20 Best Books For Nerds (2023 Update)

Sapiens is an insightful, history-laden explanation of how and why we humans organize ourselves the way we do. At the same time, it's a readable story of human history. Harari is an apt guide who doesn't preach, but lays out for us how we may have come by some of our inner workings. At a time when the future looks opaque, an unflinching look at our past can do wonders. I read all three Harari books this past summer, but found Sapiens to be the most compelling and important work of the three. A book that will change your mind, if you're open to it.jwregularguy

The book is a modern day classic which tries to reason why certain decisions were chosen over the other and how these decisions have shaped up the course of human history. While giving us potential explanations, Yuval also reminds us that these are mere speculations or theories and nobody can be sure what was going inside the minds of homo sapiens at that time. Some chapters are a bit of a stretch, though when someone tries to summarize the course of 70,000 years of human history into 416 pages, one can hardly complain. I have given an extra star for BookishSanta team who have provided the book in original (color edition) form with a nice touch of handwritten note.Utkarsh Y.

I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and had me gripped from page one. The author puts things into perspective – drawing analogies and parallels – that is shocking , surprising and even funny. I felt a number of emotions reading this, from ignorance, astonishing intellect, shock, horror, surprise, anger, sadness, hunger? I highly recommend for anyone looking for a easy, albeit enlightening read about the development of human, society and life as we know it.Gene

Bill Nye is has been teaching children for years of the amazing world of science, I, being one of those children, love his work in Everything All At Once. It is amazing eye opener on the view on how he grew up and what steps we, as a whole, could take to make a difference in our world.CAROLINE

What a condescending, arrogant, full of prattle man. If I wanted someone to make me feel small, this is the right book to buy. Donating this to the local library to fire up some one's day.Eleanor

This was a fun little read for a book lover who enjoys quotes, beautiful pictures, sweet little bookmarks, and colourful pages. The perfect coffee table book, especially having out when meeting with your book club.Library_Geek

The book breaks down the building blocks of the maps and assumptions we currently make about the world and the sometimes unknowable journey we took to get here.Ian

My son and I read together, so that we can discuss it. This book is entertaining to my 8 year old and I find it really cute. It has cute characters that deal with some of the angst of being a smart kid in a cool world. I would recommend this book to any child.Lomi

This book is well written and humorous, even if it deals with a range of serious subject matter such sex discrimination and orphanages run by the Catholic church. If this sounds like a contradiction, you will have to read the book to find out how well it works.Derrith

Thanks to NetGalley & Doubleday Books for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own. This novel, a debut no less, was all over the place for me. Funny, satirical, sad, ironic, entertaining, witty, with elements of fantasy and feminism. And don't forget the magic realism of the dog. So did I like the novel and how would I rate it? I'm giving it 4 stars – read my review to find out why. Cleverly written with a quirky and memorable heroine, this is the story of chemist Elizabeth Zott. In the 1950s, when the story begins, it was very nearly impossible to be anything but a housewife/mother, nurse, or secretary. But Elizabeth fights against stereotypes throughout the novel – whether it's cooking, rowing, motherhood, or chemistry. Elizabeth's on-the-spectrum personality (literal, headstrong, blunt) propels the plot. And the plot is brilliant – things happen and people connect (and reconnect) in ways that both surprised me and had me admiring how the author fit everything together. There were several provoking aspects to the story – some of which were the way people misunderstood each other, the sexist attitudes, and how some characters fought against and often overcame the 1950s cultural norms. What gives the novel depth is that the story is told from different characters' points of view, including Six-Thirty, the dog. And these characters were compelling. The reader learns what each is thinking, and why, and we can often anticipate the way things will be misunderstood, which makes for laughs as well as sighs. While the book contains a great deal of wit, as another reviewer mentioned, there are serious issues including brutal abuse which is described in detail, and a suicide due to homophobia. And the sexism is rampant which unfortunately was how it was back in the 1950s, with some areas still troublesome today. But in the end the bad guys get their comeuppance, with loose ends tied up, providing a satisfying conclusion.PhyllisE

First off, do NOT let the cover of this COMIC BOOK throw you off. i get that there is a huge swastika on the cover… and the cover is the firs impression of a book (to most people) but i read this comic book for a college class and it is actually a great comic book. it is a comic book about a Jewish man named Vladek in Auschwitz during WWII. However, what is so interesting about this comic book is that, A) it is a comic book (a funny medium of art to use for a holocaust book, its a little graphic) B) it is read as a third person. its a convo between Vladek and his son. the comic book addresses the complicated relationships between holocaust survivors and the newer generations. i would definitely recommend this comic book. it comes in two parts or you can purchase it in one huge book.susnezra.w

Wow I was just scanning through and saw this. It's been forever since I read it in school but it really is a great book. The grouch are good and it gets its point across. I would suggest for everyone to read it.coy.p

My 11 yr old son loves these books. I bouth them with ease online with a few other things and paid no sipping. No fighting holiday crowds and no gas or time wasted. Great buy.Tillrodsfly

Worth every penny!!! My son went from not liking reading to "Ooh, can you buy more in this series?"….blah, blah, blah and so forth! He will not stop talking about this book. Book four had a really good twist, too where some of the good characters had their chance at being a villian…bwhahahahaha!evolvedcomputers

I really wanted to like these wide-leg pants. I originally bought them in a size 4 (my usual size) but we’re too big so I exchanged them for a size 2. But they’re still a bit loose at the top—maybe I should have sized down even further? And the pant legs are just too wide on me. I am on the shorter side so maybe these look better on a taller person. So I haven’t really been wearing them much which is a shame because the olive green color is just beautiful and the quality of the fabric is very good.Brenda S.

I really wanted to like these wide-leg pants. I originally bought them in a size 4 (my usual size) but we’re too big so I exchanged them for a size 2. But they’re still a bit loose at the top—maybe I should have sized down even further? And the pant legs are just too wide on me. I am on the shorter side so maybe these look better on a taller person. So I haven’t really been wearing them much which is a shame because the olive green color is just beautiful and the quality of the fabric is very good.Brenda S.