A History of Science in Society is a concise overview that introduces complex ideas in a non-technical fashion. Andrew Ede and Lesley B. Cormack trace the history of science through its continually changing place in society and explore the link between the pursuit of knowledge and the desire to make that knowledge useful. Volume II begins with the work of Sir Isaac Newton and ends with a new section on climate change.

For this edition, a new chapter on the relationship between science and war has been added. The further readings section has been updated to reflect recent contributions to the field. Other new features include timelines at the end of each chapter, 40 upgraded illustrations, and new maps of Captain James Cook's voyages, the 2nd voyage of the Beagle, and the main war front during World War I.