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Charles Darwin The Autobiography Not at all stuffy - short book is a fascinating insight into Darwin as a human being Biography, biology
Paul Davies The Goldilocks Enigma Why are all the physical constants so fine-tuned for an environment we can live in? A thought provoking exploration of the cosmological reasons why things are just right. Cosmology
RICHARD DAWKINS Biography
Richard Dawkins The Ancestor's Tale Atypical Dawkins - less polished argument than coffee table gloss. Still excellent content in this trip into our biological past, but very bitty. Biology
Richard Dawkins The Blind Watchmaker Superb explanation of how complexity emerges through evolution, slightly let down by writing style Biology
Richard Dawkins A Devil's Chaplain Collection of essays from our foremost spokesperson for neo-Darwinian thinking. Superb and challenging (in a positive sense). Overview
Richard Dawkins The Selfish Gene Evolutionary biology from its foremost protagonist Biology
Richard Dawkins Unweaving the Rainbow An excellent attempt to counter the argument that science spoils the beauty of nature, slightly tainted by attitude Overview
Gerard DeGroot Dark Side of the Moon Shows clearly how the race to the moon was driven by politics, not science. Only scores low because there's so little science in the story Technology
Daniel Dennett Darwin's Dangerous Idea Good exploration of evolution, but irritating attempt to put it at the heart of all science Biology
Daniel Dennett Freedom Evolves Fascinating (if long-winded) exploration of free will, only low scoring as more philosophy than science Psychology
John Derbyshire Unknown Quantity Attempt at popular maths history of algebra. The history part isn't too bad, but the maths part feels too much like a textbook. Maths
Adrian Desmond & James Moore Darwin: The Life of a Tormented Evolutionist A rich narrative of a "billionare of bizarre facts" and his struggle between a revolutionary idea and a conservative social context. Biography
Keith Devlin The Millennium Problems The seven maths problems with a $1M prize for cracking each, well presented, if in a rather off-putting way Maths
Jared Diamond Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive A study of why societies fail catastrophically and how it's all too easy to go over the edge. Very good stuff, but overly academic. Human science
Michael Blastland & Andrew Dilnot The Tiger that Isn't Brilliant excursion into the way we misuse and misunderstand numbers and statistics, and how to see around it. Maths
Douglas Dixon & John Adams The Future is Wild Wonderful idea, mostly extremely well done, of speculating on the way animal life will evolve in the next 200 million years. Glossy & illustrated. Biology
Michael Dowd Thank God for Evolution Remarkable attempt to frame a religious view based on science, only let down by the religious book style of writing. Overview
Clare Dudman Wegener's Jigsaw Biographical novel, providing excellent insights into the life and works of the man who thought up continental drift, Alfred Wegener. Biography
David Ewing Duncan The Calendar The struggle to establish a calendar that matches reality Astronomy, technology
Rob Easterway & Jeremy Wyndham How Long is a Piece of String Very enjoyable book of mathematical fun in everyday life - could do to be a little more adult in presentation Maths
Siegfried Eckleben Bang!!! A Curriculum Vitae of the Universe Interesting attempt to trace where we come from, from big bang to human evolution, let down by poor editing and odd narration. Overview
Siân Ede Art & Science Flawed examination of the interplay between art and science. Worth reading, though, to see what the problem is Overview
Albert Einstein & Max Born The Born-Einstein Letters Fascinating letters between two of the 20th century greats of physics. Biography, physics
Albert Einstein The Essential Einstein: His Greatest Works Stephen Hawking edits and comments on Einstein's best work - but you probably need a physics degree.. Physics
Jack El-Hai The Lobotomist The story of the rise and fall of US lobotomist Walter Freedman - not great pop sci, but very good medical biog Human science
Niles Eldredge Darwin: Discovering the tree of life Not just another Darwin biography, but a very readable and well illustrated attempt to show just how Darwin's thinking was shaped Biology, biography
John Emsley The Elements of Murder A history of the use of several key elements from mercury to lead in poisonings - fascinating stories and surprisingly interesting Human science
John Emsley Vanity, Vitality & Virility Nice idea - the chemicals behind these key aspects of humanity - but somehow just doesn't inspire. Human science
James Essinger Jacquard's Web Good, but not outstanding, journey from punch-card operated looms to the first mechanical computers Technology
Colin Evans The Father of Forensics The life and work of pioneer forensic pathologist Sir Bernard Spilsbury. Great read, but more true crime than science. Biography
Eva Everything What does the Moon Smell Like Multiple choice science quiz book that isn't easy enough to read through, but makes a good gift book. Overview
Brian Fagan The Long Summer Well-written and engrossing study of the way the climate changes between 18,000BC and the present time have influenced human civilization Human Science
PATRICIA FARA Biography
Patricia Fara Fatal Attraction Enlightenment magnetism seen through the lives of three key characters: Halley, Knight and Mesmer Biography
Patricia Fara An Entertainment of Angels Interesting if compact story of eighteenth century electrical psuedo-science Physics
Patricia Fara Pandora's Breeches Interesting exploration of women's early role in science Biography
Patricia Fara Science: a four thousand year history Magnificent and very readable account of all of science, putting it into its social and political context. Overview
Patricia Fara Sex, Botany and Empire Joseph Banks (and Linnaeus) and his contribution to biological classification Biography, biology
Graham Farmelo The Strangest Man Very detailed and well researched biography of the most secretive of the quantum physicists, Paul Dirac. A welcome addition. Biography, physics
Kitty Ferguson Measuring the Universe A solid survey of the attempts to pin down the size of the universe through the ages. Fine, but never soars. Cosmology, astronomy
Pedro G. Ferreira The State of the Universe Attempts to be a primer on modern cosmology - has all the right content, but just not readable enough. Cosmology
GEORGINA FERRY Biography
Georgina Ferry Max Perutz and the Secret of Life A delightful surprise to find out about this pioneering molecular biologist, supported by excellent writing. Biology, Biography
RICHARD FEYNMAN Biography
Richard Feynman Don't You Have Time to Think? [Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track] Absolutely fascinating collection of letters from one of the greatest scientists ever Biography
Richard Feynman QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter Great insight into Feynman's genius in these transcribed lectures, in not popular science Physics
Richard Feynman Six Easy Pieces The essentials of physics in a chatty textbook that just scrapes into pop-sci Physics
Richard Feynman Surely you are Joking, Mr Feynman Wonderful anecdotes from the great physicist Biography, physics
Richard Feynman What Do You Care What Other People Think? Feynman's follow up collection of reminiscences, distinguished by amazing section on the Challenger enquiry Biography
Cordelia Fine A Mind of Its Own A short and wonderfully readable introduction to the many ways our brains deceive us, illustrated throughout by psychological experiments Human science
LEN FISHER Biography
Len Fisher How to Dunk a Doughnut Interesting idea of turning the full weight of experimental science on everyday happenings, but doesn't entirely deliver. Overview
Len Fisher Weighing the Soul Seven examples of challenges to scientific beliefs, from the weight of the soul to the nature of lightning, delightfully told Overview
Mike Flynn Little Book of Infinity Not a book on infinity, but an overview of maths (and parts of science too). Readable but too compact to be useful Maths
PETER FORBES Biography
Peter Forbes The Gecko's Foot Wonderful examples of the potential for nature to inspire remarkable new technology, particularly at the nano level. Highly recommended Biology, technology
Brian J. Ford The Future of Food A sharp assessment of what's wrong with the way we produce and consume food, and how things might change. Idiosyncratic tone might irritate, but will also interest. Overview
Richard Fortey Dry Store Room No. 1: the secret life of the Natural History Museum A passionate tour of this British institution, taking in the exhibits and the people who work there and reflecting on the changes that are under way. Biology
Richard Fortey The Earth: an intimate history Not only a good explanation of how the Earth works, but a tour of key locations too. Earth science
David Foster Wallace Everything and more: a compact history of Much more style than readability in this patchy infinity title Overview
Kate Fox Watching the English Excellent insights into the English culture and how much English behaviour can be explained by social dis-ease. Human science
Steve Fuller Dissent over Decent Almost impossible to decipher what this analysis of evolution and intelligent design is trying to say. Biology
Steve Fuller Kuhn vs Popper Great opportunity to explain philosophy of science lost in a tangle of words Maths
George Gamow Mr Tompkins in Paperback Early attempt at popularizing hard physics, beloved of many scientists, but hasn't aged well Physics
Shan Gao God Does Play Dice with the Universe Interesting theory on the random and discontinuous nature of movement, but poorly written. Physics
Dan Gardner Risk: The science and politics of fear Good insights into how human responses divide into 'head' and 'gut' and how our gut leads us to be frightened more than we should. Human science
Martin Gardner The Colossal Book of Mathematics Classic puzzles, paradoxes and problems Maths
Evalyn Gates Einstein's Telescope Okay exploration of the hunt for dark matter and dark energy. Cosmology
Henry Gee The Science of Middle Earth Surprisingly effective study of Tolkein's attitude to science and its appearance on his writings Overview
Ngaire E. Genge The Forensic Casebook An attempt to explore the science of crime scene investigation, very readable but let down by style Human Science
Rose George The Big Necessity The rarely visited world of human waste - great fun down the sewers, investigating Japanese high function toilets, and with the sociological and health issues involved. Human Science
George Gilder The Silicon Eye Meet some unknown but essential characters of the silicon revolution and join their journey, attempting to take a whole new approach to digital cameras. Technology
Malcolm Gladwell Blink Lightweight but delightfully told illustration of how we make ultra-quick decisions Human Science
Malcolm Gladwell The Tipping Point Connectedness, how information spreads virally and the stickiness of ideas transformed into a great little book by excellent stories Human Science
JAMES GLEICK Biography
James Gleick Chaos The remarkable development of chaos theory Maths
James Gleick Faster A description of the way we are constantly demanding to fit more and more into our time - probably Gleick's weakest book, but still interesting Overview
James Gleick Genius: The Life and science of Richard Feynman The best biography of this superb physicist and complex man - still flawed but well worth reading Biography
James Gleick Isaac Newton Newton biog with good insight into his physics Biography, physics
James Gleick What Just Happened Articles on the development and future of the IT business Technology
Peter D. Gluckman & Mark Hanson Mismatch Gets its three stars for the excellent idea - the mismatch between humans and environment - but the delivery is poor. Human science
Ben Goldacre Bad Science Funny and devastatingly accurate exposure of the way bad science is used to sell products and fool the press. Overview
Noah J. Goldstein, Steve J. Martin, Robert B. Cialdini Yes! 50 secrets from the science of persuasion Some excellent insights from scientific studies of how people behave that help persuade them to act in a particular way. More business book than science, but very good nonetheless. Human science
Lawrence & Nancy Goldstone The Friar and the Cipher Limited biography of proto-scientist Roger Bacon coupled with speculation on supposedly connected enciphered manuscript Overview
Daniel Goleman Social Intelligence Fat follow-up to Emotional Intelligence with some interesting scientific input, but very selective and there's little depth to the interpretation. Disappointing. Human science
Jeff Gomez Print is Dead Good article on why the printed book is at risk, stretched to a book and with some doubtful arguments. Technology
Laurence Gonzales Everyday Survival Brilliant first half of the book on the way our programmed behaviour puts us at risk, ruined by poor second half. Human science
Alan Grafen & Mark Ridley Richard Dawkins: How a Scientist Changed the Way We Think Collection of essays inspired by Richard Dawkins, sadly lacking his style and readability, and not addressing the man himself Biology
Walter Gratzer Terrors of the Table History of nutrition with an interesting start and great final chapters, but rather stodgy middle section Human Science
Brian Greene The Elegant Universe Precursor to Fabric of the Cosmos with considerable overlaps. Not as good on relativity/quantum theory but more on string theory. Physics, cosmology
Brian Greene The Fabric of the Cosmos Great exploration of the nature of space, time and matter, starting with relativity and quantum theory and reaching out to the universe Physics, cosmology
Andrew Gregory Eureka! The Birth of Science Although it's arguable the ancient Greeks didn't do science, they certainly laid the foundations: this book is essential reading Overview
Jane Gregory Fred Hoyle's Universe A thorough and effective biography of the great astronomer Fred Hoyle - not perfect, but probably the best Biography, cosmology
JOHN GRIBBIN Biography
John Gribbin Deep Simplicity Chaos, complexity and simplicity related to the origins of life, but sadly not very well explained. Maths, overview
John Gribbin The Fellowship History of the founding of the Royal Society built on biographies of the key figures - comes alive with Hooke, but elsewhere can be dull.. Overview
John Gribbin In Search of Schrödinger's Cat One of Gribbin's best books providing a good introduction to quantum theory, which doesn't suffer too much from age despite being over 20 years old. Physics
John Gribbin Schrödinger's Kittens Sequel to In Search of Schrodinger's Cat. Some interesting material on further development of quantum theory Physics
John Gribbin Science, A History Everything from the Renaissance to the present - lots there, but a dipping book Overview
John Gribbin The Scientists See Science, A History  
John Gribbin & Mary Gribbin Faraday in 90 minutes Quick and dirty intro to Faraday. No great shakes, but gives you the basics Biography
John Gribbin & Mary Gribbin Galileo in 90 minutes Quick and dirty intro to Galileo. No great shakes, but gives you the basics Biography
John Gribbin & Mary Gribbin Richard Feynman: A Life in Science Plodding style and under-done explanation of the science make this biog of super-scientist Feynman disappointing Biography, physics
John Gribbin & Michael White Einstein: A Life in Science Between them, White & Gribbin iron out each others faults to produce a good, balanced Einstein biog Biography, physics
Lee Gutkind Almost Human Fly on the wall documentary book of the personalities, achievements and disasters of the Carnegie Mellon roboticists. Technology

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Last update 05 June 2007