History & Philosophy

As a botanist and professor of plant ecology, Robin Wall Kimmerer has spent a career learning how to ask questions of nature using the tools of science. As a Potawatomi woman, she learned from elders, family, and history that the Potawatomi, as well as a majority of other cultures indigenous to...

A prescient warning of a future we now inhabit, where fake news stories and Internet conspiracy theories play to a disaffected American populace “A glorious book... A spirited defense of science... From the first page to the last, this book is a manifesto for clear thought.” - Los Angeles...

A bold and all-embracing exploration of the nature and progress of knowledge from one of today's great thinkers. Throughout history, mankind has struggled to understand life's mysteries, from the mundane to the seemingly miraculous. In this important new book, David Deutsch, an award-winning...

“Fascinating... A thought-provoking journey into emotion science.” - Wall Street Journal “A singular book, remarkable for the freshness of its ideas and the boldness and clarity with which they are presented.” - Scientific American “A brilliant and original book on the science of...

How the study of causality revolutionized science and the world "Correlation does not imply causation." This mantra has been invoked by scientists for decades, and has led to a virtual prohibition on causal talk. But today, that taboo is dead. The causal revolution, sparked by Judea Pearl and...

An inspiring new perspective on the science versus religion debate. Can science explain everything? Many people think so. Science, and the technologies it has spawned, has delivered so much to the world: Clean water; more food; better healthcare; longer life....

Brought to you by Penguin. In very recent times humanity has learnt a vast amount about the universe, the past, and itself. But through our remarkable successes in acquiring knowledge we have learned how much we have yet to learn: the science we have, for example, addresses just 5% of the...

"Science does not need mysticism and mysticism does not need science, but man needs both." —Fritjof Capra, Ph.D. Their paths to the truth could not be more different—but the amazing thing is that, in their own ways, the mystics and the scientists are discovering the same truths about our...

Read by the author. Will technology change what it means to be human? You don't have to be a computer scientist to have discerning conversations about artificial intelligence and technology. We all wonder where we're headed. Even now, technological innovations and machine learning have a daily...

In 20 captivating lectures, Professor Suzanne Pilaar Birch shares her expertise and passion for discovery as she peels back the years to expose the emergence and lives of early humans....

The Cluetrain Manifesto began as a website in 1999, when Rick Levine, Chris Locke, Doc Searls, and David Weinberger posted 95 theses on the web....

What is human consciousness, and how is it possible? This question fascinates thinking people from poets and painters to physicists, psychologists, and philosophers. From Bacteria to Bach and Back is Daniel C. Dennett's brilliant answer, extending perspectives from his earlier work in surprising...

Interweaving her vast knowledge of neurology, sociology, psychology, and philosophy with fascinating down-to-earth examples and lively personal anecdotes, developmental psychologist, neuroscientist, and dyslexia expert Wolf probes the question, "How do we learn to read and write?" This...

The author of the best seller The Beginning of Infinity, David Deutsch, explores the four most fundamental strands of human knowledge: quantum physics, and the theories of knowledge, computation, and evolution - and their unexpected connections....

Paul Feyerabend’s globally acclaimed work, which sparked and continues to stimulate fierce debate, examines the deficiencies of many widespread ideas about scientific progress and the nature of knowledge....

Can there be freedom and free will in a deterministic world?...

Predicting society’s present addiction to technology, our challenges with data privacy, and the dramatic increase in drug overdoses and depression that have accompanied a technology-induced lack of purpose, The Unabomber’s vision of the future has become our reality....

There is a logical flaw in the statistical methods used across experimental science. This fault is not a minor academic quibble: It underlies a reproducibility crisis now threatening entire disciplines....

Science is the basis of our assumptions about ourselves and our world, from ideas about our evolutionary past to our conceptions of the vast expanses of space and the smallest particles of matter. In this panoramic book, acclaimed historian of science Peter Dear uncovers the roots of such...

A jaw-dropping exploration of everything that goes wrong when we build AI systems and the movement to fix them. Today’s “machine-learning” systems, trained by data, are so effective that we’ve invited them to see and hear for us―and to make decisions on our behalf. But alarm bells are...

*An instant New York Times Bestseller* *Publishers Weekly #1 Most Anticipated Science Book of Spring 2016* "You will be enthralled." — Wall Street Journal "A tour de force." — Salon.com Already internationally acclaimed for his elegant, lucid writing on the most challenging notions in modern...

Mary Anning was only 12 years old when, in 1811, she discovered the first dinosaur skeleton - of an ichthyosaur - while fossil hunting on the cliffs of Lyme Regis, England. Until Mary's incredible discovery, it was widely believed that animals did not become extinct. The child of a poor family...

The Pleasure of Finding Things Out is a magnificent treasury of the best short works of Richard P. Feynman, from interviews and speeches to lectures and printed articles. A sweeping, wide-ranging collection, it presents an intimate and fascinating view of a life in science - a life like no other...

How well do you know the ground beneath your feet? A primer for every Earth resident, by Harvard’s acclaimed geologist. “A sublime chronicle of our planet."" –Booklist, STARRED review Odds are, where you’re standing was once cooking under a roiling sea of lava, crushed by a towering...

Conquering the Electron offers listeners a true and engaging history of the world of electronics, beginning with the discoveries of static electricity and magnetism and ending with the creation of the smartphone and the iPad. This book shows the interconnection of each advance to the next on...

In Grace in All Simplicity, listeners will delight in Cahn and Quigg's engaging prose and see how the infinite and the infinitesimal are joined. Today, physicists and astronomers are exploring distances from a billionth of a billionth of the human scale to the entire cosmos, and contemplating...

Merge cutting-edge science with deep philosophy to answer your most profound questions about reality, mind, and meaning. Perfect for a thought-provoking commute or a deeply focused evening of intellectual growth, this audio experience transforms complex debates into accessible insights. Explore...

This military history reveals how an accidental invention transformed ancient warfare into global empires. Perfect for your daily commute, this epic narrative plunges you into the laboratories of Chinese alchemists and the smoke-filled battlefields that reshaped our modern world. Experience the...

Witness the dramatic natural history of catastrophic eruptions that forged our planet and tested human survival. Perfect for an awe-inspiring commute, this immersive journey transports you deep into Earth's fiery mantle. Experience the suspense of ancient civilizations facing apocalyptic climate...

Witness the dramatic intellectual history that shattered ancient dogma and ignited the dawn of modern science. Perfect for an enlightening daily commute, this thought-provoking journey transports you to Renaissance Europe's bustling coffeehouses and crowded workshops. Here, rebel astronomers and...

Uncover the gripping medical history of our oldest biological enemy and find hope in the science of survival. Whether you are seeking deep-focus learning during your commute or looking for empathetic understanding while supporting a loved one, this deeply human narrative delivers profound...

Unravel the mystery of human heredity and trace the brilliant scientific breakthroughs mapping our genetic blueprint. Perfect for a thought-provoking commute, this captivating popular science journey transforms complex biology into a thrilling intellectual adventure. Travel from ancient crop...

Trace humanity's dramatic medical history and epic battle against pandemics to uncover how society learned to survive. Perfect for your daily commute, this thought-provoking journey moves from ancient purity rituals to modern global crises. Discover the unsung reformers who fought invisible...

Trace the dramatic evolution of medical science from deadly plagues to the life-saving triumphs of public health. Perfect for an engaging daily commute, this intense historical journey reveals how humanity fought back against invisible killers. Weaving tales of terrifying epidemics with fierce...

Fuel your commute with the awe-inspiring history of space exploration as a mythical world becomes a scientific frontier. From ancient stargazers charting celestial gods to the cutting-edge astrophysics driving today's rover missions, this intellectually stimulating journey captures our...

Trace the awe-inspiring popular science history of how an invisible force shaped human civilization and the cosmos. Perfect for a thought-provoking commute, this grand historical narrative explains the capacity to make things happen without bogging you down in complex equations. You will journey...

Discover the captivating history of artificial light and how a single flickering flame conquered the ancient darkness. This intimate, atmospheric journey is perfect for winding down or a relaxing commute, offering a cozy escape into the ingenious ways humanity survived the night. From...

Step into the technological race to conquer the night in this fascinating history of science and human innovation. Perfect for curious minds seeking an engaging story during a daily commute, this vivid journey reveals how we transformed the dangerous, pitch-black evening into an active extension...

Sharpen your critical thinking and cut through daily misinformation with the ultimate framework for evidence-based logic. Whether you are seeking clarity during your morning commute or striving for personal growth in a chaotic news cycle, this empowering guide transforms how you process reality...

Discover the epic natural history of an invisible planetary force that triggered mass extinctions and fueled evolution. Perfect for your morning commute, this awe-inspiring journey transports you from the violent birth of dying stars to Earth's primordial oceans. Prepare for a dramatic science...

Uncover the mind-bending physics and history behind the invisible building blocks that construct our entire reality. Perfect for an engaging daily commute or a curious weekend dive, this accessible scientific adventure transforms complex theories into a high-energy exploration. No heavy math is...

Discover the medical history of how a lucky accident cured infections, before modern superbugs threatened our survival. Whether you are seeking a thought-provoking listen for your daily commute or simply fascinated by human biology, this urgent narrative transforms complex science into a race...

Trace the gripping medical history of our most vital fluid, where the science of survival meets ancient mystical rituals. Perfect for your morning commute or an immersive deep dive, this fascinating narrative sweeps from ancient altars to the sterile intensity of modern operating rooms...

Immerse yourself in the gripping history of science where rebel thinkers risked everything to shatter ancient dogma. Step into the tense, candlelit world of Europe’s universities and hidden dissection rooms. This immersive historical narrative transforms your daily commute into a thrilling...

Uncover the gripping history of chemistry as alchemists and brilliant physicists decode the building blocks of reality. Perfect for your morning commute, this awe-inspiring journey reveals how humanity spent two millennia wondering what everything is truly made of. Transform your everyday...

Uncover the ultimate origin story of space, time, and matter in this mind-expanding journey through modern cosmology. Whether you are seeking an awe-inspiring companion for your morning commute or an intellectual adventure before sleep, this narrative transforms complex astrophysics into a...

Embark on an epic popular science journey tracing humanity’s struggle to decode the invisible order of matter. Perfect for a curious morning commute, this engaging narrative replaces dense equations with the captivating stories of eccentric alchemists and bold theorists. Turn what used to be a...

Unlock the hidden microscopic world that sustains human life in this awe-inspiring history of science. Perfect for your daily commute or a focused study session, this engaging narrative transforms complex biology into a captivating educational journey. Before advanced lenses existed, early...

Uncover the gripping aviation history of human ingenuity, transforming impossible myths into soaring engineering reality. Perfect for your morning commute, this inquisitive journey explores the restless inventors, wind-tunnel tinkerers, and bold test pilots who conquered the skies. Fuel your...

Our historical obsession with future prediction reveals our deepest fears and drives radical technological innovation. Perfect for a thought-provoking commute, this captivating narrative traces our desperate struggle to outguess tomorrow. Whether you are navigating complex personal choices or...