Long-term listeners will know that the December episode of Physics World Stories is a celebration of the year’s best popular-science writing. This year, Andrew Glester is joined by comedian and writer Robin Ince, author of the recent book The Importance of Being Interested: Adventures in Scientific Curiosity and host of the longstanding BBC Radio 4 science show The Infinite Monkey Cage, co-presented with the physicist Brian Cox.

Ince talks about his circular journey with science: from enjoying it as a child, to feeling disengaged as a young adult, to now building his entire creative output around his fascination with the natural world. In an entertaining conversation, Ince talks about the importance of critical thinking and how he longs for a society that celebrates the beauty of uncertainty.

Also in the episode, Physics World editors discuss the following books, reviewed in the latest issue of the magazine:

First Dawn: From the Big Bang to Our Future in Space by Roberto Battiston

Horizons: a Global History of Science by James Poskett

Nomad Century: How to Survive the Climate Upheaval by Gaia Vince