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Jim Ottaviani

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

https://gt-labs.com/

Twitter

gtlabsrat

Genre

Comics & Graphic Novels, Science

Member Since

April 2012

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/jim_ottaviani

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I've worked at news agencies and golf courses in the Chicagoland area, nuclear reactors in the U.S. and Japan, and libraries in Michigan. When I'm not staying up late writing comics about scientists, I'm spraining my ankles and flattening my feet by running on trails. Or I'm reading. I read a lot. ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

I was raised in a fundamentalist home, literally taught the story of "The Flood" as science/history in the school I attended, and am now trying to educate myself about science as a 40-something. Could you recommend some good, basic texts with which to start? (Reading your books helped sparked my interest to try this, btw; thank you!)

Jim Ottaviani Hi Gwynfor,

Thanks for the note, and how exciting that you've decided to open the doors to this world!

(Also, I'm delighted that books I've written are …moreHi Gwynfor,

Thanks for the note, and how exciting that you've decided to open the doors to this world!

(Also, I'm delighted that books I've written are how you got interested in learning more...thank you for the compliment, since this is the best possible result of making them, from my perspective.)

Where to start, then? There are many right answers, and I don't know what will work best for you. But since you asked me — ask other people too! — I'm going to offer a couple books I have in my own library that are written for non-specialists, and most (though not all) have a strong biographical arc to them. None are hardcore science books. Think narrative as the main course, with science as both the sides and dessert!

If any of these pique your interest, you'll find more to read in these books' bibliography and/or you can head over to your local community college to go deep.

Natural history/evolution
"The Beak of the Finch" by Jonathan Weiner
"Why Fish Don't Exist" by Lulu Miller
"An Immense World" by Ed Yong

Physics
"Einstein" by Walter Isaacson
"In Search of Schrodinger's Cat" by John Gribbin

Math
"How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking" by Jordan Ellenberg
"Men of Mathematics" by E.T. Bell (dated title, and written in 1937, but a good introduction nonetheless)

Astronomy/Cosmology/Space
"Galileo's Daughter" by Dava Sobel
"The Universe in a Nutshell" by Stephen Hawking
"Packing for Mars" by Mary Roach (everything by her is fun to read)

Chemistry
"Bright Earth" by Philip Ball

General/Science and Society
"Seeing Further" by Bill Bryson (ed)
"The Making of the Atomic Bomb" by Richard Rhodes

Comics
Anything and everything by Jay Hosler
The "Science Comics" series published by First Second
(note: Jay's a friend, and First Second has published many of my books, so I'm probably biased. But I've bought many with my own money, so I'm the opposite of a paid advertiser :)

I could go on and on here, but I hope this is enough to help get you started. And...thanks again!

Jim(less)

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Who are the other scientists whose biography you plan to cover in the times to come?

Jim Ottaviani Thanks for asking: I'm working on a book about scientists who study water — oceans, lakes, and more — right now!…moreThanks for asking: I'm working on a book about scientists who study water — oceans, lakes, and more — right now!(less)

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Jim Ottaviani’s books

Average rating: 3.78 · 19,979 ratings · 2,674 reviews · 23 distinct works • Similar authors

	Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas (Primates, 1) by Jim Ottaviani (Goodreads Author), Maris Wicks (Illustrator) 3.84 avg rating — 7,187 ratings — published 2013 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Feynman by Jim Ottaviani (Goodreads Author), Leland Myrick (Illustrator) 3.81 avg rating — 6,942 ratings — published 2011 — 27 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Imitation Game by Jim Ottaviani (Goodreads Author), Leland Purvis 3.61 avg rating — 1,782 ratings — published 2014 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier by Jim Ottaviani (Goodreads Author), Maris Wicks (Illustrator) 4.05 avg rating — 790 ratings — published 2020 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hawking by Jim Ottaviani (Goodreads Author), Leland Myrick (Illustrator) 3.55 avg rating — 703 ratings — published 2019 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	T-Minus: The Race to the Moon by Jim Ottaviani (Goodreads Author), Zander Cannon (Illustrator), Kevin Cannon (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator) 3.73 avg rating — 550 ratings — published 2009 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Naturalist by Jim Ottaviani (Goodreads Author) (Adapter), Edward O. Wilson, C.M. Butzer (Illustrations) 3.94 avg rating — 310 ratings — published 2020 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Suspended In Language: Niels Bohr's Life, Discoveries, And The Century He Shaped by Jim Ottaviani (Goodreads Author), Leland Purvis (Illustrator), Roger Langridge (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator) 3.81 avg rating — 297 ratings — published 2004 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fallout: J. Robert Oppenheimer, Leo Szilard, and the Political Science of the Atomic Bomb by Jim Ottaviani (Goodreads Author), Janine Johnston, Jeffrey Jones (Artist) 3.51 avg rating — 293 ratings — published 2001 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bone Sharps, Cowboys, and Thunder Lizards by Jim Ottaviani (Goodreads Author), Big Time Attic, Shad Petosky 3.43 avg rating — 207 ratings — published 2005 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Jim Ottaviani's Blog

Glacier National Park and Three Rules

Mountain goats and the rules of hiking were still on our minds when we touched down at Detroit Metro and started our trek to offsite parking.

Those mountain goats had been easily a half mile away and hundreds of feet above us when we first saw them. In Glacier National Park, none of this is rare. Lots of mountain goats, lots of things far away, lots of things way above your head…even though yo

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Jim’s Recent Updates

Jim rated a book it was ok The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 27, 2024 04:25PM · like
Jim rated a book liked it The Black Ice (Harry Bosch, #2; Harry Bosch Universe, #2) by Michael Connelly (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 23, 2024 05:33PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Black Ice by Michael Connelly. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Black Ice by Michael Connelly <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim rated a book it was amazing Memory's Legion by James S.A. Corey (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 19, 2024 12:16PM · like
Jim rated a book it was amazing Leviathan Falls (The Expanse, #9) by James S.A. Corey (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 19, 2024 12:15PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Leviathan Falls by James S.A. Corey. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Leviathan Falls by James S.A. Corey <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim has read Leviathan Falls (The Expanse, #9) by James S.A. Corey (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 19, 2024 12:15PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Leviathan Falls by James S.A. Corey. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Leviathan Falls by James S.A. Corey <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim rated a book it was amazing The Nancy Show: Celebrating the Art of Ernie Bushmiller by Peter Maresca	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 14, 2024 07:29AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Nancy Show by Peter Maresca. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Nancy Show by Peter Maresca <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim rated a book liked it Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden's Syndrome (Lock In, #0.5) by John Scalzi (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 10, 2024 06:59PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Unlocked by John Scalzi. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Unlocked by John Scalzi <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jim rated a book it was ok A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot, #1) by Becky Chambers (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 07, 2024 10:44AM · like
Jim rated a book liked it The Black Echo (Harry Bosch, #1; Harry Bosch Universe, #1) by Michael Connelly (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 05, 2024 06:18AM · like
Jim rated a book it was ok Strange Adventures by Tom King (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 27, 2024 07:03AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Strange Adventures by Tom King. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Strange Adventures by Tom King <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Jim's books…

Polls

March is Women's History Month in the US, UK, and Australia.
Which women's history book should we read for March 2018?

This poll will open at 12:01 am Eastern time on Thursday, February 1,
and will close at 11:59 pm on Thursday, February 22.

Agatha: The Real Life of Agatha Christie by Anne Martinetti

2 votes, 40.0%

She Changed Comics: The Untold Story of the Women Who Changed Free Expression in Comics by Betsy Gomez

2 votes, 40.0%

Red Rosa: A Graphic Biography of Rosa Luxemburg by Kate Evans

1 vote, 20.0%

Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas by Jim Ottaviani

0 votes, 0.0%

5 total votes

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Nothing But Readi...: Level 3 of the Serious Readers Challenge for 2011	167	289	Jan 01, 2012 08:27PM
Wild Things: YA G...: Reading Challenge #16 - Report Points Here	124	110	Jul 06, 2013 09:38PM
The Seasonal Read...: Fall Challenge 2013: Completed Tasks (DO NOT DELETE POSTS)	2494	636	Nov 30, 2013 09:01PM
2024 Reading Chal...: Karina's 101 in '14	13	75	Apr 27, 2014 02:15AM
Reading with Style: Su 2015 RwS Completed Tasks - Summer 2015	1164	114	Aug 31, 2015 09:01PM
Young Adult Book ...: A-Z Reading Challenge 2015	156	823	Dec 31, 2015 06:41PM
Reading with Style: SP 2016 RwS Completed Tasks Spring 2016	1205	99	May 31, 2016 09:01PM
Monthly Challenges: July 2017 Completed Tasks	70	13	Jul 31, 2017 08:09PM

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“Reading begets reading.”
― Nick Hornby

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Jim’s Year In Books

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Glacier National Park and Three Rules

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Preview — The Black Ice by Michael Connelly

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Jim Ottaviani’s Followers (287)

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Preview — The Black Ice by Michael Connelly

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Preview — Leviathan Falls by James S.A. Corey

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Preview — Leviathan Falls by James S.A. Corey

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Preview — The Nancy Show by Peter Maresca

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Preview — Strange Adventures by Tom King

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