Can I recommend some biology books?
Glad to see two of Nick Lane's books there, but I'd also recommend his other book 'The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution' and while I'd recommend any of Richard Dawkin's other books frankly, particularly recommend 'The Ancestor's Tale' which is a crackingly good read.
Matt Ridley is also a great author; would recommend Nature Via Nurture, and The Red Queen is a great book on the evolution of sex.
Also:
Life: An Unauthorised Biography, by Richard Fortey (more a good all-round sciency book than strictly biology but a great read)
The Biochemistry of Life by Steven Rose (a bit tricky and not for the faint hearted, but interesting)
The Way of the Cell by Franklin M. Harold
DNA: The Secret of Life by James Watson
Mutants by Armand Marie Leroi (interesting look at genes affecting development)
Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer (but don't look at the pictures before bed; they'll give you nightmares
)