2008 Royal Society Prizes for Science Books

The contenders for the 2008 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.



Winner of the General Prize of the 2008 Royal Society Prizes for Science Books
TitleAuthorPublisherMore information
Six Degrees: Our future on a hotter planet Mark Lynas Fourth Estate Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Amazon.ca


2008 Royal Society Prize for Science Books (General Prize) Shortlist
Title (link to my review)AuthorPublisherMore information
Why Beauty is Truth Ian Stewart Basic Books Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Amazon.ca
A Life Decoded J Craig Venter Allen Lane Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Amazon.ca
The Sun Kings Stuart Clark Princeton University Press Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Amazon.ca
Gut Feelings Gerd Gigerenzer Allen Lane Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Amazon.ca
Coral: A pessimist in paradise Steve Jones Little, Brown Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Amazon.ca


Other Longlisted books
TitleAuthorPublisherMore information
How to Fossilise Your Hamster Mick O'Hare Profile Books Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Amazon.ca
The Stuff of Thought Steven Pinker Allen Lane Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Amazon.ca
Making Up The Mind Chris Frith Wiley - Blackwell Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Amazon.ca
Yes! 50 secrets from the science of persuasion Noah Goldstein, Steve J Martin,
and Robert B Cialdini
Profile Books Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Amazon.ca
Why the Lion Grew Its Mane Lewis Smith Papadakis Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Amazon.ca
Better Looking, Better Living, Better Loving John Emsley Wiley-VCH Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk    Amazon.ca


2007 prize contenders
2006 prize contenders
2005 prize shortlist