The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert

Merits: Elizabeth is a staff writer at The New Yorker, a visiting fellow at Williams College, and the author of Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change.

Material: Worried about going extinct? Who isn’t! But what if we’re the meteor? Elizabeth Kolbert argues a compelling case that interlaces research from multiple disciplines. Captivating species that have already been lost are highlighted. A poignant look into the impacts we’ve already wrought on an overtaxed planet.

Grade: Bill Nye. Although this book isn’t exactly a feel good read, it’s science and history written by a journalist who does a fantastic job of explaining things. And in spite of the heavy subject matter, it’s not all fire and brimstone.