2007 Royal Society Prizes for Science Books
The contenders for the 2007 Royal Society Prizes for Science Books (General Prize) have now been announced and are listed below. I intend to write 200 word reviews for each of these with longer reviews for some, including all of those which appear on the shortlist.The Royal Society Prize for Science Books is an Annual prize awarded to the author of the best science book, as considered by a panel of five judges. It was formerly known as the Aventis prize (the Royal Society are currently looking for a new sponsor) Further information can be found on the Royal Society website.
Note:You can now see the contenders for the 2008 Royal Society Prizes for Science Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stumbling on Happiness | Daniel Gilbert | Harper Press | Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca |
| Title | Author | Publisher | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Rough Guide to Climate Change | Robert Henson | Rough Guides | Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca |
| Homo Britannicus | Chris Stringer | Allen Lane | Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca |
| In Search of Memory | Eric R. Kandel | WW Norton & Co | Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca |
| Lonesome George | Henry Nicholls | Macmillan | Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca |
| One in Three | Adam Wishart | Profile Books | Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca |
Speculation
So which of the contenders is likely to win the prize? Well I've got it wrong in previous years, but that isn't going to stop me from voicing my opinion again, I have to say that I haven't read One in Three yet, so I'm not sure how that stands in relation to the other books. I felt that although The Rough Guide to Climate Change was packed with information, it's style wasn't that of a popular science book which would win this competition. Homo Britannicus has plenty to recommend it, but in the end I think it's too much of a 'coffee table book'. In Search of Memory is a good read, but as an autobiographical work most of its content relates to science of several decades ago - I'd be looking for something a bit more up to date. Of the remaining two books, Lonesome George is certainly the sort of book I'd expect to win, although Stumbling on Happiness is possibly more entertaining and so stands a good chance.| Title | Author | Publisher | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francis Crick, Discoverer of the Genetic Code | Matt Ridley | Harper Press | Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca |
| The Goldilocks Enigma | Paul Davies | Allen Lane | Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca |
| Bang! The Complete History of the Universe | Brian May, Patrick Moore and Chris Lintott | Carlton Books | Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca |
| A Mind of its Own | Cordelia Fine | Icon Books | Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca |
| The Science of Doctor Who | Paul Parsons | Icon Books | Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca |
| Giant Leaps | Jack Challoner and John Perry | Boxtree | Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca |
2006 prize contenders
2005 prize shortlist