For the Curious Observers: the Case for Science Memoirs
Published on August 18, 2026
By Emma
What do historical romances, psychological thrillers, cozy fantasies, and science fiction horror all have in common? They are all examples of a literary strategy called genre blending.
Genres—known by certain reappearing elements—act as frameworks in which authors weave their stories. To blend genres, authors include more than one (or two, or three) sets of story characteristics to their books—making them more exciting, enticing, and engaging.
Genre blending isn’t just for fiction. One of my all-time favorite genre blends is a science memoir. While not as catchy as “romantasy,” science memoirs sit at the complex intersection of catching the wonders of the natural world and exploring the inner workings of an individual’s experiences.
For example, how does one capture in writing the intricacies of caterpillars turning into butterflies? Or the many ways humans deal with grief? Or how redwood trees grow hundreds of feet and live for hundreds of years?
Science memoir authors have a knack for walking the line between the human world and the wild world beyond. And the best part? They expand our understanding of what nonfiction can be. They include not only the science, but the lyricality of intentional prose.
Curious readers seeking to learn more about the natural world—as well as about the humanity within us all—should look no further than this list:
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
A scientist accounts of the plants she studies while navigating early adulthood and unlikely friendships.
Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu Miller
Dive deep into the history of taxonomy and the human endeavor to organize the chaos of the world.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer
An indigenous perspective on botany and a celebration of how the earth cares for us.
The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery
How much do we really know about animal intelligence?
Of Time and Turtles by Sy Montgomery
Ambitious conservation efforts coupled with musings on humanity’s most finite resource: time.
Smoke Gets in your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty
A candid view of what it’s like to work closely with death, along with ideas on how our society and culture can do better within our death rituals.
The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkle
A look at our closest backyard neighbors and what those relationships can tell us about ourselves.
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Bailey
During a time of debilitating illness, the author finds connection and wonder by observing the life of a common woodland snail.
How Far the Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler
Essays on creatures of the deep and how they reflect the complexities and diversity of human existence.
Life Everlasting by Bernd Heinrich
How can animal death practices inform the way humans deal with death and dying?