Science writing as literature
The series treats reporting on nature and discovery as an art form judged by prose and narrative, not just accuracy. Each year gathers pieces that make research emotionally and aesthetically alive.
The best American science and nature writing 2013
4 ideas
The guest editor's sensibility shapes the year
Mukherjee's selection reflects a physician-scientist's taste, favoring essays that link biology, medicine, and human meaning. The anthology is as much a portrait of the editor as of the field.
Wonder and unease held together
The collected essays pair the thrill of discovery with sober questions about consequence, from ecology to genetics. Good science writing here refuses easy optimism.
Understanding nature reshapes how we live
Across the pieces runs the argument that scientific knowledge is not neutral but changes human values and choices. Learning how the world works carries moral weight.