This (North Hemisphere) summer, I have a fresh list of non-fiction book recommendations for you, each one focusing on a distinct and engaging topic:

• HOTHOUSE EARTH: An Inhabitant’s Guide by Bill McGuire: If there’s just one book on climate change you’re going to read, this should be it. Professor McGuire, a recognized authority on geophysical and climate hazards, effectively simplifies the complex science of climate change. Not only does he present its expected impacts, but he also outlines the actions humanity needs to take, all in an easy-to-understand language. You can also read my recent thoughts on climate change and climate action here.
• The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World by Andrea Wulf: This compelling biography navigates the life of Alexander von Humboldt, the Prussian naturalist and explorer whose pioneering ideas reshaped our understanding of ecology in the early 1800s.
• Glucose Goddess by Jessie Inchauspé: This enlightening book dives deep into the subjects of insulin, diabetes, and nutrition. While the underlying science isn’t entirely clear to me, the proposed nutritional guidelines are well-expressed and appear to be worth considering.
• Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall: Offering a unique geopolitical analysis, this insightful book shows how a country or region’s geography can significantly influence its political, economic, and international strategies and outcomes. However, one notable shortcoming I found was its almost complete disregard for the current and future impacts of climate change on the geopolitical landscape.

I hope you’ll find these books as interesting as I did. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, and please spread the word if you find these recommendations useful.

Revisit my previous recommendations here.