Shelfology Book Pairing

An Unnatural History

by Elizabeth Kolbert

"Over the last half billion years, there have been five major mass extinctions, when the diversity of life on Earth suddenly and dramatically contracted. Scientists are currently monitoring the sixth extinction, predicted to be the most devastating since the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. This time around the cataclysm is us. In this book the author tells us why and how human beings have altered life on the planet in a way no species has before. She provides a moving account of the disappearances of various species occurring all around us and traces the evolution of extinction as concept, from its first articulation by Georges Cuvier in revolutionary Paris up to Lyell and Darwin, and through the present day. The sixth extinction is likely to be mankind's most lasting legacy, compelling us to rethink the fundamental question of what it means to be human". -- Back cover.

The beauty and mystery of the cosmos explained with clarity and awe in this international bestseller

by Brian Greene

Modern physics made thrillingly accessible. A landmark in science communication, The Elegant Universe introduces readers to string theory - the bold idea that everything in the universe is made of tiny vibrating strands of energy. With lucid storytelling and analogies drawn from everyday life, physicist Brian Greene explains the concepts of relativity, quantum mechanics and multidimensional space with unmatched elegance. This book doesn’t just teach physics; it invites readers to feel wonder at the mathematical harmony underlying reality. Shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize, it remains one of the most popular science books ever written - ideal for those captivated by cosmology, time, and the search for a unified theory of everything. Pulitzer Prize finalist ‘Compulsively readable’ New York Times