Nonfiction Science

Noted transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau spent two years, two months, and two days chronicling his near-isolation in the small cabin he built in the woods near Walden Pond on land owned by his mentor, the father of Transcendentalism, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Immersing himself in nature and solitude, Thoreau sought to develop a greater understanding of society amidst a life of self-reliance and simplicity. Originally published in 1854, Walden remains one of the most celebrated works in American literature.

Giant pandas munch on bamboo. Learn all about these gentle bears and their habitats in Giant Pandas.

Snowy owls make their homes in the icy white lands of the north. In these snowy places, they are perfectly camouflaged. Learn more about this giant owl!

Museum guide Maria gives a tour of the science museum explaining the various collections and exhibits that are found there and the ways in which science museums differ from other museums. This audiobook includes instructions for creating a museum exhibit and other resources.

La plupart des gens aiment les maths. L'ennui, c'est qu'ils ne le savent pas. Dans les temps préhistoriques, les maths sont nées pour être utiles. Les nombres servaient à compter les moutons d'un troupeau. La géométrie permettait de mesurer les champs et de tracer des routes. L'histoire aurait pu en rester là, mais au fil des siècles, les Homo sapiens furent bien étonnés de découvrir les chemins sinueux de cette science parfois abstraite.

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE The 10th Anniversary Edition of the powerful and important work about the future of the world, blending intellectual and natural history and field reporting into a compelling account of the mass extinction unfolding before our eyes. Over the last half a billion years...

The Titanic sinking is one of the most memorable tragedies in history. Find out what really happened when the doomed ship sank on April 15, 1912.

Lions are meat-eating mammals that like to live in groups or families. A lion's family is called a “pride.” Usually there will be many females that live together along with their cubs, but only one male. Lions like to play and hunt together. Because they have a keen sense of hearing and sight, they often will hunt at night. Usually the females do the hunting. They work in groups to catch their prey. The male lion takes his share of the catch before the females and cubs get any food. Lions are known for their loud, ferocious roar.

New York Times-bestselling author of Endure Alex Hutchinson returns with a fresh, provocative investigation into how exploration, uncertainty, and risk shape our behavior and help us find meaning. Off the beaten path, following unmarked trails, we are wired to explore. More than just a need to...

The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Proof of Heaven teams up with the sages of times past, modern scientists, and with ordinary people who have had profound spiritual experiences to show the reality of heaven and our true identities as spiritual beings. When Dr. Eben Alexander told...

An intriguing new scientific theory that explains what life is and how it emerges. What is life? This is among the most difficult open problems in science, right up there with the nature of consciousness and the existence of matter. All the definitions we have fall short. None help us understand...

Squeal! Guinea pigs make fun pets. Some have long hair and some have almost no hair at all. Some have crests on their heads and others have droopy ears. Young listeners will learn about the appearance and behavior of guinea pigs, and discover why these playful rodents make great pets.

Peek! A baby prairie dog looks out of its underground burrow. Beginning listeners will discover why burrows make good homes for growing baby rabbits, meerkats, and other adorable animals.

“There are at least two kinds of games,” states James P. Carse as he begins this extraordinary book. “One could be called finite; the other infinite. A finite game is played for the purpose of winning, an infinite game for the purpose of continuing the play.” Finite games are the...

Should we believe in God? In this brisk introduction to modern atheism, one of the world’s greatest science writers tells us why we shouldn’t. Richard Dawkins was fifteen when he stopped believing in God. Deeply impressed by the beauty and complexity of living things, he’d felt certain...

Brr! Polar bears live in cold places. Learn other things about these animals inside this book.

King cobras slither across the ground. Learn all about these venomous snakes and their habitats in King Cobras.

Cheep! Cheep! What is that sound? It’s a baby bird in a nest! Beginning listeners will discover why nests make good homes for growing baby birds, squirrels, and other animals.

“Compulsively readable—a masterpiece, maybe the masterpiece of science journalism.” —Bill McKibben, Audubon A brilliant, stirring work, breathtaking in its scope and far-reaching in its message, The Song of the Dodo is a crucial book in precarious times. Through personal observation...

Lesbian. Bisexual. Queer. Transgender. Straight. Curious. This book is for everyone, regardless of gender or sexual preference. This book is for anyone who's ever dared to wonder. This book is for you. There's a long-running joke that after "coming out", a lesbian, gay guy, bisexual, or trans person should receive a membership card and instruction manual. This is that instruction manual. You're welcome.