| Erich von Daniken |
Chariots of the Gods |
1960s 'aliens have been here' blockbuster.
Okay, it's tosh - but the premise isn't as ridiculous as you might think,
it's just the reasoning that falls down.
 |
Technology |
| 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 Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing |
Interesting collection of extracts from many great science writers and
scientists. Excellent sampler. |
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 |
| Kees van Deemter |
Not Exactly |
A study of vagueness in language, logic,
computing, and everyday life. Highly original but often abstract, and could
be more cohesive. |
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 |
| Mark Denny |
Froth |
The science of beer - starts well with a good
history, but then becomes much too technical on yeast populations, beer
thermodynamics and more.
|
Physics |
| 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 |
| Guy Deutscher |
Through the Language Glass |
Absolutely cracking book on linguistics and
whether it can reveal anything about human perception. A great read.
|
Human science |
| 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 |
| Persi Diaconis &
Ron Graham |
Magical Mathematics |
Some impressive magic tricks driven only by
maths, but the mathematics isn't very well explained and the book doesn't
work as well as it should.
|
Maths |
| 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 Dunn |
The Wild Life of our Bodies |
Humorous and fascinating exploration both of
the 'alien' life in our bodies but also how human beings interact with the
environment. |
Human science |
| David Eagleman |
Incognito |
Hugely readable exploration of the way our
brains handle sensory input and make decisions, showing how (relatively)
little influence the conscious mind has.
|
Human science |
| 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 |
| Fern Elsdon-Baker |
The Selfish Genius |
Excellent analysis of what's right and wrong
with Richard Dawkins' approach to evolution and public understanding of
science, with real insights into science in society.
|
Biology |
| Richard Elwes |
Maths 1001 [Mathematics 1001] |
Superb as a reference to explain a whole host
of mathematical terms, but doesn't work as a book to read from cover to
cover.
|
Maths |
| Richard Elwes |
The Maths Handbook |
An excellent course for an adult who had
trouble with maths to get a good grounding in the basics, but not really
popular maths.
|
Maths |
| 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 |
| Dylan Evans &
Howard Selina |
Introducing Evolution |
Easily pocketed guide to evolution with all
the basics and some useful excursions into altruism etc. Not outstanding but
solid.
|
Biology |
| 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 |
| Frank Fahy |
Air: the excellent canopy |
A slim but packed book on the nature of air,
aerodynamics, sound, weather and more. Lots of content, but not very
approachable. |
Physics |
|
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 |
| Kitty Ferguson |
Pythagoras |
A difficult task in writing a book on a person we know almost nothing about
(and not much more on his theories) - but instead we follow his influence
through the centuries in a fascinating fashion. |
Biography |
| Kitty Ferguson |
Stephen Hawking |
Interesting and revealing on the life of one of
the most famous living scientists, but not brilliant at explaining his
science. |
Cosmology,
biography |
| 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 |
| Ann Finkbeiner |
A Grand and Bold Thing |
Wonderfully told story of the effort to
produce the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and how it has transformed astronomy.
Excellent popular science writing.
|
Astronomy |
| Clive Finlayson |
The Humans who went Extinct |
Strikingly different view of why Neanderthals
died out and we survived, well worth reading despite some boring bits.
|
Human science |
| Baruch Fischhoff &
John Kadvany |
Risk: a very short introduction |
Good background on decision making with risk
as a factor, but doesn't really explore risk and its positive aspects.
|
Maths |
|
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 |
| Tim Flannery |
Here on Earth |
Beautifully written introduction to evolution
and the history of Earth and its inhabitants, plus not quite as good aspects
on climate change/pollution and potential solutions.
|
Earth science |
| 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 |
Dazzled and Deceived |
Excellent book on the fascinating topic of
mimicry and camouflage, covering both the natural world and military
attempts. Great insights into evolutionary mechanisms. |
Biology,
technology |
| 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 |
| Lone Frank |
My Beautiful Genome |
Very personal exploration of the personal
genomics business, following the author as she takes gene tests and
interviews scientists. Lots to like.
|
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 |
| Masha Gessen |
Perfect Rigour |
The remarkable story of how Russian
mathematician Gregory Perelman solved one of the biggest problems in maths,
then withdrew from everything, ignoring his accolades.
|
Mathematics |
| 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 |
| Ian Glynn |
Elegance in Science |
Usefully puts some well-known theories into
historical context, but less effective at establish its argument about
elegance.
|
Overview |
| 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 |
| Jane Goodall |
Hope for Animals
and their World |
Very personal and moving accounts of animals
being saved from the brink of extinction - just a bit overlong.
|
Biology |
| Göran Grimvall |
Quantify! |
Subtitled 'a crash course in smart thinking'
this book takes a look at how numbers should best be used.
|
Mathematics |
| 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 |
| Brian Greene |
The Hidden Reality |
Nine different options of parallel universes
explored with Greene's usual elan and plenty of background science. |
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 |
| Richard Gregory |
Seeing Through Illusion |
Wonderful idea of getting a better idea of how
the brain handles vision through optical illusions, but very poor execution.
|
Human Science |
|
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 |
In Search of the Multiverse |
A speculative but highly entertaining trip
around the different concepts that take us beyond a single universe to a
multiverse. |
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 |
| Frederick Grinnell |
Everyday Practice of Science |
Excellent as an academic study of the real
nature of the scientific method, but hopeless as popular science.
|
Overview |
| 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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