Beyond

If you want to get to know the scientists behind the work even better, this is just the right place for you. In this section of Beyond, the researchers present books which have impacted their lives and their ways of thinking in meaningful ways. The books presented range from novels, to memoirs, to science books of all sorts. You can filter the books by genre or just scroll through the list. This is also a great way to get inspiration for your own reading!

Astrid T. Groot

The Vital Question

Would life develop on other planets in the same way as on earth? Nick Lane argues that our evolutionary history is directly related to a certain electrical tension. If you want to understand how exactly this works, you should definitely read this book.

Olivier Morin

Bouvard & Pécouchet

The two Parisian intellectuals Bouvard and Pécuchet become friends and move to the French countryside. But everything the two undertake and want to investigate fails. Flaubert's observation of the two tragic heroes is a satirical portrayal of the world of science and art.

Anne Peters

The Story Of The Stone

This moving family novel from 1760 is about young Bao-Yu, who prefers to study girls than Confucian teachings, and his two cousins. The Chinese classic illuminates Buddhist concepts against the background of secular themes and shows how karma influences all of our lives.

Kai Sundmacher

What is Life?

Originally written for laypeople, Erwin Schrödinger's "What is Life" became a starting point for molecular biology and the discovery of dna. Along with the essay "Mind and Matters" and autobiographical details, this book is a great collage of Schrödinger's work