I had some Christmas gift card money burning a hole in my pocket so I did a bit of shopping and wanted to show you what I got.
The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World by Andrea Wulf. This is the nonfiction account of Alexander von Humboldt who was the most famous scientist of his age, a visionary German naturalist and polymath whose discoveries forever changed the way we understand the natural world.
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore. The incredible true story of the women heroes who were exposed to radium in factories across the U.S. in the early 20th century, and their brave and groundbreaking battle to strengthen workers’ rights, even as the fatal poison claimed their own lives.
The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert. Over the last half-billion years, there have been Five mass extinctions, when the diversity of life on earth suddenly and dramatically contracted. Scientists around the world are currently monitoring the sixth extinction, predicted to be the most devastating extinction event since the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. This time around, the cataclysm is us.
Devotions by Mary Oliver. I talked about starting this collection last year but I had it as a Kindle read and I just can’t do poetry on a kindle. I want the physical book so I can go back and forth. I love Mary Oliver’s writing so I’m very excited to add this book to my collection.
Yes, I decided to go for nonfiction reads and a poetry book because I realize last year I only read two nonfiction books and would like to read a bit more this year. Also, like in the case of poetry, I do prefer the nonfiction reads to be physical books. I’m waiting on another book (that one is fiction) but it’s been on back order so I should receive that next in the next week or two.
Anyway I’m very excited about all of these because I’ve read some great reviews of all. Let me know if you’ve read any of these as well. Now to decide which one to pick up first. Happy weekend!
I haven’t read Radium Girls, but my husband did and thought it was very good. My book group will be reading it in September!
I have four books of poetry by Mary Oliver, but Devotions is not one of them. I’m planning to read them during National Poetry month. if I can wait that long. Rod gave them to me for my birthday. 🙂
I thought The Radium Girls was fascinating. It was a read/listen combination for me. Great selection of books!
Both The Radium Girls and The Sixth Extinction sound like awesome books. I want to read them both. 🙂
I think you made some great choices. I loved Radium Girls and Devotions, and I’ve always wanted to read Invention of Nature and Sixth Extinction.
Oh The invention of Nature! I read it a couple years ago and loved it! Humboldt was a fascinating person and one of the first to recognize that humans could change the climate. Enjoy all of your new reads!
Les in OR – I’m thinking of saving my Oliver book for National Poetry Month so can’t wait to hear which books you’ll read. I need to find a new to me poet to read too.
JoAnn @ Gulfside Musing – So glad to hear you really enjoyed it. I find science stories so fascinating even if I don’t read them often.
Lark – I’ve been hearing about The Sixth Extinction for a while now and I think that may be the first one I pick up. We’ll see!
Deb Nance at Readerbuzz – Yay, more praise for both. I did read a bit from Devotions when I had it as a Kindle read so I know I’m going to love it.
Stefanie – I’m really excited about it but I forgot how dense the book was. Still I’m determined to read more nonfiction this year.
The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert looks very powerful. I’m thinking it’ll be a bit darker, but history + Nature always gets to me. I do know of several endangered species, but species that actually went extinct? Not much. Dinosaurs and dodo birds are all I can remember.