1 . Many of us would probably say that lying is a matter of moral choice. But in his philosophy book A History of Lying, Juan Jacinto Muñoz-Rengel takes us in a different direction, which he calls “non-moral”.

He takes several persuasive steps to redirect us. First, he asks us to take into account how we represent reality to ourselves, and how we see it in relation to the self. This requires us to employ awareness of not just the world but also the concepts to describe it to ourselves and others. Moreover, “the reality” we believe we see and know might be an illusion (幻觉). So how do we even know when we’re telling the truth, and when we’re lying about it?

His second step is to say that our sense of personal identity should be treated with doubt, since we’re frequently wrong about our own experiences. If continuing personal identity might be an illusion, then the reality we see might be an illusion as well. But we choose to take part like actors in this illusion.

From here Muñoz-Rengel takes a third step towards what he calls “evolutionary epistemology (认识论)”, which shows everything we claim to know should be evaluated through an evolutionary angle. For instance, to stay safe from natural enemies or hunt for food, some animals evolve into being capable of mixing with the surroundings to delude others. The thing is, the species continues through natural selection processes. Equally, we grow myths to explain the natural world and our place in it… As individuals and as societies, various forms of lies are built into our DNA.

The arguments in this book are strongly made, but more than a few of Muñoz-Rengel’s viewpoints need far more evidence as support. But anyhow, in separating the discussion from conventional morality-based studies of lying, he has produced a lively and distinctive work. But still, there is one thing to remember — we perhaps will be liars, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t ask ourselves when it is acceptable to lie and when it isn’t.

2 . Our National Public Radio staff and trusted crities have made some recommendations about must-reads.

Rough Sleepers    Tracy Kidder

This uplifting book is about Dr. Jim O’Connell’s work of bringing health care to unhoused people for more than three decades, first in Boston and now in nearly every American city. His work might be a band-aid on the bigger problem of homelessness, but as he said, “This is what we do while waiting for the world to change.”

The Right Call       Sally Jenkins

Sally Jenkins has had a superb career recording the highest achievements in sports by individuals and by teams. With The Right Call, she captures what makes some athletes and coaches reach their peak. Whatever part of life you want to excel in, this book will have you rethinking what you do and how you might do it differently.

The Secret of Cooking       Bee Wilson

More than a cookbook, this is a guide to how to make cooking work for you — and even become a joy. What if you have picky eaters, a full time job and a kitchen with only half the ingredients the recipe calls for? This book has the answers, explaining everything from how to figure out what flavors go together, to how to get easy when everything goes wrong.

Land of Milk and Honey       C Pam Zhang

Set in a future where a mysterious smog has swallowed Earth, causing widespread crop failures and food shortages, the story follows an unnamed chef who finds herself in a world of cooking delights and unequalled sensory experiences among a landscape of despair (绝望). It’s an exploration of human nature, and the choices we make in the face of difficulties.

As science fiction offers surprise and exciting, I had a strong urge to read The Three- Body Problem written by Liu Cixin. The book, first releasing as a series in Science Fiction World magazine in 2006 in China, turned out to be a hit.

The book described the story of Ye Wenjie and Wang Miao, two scientists on the not distant future. Ye joins a secret project to contact aliens. Meanwhile, Wang registers or logs on to an online video game called “Three Body”. It has influenced minds deeply that people are worried about the possibility of the earth being invaded by an advanced civilization.

Curiously, I was referred to an online forum and concluded that the concern is necessary, at least for now. Which is declared by scientists, the chance of life beyond the earth develops into superior intelligence is quite slim.

9 . The best science books inspire a sense of wonder and make you amazed at the incredible world we live in. Here are four of them to feed your imagination.

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

How did it all begin? And how did we get here? Combining history and science, the book offers a comprehensive yet entertaining answer to these questions. Bill Bryson takes the reader on an impressive journey through the greatest scientific discoveries in history. It explains scientific topics in a vivid way, but it’s quite a long read.

Thing Explainer by Randall Munroe

How do helicopters work? Or cells? Randall Munroe explains how things work using illustrations and only the most common 1,000 words in English. It will shift your approach to explanation. So, next time explain how something works rather than merely call it by its name. However, additionally providing more technical terms might have enhanced the understanding and learning experience.

Ask an Astronaut by Tim Peake

What does it feel like to fly into space? How do you prepare for it? Astronaut Tim Peake answers all the questions you never knew about going into space. The book gives insights into the cutting-edge science, as well as the day-to-day life on board of the International Space Station. Its question and answer format makes it easy to quickly find answers, but it can become less appealing due to the lack of descriptive language.

Deep Time by Riley Black

Want to know the story of our planet? Riley Black takes us on a journey, in the order of time, through the geological (地质的) events that have shaped our planet. The fascinating high-quality images are supported by easily digestible explanations of key historical moments. It also expands on key concepts in geology, astronomy and biology. Yet, measuring the size of some objects on the photos is difficult due to the lack of a scale bar (比例尺).