6 finest science books to read in 2021

The Royal Society has honoured and celebrated noteworthy science writing and authors through their Royal Society Science Book Prize, which was started in 1988. Some of their past winners include Bill Bryson and Stephen Hawking among others. The annual award is given to the best work of popular science writing from across the world which makes the genre accessible to the public. A shortlist of six books was recently announced for the Royal Society Science Book Prize 2021. “Each is important and compelling, conveying the wonder of science but also highlighting issues that we should all be concerned about. Important, accessible science writing is certainly alive and well with this enthralling list of titles,” Luke O'Neill FRS, Chair of the 2021 judging panel, said in a statement on their website.

Checkout the six finest science books shortlisted for the award in 2021 here:

Photo: Canva

In his debut book, biologist and writer Merlin Sheldrake sheds light on the spectacular lesser-known world of the fungi, how they play key roles in various processes of nature, how they can heal our bodies, avoid environmental catastrophes and more. The author also highlights how understanding these remarkable organisms can transform our understanding of the world and life.

Photo: Bodley Head

In this book, neurologist Dr Suzanne O’Sullivan travels across the world to understand 'mystery' psychosomatic illnesses, like-- refugee kids sleeping for months and years in Sweden, students developing contagious seizures in New York, or employees of the US Embassy in Cuba complaining of hearing strange noises which leads to headaches and memory loss. In the process she also tries to question what is or isn't classified as an illness and who defines them.

Photo: Picador

Dr Stuart Ritchie works at King’s College London as a Lecturer- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. 'In this vital investigation, Stuart Ritchie reveals the disturbing flaws in today's science that undermine our understanding of the world and threaten human lives. With bias, careless mistakes and even outright forgery influencing everything from austerity economics to the anti-vaccination movement, he proposes vital remedies to save and protect science - this most valuable of human endeavours - from itself,' reads the book's blurb.

Photo: Vintage Digital

READ MORE: Seven Korean novels you must read

10 poetry collections to read in 2021

Galileo was the first human to study the night sky with his telescope; since then astronomy as a branch of science has evolved over the decades. Maybe in the near future, it will soon be taken over by robots who will be gazing at the sky and giving us the data. So what does it take to be an astronomer, what are the challenges, the highs and lows of being one-- these are some of the questions which Emily Levesque answers in her book 'The Last Stargazers'.

Photo: Sourcebooks

Breathing is one of the fundamental things that keeps us alive. Yet over the last few decades, humans have forgotten the art of breathing correctly which has led to grave consequences. In this book, journalist James Nestor writes about the science behind ancient breathing techniques like Pranayama, Sudarshan Kriya and more, and how we can revive them for better health and wellbeing today.

Photo: Penguin Life

In this book American science and culture journalist, Jessica Nordell writes about how unconscious bias affects various aspects of our lives-- culturally, socially and politically-- and how we can end such behaviour. The book is based on Nordell's research on this topic for roughly 10 years, and her study of cognitive science and psychology to bring a change.

Photo: Metropolitan Books