Platypus: The Extraordinary Story of How a Curious Creature Baffled the World by Ann Moyal (Johns Hopkins University Press, $16.95, £11.50). “Her book has something for everyone — the excitement of a detective story, the history of biological ideas, the frustration at the fact that morphologists appear not to want to understand the evolution of structure in relation to function.” David Penny, Nature 412, 857 (2001)10.1038/35091117 .

The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History by John M. Barry (Penguin, $16). “Barry writes like an angel. He totally immerses us in the 1918 flu battle.” John Oxford, Nature 429, 345–346 (2004)10.1038/429345a .

Critical Mass: How One Thing Leads to Another by Philip Ball (Arrow, £9.99). “For anyone who would like to learn about the intellectual ferment at the surprising junction of physics and social science, Critical Mass is the place to start.” Steven Strogatz, Nature 428, 367–368 (2004)10.1038/428367a .

Hitler's Scientists: Science, War, and the Devil's Pact by John Cornwell (Penguin, $16, £8.99). “Cornwell has written an engaging synthesis of the original research ... a useful compilation for readers who would like just one volume on science under the Nazis.” Kristie Macrakis Nature 425, 766–767 (2003)10.1038/425766a .