Want to make sure you're up to date with the best science writing of the year? Or do you just need a good idea for a Christmas present? Either way, the Royal Society Winton Book prize shortlist is a pretty good place to start. To read all the Guardian reviews of the shortlisted books click here (Alok Jha's review of The Book of Barely Imagined Beings, by Caspar Henderson, will be published tomorrow).
In this edition of Science Weekly Alok Jha meets two of the panel of judges who faced the daunting task of selecting the shortlist and then the even tougher task of picking a winner.
Uta Frith, chairwoman of the judging panel this year, is a distinguished neuroscientist, a fellow of the Royal Society, the British Academy and the Academy of Medical Sciences. Jon Culshaw is a comedian best known for his work on the brilliant comedy series Dead Ringers, and he also has a passion for astronomy. Uta and Jon discuss the very distinct brilliance of each of the books on the shortlist this year:
• Bird Sense by Tim Birkhead
• The Particle at the End of the Universe by Sean Carroll
• Cells to Civilizations: The Principles of Change that Shape Life by Enrico Coen
• Pieces of Light: The Science of Memory by Charles Fernyhough
• The Book of Barely Imagined Beings by Caspar Henderson
• Ocean of Life by Callum Roberts
The winner will be announced at the Royal Society in London on 25 November 2013.
Meanwhile, you can win all six books in our competition/science quiz. Closing date 29 November 2013.
