Science book suggestions...

[Napoléon]

I've never been big on reading books, but I was considering going on Amazon and picking up something sciencey. Something along the lines of "A Brief History of Time" by Hawking, or "Death by Black Hole" by Neil DeGrasse Tyson. I'd like to read a book that's quite a bit about physics but doesn't require much understanding in that particular field, perhaps even a book on string theory that explains it in Lehman's terms.

Any recommendations? Are there any must have books like this out there?

[Kayenneh]

The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene.

[festive1]

I liked this one: http://www.amazon.com/Origins-Fourteen-B...gins+tyson Good detail, yet very readable and accessible.

[Napoléon]

Exactly the sort of thing I was looking for, thanks

Found this youtube series as well which I'll be watching before I buy it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV_X2B5OK1I

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Thanks festive

[Tobie]

Why does E=mc^2? and The Quantum Universe: Everything that does happen can happen by Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw. What got me in to physics (good enough that I'm currently doing a (maths and) physics degree!) is The Big Bang by Simon Singh.

[justin]

Your inner fish neil shubbin,genome and the red queen by matt ridley, there not physics but it's what i like. Brian green is good as far as physics.

[Something completely different]

I am sorry to tell you that almoust every single scientific textbook I own....


is in German.





But I have some really excelent ones, and if you like I could look up if there are english translations available, or if those I own are actualy translated into German from English.

[ManMachine]

I've never been big on reading books, but I was considering going on Amazon and picking up something sciencey. Something along the lines of "A Brief History of Time" by Hawking, or "Death by Black Hole" by Neil DeGrasse Tyson. I'd like to read a book that's quite a bit about physics but doesn't require much understanding in that particular field, perhaps even a book on string theory that explains it in Lehman's terms.

Any recommendations? Are there any must have books like this out there?

String Theory (or as its now called, M-Theory) is a trickey beast. There are different version of it and there isn't an overall consensus. These are all available in English (and possibly German).

A cracking good book is Lee Smolin's 'The Trouble With Physics' - A good laymans' overview of the history of Quantum Physics from Relativity up to today and the competing theories (hence the title).

John Gribbin's 'In Search of Schroedinger's Cat' - more about how String Theory emerged and has a sequel called 'Shroedinger's Kittens'. (Gribbin's books in general are very good and he covers a wide range of topics).

Marcus Chown's 'Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You' - excellent for the beginner. Marcus writes for New Scientist.

I will also agree with Why Does E=MC2, by Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw. This is also available on CD read by Forshaw.

I would say, because of the nature of QP and String Theory (M-Theory) you will probably need to read a few books to get all the approaches to it. But, keep going, it's well worth it.


MM

[Ryantology]

Here's a few I've read over the last few years, and all were accessible to this layman:

Decoding Reality: The Universe as Quantum Information by Vlatko Vedral.
Particle Physics: A Very Short Introduction by Frank Close.
From Eternity to Here: A Quest for the Ultimate Theory of Time by Sean Carroll
Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos by Dr. Michio Kaku
The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos by Brian Greene

[Angrboda]

I don't read much hard science, but this was good.

by Alan Guth