Bill Nye Says a Newbery Novel Set Him on His Career Path

Bill Nye says Jean Lee Latham’s Carry On, Mr. Bowditch helped shape his love of science, his teaching style and the career that made him a household name. In a new Books That Changed My Life conversation, Nye revisits the book, his early ambition and his long-running effort to adapt the story for screen.

Why it matters: - Bill Nye ties one childhood book to the mindset that helped launch Bill Nye the Science Guy and his broader mission to make science accessible. - Nye frames Carry On, Mr. Bowditch as more than a favorite novel. He describes it as a blueprint for self-teaching, scientific thinking and teaching others. - The conversation also revives interest in a long-gestating screen adaptation of Nathaniel Bowditch’s life.

What happened: - Nye appeared on Books That Changed My Life with host Chris Collins to discuss Jean Lee Latham’s 1956 Newbery Medal winner, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. - Nye says he first encountered the book in fifth grade and has read it “fifteen, I don’t know how many times.” - Nye said he still gets emotional while reading it. - The episode focuses on how the book influenced Nye’s path from school science fan to TV educator.

The details: - The novel follows Nathaniel Bowditch, born in 1773 and bound as a boy to a Salem ship chandlery. - Nye describes a ship chandlery as “a hardware store for your ship.” - Bowditch taught himself Latin, then French, then celestial navigation. - Bowditch later produced The American Practical Navigator, a reference guide Nye says ships still carry today. - Nye says Bowditch’s self-education showed him that learning mathematics and science could change a life. - Nye recalls the book’s phrase “he sailed by an ash breeze,” which refers to rowing a becalmed ship by oar. - Nye says the story pushed him toward mechanical engineering school and six semesters of calculus. - Nye said, “I do not play in his league, but he certainly inspired me in every way.” - Collins notes that Bowditch was also a science educator. - Nye says Bowditch kept order among rough crews by teaching them navigation. - Nye says sailors could climb rigging and handle ships but still could not always determine where they were. - Nye argues that giving people numbers and the ability to think like scientists makes them better crews and better problem-solvers. - Nye links that idea to Carl Sagan’s line: “When you’re in love, you want to tell the world.” - Nye says that kind of enthusiasm is part of why people become teachers. - Nye says he put that philosophy into Bill Nye the Science Guy through a one-page document he gave staff called the “Rules of the Road.” - Nye quoted the document’s mission as producing “a TV show that gets kids and adults excited about science” so the U.S. can again lead in technology, innovation and environmental management. - Nye says guests on the show were to be treated “as though all the guests are scientists. They just chose to be actors.” - Nye says patience and empathy make a good teacher. - Nye also cites aerospace designer Jack Moro: “Everyone you’ll ever meet knows something you don’t.” - Nye says the best part of science teaching is watching “the eyebrows go up.”

Between the lines: - Nye’s comments position Carry On, Mr. Bowditch as a story about upward mobility, technical literacy and public service, not just maritime history. - His repeated reference to teaching suggests his television success was built on the same lesson the book taught him: science becomes powerful when it is shared. - The screenplay remark signals that Nye still wants Bowditch’s story adapted, even if the project has moved slowly.

What’s next: - Nye says he has pitched a Bowditch film to multiple studios and already has a screenplay. - Nye says the main reason the movie has not been made is simple: “because it’s hard.” - Collins also raises the idea of a new audiobook adaptation, and Nye briefly warms to the idea of narrating it after joking he would get choked up. - The conversation closes with Nye relenting to the pitch and acknowledging Collins’s persistence. - The full conversation is available here.