The Shortlist of the Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books is Announced. (September 30, 2011)

The Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books judges have chosen a shortlist of six books the first chapters of which are available to download from the Shortlist page.

The shortlist is composed of:

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.”

Through the Language Glass: How Words Colour Your World by Guy Deutscher (William Heinemann)
The judges said: “A 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.

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.“

Richard Holmes, Chair of the judges, said: “We judges, both scientists and non-scientists alike, found that we were frequently exploring unfamiliar territory with these books, and we loved every moment of it. We encountered that special thrill of being constantly swept slightly out of our depth. But we quickly lost our nervousness of subjects that were so eloquently and clearly explained, finding the experience intensely rewarding and eye-opening. We urge all readers to take that one step away from the shore, and dive into the thrilling and extraordinary world of science.”

The winner will be announced on November 17, 2011 and awarded £10,000. The authors of each shortlisted book will receive £1000.