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"Eye-opening" shortlist for Royal Society prize

27.09.11 | Katie Allen

Titles on words, waves and the periodic table have made it through to the final six for the Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books, described as an "intensely rewarding and eye-opening" shortlist by the judges.

Guy Deutscher’s [pictured] Through the Language Glass (William Heinemann), picked by William Hill as the favourite to win with odds of 3/1, is in the running for the £10,000 prize alongside Gavin Pretor-Pinney’s The Wavewatcher’s Companion (Bloomsbury), and The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean (Little, Brown).

The list is completed by a second Bloomsbury title, Alex Bellos’ Alex’s Adventures in Numberland; Massive: The Missing Particle That Sparked the Greatest Hunt in Science by Ian Sample (Basic Books); and The Rough Guide to The Future by Jon Turney (Rough Guides).

Richard Holmes, chair of the judges, said: "We judges, both scientists and non-scientists alike, found that we were frequently exploring unfamiliar territory with these books, and we loved every moment of it . . . We quickly lost our nervousness of subjects that were so eloquently and clearly explained, finding the experience intensely rewarding and eye-opening. We urge all readers to take that one step away from the shore, and dive into the thrilling and extraordinary world of science."

The winner will be announced on 17th November, with each of the shortlisted authors receiving £1,000.

The Royal Society Prize faced closure last year after attempts foundered to find a new sponsor after French pharmaceutical company Aventis pulled out in 2007. However, in February this year, global investment company Winton Capital Management signed a five-year sponsorship deal.
 

• Katie Allen
• Prizes
• Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books