|
The 4% Universe |
Richard Panek |
A useful and detailed history
of the discovery of the existence of dark matter and dark energy, which make
up 96% of the universe.  |
Cosmology |
|
10 Questions Science
Can't Answer (Yet) |
Michael Hanlon |
A truly thought-provoking and
fascinating exploration of areas of science that aren't fully understood,
from dark matter to why so many people are fat. |
Overview |
|
13 Things that don't make sense |
Michael Brooks |
A fun and informative read on 13 anomalies of
science that surprises and delights in equal measures.
|
Overview |
|
17 Equations that Changed
the World |
Ian Stewart |
Descriptions of 17 wonderful
equations and how they came to being. Good historical context but the maths
gets too obscure for the general reader.
 |
Maths |
|
30 Second Theories |
Paul Parsons (Ed.) |
An attempt to cover all of
science in 50 snippets. A curate's egg of a book that leaves you wanting
more.
|
Overview |
|
50 Ideas
you Really Need to Know: Universe |
Joanne Baker |
A childish approach and a
number of errors make this summary of cosmology less than ideal. |
Cosmology |
|
50 Physics Ideas you
Really Need to Know |
Joanne Baker |
Quite a reasonable and
approachable summary, despite a few errors, but not a great end-to-end read. |
Physics |
|
1001 Inventions that
changed the World |
Jack Challoner (Ed.) |
In essence a website on paper,
this doesn't really work as a book. You can't read it end to end, nor is it
a great reference. |
Technology |
|
1089 and all that |
David Acheson |
Very entertaining and
occasionally surreal take on maths, making the subject ridiculously
appealing in a pocket-sized volume
|
Maths |
|
1491 [Ancient Americans] |
Charles C. Mann |
Superb revelation of the
remarkable prehistoric cultures of the Americas - full of surprises and
eminently readable |
Human science |
|
The 21st Century Brain |
Steven Rose |
Rose gives us a detailed and
powerful study of our brains and where they came from - it's just not
awfully readable
|
Human science |
|
25 Big Ideas |
Robert Matthews |
Condensed book style makes
this introduction to the key areas of modern science useful but a little dry
|
Overview |
|
A Certain Ambiguity |
Gaurav Suri & Hartosh Singh
Bal |
Attempt to get across the joys
of maths in a novel form. Wonderful idea, hence the bracketed five stars,
but doesn't work very well as novel or popular maths.
[] |
Mathematics |
|
Abducted |
Susan A. Clancy |
Sensible scientific look at the reality of
alien abduction - very engaging writing, but could have better structured
|
Human science |
|
After Dolly |
Ian Wilmut & Roger Highfield |
Excellent combination of a
history of the development of the first animal clone, Dolly the sheep, with
an exploration of the ethics and practicality of cloning by one of the team
behind Dolly's birth.
|
Biology |
|
After the Ice |
Steven Mithen |
Huge history of humanity
between 20,000 and 5,000 BC with neat "observer" style
|
Human science |
|
Afterglow of Creation |
Marcus Chown |
Intriguing detective story tracking back from
the cosmic background radiation to the big bang. |
Cosmology |
|
Against the Gods |
Peter Bernstein |
Good history of our attitude
to risk and probability - a little too much finance and not enough physics,
but good |
Maths |
|
The Age of Empathy |
Frans de Waal |
Lessons from nature, and
primates in particular, into the reasons for the existence of empathy and
its value. Touching and based on de Waal's work
|
Biology |
|
The Age of Scurvy |
Stephen R. Bown |
Gripping story of the slow
discovery of the cure for scurvy that brings alive the atmosphere of life on
sailing ships
|
Human science |
|
Air: the excellent canopy |
Frank Fahy |
A slim but packed book on the
nature of air, aerodynamics, sound, weather and more. Lots of content, but
not very approachable.
|
Physics |
|
Alien Volcanoes |
Rosaly M. C. Lopes & Michael W. Carroll |
Effective neither as a picture
book or a really engaging book on volcanoes, the 'alien' part just makes
what could be fascinating a touch wishy-washy.
|
Earth science |
|
Almost Human |
Lee Gutkind |
Fly on the wall documentary
book of the personalities, achievements and disasters of the Carnegie Mellon
roboticists.
|
Technology |
|
The Amazing Story of
Quantum Mechanics |
James Kakalios |
Despite promising to be 'math
free' this introduction to quantum mechanics peppered with examples from
comic books is quite hard work for the reader, but rewards that work with
more depth than is usual. |
Physics |
|
The Ancestor's Tale |
Richard Dawkins |
Atypical Dawkins - less polished argument than coffee table gloss. Still
excellent content in this trip into our biological past, but very bitty.
|
Biology |
|
Ancient Americans [1491] |
Charles C. Mann |
Superb revelation of the
remarkable prehistoric cultures of the Americas - full of surprises and
eminently readable |
Human science |
|
Animal |
David Burnie (Ed.) |
Wonderful illustrated
reference guide to the animal kingdom - not popular science really, hence
only |
Biology |
|
Anthill |
E. O. Wilson |
A novel that sandwiches a
section about the life of an anthill between two describing a naturalist who
wants to save it. Doesn't work very well.
|
Biology |
|
Antimatter |
Frank Close |
Intriguing guide to
antimatter: what it is, how it's made and how it's unlikely to be a serious
component of a weapon.
|
Physics |
|
The Apple and the Atom |
Sebastien Balibar |
Enjoyable and very personal
views on a series of scientific topics from a French low temperature
physicist.
|
Overview |
|
The Archimedes Codex |
Reviel Netz & William Noel |
Fascinating combination of the
story of the uncovering of a hidden manuscript copy of Archimedes' books and
an explanation of what's special about the content.
|
Maths |
|
Are Angels OK? |
Bill Manhire &
Paul Callaghan (Eds.) |
Mix of science, science fiction and lab lit
from New Zealand. Mixed content, but explores well how science and
literature sit alongside each other.
|
Overview |
|
Armageddon Science |
Brian Clegg |
The science behind the many
ways that humanity can destroy itself (with a bit of destructive nature
thrown in). Mad scientists may be scary, but it's a strangely enjoyable
cocktail. |
Overview |
|
Art & Science |
Siân Ede |
Flawed examination of the
interplay between art and science. Worth reading, though, to see what the
problem is
|
Overview |
|
The Art of the Infinite |
Robert
& Ellen Kaplan |
Good idea of explaining why
mathematics is worthy of passion that singularly fails to deliver
|
Maths |
|
The Artful Universe
Expanded |
John D. Barrow |
Attempt to link the arts and
the science of the universe that allowed them to emerge - good idea, but
sinks in pomposity
|
Overview |
|
As Far As We Know |
Paul Callaghan & Kim Hill |
Transcripts of entertaining
radio conversations covering a wide range of scientific issues from human
gender to thermodynamics.
|
Overview |
|
Aspirin: The Remarkable
Story of a Wonder Drug |
Dairmuid Jeffreys |
The story of aspirin from
quinine substitute to heart medicine. Excellent background; truly
fascinating |
Chemistry, human science |
|
Atom |
Piers Bizony |
A good mix of biography and
science as we follow the trail of just what atoms are. Could do with a bit
more depth in the human interest side, but well-written.
|
Physics |
|
Atomic: the first war of
physics |
Jim Baggott |
Riveting and detailed history
of the development of nuclear weapons in Germany, the UK, the US and Russia.
Fascinating in its depth and the lost possibilities for alternatives to
nuclear proliferation.
|
Overview |
|
The Autobiography |
Charles Darwin |
Not at all stuffy - short book
is a fascinating insight into Darwin as a human being
|
Biography, biology |
|
The Autobiography |
Patrick Moore |
A remarkable combination of
stories from life an opinions on the world from the UK's best known
astronomer and TV eccentric
|
Biography, astronomy |
|
Avoid Boring People |
James D. Watson |
Dull autobiography that has
none of the style and panache of the much younger Watson's The Double Helix.
|
Biography |
|
Backroom Boys |
Francis Spufford |
Wonderful history of six quirky UK technology
breakthroughs including Concorde and the game Elite
|
Technology |
| Bad Astronomy |
Philip Plait |
Misapprehensions and the
even more fascinating facts in astronomy
|
Astronomy, sceptics |
|
Bad Science |
Ben Goldacre |
Funny and devastatingly
accurate exposure of the way bad science is used to sell products and fool
the press.
|
Overview |
|
Bang! The Complete
History of the Universe |
Patrick Moore,
Brian May, Chris Lintott |
A superbly illustrated
introduction to the basics of cosmology, for all ages, though we think it
works best for younger readers. |
Astronomy, cosmology |
|
Bang!!!
A Curriculum Vitae of the Universe |
Siegfried Eckleben |
Interesting attempt to trace where we come from, from
big bang to human evolution, let down by poor editing and odd narration.
|
Overview |
|
Bats Sing, Mice Giggle |
Karen Shanor & Jagmeet Kanwal |
A whole pile of surprising and
fascinating facts about the inner lives of animals, though could have been
less of a long list.
|
Biology |
|
A Beautiful Math |
Tom Siegfried |
Although it sounds like a
follow up the biography of John Nash (A Beautiful Mind), it's actually a
flawed but interesting attempt to show that game theory could be the real
psychohistory.
|
Maths |
|
The Beautiful Invisible |
Giovanni Vignale |
A unique look at the
importance of imagination and beauty in physical theories, exploring the
difference between fact and representation.
|
Physics |
|
Before the Big Bang |
Brian Clegg |
The latest ideas on how the
universe began, the limitations of the Big Bang theory and more in excellent
popular history of how humans understand the universe. |
Cosmology |
|
Before the Fall-out: From Marie Curie to Hiroshima |
Diana Preston |
Moving and human account of
the discoveries that would lead to the nuclear bomb, and of those involved
in its first use.
|
Physics |
|
Being Me |
Pete Moore |
A remarkable and very
different book that looks into what it means to be human, using interviews
to open up human characteristics. Science-based, but goes wider too.
|
Human science |
|
Being Virtual |
Davey Winder |
Glossy and very personal view
on virtual worlds and the people who inhabit them.
|
Technology |
|
Beware Invisible Cows |
Andy Martin |
A totally subjective, Impressionist look at
where the universe came from. Some might like it, but for us it doesn't
work.
|
Physics, cosmology |
|
Beyond Coincidence |
Martin Plimmer & Brian King |
Great opportunity to explain
apparently spooky coincidences that gives way to amazement
|
Maths, sceptics |
|
Beyond the Hoax |
Alan Sokal |
Hugely insightful look into
the nature of science based on Sokal's hoax academic paper, but could have
better put together. |
Overview |
|
Beyond UFOs |
Jeffrey Bennett |
Warm and well-written book on
the search for extra terrestrial life, but no real surprises.
|
Astronomy |
|
Big Bang |
Simon Singh |
The answer to the ultimate
question of the universe - where did it come from? - beautifully put in
context |
Cosmology |
|
The Big Necessity |
Rose George |
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 |
|
The Big Questions:
Physics |
Michael Brooks |
A strange notebook-like format
for a book that summarizes particularly modern physics well, but lacks a
popular science context.
|
Physics |
|
The Big Questions: The
Universe |
Stuart Clark |
Useful summary of the basics
of cosmology in a rather stylish package, but lacks much popular science
context. |
Astronomy |
|
Biohazard |
Ken Alibek and Stephen
Handelman |
Gripping spy story of a
history of a personal involvement in the Soviet biological weapons programme
- but somewhat lightweight on the science.
|
Overview |
|
Black Bodies & Quantum
Cats |
Jennifer Ouellette |
Extremely readable collection
of articles on physics. Great fun, but sadly too many errors.
|
Physics |
|
Black Genesis |
Robert Bauval &
Thomas Brophy |
Further thoughts on alignments of some newly
discovered prehistoric structures in Egypt, plus a theory on the nature of
the ancient Egyptians - but much less readable than the Egypt Code.
|
Archaeology,
astronomy |
|
The Blind Spot |
William Byers |
Challenges the validity of our
approach to science from a philosophical standpoint. Makes some interesting
points, but rather impenetrable writing style.
|
Overview |
|
The Blind Watchmaker |
Richard Dawkins |
Superb explanation of how
complexity emerges through evolution, slightly let down by writing style
|
Biology |
|
Blink |
Malcolm
Gladwell |
Lightweight but delightfully
told illustration of how we make ultra-quick decisions
|
Human Science |
|
Boffinology |
Justin Pollard |
Fun set of stories behind
scientific discoveries and the scientists who made them. Very readable,
often surprising and entertaining.
|
Overview |
|
Bones, Rocks and Stars |
Chris Turney |
An interesting look into the
science behind dating, deciding how old things are and working out when
things happened
|
Overview |
|
The Book of Numbers |
Peter J. Bentley |
Lavishly illustrated glossy
book on the history and use of numbers. Looks good, but only skims the
surface in content.
|
Maths |
|
A Book of Scientific
Curiosities |
Cyril Aydon |
A jumble of short pieces on
people in the history of science and scientific topics. Weak on modern
physics but otherwise reasonable
|
Overview |
|
The Book of the Moon |
Rick Stroud |
Good compendium of information
about the moon (if some slightly flaky topics), but not really a popular
science book. |
Astronomy |
|
The Book of Time |
Adam Hart-Davis |
Heavily illustrated book on
the nature of time and its measurements that has enough in to interest
adults but is presented in a way that will appeal to older children too.
|
Physics |
|
The Born-Einstein Letters |
Max Born & Albert Einstein |
Fascinating letters between
two of the 20th century greats of physics.
|
Biography, physics |
|
Born to be Good |
Dacher Keltner |
A collection of quite
interesting observations about human behaviour with respect to goodness, but
with rather flaky new-age feel and lacking structure.
|
Human science |
|
Boyle: between God and
Science |
Boyle: between God and ScienceMichael
Hunter |
Detailed biography of Robert
Boyle, superbly researched, which disappointingly has very little
explanation of the science.
|
Biography |
|
The Brain Book |
Rita Carter |
Surprisingly good adult
picture book on the brain and how it works.
|
Human science |
|
Brain Bugs |
Dean Buonomano |
Excellent look at the human
brain's foibles and glitches, where it simply gets things wrong and where
it's programmed for a prehistoric world.
|
Human Science |
|
Brainwashing: The Science of
Thought Control |
Kathleen Taylor |
That rarest of things, an
academic book that is enjoyable to the general reader - excellent study of
brainwashing
|
Human science |
|
Branches |
Philip Ball |
Part of Ball's wide-ranging
study of form, this book looks at branching in nature, with a sideline in
the concept of scientific models.
|
Overview |
|
Breaking the Time Barrier |
Jenny Randles |
Intriguing ride on the mind storms of
inventors who think they've built time machines, and the real physics that
hints at time travel, but more like TV popsci than popular science
|
Physics |
| A
Brief History of Infinity |
Brian Clegg |
The people and paradoxes in
the quest to think the unthinkable
|
Maths |
| A Brief History of Science |
Thomas Crump |
The history of science
through the development of scientific tools and instruments
|
Overview, technology |
| A Brief History of Time |
Stephen Hawking |
The one that started it all
- and much more readable than you might think |
Cosmology, physics |
|
A Briefer History of Time |
Stephen Hawking
(with Leonard Mlodinow) |
Attempt to make Brief History
more approachable - good content, but suffers from übergloss
|
Cosmology, physics |
|
Bright Earth: the
invention of colour |
Philip Ball |
Wonderful subject of the
history of artists' colours and the science behind them - sacrifices a
little readability for comprehensiveness.
|
Overview |
|
Broken Genius |
Joel Shurkin |
Exceedingly well-told
biography of William Shockley, physics Nobel prize winner and founder of
Silicon Valley whose reputation was ruined by his social theories.
|
Biography |
|
Build Your Own Time
Machine [How to Build a Time Machine] |
Brian Clegg |
A tantalising exploration of
the physics of time travel and the different possibilities for making it
happen, including the everyday time travel that special relativity already
brings. |
Physics |
|
Buy-ology |
Martin Lindstrom |
Interesting study of how
people react to advertising by monitoring the brain, though some of the
interpretation of the science is poorly presented.
|
Human science |
|
The Buzz about Bees |
Jürgen Tautz |
A delightful surprise when
what appears to be a textbook proves to be a fascinating, beautifully
illustrated exploration of these remarkable superorganisms.
|
Biology |
|
The Calculus Diaries |
Jennifer Ouellette |
Interesting idea to take a
personal tour of the applications of calculus. But the bits the worked best
were about probability and the calculus was often a trifle dull.
|
Maths |
|
The Canon |
Natalie Angier |
The basics of all science in
an accessible and surprisingly full little book. |
Overview |
|
Catastrophes! |
David Prothero |
Really takes the reader into
the experience of living through natural disasters with personal accounts,
plus good exploration of the science behind them.
|
Earth science |
|
Catastrophes and Lesser Calamities |
Tony Hallam |
A worth attempt to include all
the options to explain prehistoric mass extinctions that's sadly rather dull
|
Earth science |
| The Calendar |
David Ewing Duncan |
The struggle to establish a
calendar that matches reality |
Astronomy, technology |
|
The Cause of Mosquitoes'
Sorrow |
Surendra Verma |
Chronological trip through
scientific breakthroughs, beginnings and blunders providing quick tasters.
|
Overview |
|
Chance |
J P Marques de Sa |
Would make a good introductory
textbook on probability for science students, but is much too complex and
equation driven for popular science.
|
Maths |
| Chaos |
James Gleick |
The remarkable development
of chaos theory |
Maths |
|
Chaos: A Very Short
Introduction |
Leonard Smith |
One of the best entries in the
Oxford series of pocket introductions, concentrating on the practical uses
of chaos theory.
|
Maths |
|
Chariots of the Gods |
Erich von Daniken |
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 |
|
Chasing the Sun |
Richard Cohen |
A huge exploration of
humanity's relationship with the sun. Overlong and sometimes a little vague
on the science, but a fascinating read.
|
Astronomy |
|
Children of the Sun |
Alfred W. Crosby |
A sweeping and inspiring trip
through humanity's relationship with energy, from simple agriculture to
nuclear power. Style not to everyone's taste, but magnificent. |
Overview |
|
The Chilling Stars |
Nigel Calder
& Herik Svensmark |
Controversial but fascinating
theory that much of the Earth's climate change through history has been
caused by the impact of cosmic rays.
|
Cosmology, Earth Science |
|
Chloroform: the quest for
oblivion |
Linda Stratmann |
Interesting history of the
early anaesthetic chloroform and its rise and fall. Great period detail.
|
Human science |
|
Climate Change Begins at
Home |
Dave Reay |
Why climate change is a
problem and what we as individuals can do about it, without jargon or being
preachy |
Earth science, technology |
|
The Climate Files |
Fred Pearce |
Excellent analysis of the 'climategate' leaked
emails, doubts about climate science, climate sceptics and the reality of
global warming. |
Earth science |
|
A Closer Look: Deceptions & Discoveries |
Marjorie E. Wieseman |
Brings out the remarkable technology used in
analysing artworks, and has 16 potentially interesting stories of paintings
- but all told in a very dull fashion.
|
Technology |
| The Code Book |
Simon Singh |
The development of codes
and ciphers through the ages |
Maths |
|
Coincidences, Chaos and All that Math Jazz |
Edward B. Burger & Michael
Starbird |
A high speed, highly enjoyable
tour of many of the interesting bits of maths that doesn't patronize, but is
never over-heavy. |
Maths |
|
Collapse: How Societies
Choose to Fail or Survive |
Jared Diamond |
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 |
| The Collapse of Chaos |
Jack Cohen and Ian Stewart |
Combines chaos theory and
complexity theory to boggle the mind |
Maths |
|
Collider: the search for
the world's smallest particles |
Paul Halpern |
Useful introduction to the
Large Hadron Collider, particular good on the history of accelerators and
particle research. |
Physics |
| The Colossal Book of
Mathematics |
Martin Gardiner |
Classic puzzles, paradoxes
and problems |
Maths |
|
Colossus |
B. Jack Copeland et al |
A series of essays on the
wartime codebreaking at Bletchley Park, and the ground-breaking Colossus
computers with newly declassified content
|
Technology |
|
The Comet Sweeper |
Claire Brock |
Interesting view of the life
of Caroline Herschel, the first female professional astronomer, if a little
tinted by the author's views.
|
Biography |
|
The Compassionate
Instinct |
Dacher Keltner,
Jason Marsh, Jeremy Adam Smith |
A spirited survey of the
emerging science of trust, empathy, forgiveness and heroism - comprehensive
but not as original as it appears.
|
Human science |
|
Complexity: a guided tour |
Melanie Mitchell |
Enjoyable and engaging exploration of
complexity, genetic algorithms, networks and more.
|
Overview |
|
Computers Ltd |
David Harel |
Interesting meta-math
exploration of the limits of computers. Four star for computing fans,
otherwise |
Technology |
|
Conflict in the
Cosmos/Fred Hoyle: A Life in Science |
Simon
Mitton |
Biography of brilliant
astronomer and huge character, Fred Hoyle. Fascinating, but could have been
better
|
Biography, astronomy |
|
Constant Touch |
John Agar |
Superb history of the mobile
phone - technology, sociology, politics, the works!
|
Technology |
|
Conversations with a
Mathematician |
Gregory Chaitin |
Compilation of lectures and
interviews, best read as a follow-up to Meta Math!. |
Maths |
|
Conversations on
Consciousness |
Susan Blackmore |
20 interesting interviews with
experts on the nature of consciousness - but this isn't a helpful format for
this topic |
Human science |
|
Coral |
Steve Jones |
The parts of this far-ranging
book about coral are good, but the asides take up far too much of it.. |
Biology |
|
Cosmic Imagery: key
images in the history of science |
John D. Barrow |
Barrow often tries to pull
together art and science and here succeeds well in an exploration of
archetypes of scientific imagery.
|
Overview |
|
The Cosmic Verses |
James Muirden |
Astonishingly effective
history of our ideas on the universe, all in verse - certainly could have
been much worse.
|
Cosmology |
|
Cosmology: a very short
introduction |
Peter Coles |
Compact
but surprisingly detailed introduction to cosmology. Could do with an
update, but still good.
|
Cosmology |
|
Cosmic Numbers |
James D. Stein |
An introduction to physics
through some of the essential constants of the universe. Nice enough
concept, but the approach is too mathematical for the general reader.
|
Physics |
|
Cosmos |
Carl Sagan |
The book of the classic TV
series on the universe from one of the best US science popularizers.
|
Astronomy |
|
The Cosmos: A Beginner's
Guide |
Adam Hart-Davis & Paul Bader |
A beautifully illustrated book
from a BBC TV series that's really more about the equipment we use to study
it than the cosmos.
|
Cosmology |
|
Cows in the Maze |
Ian Stewart |
Mixed bag collection of
recreational maths pieces, some great, others not so.
|
Maths |
|
The Creation |
E.
O. Wilson |
A short and beautifully put
together plea for better stewardship of the natural world, let down by lack
of coherence.
|
Biology |
|
Critical Mass |
Philip Ball |
Overlong and inconclusive but
still fascinating look at the statistical behaviour of humanity
|
Overview |
|
The Curies |
Denis Brian |
Interesting and in-depth
biography of both the Curies and the Joliot-Curies, though could have been
even better with judicious editing.
|
Biography |
|
Curious Minds |
John Brockman (Ed) |
27 "why I turned to science" essays that is so
much more interesting than it sounds. Really.
|
Biography |
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