Honorable Mentions: 

1. The Triumph of Seeds: How Grains, Nuts, Kernels, Pulses, and Pips Conquered the Plant Kingdom and Shaped Human History by Thor Hanson; 
2. A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr; 
3. Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert; 
4. Intuition by Allegra Goodman 

The Best Books, According to Computer Science Majors:

1. Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequalities and Threatens Democracy by Cathy O’Neil

There’s no better time than right now to read this book. Though hyperbolic at times, O’Neil’s work illustrates the pervasiveness of “Big Data” in our everyday lives. It also explains what to do once you’ve pulled back the curtain and seen inside our ever-expanding world of technology.

2. Crash Override: How Gamergate (Nearly) Destroyed My Life, and How We Can Win the Fight Against Online Hate by Zoe Quinn 

This book has been on my radar for some time now. Crash Override is important for any woman going into CompSci to read because we, unfortunately, live in a world where Quinn’s experiences as a woman in tech are all too common. Her resilience in the face of relentless trolls is an important lesson and message to all those who follow in her footsteps.

Honorable Mentions:

1. Troublemakers: Silicon Valley’s Coming of Age by Leslie Berlin;
2. Utopia is Creepy and Other Provocations by Nicholas Carr

The Best Books, According to History Majors:

1. The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder & Forensics in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum 

This is an addictive retelling of the evolution of forensic science during the roaring twenties. Part scientific history, part detective novel, this book is highly recommended for history buffs who are fans of Law & Order or Criminal Minds.

2.City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic and the First Police Chief of Paris by Holly Tucker 

In a similar vein to our first book, this work looks at crime and the evolution of the police force in 17th century Paris. Following the first police chief of the City of Lights, Nicolas de La Reynie’s obsessive notes, court transcripts, and other historical documents give authenticity to this enticing tale of murder and deception that would otherwise seem like something straight out of an HBO period drama.