My last book was The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore.  While not heavy in the science area it talks about the radiation exposure the girls endured while painting the luminous dials on instruments.  Their treatment will make you upset at the establishment.   Another great book which is heavy in science is The Gene: An Intimate History by  Siddhartha Mukherjee.  A great read for the history of inheritance from the beginnings to the future.   Both are great reads.