Narrative or creative nonfiction is a somewhat newly recognized genre. Naturally, as librarians we have a great appreciation for the research, the primary source documents and interviews, but it is the narrative, the skillful pacing, the phrasing, and the insight that make it read like a thriller that set these books apart from other nonfiction. For this week's readers advisory practice we decided to pay tribute to the talented authors who do this well. We received such a strong response to the call out for favorites that we divided the list into four categories: journalism and social science, travel and adventure, science, and memoir. This is the science edition of our salute to great narrative nonfiction.

In the science category, I recommend The Ghost Map. Science + History for the win as a doctor in mid 19th century London has to unravel the mysteries of a cholera outbreak. In The Poisoner's Handbook several forensic mysteries are solved by NYC's early medical examiners. —Carmen Nigro, Milstein Division

I enjoyed Mary Roach's Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife, in which she examines the history of scientific experiments that that explore the mysteries of death. —Lauren Bradley, George Bruce

Mary Roach's series of science-popularizing books including Stiff—what happens to the human body after death and Packing for Mars —life in zero gravity are both fun reading and full of fun facts. The World Without Us by Alan Weisman is a fascinating speculative account of what would happen to the earth and civilization's structures if humans suddenly disappeared. Interesting tidbits include how the subways, which are continually pumped, would flood right away, and how exactly the landfills will decompose over time. This might be a stretch, but for those interested in physics and cosmology for the layman, Stephen Hawking's books have contributed greatly to scientific literacy, wherein the mysteries of the universe and the story of how we've learn what we know unfold like a tantalizing drama: A Brief History of Time, A Briefer History of Time, The Theory of Everything, and The Grand Design. —Jeremy Megraw, Billy Rose Theater Division

Lee Gutkind's Almost Human: Making Robots Think is on my to-read list. Gutkind is the founder of Creative Nonfiction magazine. —Jenny Baum, Jefferson Market

Bill Bryson, Bill Bryson, Bill Bryson! He explains everything A Short History of Nearly Everything and is as compelling as any thriller for my money.  —Leslie Tabor, Associate Director for Neighborhood Libraries