SO

The Shape of Wonder: How Scientists Think, Work, and Live

Alan Lightman

Science & engineering

The Shape of Wonder: How Scientists Think, Work, and Live

By Alan Lightman, professor of the practice of the humanities in MIT Comparative Media Studies/Writing, and Martin Rees

Penguin Random House · 2025

Lightman and Rees pull back the curtain on the field of science, revealing that scientists are driven by the same sense of curiosity, wonder, and responsibility toward a future that shapes us all. They guide us through the fascinating lives and minds of scientists around the world and throughout time, and provide an inside peek at what makes scientists tick, their daily lives, passions, and concerns about the societies they live in.

From Summer 2026 recommended reading from MIT (MIT News). Cover image via Google Books.