most out of life

Today’s world is unpredictable and full of contradictions, and navigating its complexities while trying to make the best decisions is far from easy. The Joy of Science presents 8 short lessons on how to unlock the clarity, empowerment, and joy of thinking and living a little more scientifically. […Learn More]

Book cover of On the Fringe: Where Science Meets Pseudoscience by Michael Gordin
Politics & Social Science

On the Fringe: Where Science Meets Pseudoscience

Everyone has heard of the term “pseudoscience”, typically used to describe something that looks like science, but is somehow false, misleading, or unproven. Many would be able to agree on a list of things that fall under its umbrella– astrology, phrenology, UFOlogy, creationism, and eugenics might come to mind. But defining what makes these fields “pseudo” is a far more complex issue. It has proved impossible to come up with a simple criterion that enables us to differentiate pseudoscience from genuine science. […Learn More]

Book cover of The Art of More: How Mathematics Created Civilization by Michael Brooks
History

The Art of More: How Mathematics Created Civilization

An illuminating, millennia-spanning history of the impact mathematics has had on the world, and the fascinating people who have mastered its inherent power
 
Counting is not innate to our nature, and without education humans can rarely count past three — beyond that, it’s just “more.” But once harnessed by our ancestors, the power of numbers allowed humanity to flourish in ways that continue to lead to discoveries and enrich our lives today. […Learn More]