There are so many wonderful nonfiction titles just waiting for a cozy reading nook and a curious reader.  Take a look at a few fascinating options …

Shark Drunk: the Art of Catching a Large Shark from a Tiny Rubber Dinghy in a Big Ocean by Morten Stroksnes

The author describes his experience fishing for the Greenland shark off the coast of Norway with his friend, a mission that sees the two tackle existential questions, survive a maelstrom, and get drunk while trying to understand the ocean from every angle.

Why? What Makes Us Curious by Mario Livio

An internationally respected astrophysicist explores the science behind curiosity to evaluate its role in human creativity, ambition and culture, drawing on interviews with scientists and students while examining the lives of forefront intellectuals to identify how curiosity manifests in the brain.

The Streak: Lou Gehrig, Cal Ripken Jr. and Baseball’s Most Historic Record by John Eisenberg

Discusses the historic game-playing records by both Lou Gehrig and Cal Ripken Jr., using research, analysis, and storytelling to detail who had the more difficult road to achievement.

Caesar’s Last Breath: Decoding the Secrets of the Air Around Us by Sam Kean

An engaging round-the-globe journey through the periodic table explains how the air we breathe reflects the world’s history, tracing the origins and ingredients of the atmosphere to explain air’s role in reshaping continents, steering human progress and powering revolutions.

50 Inventions That Shaped the Modern Economy by Tim Harford

Describes the history of economic change through the 50 inventions that had the most impact and explores the connections they share, from paper money and the horse collar, to bar codes and spreadsheets. Invention by invention, Harford lays bare often unexpected connections: how the bar code undermined family corner stores, and why the gramophone widened inequality. In the process, he introduces characters who developed these inventions, profited from them, and were ruined by them. The result is a wise and witty book of history, economics, and biography.

---