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OVERVIEW |
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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 |
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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 |
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25 Big Ideas |
Robert Matthews |
Condensed book style makes this introduction
to the key areas of modern science useful but a little dry
 |
Overview |
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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 |
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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 |
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Art & Science |
Siân Ede |
Flawed examination of the interplay between
art and science. Worth reading, though, to see what the problem is
 |
Overview |
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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 |
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The Apple and the Atom |
Sebastien Balibar |
Enjoyable and very personal views on a series
of scientific topics from a French low temperature physicist.
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Overview |
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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.
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Overview |
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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.
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Overview |
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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 |
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Bad Science |
Ben Goldacre |
Funny and devastatingly accurate exposure of
the way bad science is used to sell products and fool the press.
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Overview |
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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.
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Overview |
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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 |
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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 |
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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.
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Overview |
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Boffinology |
Justin Pollard |
Fun set of stories behind scientific discoveries and the scientists who made
them. Very readable, often surprising and entertaining.
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Overview |
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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 |
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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 |
| A Brief History of Science |
Thomas Crump |
The history of science
through the development of scientific tools and instruments
 |
Overview, technology |
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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.
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Overview |
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The Canon |
Natalie Angier |
The basics of all science in an accessible and
surprisingly full little book. |
Overview |
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The Cause of Mosquitoes' Sorrow |
Surendra Verma |
Chronological trip through scientific
breakthroughs, beginnings and blunders providing quick tasters.
 |
Overview |
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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 |
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Complexity: a guided tour |
Melanie Mitchell |
Enjoyable and engaging exploration of
complexity, genetic algorithms, networks and more.
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Overview |
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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 |
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Critical Mass |
Philip Ball |
Overlong and inconclusive but still
fascinating look at the statistical behaviour of humanity
 |
Overview |
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Deep Simplicity |
John Gribbin |
Chaos, complexity and simplicity related to
the origins of life, but sadly not very well explained. |
Maths, overview |
| The Demon Haunted World |
Carl Sagan |
An eloquent plea for reason
and the scientific method instead of wide-eyed acceptance |
Sceptics, overview |
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A Devil's Chaplain |
Richard Dawkins |
Collection of essays from our foremost
spokesperson for neo-Darwinian thinking. Superb and challenging (in a
positive sense). |
Overview |
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Different Engines |
Mark L. Brake & Neil Hook |
Interesting topic - the interplay between
science and science fiction - with some good points, but not hugely
readable, and some glaring omissions.
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Overview |
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Don't be Such a Scientist |
Randy Olson |
Excellent book on how scientists can
communicate better and learn from the movies, but not really for a general
audience.
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Overview |
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Einstein's Refrigerator
[A Matter of Degrees] |
Gino Segre |
Excellent exploration of temperature, heat and cold, taking in a trip
through much of science |
Physics, overview |
| Einstein's Refrigerator |
Steve Silverman |
Rather 'gee whiz'
exposition of weird but true, mostly science-based tales |
Overview |
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Elegance in Science |
Ian Glynn |
Usefully puts some well-known theories into
historical context, but less effective at establish its argument about
elegance.
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Overview |
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The End of Discovery |
Russell Stannard |
Accessible exploration of some of the most
difficult topics facing scientists today, and whether we will ever get
satisfactory answers.  |
Overview |
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Eureka! The Birth of Science |
Andrew Gregory |
Although it's arguable the ancient Greeks
didn't do science, they certainly laid the foundations: this book is
essential reading  |
Overview |
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Everyday Practice of Science |
Frederick Grinnell |
Excellent as an academic study of the real
nature of the scientific method, but hopeless as popular science.
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Overview |
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Faster |
James Gleick |
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 |
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The Fellowship |
John Gribbin |
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 |
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Findings |
Hugh Aldersey-Williams |
Examination of 20th century science by pulling
apart in detail a scientific paper for each decade. Heavy going but full of
insights.  |
Overview |
| The First Scientist |
Brian Clegg |
Readable biography of
thirteenth century friar and proto-scientist, Roger Bacon.
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Biography, overview |
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Flow |
Philip Ball |
A study of the science of flow that offers many
pleasures to the reader (but a clear statement of the book's aims is not one
of them)
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Overview |
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Free Radicals |
Michael Brooks |
An unusual look behind the facade of cool,
rational thinkers that scientists like to project to show the way some great
science came from off-the-wall thinking and how scientists are all too
human.  |
Overview |
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The Friar and the Cipher |
Lawrence & Nancy
Goldstone |
Limited biography of proto-scientist Roger
Bacon coupled with speculation on supposedly connected enciphered manuscript
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Overview |
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The Fruits of War |
Michael White |
A huge sweep - effectively a brief history of
all of technology, pointing out where its development was accelerated by war
proves interesting but too much to cover
 |
Overview |
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The Future of Food |
Brian J. Ford |
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.
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Overview |
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Future Proof |
Nick Sagan, Mark
Frary and Andy Walker |
Good, if unoriginal concept of showing how the
future technology of earlier days hasn't come into being. Glossy, but not
very inspiring.  |
Overview |
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Galileo's Daughter |
Dava Sobel |
Biography of Galileo and exploration of his
work, cunningly linked by a series of letters from his daughter
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Biography,
overview |
| Galileo's Finger |
Peter Atkins |
Attempt to identify the key
scientific breakthroughs of history |
Overview |
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Giant Leaps |
John Perry & Jack
Challoner |
Light and surprisingly good collaboration
between the Science Museum and the tabloid newspaper, The Sun, covering our
greatest scientific advances.
 |
Overview |
| Gödel, Escher, Bach |
Douglas Hofstadter |
Linking the music of Bach,
the art of Escher and the maths of Gödel to illustrate human thought
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Psychology, overview |
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God's Philosophers |
James Hannam |
Highly informative and surprisingly readable
book filling in just what developments were made in the history of science
during the medieval period.
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Overview |
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The Hidden Reality |
Brian Greene |
Nine different options of parallel universes
explored with Greene's usual elan and plenty of background science. |
Physics, cosmology |
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How Slow Can You Waterski? |
Simon Rogers (ed.) |
... and other puzzling questions. Yes, it's
another collection of mini-science articles, but this is one of the better
ones, culled from the Guardian  |
Overview |
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How it Ends |
Chris Impey |
Slightly depressing exploration of how
everything from human life to the universe ends. Lots of good content, but
presentation sometimes offputting.
 |
Overview |
| How to Clone the
Perfect Blonde |
Sue Nelson &
Richard Hollingham |
Eight fascinating applications of science,
beautifully explained, but let down a little by childish humour
 |
Overview |
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How to Dunk a Doughnut |
Len Fisher |
Interesting idea of turning the full weight of
experimental science on everyday happenings, but doesn't entirely deliver.
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Overview |
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How to Fossilise Your Hamster |
Mick O'Hare (Ed.) |
Building on their Q&A books, now an
experiments book from the New Scientist's reliable Last Word column. |
Overview |
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How to Live Forever |
Alok Jha |
One of those 'all of science' books squeezed
into a 'funky questions' format. Doesn't quite work.
 |
Overview |
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I Used to Know That: General Science |
Marianne Taylor |
A pocket book providing a reminder of high
school/GCSE level science in a more approachable fashion than a textbook.
 |
Overview |
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Inflight Science |
Brian Clegg |
A celebration of the wonder of powered flight
that covers the science of flying but is mostly about the science observed
through the aircraft window. |
Overview |
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Ingenious Ireland |
Mary Mulvihill |
An enjoyable guidebook of Irish scientific and
technological wonders - rating reflects reference use, not contents
 |
Overview |
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Is There Life After Death? |
Tony Peake |
Interesting attempt to use scientific theory
to pose a mechanism for life outside our normal experience.
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Physics |
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Just Another Day |
Adam Hart-Davis |
Excellent concept of going through a composite
everyday life and exploring the science and technology. A lot of the author
in it, so a book you'll love or hate.
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Overview |
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Knowledge is Power |
John Henry |
Flawed but interesting exploration of the work
of Francis Bacon
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Overview |
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Kuhn vs Popper |
Steve Fuller |
Great opportunity to explain philosophy of
science lost in a tangle of words
 |
Overview |
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Leaps in the Dark |
John Waller |
Uncovering the myths of science to show that
those "Eureka!" moments might be rather different. Excellent.
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Overview |
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Litmus |
Ra Page (Ed.) |
A collection of short stories, each
illustrating a key moment in science, each with an explanatory essay. Worthy
idea, but not great.
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Overview |
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Little Book of Big Ideas: Science |
Pete Moore |
Nice collection of quick summaries of the
achievements of key individuals in science, clearly written, but highly
oversimplified  |
Overview |
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The Little Book of Scientific Principles,
Theories and Things |
Surendra Verma |
A delightful collection of 175 vignettes,
illuminating scientific theories and the people who devised them. Highly
recommended  |
Overview |
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The Little Book of Unscientific Principles,
Theories and Things |
Surendra Verma |
A fun collection of 100 articles on subjects
on the fringes of science from good but unlikely science to downright
lunacy.  |
Overview |
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Magic Universe |
Nigel Calder |
Alphabetic collection of articles on modern
science that are fascinating to read and give a good overview.
 |
Overview |
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The Manhattan Project: Big Science and the
Atom Bomb |
Jeff Hughes |
The Manhattan Project is just an example in
this slightly disappointing story of the growth of megascience
 |
Overview |
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The March of Unreason |
Dick Taverne |
Interesting counter to the anti-science,
anti-practically everything tone that is so popular these days.
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Overview |
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The Martian Rice Pudding Programme and the Art
of Why |
Richard Lester |
Attempt to cover all of science, mostly
reasonable in content, but with an unconvincing theme and a rather wearing
style.
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Overview |
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The Meadowlands |
Robert Sullivan |
Mix of industrial archaeology, travel and
natural history in this warm exploration of the swamps and tips on the edge
of New York City
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Overview |
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Not Exactly |
Kees van Deemter |
A study of vagueness in language, logic,
computing, and everyday life. Highly original but often abstract, and could
be more cohesive. |
Overview |
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On Being |
Peter Atkins |
Interesting attempt to apply scientific
thinking to the 'great questions of existence' - specifically the beginnings
and endings of everything. |
Overview |
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The One True Platonic Heaven |
John L. Casti |
Cleverly written fictional encounter between
key physicists and mathematicians at the IAS - with some politics thrown in
for fun  |
Overview |
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The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing |
Richard Dawkins |
Interesting collection of extracts from many great science writers and
scientists. Excellent sampler.  |
Overview |
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The Oxford Dictionary of Scientific Quotations |
W. F. Bynum and
Roy Porter |
Absolutely brilliant collection of quotations
from scientists and about science. An absolutely must-have reference.
 |
Overview |
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Pathfinders |
Jim Al-Khalili |
Fascinating stories of the amazing figures of
Arabic science who built the foundations of the renaissance. The analysis is
less effective, but that's not important.
 |
Overview |
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Pavlov's dogs and Schrödinger's cat |
Rom Harré |
Rather strained and low key book on the use of
animals and plants as scientific instruments and experimental equipment.
 |
Overview |
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The Presence of the Past |
Rupert Sheldrake |
Interesting idea of 'morphic resonance' shaping everything from crystals to
human beings, but rather dull reading and in the end not convincing.
 |
Overview |
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Q&A: Cosmic Conundrums and Everyday Mysteries
of Science |
Robert Matthews |
Lots of fun and some significant surprises in
this selection of answers to the scientific questions we'd all like to ask,
but haven't
 |
Overview |
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Radiation and Reason |
Wade Allison |
Powerful arguments for a better assessment of
the risk of nuclear power, but could do to be more approachable.
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Physics, human
science |
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Real Mosquitoes Don't Eat Meat |
Brad Wetzler |
A collection of delightful and fun answers to
those questions that always puzzle us, in this case about the natural world
 |
Overview |
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The Rough Guide to the Future |
Jon Turney |
Interesting idea of exploring the future, well
written, but let down by the lack of science and often rather dull topics
that have to be covered but don't inspire.
 |
Overview |
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Science 1001 |
Paul Parsons |
Lovely idea of covering all of science in 1001
readable short articles, and very well written. But it's hard to see how it
will be used.
 |
Overview |
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Science: a four thousand year history |
Patricia Fara |
Magnificent and very readable account of all of science, putting it into its
social and political context.
 |
Overview |
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Science, A History |
John Gribbin |
Everything from the
Renaissance to the present - lots there, but a dipping book |
Overview |
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Science and Islam: a history |
Ehsan Masood |
An enlightening and very accessible survey of
Islamic science during the so-called Dark Ages and beyond.
 |
Overview |
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The Science Delusion |
Rupert Sheldrake |
Some superb thoughts about the limitations of
science and the ways that scientists take a blinkered view. Sadly, though,
other elements of this book make it easy to ignore the powerful message.
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Overview |
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Science of
Discworld |
Terry Pratchett,
Ian Stewart & Jack Cohen |
Clever mix of Pratchett's fantasy and science
covering the "construction" of the earth. Not the best in the series, but
good  |
Overview |
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The Science of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the
Galaxy |
Michael Hanlon |
The wacky world of Douglas Adams opened up to
the scientific spotlight. Sometimes too brisk, but otherwise good
 |
Overview |
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The Science of Middle Earth |
Henry Gee |
Surprisingly effective study of Tolkein's
attitude to science and its appearance on his writings
 |
Overview |
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Science: the definitive guide |
Piers Bizony |
Attempt to do the whole of science in a two
page spreads style picture book. Very bitty and not enough content, but
worst of all, the huge format makes it practically unreadable.
 |
Overview |
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Scientific without the Boring Bits |
Ian Crofton |
A chronologically arranged collection of fun
factoids and strange pseudo-science snippets. Each entry is only a paragraph
or two, so too bitty to enjoy end to end - better to dip in.
 |
Overview |
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Scientific Curiosity/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 |
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The Scientists |
See
Science, A History |
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The Second Mouse Gets the Cheese |
Colin Spedding |
Very slim book on proverbs, based on the
author's use of them in science lectures. A real oddity.
 |
Overview |
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Seen | Unseen |
Martin Kemp |
A thick, glossy attempt to find parallels in
the way scientists and artists perceive the world - not entirely successful.
 |
Overview |
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Seven Wonders of the Universe |
C. Renée James |
Very chatty, friendly format for a quick
overview of science (particularly physics) around us. A bit too 'wow, gee
whiz!' and vague for us, but will appeal to some.
 |
Overview |
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Sex, Drugs & DNA |
Michael Stebbins |
Powerful indictment of the failings of the US
political system on scientific and medical issues, written in a highly
approachable style
 |
Overview |
|
Shapes |
Philip Ball |
Over-technical and detailed, but still
fascinating exploration of how natural shapes emerge.
 |
Overview |
| A Short History of Nearly
Everything |
Bill Bryson |
Triumphant charge through
all of science  |
Overview |
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The Single Helix |
Steve Jones |
One hundred light and enjoyable newspaper
columns, collected to give an excellent dip into pretty well every area of
science. |
Overview |
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Space on Earth |
Charles Cockell |
Uncomfortable mix of space exploration and environmentalism that tell you
more about the author's interests than anything else.
 |
Overview |
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Sync: the emerging science of spontaneous order |
Steven Strogatz |
A wonderful, cross-disciplinary jaunt that
mixes real life scientific experience with exploration of synchronicity
 |
Overview |
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The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments |
George Johnson |
Engaging look at ten real desktop experiments
through history. You can dispute if he's got the best, but certainly makes
them highly readable.  |
Overview |
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Thank God for Evolution |
Michael Dowd |
Remarkable attempt to frame a religious view
based on science, only let down by the religious book style of writing. |
Overview |
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The Tunguska Fireball |
Surendra Verma |
Fascinating story of the Siberian puzzle of
1908 told in an ultimately unsatisfactory fashion
 |
Overview |
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The Undercover
Scientist |
Peter J. Bentley |
Attempt to link basic science introduction by
describing why various disasters happen to the second person protagonist - a
little wince-making.
 |
Overview |
| The Universe Next Door |
Marcus Chown |
Strange concepts at the
edge of scientific theories |
Overview, physics |
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Unweaving the Rainbow |
Richard Dawkins |
An excellent
attempt to counter the argument that science spoils the beauty of nature,
slightly tainted by attitude
 |
Overview |
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The Velocity of Honey |
Jay Ingram |
23 fun excursions into the science of the everyday from falling toast to
skipping stones
 |
Overview |
|
Virtual Words |
Jonathon Keats |
Delightful collection of essays on the origins
and meanings of a series of words from science and technology.
 |
Overview |
|
Weighing the Soul |
Len Fisher |
Seven examples of challenges to scientific
beliefs, from the weight of the soul to the nature of lightning,
delightfully told
 |
Overview |
|
Weird Science and Bizarre Beliefs |
Gregory L. Reece |
Should be a great book about strange
scientific ideas and related science fiction, but in fact is dull and
rambling.
 |
Overview |
|
What does the Moon Smell Like |
Eva Everything |
Multiple choice science quiz book that isn't
easy enough to read through, but makes a good gift book.
 |
Overview |
|
Why are Orangutans Orange? |
Mick O'Hare (Ed.) |
The latest in New Scientist's reliable Last
Word column originated books gets extra oomph by being based on reader's
photos of odd things they've seen.. |
Overview |
|
Why does a ball bounce? |
Adam Hart-Davis |
The UK's favourite TV boffin explains 101
phenomena - much too short, but still great fun
 |
Overview |
|
Why Can't Elephants Jump? |
Mick O'Hare (Ed.) |
Weird science question and answer book from
the New Scientist's Last Word column. The format is getting a bit stale now. |
Overview |
|
Why Don't Penguins' Feet Freeze |
Mick O'Hare (Ed.) |
One of the better "weird science question and
answer" books from the New Scientist's reliable Last Word column. |
Overview |
|
Why People Believe Weird Things |
Michael Shermer |
Powerful and effective exploration of where
strange beliefs come from and how they take hold.
 |
Sceptics, overview |
|
Why Us? |
James Le Fanu |
Puts forward arguments against evolutionary
theory and the idea that the electrochemical workings of the brain explain
consciousness. A good idea, but a muddled book.
 |
Overview |
|
Wordplay |
John Langdon |
Clever graphic designs that can be read in
more than one direction, as used by Dan Brown - but the "science" is weak to
say the least
 |
Overview |
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PHYSICS |
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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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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
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 |
|
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 |
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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 |
|
Black Bodies & Quantum Cats |
Jennifer Ouellette |
Extremely readable collection of articles on
physics. Great fun, but sadly too many errors.
 |
Physics |
|
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 |
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The Born-Einstein Letters |
Max Born & Albert Einstein |
Fascinating letters between two of the 20th
century greats of physics.
 |
Biography, physics |
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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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
The Dancing Wu Li Masters |
Gary Zukav |
Dated but reasonable attempt to explain "new"
physics flawed by unnecessary mysticism
 |
Physics |
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Deciphering the Cosmic Number |
Arthur I. Miller |
Though mostly on physicist Wolfgang Pauli,
intertwines the life and work of Carl Jung. Interesting science, but too
much mystical claptrap and dream analysis.
 |
Physics, biography |
|
Deep Down Things |
Bruce A. Schumm |
Introduces the standard model of particle
physics in some depth. Has elements of popular science, but will be too
technical for many.
 |
Physics |
|
Decoding Reality |
Vlatko Vedral |
Fascinating subject - the significance of
information in the universe - but could have been much better written..
 |
Physics |
|
The Demon and the Quantum |
Robert J. Scully
with Marlan O. Scully |
Interesting exploration of thermodynamics that
unfortunately loses the reader as it tries to tie into quantum theory.
 |
Physics |
|
A Different Universe |
Robert M. Laughlin |
An argument for a different kind of physics,
that is more dependent on emergent properties, rather than bottom up.
Interesting but not entirely convincing.
 |
Physics |
|
The Double Helix |
James D. Watson |
Forget the tendency to disregard this book
because it's not politically correct - it's a wonderful personal account of
the discovery of the structure of DNA
 |
Biology, physics |
|
E=mc2 |
David Bodanis |
Great historical storytelling, if a little
sketchy on the science in this biography of an equation, reviewed on
E=mc2's
100th birthday |
Physics |
|
The Edge of Physics |
Anil Ananthaswamy |
Great science-as-travel-writing, visiting the
places where some of today's most exciting science is under way. |
Cosmology, physics |
|
Einstein: A Life in Science |
Michael White & John Gribbin |
Between them, White & Gribbin iron out each
others faults to produce a good, balanced Einstein biog
 |
Biography, physics |
|
Einstein and Relativity |
Paul Strathern |
Compact book on Einstein's life and work - a
good introduction, but quite short. |
Physics |
|
Einstein's Refrigerator
[A Matter of Degrees] |
Gino Segre |
Excellent exploration of temperature, heat and cold, taking in a trip
through much of science |
Physics, overview |
|
Einstein's Heroes |
Robyn Arianrhod |
Excellent exploration of the move of maths to
centre stage in physics, mostly focussing on the life and work of James
Clark Maxwell
 |
Physics, maths |
|
Einstein's Moon |
F. David Peat |
Good simple explanation of quantum theory
coupled with rather fuzzy exploration of what reality is
 |
Physics |
|
Einstein's Mistakes |
Hans C. Ohanian |
Brilliantly different exposition of Einstein's
work, only slightly let down by smugness and at least one error.
 |
Physics |
|
Einstein's Universe: the layperson's guide |
Nigel Calder |
Short and useful book which outlines special
and general relativity - good start for anyone who is first encountering the
subject.
 |
Physics |
|
The Electric Life of Michael Faraday |
Alan Hirshfeld |
A fascinating look at the life and
particularly the work of this pre-eminent Victorian physicist. |
Biography, physics |
|
Electric Universe |
David Bodanis |
Excellent as a teen introduction to the
wonders of electricity, but a bit too gushing for some adults.
 |
Physics |
|
The Elegant Universe |
Brian Greene |
Precursor to Fabric of the Cosmos with
considerable overlaps. Not as good on relativity/quantum theory but more on
string theory.  |
Physics, cosmology |
|
The Elegant Universe of Albert Einstein |
Tom Barnes et al |
Collection of essays based on radio broadcasts
linked to the 100th anniversary of Einstein's great year. A little
fragmented, but some very good.
 |
Physics |
|
Energy: the subtle concept |
Jennifer
Coopersmith |
Though by no means an easy read with many
physics concept taken as read, this book is a valuable exploration of the
nature of energy and our increasing knowledge of it.
 |
Physics |
|
Entanglement |
Amir Aczel |
Over-technical background to the workings of
quantum entanglement  |
Physics |
|
An Entertainment of Angels |
Patricia Fara |
Interesting if compact story of eighteenth
century electrical psuedo-science
 |
Physics |
|
The Essential Einstein: His Greatest Works |
Albert Einstein |
Stephen Hawking edits and comments on
Einstein's best work - but you probably need a physics degree.
 |
Physics |
|
The Fabric of the Cosmos |
Brian Greene |
Great exploration of the nature of space, time
and matter, starting with relativity and quantum theory and reaching out to
the universe  |
Physics, cosmology |
|
Faster Than Light |
Nick Herbert |
Age and so-so writing pull down the rating for
this book, but still has good insights on getting around the light barrier
 |
Physics |
|
The Fly in the Cathedral |
Brian Cathcart |
Brilliant story of the race to crack open the
atomic nucleus: a must!  |
Physics |
|
Four Laws (that drive the Universe) |
Peter Atkins |
A good concise introduction to the four laws
of thermodynamics that would be great for a physics undergraduate, but just
doesn't hack it as popular science. |
Physics |
|
From Eternity to Here |
Sean Carroll |
The book A Brief History of Time should have
been - really does explore time and the significance of entropy to
cosmology. Excellent book. |
Physics, cosmology |
|
Froth |
Mark Denny |
The science of beer - starts well with a good
history, but then becomes much too technical on yeast populations, beer
thermodynamics and more.
 |
Physics |
|
Galloping with Light |
Felix Alba-Juez |
A self-published attempt to explain Einstein's
theories to the general reader. Too plodding and too concerned with words
rather than science.  |
Physics |
|
God Does Play Dice with the Universe |
Shan Gao |
Interesting theory on the random and
discontinuous nature of movement, but poorly written.
 |
Physics |
|
The God Effect |
Brian Clegg |
Remarkable exploration of quantum
entanglement, a bizarre effect that has amazing applications. Excellent
explanation of the science |
Physics |
|
The God Particle |
Leon Lederman &
Dick Teresi |
In-depth and often funny look at the history
of particle physics and the development of the standard model, viewed by an
insider.
 |
Physics |
| God's Equation |
Amir Aczel |
An exploration of
'Einstein's greatest mistake' - the cosmic constant
 |
Biography, cosmology, physics |
|
The Grand Design |
Stephen Hawking &
Leonard Mlodinow |
Very glossy (though illustrations sometimes
wrong) attempt to explain everything with science, disposing of philosophy
and religion. Good physics summaries, but poor thesis.
 |
Cosmology, physics |
|
How the Hippies Saved Physics |
David Kaiser |
Quite entertaining about a group of far-out
fringe physics, and informative on quantum entanglement - but the premise
doesn't hold up. |
Physics |
|
The Infinity Puzzle |
Frank Close |
Essential reading for anyone interested in
really understanding QED, weak and strong forces and the Higgs boson - but
has some issues.
 |
Physics |
|
In Search of Schrödinger's Cat |
John Gribbin |
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 |
|
In Search of the Multiverse |
John Gribbin |
A speculative but highly entertaining trip
around the different concepts that take us beyond a single universe to a
multiverse. |
Physics |
|
The Instant Physicist |
Richard A. Muller |
Fun idea of small two page spreads with an
amazing factoid illustrated by a cartoon on one side and explanation on the
other. But rather limited range and odd layout. |
Physics |
|
Instant Egghead Guide: Physics |
Brian Clegg |
Entertaining and readable pocket guide to the essentials of physics.
 |
Physics |
|
Introducing Chaos |
Ziauddin Sardar & Iwona Abrams |
Wacky
illustrated introduction to the concepts of chaos - pure marmite
 |
Maths, physics |
|
Introducing Quantum Theory |
J.P. McEvoy & Oscar Zarate |
Wacky
but good illustrated introduction to the concepts of
quantum theory
 |
Physics |
|
Introducing Relativity |
Bruce Bassett & Ralph Edney |
Wacky
illustrated introduction to the concepts of
relativity - pure marmite
 |
Physics |
|
Introducing Stephen Hawking |
J.P. McEvoy & Oscar Zarate |
Interesting illustrated intro to Hawking's
work with good mini-bio, but suffers from lack of stuff that is Hawking's,
plus age
 |
Physics |
|
Introducing
Time |
Craig
Callender & Ralph Edney |
Occasionally bizarre but very effective pocket
illustrated tour of the concept of time, giving more than many longer books.
 |
Physics |
| Isaac Newton |
James Gleick |
Newton biog with good
insight into his physics |
Biography, physics |
| Isaac Newton, the Last
Sorcerer |
Michael White |
Newton biog with emphasis on
personal development and his interest in alchemy |
Biography, physics |
|
The Labyrinth of Time |
Michael Lockwood |
Attempt to explore the universe through a
better understanding of time that doesn't quite make it
 |
Physics, cosmology |
|
Latitude: The Magnetic Earth |
Stephen Pumfrey |
Good consideration of the impact of the
little-known Elizabethan, William Gilbert
 |
Physics, earth
science |
|
Light Years |
Brian Clegg |
The story of humanity's
exploration of light. Combination
of good history with fascinating new light science. New edition.
 |
Physics |
| The Magic Furnace |
Marcus Chown |
Where atoms come from
- a remarkable story that takes us from the big bang to now
 |
Physics, astronomy, cosmology |
|
The Many Worlds of Hugh Everett III |
Peter Byrne |
Interesting biography of the man behind the
many worlds quantum interpretation and a major contributor to game theory.
Bio parts good, science a bit impenetrable.
 |
Biography, physics |
|
Massive |
Ian Sample |
The search for the Higgs boson and the source
of mass. The story of the development of the colliders is great, but the
physics is rather summary.
 |
Physics |
|
Michael Faraday and the Electrical Century |
Iwan Rhees Morus |
Combines skimpy biography of Faraday with
interesting insights into early attitudes to electricity
 |
Biography, physics |
|
Middle World |
Mark Haw |
Dull looking book, which is a shame because
it's a brilliant, very readable tour of the nanoscale from Brownian motion
to biological machines.
 |
Physics |
|
Mr Tompkins in Paperback |
George Gamow |
Early attempt at popularizing hard physics,
beloved of many scientists, but hasn't aged well
 |
Physics |
|
Neutrino |
Frank Close |
Small but totally fascinating book on the hunt
for this most elusive of quantum particles. Superb insight into the way real
science works.
 |
Physics |
|
The
Never Ending Days of Being Dead |
Marcus Chown |
A clear exploration of some of the big
questions in physics, bringing in a range of weird and wonderful theories
 |
Physics, cosmology |
|
New Theories of Everything |
John D. Barrow |
Hard to read, but insightful exploration of
the nature of theories in science and how they are constructed, particularly
around physics and theories of everything.
 |
Physics |
| The Northern Lights |
Lucy Jago |
Kristian Birkeland, the
Norwegian scientist who first uncovered the secret of the Northern Lights
 |
Biography, physics |
|
Nothing: a very short introduction |
Frank Close |
Turns out to be more 'basic ideas in modern
physics', often well presented, though very compact - but not quite what the
title promises.
 |
Physics |
|
Not Even Wrong |
Peter Woit |
Stunning but hugely difficult book describing
the failing of string theory and why it perhaps isn't even science. [UNRATEABLE] |
Physics |
|
Once Before Time |
Martin Bojowald |
Explanation of loop quantum gravity, the main
competitor to string theory. Knows his stuff, but not how to write about it.
 |
Physics, cosmology |
|
Parallel Worlds |
Michio Kaku |
Fascinating ideas on parallel universes,
cosmology and string theory only slightly let down by oversimplification and
mixed writing. |
Cosmology, physics |
|
Physics and Technology for Future Presidents |
Richard A. Muller |
Excellent as a textbook for a physics course
for arts majors, but if you want great popular science, turn to its sister,
Physics for Future Presidents. |
Physics |
|
Physics for Future Presidents |
Richard A. Muller |
One of the cleverest concepts we've ever come
across - the physics you ought to know if you are going to be US president -
and wonderfully delivered too. |
Physics |
| The Physics of Star Trek |
Lawrence M. Krauss |
How much can real science
make the wonders of Star Trek possible? |
TV, physics |
|
The Physics of Superheroes |
James Kakalios |
One of the better 'science of'/'physics of'
books, using the exploits of superheroes to explore everything from
mechanics to electromagnetism. |
Physics |
|
Physics of the Impossible |
Michio Kaku |
Remarkable span of ideas, pulling together
everything from robots and phasers to time travel and teleportation. Looks
at why they are currently impossible and how they make become possible in
the future.  |
Physics |
|
Physics of the Impossible |
Michio Kaku |
Look at the realities of science fiction
technology - good on near future, but more speculative depends too much on
SF.  |
Physics |
|
Plastic Fantastic |
Eugenie Samuel Reich |
The gripping story of the biggest known fraud
in physics, but could have been told better.
 |
Physics |
|
The Prism and the Pendulum |
Robert P. Crease |
The ten most beautiful experiments in science
(well, physics), with good insights into the people behind them.
 |
Physics |
|
Programming the Universe |
Seth Lloyd |
An attempt to make quantum theory and quantum
computers more approachable by using information theory just makes things
harder
 |
Physics |
|
Quantum |
Manjit Kumar |
Long, rather dull and too technical history of
the development of quantum theory.
 |
Physics |
|
Quantum Enigma |
Bruce Rosenblum &
Fred Kuttner |
Not so much physics as metaphysics in this
exploration of the interpretations of quantum theory and their implications
(if any) for consciousness. Good if you're interested in quantum
interpretations.
 |
Physics |
|
Quantum Man |
Lawrence M. Krauss |
On the surface a biography of Richard Feynman,
the book is much more an explanation of his science. Some intriguing stuff,
but could have been better explained. |
Physics |
|
Quantum Physics: A Beginner's Guide |
Alistair I. M. Rae |
Worthy if dull introduction that is
reminiscent of a university lecture. Strangely omits some key aspects of
quantum physics.  |
Physics |
|
Quantum Physics for Poets |
Leon Lederman &
Christopher Hill |
A workmanlike introduction to quantum physics
but not great at explaining to the general reader. Better for physics
students than poets.
 |
Physics |
|
Quantum Reality |
Nick Herbert |
Stodgy and impenetrable trip around the
metaphysics underlying quantum theory
 |
Physics |
|
The Quantum Universe: everything that can
happen does happen |
Brian Cox & Jeff
Forshaw |
A superb primer on quantum physics for anyone
about to start a physics degree, but incredibly hard work for a general
reader.
 |
Physics |
|
The Quantum Zoo |
Marcus Chown |
The best introduction to quantum physics and
relativity we've seen with some superb examples and great explanation |
Physics |
|
The Quest for the Quantum Computer |
Julian Brown |
Very good exploration of the weird world of
quantum computing. Five star for techies, but actual rating reflects
over-technical approach.  |
Physics,
technology |
|
QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter |
Richard Feynman |
Great insight into Feynman's genius in these
transcribed lectures, in not popular science
 |
Physics |
|
Relativity: a very short introduction |
Russell Stannard |
A concise and effective summary of both
special and general relativity, but more suited to a physics student than
the general reader.  |
Physics |
|
Relativity for the Questioning Mind |
Daniel Styler |
Introduction to relativity that takes the form
of a workbook plus FAQs - works surprisingly well if you like the approach
(probably not best as a first book to read on relativity though)
 |
Physics |
| Richard Feynman: A Life in Science |
John Gribbin & Mary Gribbin |
Plodding style and under-done explanation of
the science make this biog of super-scientist Feynman disappointing
 |
Biography, physics |
|
Rising Force |
James D.
Livingston |
The history and science of levitation. Not
just maglev trains (though they feature large), but the characters,
inventions and patent wars, making an enjoyable read.
 |
Physics |
|
The Road to Reality |
Roger Penrose |
Remarkable tour-de-force exploration of
physics and its mathematical basis, but almost totally incomprehensible!
 |
Physics, maths |
|
Schrödinger's Kittens |
John Gribbin |
Sequel to In Search of Schrodinger's Cat. Some
interesting material on further development of quantum theory |
Physics |
|
Schrödinger's Rabbits |
Colin Bruce |
Introduction to quantum theory concentrating
more on the interpretation than the theory itself. Rather confusingly
written.  |
Physics |
|
Seven Tales of the Pendulum |
Gregory L. Baker |
Some really interesting material on pendulums,
but hard to get through because of the impenetrable writing. |
Physics |
|
The Shadow Club |
Roberto Casati |
Very promising book about shadow that simply
can't deliver, because there's not much to tell
 |
Physics |
| Six Easy Pieces |
Richard Feynman |
The essentials of physics
in a chatty textbook that just scrapes into pop-sci
 |
Physics |
|
Sky in a Bottle |
Peter Pesic |
Shows how the apparently simple question "why
is the sky blue?" has challenged thinkers over the years, and follows their
ideas and experiments (with some to try)
 |
Physics |
| Surely you are Joking, Mr
Feynman |
Richard Feynman |
Wonderful anecdotes from
the great physicist |
Biography, physics |
|
The Strangest Man |
Graham Farmelo |
Very detailed and well researched biography of
the most secretive of the quantum physicists, Paul Dirac. A welcome
addition.
 |
Biography, physics |
|
The Tao of Physics |
Fritjof Capra |
Classic book drawing parallels between physics
(particularly quantum physics) and Eastern religions, still interesting
despite blatant misuse by new-agers.
 |
Physics |
|
The Theory of Elementary Waves |
Lewis E. Little |
An alternative to quantum theory. Probably not
right, but worth taking a look as a semi-plausible theory.
 |
Physics |
|
Time Travel: a writer's guide |
Paul J. Nahin |
Useful if slightly dated guide to the science
of time travel for writers with lots of examples from science fiction.
 |
Physics |
|
The Time Traveller |
Ronald Mallett & Bruce Henderson |
Moving and highly readable story of a
physicist's mission to build a time machine to visit his dead father - just
finishes a bit too soon. |
Physics |
|
The Trouble with Physics |
Lee Smolin |
Absorbing exploration of the problems with
string theory and how it has become an ineffective panacea.
 |
Physics |
| The Universe in a Nutshell |
Stephen Hawking |
Workings of the universe,
well illustrated, for lay readers |
Cosmology, physics |
| The Universe Next Door |
Marcus Chown |
Strange concepts at the
edge of scientific theories |
Overview, physics |
|
The Void |
Frank Close |
Flawed attempt to use the idea of the void to explore the science of matter
and light.
 |
Physics |
|
We need to talk about Kelvin |
Marcus Chown |
Uses everyday observations to plunge into
quantum theory, thermodynamics and cosmology. Great fun and very readable. |
Physics, cosmology |
|
What Einstein didn't know about Time |
Keith Ashworth |
A strange concoction combining a vituperative
attack on Einstein personally with an alternative theory to replace
relativity. |
Physics |
|
What is Time? |
G. J. Whitrow |
A good introduction to the nature of time, but
could have been even better if written for a modern audience
 |
Physics |
|
Why Balloons Rise and Apples Fall |
Jeff Stewart |
Very good beginners introduction to classical
physics, slightly let down by style and some of the modern content
 |
Physics |
|
Why Does E=mc2 |
Brian Cox & Jeff
Forshaw |
Explanation of the derivation of the world's
most famous equation, exploration of the standard model master equation and
great exposition of Higgs - but too technical for the general reader.
 |
Physics |
|
The Wonderful World of Relativity |
Andrew M. Steane |
An attempt at a popular science book that is
really a watered-down text book on special relativity. Shame.
 |
Physics |
|
PSYCHOLOGY |
|
|
|
|
De La Mettrie's Ghost - The Story of Decisions |
Chris Nunn |
Enjoyably written but patchy exploration of
the scientific basis for free will and how we choose to act
 |
Psychology, human
science |
|
Freedom Evolves |
Daniel Dennett |
Fascinating (if long-winded) exploration of
free will, only low scoring as more philosophy than science
 |
Psychology |
| Gödel, Escher, Bach |
Douglas Hofstadter |
Linking the music of Bach,
the art of Escher and the maths of Gödel to illustrate human thought
 |
Psychology, overview |
| How the Mind Works |
Steven Pinker |
Exploration of thought and
the mechanisms behind it |
Psychology, human
science |
|
Trust: from Socrates to spin |
Kieron O'Hara |
Trust dissected in a book explores the
psychology and sociology of this key to scientific advance
 |
Human science,
psychology |