Books like Lonely Planets by David Harry Grinspoon

Andy Weir’s debut science‑fiction bestseller follows astronaut Mark Watney, stranded on Mars in 2035, as he uses ingenuity to survive.

A concise, accessible primer on astrophysics written by Neil deGrasse Tyson, designed for readers of all ages who want to understand how the universe works.

Chris Hadfield shares his training and spaceflight experiences, teaching readers how to make the impossible possible by preparing for the worst and enjoying every moment.

Carl Sagan’s Cosmos traces the history of science and the universe’s evolution, from ancient philosophers to modern discoveries, and explores the quest to understand life beyond Earth.

A young man leaves an elite cowboy school on Earth to join his family on Venus, where he unknowingly becomes a courier of critical intelligence for an upcoming interplanetary conflict. His communication with Venerians and guerrilla involvement shifts the war’s outcome.

From the award-winning Web site visited by more than 2.5 million people every month comes How Stuff Works, the definitive guide to the inner workings of everyday items. In this fun and infinitely informative guide, Marshall Brain and staff of "stuff" experts at How Stuff Works, Inc. unravel the mysteries of more than 135 intriguing topics. You'll be fascinated by the world around you! In Marshall Brain's trademark easy-to-understand language, complemented by beautiful full-color illustrations, you'll discover the basic mechanisms behind everything from toasters to turbochargers, dieting to DVD players, and cell phones to submarines. Technology and scientific principles are all around you: whether in the chips needed to execute commands on your computer, or in determining how many calories you need to burn in order to lose five pounds. This exciting book explains-in a way you can easily grasp-how technology is a part of everyday life. How Stuff Works contains: More than 135 articles written in Marshall Brain's award-winning style Hundreds of original color drawings that illuminate the incisive text "Cool Facts," "Did You Know?," and "And Another Thing ..." sidebars that give you extra, insider information Color photographs No matter what your age, if you're intrigued by how stuff works, you won't be able to put down How Stuff Works! Marshall Brain's How Stuff Works is a lavish, full-color, highly visual resource for those with hungry minds who crave an understanding of the way things work around them-from submarine ships to digital technology to toilets! With over 1,000 full-color illustrations and photos showing step-by-step images of how stuff works, these easy-to-understand explanations cover the most popular and interesting subject areas, including Technology, Science, Health, Fitness, Transportation, and more! Sample topics include: How CDs Work, How Car Engines Work, and How Nuclear Radiation and Power Work.

Robert Wright uses evolutionary theory to trace the growing complexity of life and human societies, arguing that cooperation drives progress and that morality has improved over time.

Dava Sobel’s engaging nonfiction connects the science of the Solar System with its impact on art, culture and history, weaving planetary origins into a personal exploration of our celestial neighbors.

A dazzling, irresistible collection of the ten most ground-breaking and beautiful experiments in scientific history. With the attention to detail of a historian and the story-telling ability of a novelist, New York Times science writer George Johnson celebrates these groundbreaking experiments and re-creates a time when the world seemed filled with mysterious forces and scientists were in awe of light, electricity, and the human body. Here, we see Galileo staring down gravity, Newton breaking apart light, and Pavlov studying his now famous dogs. This is science in its most creative, hands-on form, when ingenuity of the mind is the most useful tool in the lab and the rewards of a well-considered experiment are on elegant display.From the Trade Paperback edition.

Explore the hidden deep seas with Dr. Robert Ballard, from 12,000‑foot dives to finding the Bismarck and Titanic’s wrecks, illustrated with vivid images and bright storytelling.