The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins Dawkins made a name for himself with this book, arguing that we are nothing more than huge meat machines whose only purpose is to perpetuate our genes. His arguments are frustratingly difficult to refute. The Ants by Bert Holldobler and E.O. Wilson Take your worst horror movie or science fiction fantasy about ruthless, well-organized, creepy, aliens from space. Okay, now know that somewhere in the world there are ant species that are even scarier. The Ants is easily the most frightening book I've ever read.
Great photos accompany the detailed text.
The Web of Adaptation by David W. Snow A group of birds called Cotingidae lives in the jungles of northern South America and Central America. These birds eat almost nothing but fruit. The Web of Adaptation is a series of essays discussing the consequences of fruit-eating on mating strategies and other behaviors. If you're not a birder, it may be hard to imagine why this should interest you. It is far too easy to make up evolutionary stories to explain any physical feature, social system, or behavior without real evidence.