Member-only story
So You Want to Write a Science Book
Popular science books need more diverse authors. This is a field guide for anyone other than white men.
Hi there — I’m a science book reviewer.
I read a lot of popular science — books written by experts and science writers for general readers — and I’ve noticed a startling lack of diversity in the authorship of the popsci genre. I’ve worked at a bookstore over the past year, and it seems like nearly every book on the shelf is written by a white, male scientist.
Too often, the bestselling lists for science and technology are dominated by men and the occasional white woman. Currently dominating the New York Times bestseller list are eight books by men, with two spots also held by Rebecca Skloot and Susan Cain.
Popsci has a diversity problem. As a reader, I want that to change. As a science communicator interested in making science more inclusive, I know how important that change would be.
Members of marginalized communities need to be represented because popsci books are a huge source of inspiration to aspiring young scientists. Without diverse representation — people of color, individuals with disabilities, people who are LGBTQIA — readers may not see themselves and the issues they care…
