Kelly Weinersmith
Kelly Weinersmith is a biologist and science writer whose work explores emerging technology, space settlement, and the social consequences of scientific progress. She coauthored the New York Times bestsellers Soonish and A City on Mars, the latter of which won the 2024 Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize.
Biography & Author's Journey
Kelly Weinersmith built her career at the intersection of ecology, parasitology, and public science writing. She earned BS and MS degrees at Bowling Green State University and a PhD in ecology at the University of California, Davis, then joined Rice University as an adjunct assistant professor of BioSciences in 2015. Her scientific research focuses on parasites that manipulate host behavior, a specialty that brought wider notice to her work; publisher biographies note coverage in The Atlantic, National Geographic, BBC World, Science, and Nature, and Nature highlighted her team’s work on the crypt-keeper wasp, Euderus set. ((https://ga.rice.edu/administration-faculty/faculty/faculty.pdf))
Quotes
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Popular Books
Soonish
Kelly Weinersmith & Zach Weinersmith
A witty exploration of futuristic technologies, from space elevators to fusion-powered toasters, and their potential impacts on society.
A City on Mars
Kelly Weinersmith & Zach Weinersmith
A humorous yet critical examination of space colonization, exploring the challenges and ethical implications of settling other worlds.
Soonish
Kelly Weinersmith & Zach Weinersmith
A witty exploration of futuristic technologies, from space elevators to fusion-powered toasters, and their potential impacts on society.
A City on Mars
Kelly Weinersmith & Zach Weinersmith
A humorous yet critical examination of space colonization, exploring the challenges and ethical implications of settling other worlds.
Discover more
The Physics of Interstellar Survival
This plan bridges the gap between theoretical physics and practical engineering for the future of humanity. It is essential for aspiring aerospace engineers, science enthusiasts, and anyone fascinated by the technical realities of becoming a multi-planetary species.
Winning New York Tech Week 2026
This plan is essential for investors, founders, and tech enthusiasts looking to maximize their impact during NYC's most intensive networking week. It provides a tactical roadmap for navigating the city's fragmented tech scene and identifying high-growth AI opportunities.
Secrets of a Strange Earth
This plan is designed for curious minds who want to look beyond conventional knowledge to understand the anomalies of our universe and species. It is perfect for lifelong learners and trivia enthusiasts seeking to bridge the gap between science, history, and psychology.
AI's Impact on Society & Living in the AI Age
As AI rapidly reshapes our world, understanding its societal implications is no longer optional but a vital survival skill. This plan is designed for professionals and citizens who want to navigate the ethical, economic, and practical shifts of the digital age with confidence.
The Smart Decade in Medicine
This learning plan explores the frontier where biology meets engineering, detailing the technologies redefining human health. It is essential for healthcare professionals, biotech investors, and tech enthusiasts looking to understand the next decade of medical innovation.
The Science of Deep Connection
In an era of digital isolation, mastering the mechanics of human intimacy is a vital skill for personal fulfillment and professional success. This plan is ideal for anyone looking to move beyond surface-level interactions and build high-trust relationships through science-backed communication.
The Science of Self and Social Influence
This plan bridges the gap between evolutionary biology and modern social psychology to help individuals regain control over their minds. It is ideal for professionals and leaders who want to master their internal emotional state while navigating complex social dynamics.
The 2025 Science Reset
This learning plan is essential for staying informed about the rapid paradigm shifts occurring across biology, physics, and anthropology. It is designed for science enthusiasts and professionals who need to understand how new data is dismantling old certainties.
Community Voices
"If you're lucky, you are sitting next to Kelly Weinersmith, a parasitologist in the BioSciences Department of Rice University"
— Nature Physics
"Kelly and Zach Weinersmith’s book overturns Elon Musk’s claim that we could live on the red planet within years"
— The Guardian
"Curiosity is a beautiful thing, and Kelly and Zach Weinersmith have it in spades"
— Science
"In A City on Mars, Kelly and Zach Weinersmith imagine what it would really be like to live in space: thrilling and absolutely grueling"
— WIRED
"Kelly and Zach Weinersmith bring tough love to the idea of Martian settlement in A City on Mars, a sharp, well-informed and very funny book"
— New Scientist
"Kelly and Zach Weinersmith’s SOONISH is an exceptional science book"
— Boing Boing
"Behavioral ecologist Kelly Weinersmith and her cartoonist husband Zach Weinersmith found, to their dismay, that the prospect looked miserable"
— Scientific American
"Zach and Kelly Weinersmith have given us a bracing to-do list for the new age of space"
— James S.A. Corey
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
