September is shaping up to be a strong month for popular science publishing, with a lineup that mixes celebrity authors with heavyweight subjects. Among the notable releases are a major biography of Stephen Hawking, a new philosophical work from physicist Carlo Rovelli, an investigation of the wellness industry by doctor and broadcaster Xand van Tulleken, and a comprehensive guide to time from physicist Jim Al-Khalili.
Graham Farmelo, a veteran science writer, takes on the challenge of chronicling the life of Stephen Hawking in Hawking: His life and work. The book arrives with considerable expectations, given that it is the first major biography of the theoretical physicist and was supported by the Hawking estate. Farmelo had access to many of the scientists who knew Hawking, who died in 2018. Hawking defied a prognosis that limited his life expectancy to his twenties, going on to make pioneering contributions to the understanding of black holes and the origins of the universe. His book A Brief History of Time sold more than 25 million copies worldwide, cementing his status as one of the most recognizable scientists of his generation.
Carlo Rovelli, known for his elegant and accessible writing on physics, returns with On the Equality of All Things, translated by Simon Carnell. In the book, Rovelli argues that the advent of quantum physics constituted a revolution in science that philosophers have not yet fully absorbed. He offers a crash course aimed at philosophers and general readers alike. A New Scientist reporter who reviewed the book found its final lesson inspiring, noting that Rovelli suggests humanity faces the world not as an isolated consciousness confronting objects, but as part of a shared reality. The book is described as broad-ranging and thought-provoking, continuing Rovelli's pattern of blending physics with philosophical reflection.
Xand van Tulleken, one of the identical twin doctors known for their media work, turns his attention to the sprawling wellness industry in Make Me Well: A quest to understand the confusing world of wellness. The sector is worth billions and remains largely unregulated, and van Tulleken examines claims made for vitamin D supplements, turmeric tablets, wearable health technology, blood tests, and anti-ageing pills. His conclusion, supported by research, is that many of the assertions promoted by influencers, tech companies, and podcasters do not withstand scientific scrutiny. The book has drawn praise from mathematician Hannah Fry, who called it beautifully researched, clear-eyed, and funny.
Jim Al-Khalili, a broadcaster and physicist, offers On Time, a dense but rewarding exploration of one of science's most persistent puzzles. A New Scientist review praised Al-Khalili as a brilliant explainer who is at pains to be clear, fair, and methodical. The book separates the problems of time into two categories: manifest time, which concerns how people experience flow and the distinction between past and present, and physical time, which deals with how different fields of physics interpret time and how to resolve the tensions between them. The book is not long but is packed with material, making it a demanding read for those who want a thorough overview.
The month also brings Cloudy with a Chance of Starships: How the Drake equation reveals the odds of life in the cosmos by Seven Rasmussen, an astrobiologist. The book offers an entertaining tour of the Drake equation, the formula used to estimate the number of communicative civilizations in the galaxy. Rasmussen takes an irreverent approach to a topic that has captured the imagination of scientists and the public alike, addressing the enduring question of whether humanity is alone in the universe.