Book recs for a precocious twelve year old
December 14, 2018 11:24 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for some non-fiction books for my twelve year old.
I'm not sure what his reading level is, since he maxed out the standardized test for that, but his overall knowledge level is closer to age appropriate.
He's interested in science, economics, computers, and mathematics, and his current fascination is with designing the perfect society. Don't let that limit the recs, though. Good non-fiction on any subject will be considered. Thanks!
I'm not sure what his reading level is, since he maxed out the standardized test for that, but his overall knowledge level is closer to age appropriate.
He's interested in science, economics, computers, and mathematics, and his current fascination is with designing the perfect society. Don't let that limit the recs, though. Good non-fiction on any subject will be considered. Thanks!
Best answer: Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware is a very readable and entertaining book that explains how computer hardware work starting with the idea that binary code is essentially the equivalent of two people making signals with flashlights.
The Design of Everyday Things is all about how terrible a lot of the world's man made objects are. I am not sure how well this book has aged but it was eye opening when I read it. You will forever see terribly designed products in the world.
posted by mmascolino at 11:36 AM on December 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Design of Everyday Things is all about how terrible a lot of the world's man made objects are. I am not sure how well this book has aged but it was eye opening when I read it. You will forever see terribly designed products in the world.
posted by mmascolino at 11:36 AM on December 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I was basically your kid when I was twelve, and pop-culture trivia-factoid books were my jam - stuff like The Book Of Lists and its sequels, nearly every book in every Time-Life series that existed (the natural history series, the mythology series, even the forteana/supernatural/whatever series). This kind of "potpourri" approach was perfect for me, because it was a sampling of every kind of knowledge that there was, in a bite-size chunk, and I could pursue any topic further if I so chose on my own; but, even if I didn't want to delve further, it was still cool knowing a bunch of random people's last words or a list of various civilizations that didn't exist any more and things like that.
I think the Book of Lists still exists, and so do many other similar volumes (An Incomplete Education, a book from QI, etc.). Fair warning that the Book of Lists has some adult-themed sections (I confess that this was also part of their appeal to twelve-year-old me), so you may want to screen them first.
Another option: any of Larry Gonick's Cartoon guides to anything, or his Cartoon History of the Universe. The history series ran to about five full books (switching the name in the middle to "the cartoon guide to the modern world" or something like that), and it really does deliver what it says on the tin, seriously.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:42 AM on December 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
I think the Book of Lists still exists, and so do many other similar volumes (An Incomplete Education, a book from QI, etc.). Fair warning that the Book of Lists has some adult-themed sections (I confess that this was also part of their appeal to twelve-year-old me), so you may want to screen them first.
Another option: any of Larry Gonick's Cartoon guides to anything, or his Cartoon History of the Universe. The history series ran to about five full books (switching the name in the middle to "the cartoon guide to the modern world" or something like that), and it really does deliver what it says on the tin, seriously.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:42 AM on December 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
I would look at a mighty girl on Facebook. They have amazing suggestions. The are a lot of stories of strong, imaginitive and brave women to read, and many other ideas. They do best gift lists as well as books.
posted by Enid Lareg at 12:01 PM on December 14, 2018
posted by Enid Lareg at 12:01 PM on December 14, 2018
John McPhee's Annals Of The Former World, or the five books that constitute it, would likely be well received.
posted by salt grass at 12:04 PM on December 14, 2018
posted by salt grass at 12:04 PM on December 14, 2018
The first work of ethology, a study of termites written in non-technical language with flights of poesy. The Soul of the White Ant
More ethology, this time about baboons. “I had never planned to become a savanna baboon when I grew up; instead, I had always assumed I would become a mountain gorilla.” A Primate's Memoir
What it says on the tin. What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
posted by ckridge at 12:24 PM on December 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
More ethology, this time about baboons. “I had never planned to become a savanna baboon when I grew up; instead, I had always assumed I would become a mountain gorilla.” A Primate's Memoir
What it says on the tin. What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
posted by ckridge at 12:24 PM on December 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
David Macaulay, The Way Things Work Now (2016).
posted by MonkeyToes at 12:29 PM on December 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by MonkeyToes at 12:29 PM on December 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
Hawking's A Brief History of Time seems to be about perfect for an advanced 12-year-old.
posted by DrAstroZoom at 12:36 PM on December 14, 2018
posted by DrAstroZoom at 12:36 PM on December 14, 2018
these two are my 10yo's top favorite books to read and re-read
Brief Answers to the Big Questions
How to build a Universe
these are mostly science-y
What if?
The Thing Explainer
Atlas Obscura
An Illustrated Brief History of Time
Under Water, Under Earth
we have no idea
Math Related:
The Moscow Puzzles: 359 mathematical recreations
posted by alathia at 2:07 PM on December 14, 2018
Brief Answers to the Big Questions
How to build a Universe
these are mostly science-y
What if?
The Thing Explainer
Atlas Obscura
An Illustrated Brief History of Time
Under Water, Under Earth
we have no idea
Math Related:
The Moscow Puzzles: 359 mathematical recreations
posted by alathia at 2:07 PM on December 14, 2018
Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything?
posted by MonkeyToes at 2:12 PM on December 14, 2018
posted by MonkeyToes at 2:12 PM on December 14, 2018
Best answer: Sophie's World is a great introduction to philosophy.
posted by Duffington at 2:17 PM on December 14, 2018
posted by Duffington at 2:17 PM on December 14, 2018
A book that influenced me at that age was Isaac Asimov's Bloodstream: River of Live. It may be slightly dated by medical advances since it was written, but it's a great introduction to how what blood is, how it gets moved around, and various things that can go wrong along the way. Asimov models a very methodical approach to breaking things down and presenting them clearly.
posted by dws at 4:10 PM on December 14, 2018
posted by dws at 4:10 PM on December 14, 2018
Stephen Jay Gould’s essays
Simon Winchester’s books about every-damn-thing
posted by wenestvedt at 5:58 PM on December 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Simon Winchester’s books about every-damn-thing
posted by wenestvedt at 5:58 PM on December 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
The best non-fiction book I've read in the past year was Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise, by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool. Ericsson is the guy who came up with the "100 hour rule" for becoming an expert at something -- although one of the main points of the book is that the "100 hour rule," as commonly understood, simplifies Ericsson's work quite a bit.
In short, Peak is a detailed explanation of how people get good at stuff. It's a scientific and very persuasive argument in favor of the growth mindset. I wish this book had existed when I was 12, because I think it would have made me much braver in diving into things I didn't think I was good at, and the benefits of that would have compounded over my entire lifetime.
posted by yankeefog at 1:07 PM on December 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
In short, Peak is a detailed explanation of how people get good at stuff. It's a scientific and very persuasive argument in favor of the growth mindset. I wish this book had existed when I was 12, because I think it would have made me much braver in diving into things I didn't think I was good at, and the benefits of that would have compounded over my entire lifetime.
posted by yankeefog at 1:07 PM on December 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
My 8th Grade Summer Reading book was Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman which is a great read.
posted by radioamy at 3:30 PM on December 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by radioamy at 3:30 PM on December 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
I don't know how appropriate they are, but my twelve year old has loved nonfiction by Atul Gawande (especially his books on surgery) and Oliver Sacks (especially his collections of medical histories). (I've stopped screening my kid's books, your kid may differ.)
posted by Margalo Epps at 11:18 AM on December 19, 2018
posted by Margalo Epps at 11:18 AM on December 19, 2018
"How to lie with statistics" - a book I read at about that age whose impact has stuck with me through adulthood.
posted by el io at 12:12 AM on December 22, 2018
posted by el io at 12:12 AM on December 22, 2018
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posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 11:32 AM on December 14, 2018