Mentioned in Podcasts
Carl Zimmer
Ragesoss / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Person

Carl Zimmer's book recommendations

Key facts

  • Carl Zimmer has recommended or discussed 4 books on podcasts, as of March 5, 2025.
  • Carl Zimmer has talked about books on 2 podcasts, as of March 5, 2025.
  • Those books came up in 2 episodes, as of March 5, 2025.
  • The 3 books Carl Zimmer has mentioned in the most episodes, as of March 5, 2025: Air-Borne, Life's Edge and A Planet of Viruses.
  • The latest episode with a book mention from Carl Zimmer aired on March 5, 2025.

Updated

Guest on Conversations with Tyler, The Book Review · 4 books · 2 episodes across 2 podcasts

Carl Zimmer has also written 14 books: see Books by Carl Zimmer.

Across 2 podcasts. Every show Carl Zimmer appears on, in one place — not just one.

Carl Zimmer is an American popular science writer, blogger, columnist, and journalist who specializes in the topics of evolution, parasites, and heredity. The author of many books, he contributes science essays to publications such as The New York Times, Discover, and National Geographic. He is a fellow at Yale University's Morse College and adjunct professor of molecular biophysics and biochemistry at Yale University. Zimmer also gives frequent lectures and has appeared on many radio shows, including National Public Radio's Radiolab, Fresh Air, and This American Life. He authored Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea, a companion piece to the PBS series Evolution. Appearing on Conversations with Tyler and The Book Review, Zimmer discussed several of his own written works. He referenced Air-Borne to explore the history of airborne disease, ultraviolet light safeguards, and indoor carbon dioxide monitoring, and mentioned Life's Edge to elaborate on concepts of life as a property of matter and the possibility of life elsewhere in the solar system. Furthermore, he brought up She Has Her Mother's Laugh to discuss heredity and heritability in genetics, and noted his earlier book A Planet of Viruses when talking about viral topics.

Books recommended by Carl Zimmer

Who said what is determined automatically. In hand-checked samples, at least 6% of mentions were credited to the wrong speaker — sometimes an interviewer’s line recorded as the guest’s, sometimes the reverse. Every entry below quotes the words and links to the episode, so you can check it.

We earn a commission if you buy through the store links below, at no cost to you.

  1. Air-Borne

    Carl Zimmer · Discussed · 1 episode

    Air-Borne by Carl Zimmer is a deep historical investigation into the invisible life forms that inhabit the air we breathe and how humanity has historically understood airborne diseases.

    Discussed
    “you know it's a great question and one that I was thinking about a lot while working on this book”
    Conversations with Tyler Carl Zimmer on the Hidden Life in the Air We Breathe 2025-03-05 Listen at 1:06
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  2. Life's Edge

    Carl Zimmer · Discussed · 1 episode

    Life's Edge by Carl Zimmer is a popular science exploration that investigates the fundamental scientific definitions of what it actually means for something to be alive, pushing the boundaries of biology and astrobiology.

    Discussed
    “so in my book life's Edge I um you know I I I was writing about kind of um you know how far we can push our concepts of life and and you know can we think about life elsewhere”
    Conversations with Tyler Carl Zimmer on the Hidden Life in the Air We Breathe 2025-03-05 Listen at 36:51
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  3. A Planet of Viruses

    Carl Zimmer · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “um actually wrote a book called The Planet of viruses a few years ago”
    The Book Review Carl Zimmer on Defining Life 2021-04-02 Listen at 1:45
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  4. She Has Her Mother's Laugh

    Carl Zimmer · Discussed · 1 episode

    She Has Her Mother's Laugh by Carl Zimmer is a comprehensive exploration of the biological powers, historical perversions, and future potentials of heredity and genetics.

    Discussed
    “um and I I I write a lot about that in a book she has her mother's laugh which is about heredity in general and heritability really is just saying like Okay in a certain situation”
    Conversations with Tyler Carl Zimmer on the Hidden Life in the Air We Breathe 2025-03-05 Listen at 45:03
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

Books by Carl Zimmer

14 books Carl Zimmer wrote, best known first. What podcasts say about them →

Appearances

EpisodePodcastDateBooks
Carl Zimmer on the Hidden Life in the Air We BreatheConversations with Tyler2025-03-057
Carl Zimmer on Defining LifeThe Book Review2021-04-021
Other mentions (4: passing, ad reads, own books)
Plugged Life's Edge
“and you know in in the book i actually write about you know some figures in history who who really tried to go out there to life's edge the title of the book and you know that edge where you're trying to figure out what divides life from non-life”
Modern Wisdom What Are The Weirdest Types Of Life? - Carl Zimmer - #394 2021-11-06 Listen at 53:31
Plugged Life's Edge
“one thing that's kind of amazing is as I write about in life sge is that if you look for a definition of life from scientists you will find hundreds of them”
The Book Review Carl Zimmer on Defining Life 2021-04-02 Listen at 6:59
Plugged Life's Edge
“and I I highlight a few of them in life's Edge and I I present some some really exemplary species”
The Book Review Carl Zimmer on Defining Life 2021-04-02 Listen at 8:03
Plugged Life's Edge
“but you know for for an astrobiologist like Lori barge who I feature in life's Edge”
The Book Review Carl Zimmer on Defining Life 2021-04-02 Listen at 21:16