Shortlist

Alex’s Adventures in Numberland

by Alex Bellos (Bloomsbury)

The judges said: “This book is a complete revelation.  A rich and diverse story of mathematics, peppered with anecdote and personalities, whirling round the globe and through history from Euclid to the supercomputer, it brings maths bursting to life in a way we never expected.”

Download the first chapter of Alex's Adventures in Numberland

Through the Language Glass: How Words Colour Your World 

by Guy Deutscher (William Heinemann)

The judges said: “An enthralling book that truly broadened our understanding of language, culture and the science of perception, using startling experiments to make us re-think the subtle assumptions with which we all view and describe the material world."

Download the first chapter of Through the Language Glass

The Disappearing Spoon

 by Sam Kean (Doubleday (UK); Little, Brown and Company (USA) )

The judges said: “This is much more than just a witty guide to the periodic table – it gives a fascinating insight into the history of the elements, how they were discovered, and the extraordinary part they play in our lives.”

Download the first chapter of The Disappearing Spoon

The Wavewatcher’s Companion

by Gavin Pretor-Pinney (Bloomsbury)

The judges said: “A brilliant almost poetic book that really opened our eyes. We were amazed to find that we now see waves everywhere we look, making the world around us a more absorbing and enchanting place, thanks to modern science.”

Download the first chapter of The Wavewatcher's Companion

Massive: The Missing Particle That Sparked the Greatest Hunt in Science

by Ian Sample (Basic Books (USA); Virgin Books (UK))

The judges said: “An extraordinary book that tells the real human story behind one of the biggest science adventures of our time, managing to translate the complex concepts of particle physics  into a real page-turner.”

Download the first chapter of Massive

The Rough Guide to The Future

by Jon Turney (Rough Guides)

The judges said: “A thought-provoking and refreshingly optimistic view of the future across the whole range of the sciences, with a highly original style of brief and multi-focused presentations, that sets it apart from conventional scientific writing."

Download the first chapter of The Rough Guide to The Future