Recs if you like The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York...
Teach me something new and oddly specific 💬
Niche nonfiction, aka micro-histories!
microhistories: “how do you even know that??”
microhistory: the intensive historical investigation of a well defined smaller unit of research (such as an event, community, individual or a settlement); it aspires to "ask large questions in small places"
Ologies Podcast Suggestions
Ologies is a weekly science podcast hosted by Alie Ward. Each episode, Ward interviews an expert from a distinct scientific field.
This unofficial list contains book suggestions made by the host or by her guests. I avoided extremely technical books or papers. Currently from episode 1 to 525 More details on these books and their associated episodes in my ever evolving spreadsheet.
In the spreadsheet there are also books not found on Goodreads and general book recommendations (like the entire bibliography of a specific author or group of people)
Chicken Noodle Soup for the Macabre Soul
Nonfiction about macabre and taboo subjects
⚠️ do not consume ⚠️
would suggest not ingesting these pills, plants, and powders, they may prove to be fatal.
Nonfiction books on poison!
the many faces of forensics
nonfiction works on the history and modern day applications of forensic science
examples: forensic anthropology forensic biology forensic ecology forensic entomology forensic medicine forensic pathology forensic psychology
Polymath 2026 Inspiration
A list of books that fit the prompts for the 2026 Polymath Training Challenge. (Egypt / Sleep, dreams / Astronomy and space exploration / Gastronomy and foods / Interior design, furniture / Chemistry / Mines and mining / Exploration and explorers / Art and nature /Agriculture /Economics) plus the "choose 1" prompts (Microbiome / Chocolate and coffee / Cultural history / Boardgames and role-playing games / Linguistics / Ethology / History of science / Cosmetics / Empathy). Open to suggestions!
Toxic Traits
This is not a taboo romance list…..well, if you don’t count my weird love for all things poisonous or venomous! A list of non fiction books about the critters that make chemical weapons, nasty toxins that are a bit more human in origin, and people who use chemistry for more nefarious intents!!
Niche Non-Fiction
Microhistory and PopSci books to find your newest hyperfixation.
Coolest Person at the Cocktail Party
A list of the books that give you so many neat fun facts that will make you the coolest person to talk to at any function 😜
Read smart, read free: archive.org hopefuls
Books that can be read on archive.org for free that look interesting - go and search up your tbr, this is only what I want to read so in no way a comprehensive list ☺️🌸 If you see this list after clicking on a book, you’ll know it’s available on archive.org Disclaimer: Some books are so hard to get tho because they are constantly borrowed
The History of Medicine
From The Four Humors to Chemotherapy.
