Iconic Non-Fiction Science Trivia Quiz

Answer: Charles Darwin

"On the Origin of Species" (1859) was written by geologist and naturalist Charles Darwin. It is considered a seminal work in the field of evolutionary biology, introducing the concept of evolution by natural selection. It is actually an abstract (brief summary) of a larger manuscript "Natural Selection" he had been working on since 1842 and writing since 1856.

When his contemporary Alfred Wallace began propounding a similar theory of his own, Darwin was spurred on to release the abstract to avoid being beaten to the scoop.

Answer: Richard Dawkins

"The Selfish Gene" (1976) was written by ethologist and biologist Richard Dawkins. It is his first published book and is one of the most popular books about evolution for the general audience. It promotes the concept of natural selection pressures acting on single genes rather than whole organism or group levels.

The book has received praise for its eloquent and evocative prose and approachable explanations, though it has also faced academic criticism regarding many of the evolutionary arguments. Dawkins has since gone on to produce an extensive body of non-fiction literature, with a focus on evolution and atheism.

Answer: Carl Sagan

"Cosmos" (1980) was written by astronomer and science communicator Carl Sagan. It is a companion to the PBS television mini-series of the same name, with each of the 13 chapters corresponding to a television episode. It broadly explores the history of science and civilisation through the lens of the cosmos around us, blending anthropology, cosmology, philosophy and history. Together, the book and television series were very successful and led to an increase in the popularity of science literature.

Answer: Stephen Hawking

"A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes" (1988) was written by renowned physicist Stephen Hawking. It is a popular-science book exploring fundamental topics in physics, including space and time, Einstein's theories of relativity, quantum mechanics, black holes, and the origin and fate of the universe itself.

It contains only a single equation (E = mc2) in order to keep it accessible to a general audience. Beyond the important academic contributions Hawking made to physics, "A Brief History of Time" helped open up the field to a broader audience and secure Hawking's legacy as a pre-eminent figure in physics.

Answer: Jared Diamond

"Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" (1997) was written by Jared Diamond, a scientist and historian. In the book, Diamond argues that Eurasians were the first people to develop written language, agriculture and disease resistance, and the first to use these advantages to create global empires, not because of cultural or anthropological reasons, but rather because the geography of the continents gave them distinct advantages compared to people indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas and Australia.

It is a remarkable interdisciplinary work, as Diamond draws on lessons from biology, geography, anthropology and history to support his thesis. However, it faces significant criticism from academics, who argue that Diamond's impressive story-telling abilities allow him to present a compelling argument that doesn't stand up to scrutiny and overlooks many other factors that have caused history to unfold the way it has.

Answer: Bill Bryson

"A Short History of Nearly Everything" (2003) was written by British journalist Bill Bryson. It tackles topics such as astronomy, chemistry, paleontology, quantum mechanics and biology. Unlike other authors featured in this quiz, Bryson does not have a background in science.

In fact, he specifically chose to write this book because of his dissatisfaction with the extent of his scientific knowledge prior to researching the book. Perhaps this is the secret to the book's success, as Bryson's amusing and witty prose combines with his layman's understanding of science to present a broad history of science and how we know what we know.

Answer: Rebecca Skloot

"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" (2010) was written by science writer Rebecca Skloot. It explores the events that led to the development of the "HeLa" cell line, derived from cervical cancer cells that killed African American woman Henrietta Lacks in 1951.

This HeLa cell line is still alive and widely used in medical research to this day. While the biomedical aspects of the story are well covered, the book primarily focuses on the life of Lacks and her family, who never knew about or consented to the harvesting of the HeLa cells.

It also touches on issues of ethics in medical research, particularly around class and race. It is an engaging read, with its human-oriented perspective allowing it to stand out from the wider body of scientific literature.

Answer: Yuval Noah Harari

"Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" (2011) was written by Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari. It offers a broad, multidisciplinary overview of humankind from its origins to modern day. A central thesis is the idea that Homo sapiens came to dominate the planet and outlive other early hominids due to our ability to cooperate in large numbers, thanks to our ability to belive in abstract ideas such as gods, nations, money and human rights.

It has been a popular success, with Harari going on to author more books about humankind - "Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow" and "21 Lessons for the 21st Century".

However, it has faced significant criticism from scholars, citing its many inaccuracies, exaggeration and sensationalism.

Answer: Daniel Kahneman

"Thinking, Fast and Slow" (2011) was written by Israeli-American psychologist Daniel Kahneman. Its central thesis is that our brains split thought into two modes - System 1, which is fast, instinctive and emotional, and System 2, which is slower, deliberative and logical. Each mode has its advantages and disadvantages, and understanding how they work gives us insight into dozens of common cognitive biases and fallacies that all humans are prone to.

It draws on decades of research and evidence, much of it conducted by Kahneman himself alongside his colleague Amos Tversky.

It is a personal favourite of mine, written in an engaging and interactive way. However, it has been criticised for relying on underpowered studies that have proved to be non-reproducible, which Kahneman himself has acknowledged as a shortcoming of the book.

Answer: Merlin Sheldrake

"Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures" (2020) was written by Merlin Sheldrake, a British mycologist. It explores an under-appreciated and often-maligned but ubiquitous feature of life on Earth - fungi. Beyond the edible and poisonous mushrooms that may immediately come to mind, fungi are essential in decomposing matter, creating antibiotics such as penicillin, fermenting foods and alcoholic drinks, keeping forests alive, and creating psychoactive substances such as the hallucinogen psilocybin.

They also cause many human, plant and animal diseases and mould formation in buildings and homes. The book showcases the breadth of the world of fungi and their connection to human history.