@vicgrinberg
As a former computer-science sort, I found Gleick's "The Information" really engrossing for anyone who wants a from-the-ground-up look at what technology is and how it came to be. It starts with discussions about memorization versus writing and goes from there. VERY readable and engaging.

Though not any sort of scientist, I've always been thrilled by the story and history of physics, including cosmology, and anyone who can do it in an approachable way makes my eyes light up. To find directions of interest, I think all one need to is hang out on Sabine Hossenfelder's blog for a day or two and let oneself be carried along into something that catches interest. Plenty of great books out there, and she will mention them, and that's a great way to happen across a topic that snatches attention.

In biology/genetics, Mukherjee is hard to beat for engagement.

And for poor old underappreciated epidemiology, Barry's "The Great Influenza" made me wonder how it was that I didn't know I was interested in that.