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[galactic_hedgehog]

A neighbor's daughter will be going off to college at the end of the summer and we'd like to get her a little gift.  She's interested in studying biology, so maybe something that would kindle her interests would be good.  If she were interested in the physical sciences, I could probably name several titles off the top of my head.  If she's interested in evolution perhaps I should give her The Blind Watchmaker.  Hmmm... I should check on that.

Any suggestions?

[sappho]

I would suggest The Double Helix.

[doctor_torrseal]

Double Helix is a possibility. Also Lives of a Cell by Lewis Thomas, or something by Stephen Jay Gould - Wonderful Life or one of the books of essays.  For books more toward the naturalist side of biology, Loren Eiseley, perhaps The Immense Journey.  These books are a little old, but not dated.

[galactic_hedgehog]

Also Lives of a Cell by Lewis Thomas

Thanks!  I was trying to remember this one, but I kept blanking on both author and title.

[studentaffairsgal]

Regardless of major, I like to give soon-to-be-freshmen a copy of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

If you haven't read it yet, I suggest logging on to amazon.com right now and purchasing a copy! It's a beautiful tale about following your dreams. This is a refreshingly different angle for some students who have been pushed into majors they are not interested in solely because it will be more fiscally sound.

Also, it touches on the importance of being open to meeting and accepting other cultures.

[locutus]

The Richard Dawkins book, The Ancestor's Tale.

[spork]

The Selfish Gene

A Primate's Memoir: A Neuroscientist's Unconventional Life Among the Baboons

The Third Chimpanzee

Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation

[didotwite]

I usually give students a really good dictionary.