Science
Some of these I've read. Others are on my list to read, when I get the time.
The Matter Myth : Dramatic Discoveries That Challenge Our Understanding of Physical Reality, Paul Davies, John Gribbin (paperback) The universe and our place in it.
Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe, Peter Douglas Ward, Donald Brownlee (Hardcover ) Are we alone in the universe? At least as intelligent life? Perhaps those scientists who argued for a plethora of intelligent life missed something. I found this to be a very enlightening book.
One Universe : At Home in the Cosmos, Neil De Grasse Tyson, (Hardcover) An introduction by the director of the Hayden Planetarium. The NYT called it "an insightful primer."
The Planets, David McNab, James Younger (hardcover) An incredibly beautiful collection of photos along with a textual introduction to the planets of our solar system.
Genome : The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters, Matt Ridley (hardcover) from a reviewer: The 23 very readable chapters, one for each chromosome, are a clever presentation of what's been learned (or being learned) about the human genome.
History of Life , Richard Cowen ( Paperback 3rd edition (January 2000) ) From a review, "In engaging, illustrated chapter-essays, it shows how life has evolved on Earth, and how paleontologists have constructed the history from the record of rocks and fossils. "
Full Moon,Michael Light, Andrew Chaikin (Contributor) (hardcover) Magnificent photos of our neighbor.
T. Rex and the Crater of Doom, Walter Alvarez (paperback) One of the more popular entries in the debate on what killed the dinosaurs.
The Cobra Event, Richard Preston (paperback) The latest biological thriller from the author of The Hot Zone.
To the Arctic : An Introduction to the Far Northern World (Wiley Popular Science), Steven B. Young (paperback) Can be used as a textbook, reference or field guide.
Emblems of Mind : The Inner Life of Music and Mathematics by Edward Rothstein, Edward Rothstein (paper) A fascinating book on the connection between music and mathematics. Helps if you know music theory and a good deal of mathematics as it tends to get technical.
A Dancing Matrix: How Science Confronts Emerging Viruses, Robin Marantz Henig (paperback). A great primer for anyone who wants to understand how viruses work. Just don't read it outside during mosquito season.
The Hot Zone, Richard Preston (paperback) Not really a text book but a book which discusses viruses and how they spread. And how they are fought. Read this one in a safe place!
The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinctions David Quammen (paperback) A fascinating study of how different species evolve (and become extinct) at different places on our planet. My only criticism is that the book doesn't have illustrations. Some of these exotic animals sound fascinating. I found this one in The New York Times Book Review; they loved it. Not light reading, but worth it.
Virus Hunter:Thirty Years of Battling Hot Viruses Around the World, C.J. Peters & Mark Olshaker. (hardcover) A somewhat autobiographical book written by a man who worked on tracking down some of the deadliest viruses.