[nesf]

Just thought a list of decent books of this type might be of interest to a few people.

I want titles and then a description of why you recommend it. I'll post up more later if I get a chance etc.


To start the ball rolling

"In Search of Schroedinger's Kittens"/"In search of Schroedinger's Cat" - John Gribbon.

Excellent books, simple language used to roughly sketch out difficult concepts. I personally loved his approach of descrining experiments and their results. The books give a nice picture as to what experiments underly most of the main theories. Perhaps a little outdated now, but I'd still recommend them to anyone looking for a solid introduction to quantum. No substitute for tackling the maths, but hey, I can appreciate people not wanting to do that!

[Shabadu]

Bill Bryson : A Short History of Nearly Everything

For bringing popular science to the masses, making it fun and easy to read, and instilling a sense of wonder in joe public for the universe and some of the things that have happened in it.

[dudara]

Anything written by Feynman. If you've ever read any of his memoirs, you'll come away with wonder at his appetite for science. He was a truly great educator and communicator of physics, as well as being a world-class physicst. Trust me, those two commodities rarely meet.

[ArthurDent]

How to Tell a Proton from a Crouton: An Amateur's Guide to Science Author: Judith Stone
ISBN: 0207168768


not sure if its still in print, but well worth picking up second hand, very light, but funny and interesting

[ArthurDent]

Originally Posted by dudara

Anything written by Feynman. If you've ever read any of his memoirs, you'll come away with wonder at his appetite for science. He was a truly great educator and communicator of physics, as well as being a world-class physicst. Trust me, those two commodities rarely meet.

Agree totally with this - anyone that goes off to teach in Brazil mainly to learn the the drums is fine by me.

Would also recommend anything by Primo Levi - chemist and concentration Camp survivor , books aren't very "science" but very interesting none the less

[Delphi91]

"Five equations that changed the world" by Michael Guillen, published by Abacus

[spooydermot]

Originally Posted by Shabadu

Bill Bryson : A Short History of Nearly Everything

For bringing popular science to the masses, making it fun and easy to read, and instilling a sense of wonder in joe public for the universe and some of the things that have happened in it.

seconded, wish I'd read something like this when I was in school, I would have had a much greater interest in science as a whole.

Also: The Code Book by Simon Singh, a fantastic introduction to Cryptography

[wavin]

Supernature By Lyall Watson

A bit dated by now but still one of the best reads of my life

[starn]

Roger Penrose's the Emperors new Mind or as mentioned above anything written by Feynman. Can't recommend his Complete lectures on Physics enough, as a great starting point for anybody with a intrest in Physics

[starn]

I've found this great and Free Feynman Sampler
http://www.lulu.com/content/144107

[book smarts]

Any of the Aventis prize winners or shortlists. Philip Ball- Critical Mass, Jared Diamond- Collapse, Dawkins, Bryson etc, checkout the website

[aequinoctium]

'mr. tompkins gets serious' by G. Gamov - fantastic.
introduces ideas of nuclear physics, atomic physics, particle physics and quantum mechanics and relativity.
it's very well written.

[magicbastarder]

several by paul davies - the last three minutes for example, is superb.

[dan719]

Derinately feynman(made calatech seem so cool!!!). And also Hawking is a must, for the seriously interested/nerdy Road to reality by roger penrose is an amazing introduction to mathematical physics. QUantum Mechanics for dummies is also a great book!!!!

[syberspud]

Paul Davies all the way - such a great writer. The Origin of Life and The Mind of God are both spectacular!