Science & Nature

Texts in this collection explore topics like climate change, energy, and humanity's place in the environment through a variety of genres, whether the science fiction of Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake or the scientific journalism of Dan Egan's The Death and Life of the Great Lakes.

Publication year 2017

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race

Tags Social Justice, Race / Racism, Education, Education, Science / Nature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2010

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags History: World, Psychology, Arts / Culture, Business / Economics, Science / Nature, Psychology, Self Help, Technology, Philosophy


Publication year 2008

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science / Nature, History: U.S.


Publication year 2020

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Science / Nature, Philosophy, Animals, Race / Racism, History: World, Philosophy, Biography


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Psychology, Self Help, Education, Education, Science / Nature, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine


Publication year 1927

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: The Future, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Community

Tags Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality, Science / Nature, Philosophy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2012

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Community

Tags Business / Economics, Politics / Government, History: World, Science / Nature, Sociology

Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty (2012) is a nonfiction book co-authored by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson. Acemoglu, an MIT economist renowned for his work on political economy, and Robinson, a political scientist and economist, combine their expertise to examine the reasons behind the varying levels of success and failure among nations. This interdisciplinary work, situated at the intersection of institutional economics, developmental economics, and economic history, examines a... Read Why Nations Fail Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Natural World: Environment

Tags Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help

British-American neuroscientist Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams (2017) provides an in-depth exploration of the science of sleep health. Walker argues that sleep loss is an epidemic and one of the most serious public health issues of the 21st century. Drawing from a wealth of data and scientific studies, including his own innovative scientific breakthroughs during his time as a professor at the University of California-Berkeley, Walker illustrates the... Read Why We Sleep Summary


Publication year 1993

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Self Help, Health / Medicine, Psychology, Mental Illness


Publication year 1949

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Science / Nature


Publication year 1967

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Society: Politics & Government, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Climate, Natural World: Animals, Society: Nation, Natural World: Food

Tags History: U.S., Science / Nature, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy


Publication year 2012

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Mothers

Tags Grief / Death, Travel Literature, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Science / Nature, Action / Adventure, Biography


Publication year 2004

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Natural World: Environment, Society: Community

Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Science / Nature, Realistic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Animals, Society: Community, Relationships: Family

Tags Animals, Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Grief / Death, Children's Literature, Science / Nature


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Animals

Tags Fantasy, Animals, Children's Literature, Science / Nature


Publication year 1979

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment

Tags Science / Nature


Publication year 1926

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Place, Society: Community

Tags Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Animals, Food, Relationships, Science / Nature


Publication year 1994

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Beauty

Tags Science / Nature, Sports, Travel Literature, Biography, Action / Adventure, Animals

First published in 1994, Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod is a nonfiction young adult book by Gary Paulsen, who has won several awards for his outdoor adventure stories. The first-person narrative recounts Paulsen’s life as a novice dog-sled runner who takes on the challenge of Alaska’s iconic Iditarod race. The special cross-species relationship between Paulsen and his canine companions steers him through the perils of Alaska’s harsh terrain as he overcomes his... Read Winterdance Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Mental Health

Tags Psychology, Health / Medicine, Self Help, Science / Nature, Psychology, Mental Illness