A General Science Refresher

[MetalPants]

Just sucks for me (and I imagine a couple others) about how little science is in "Science and Tech". I did a whole rant about it in TNZ last year.

One way to change that status quo is to start science topics yourself.

Or, failing that, start a series of SciTech avatar contests.

Yeah with the first theme being your favorite subatomic particle.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

One way to change that status quo is to start science topics yourself.

Or, failing that, start a series of SciTech avatar contests.

Yeah with the first theme being your favorite subatomic particle.

That's actually a good idea. And they'd have to be life-sized.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

Some books I have found most helpful:

Asimov's New Guide To Science: Obviously dated, but very encyclopedic. Clear reading, but Asimov doesn't dumb it down either. http://www.amazon.com/Asimovs-Guide...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295430001&sr=1-1

The Sciences: An Integrated Approach: Another encyclopedic work that also shows the relationships and themes that guide science. Bit of a conundrum though, the newer of a version you get the much steeper the price. http://www.amazon.com/Sciences-Inte...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295430131&sr=1-1

Science Matters: By the same authors as above, but much more concise, readable, and especially cheaper. http://www.amazon.com/Science-Matte...=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295430131&sr=1-2

Almost Everyone's Guide To Science: Gribbin wrote the In Search Of books some of my favorite intros to topics in Physics/Astronomy. Very readable. http://www.amazon.com/Almost-Everyo...=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295430484&sr=1-8

 

[MetalPants]

I always found Stephen Hawking's books to be good myself.

 

[ThankQ]

^That's not exactly "general" science.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

But, really, what is meant by "general" science when every field nowadays tends to be so specialised as to be nearly incomprehensible to anyone working in a different field? It's a depth versus breadth trade off.

 

[JarodRussell]

I always found Stephen Hawking's books to be good myself.

Universe in a Nutshell is a nice mind bender for sure.

 

[Amaris]

Some books I have found most helpful:

Asimov's New Guide To Science: Obviously dated, but very encyclopedic. Clear reading, but Asimov doesn't dumb it down either. http://www.amazon.com/Asimovs-Guide...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295430001&sr=1-1

The Sciences: An Integrated Approach: Another encyclopedic work that also shows the relationships and themes that guide science. Bit of a conundrum though, the newer of a version you get the much steeper the price. http://www.amazon.com/Sciences-Inte...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295430131&sr=1-1

Science Matters: By the same authors as above, but much more concise, readable, and especially cheaper. http://www.amazon.com/Science-Matte...=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295430131&sr=1-2

Almost Everyone's Guide To Science: Gribbin wrote the In Search Of books some of my favorite intros to topics in Physics/Astronomy. Very readable. http://www.amazon.com/Almost-Everyo...=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295430484&sr=1-8

I'll check those out, thank you.

But, really, what is meant by "general" science when every field nowadays tends to be so specialised as to be nearly incomprehensible to anyone working in a different field? It's a depth versus breadth trade off.

True, but there should be at least a basic cover-all general science book. It doesn't have to get too deep, but it should hit a nice number of the basics like meteorology, geology, biology, astronomy, physics, etc.

I always found Stephen Hawking's books to be good myself.

Universe in a Nutshell is a nice mind bender for sure.

Universe in a Nutshell is a good book.

 

[Smellincoffee]

There's a series of books by Ray Spangenburg and Diane Kit Moser called The History of Science. Actually, there are two -- one produced in the late 90s, and one produced in the mid-late 2000s. The second is just a shiner update of the first. Anyway, it's an excellent series for getting "caught up" in science, especially if you feel out-of-date. I read both series during two summer breaks from college to keep my scientific literacy polished. Should provide a basic refresher, from which you can look into more detailed books.

Other history-of-science books are good, too: Dan Falk's Universe on a T-Shirt is a popular read, while Theories for Everything is a more substantial volume.

 

[Amaris]

There's a series of books by Ray Spangenburg and Diane Kit Moser called The History of Science. Actually, there are two -- one produced in the late 90s, and one produced in the mid-late 2000s. The second is just a shiner update of the first. Anyway, it's an excellent series for getting "caught up" in science, especially if you feel out-of-date. I read both series during two summer breaks from college to keep my scientific literacy polished. Should provide a basic refresher, from which you can look into more detailed books.

Other history-of-science books are good, too: Dan Falk's Universe on a T-Shirt is a popular read, while Theories for Everything is a more substantial volume.

I can't find History of Science, they all seem to be either out of print or nearly impossible to find. My local library doesn't have them either, and they tend to have the hard to find stuff. That said, "Universe" looks good, and "Theories" seems like it's right up my alley, and it looks like my library has both of them, so woohoo!, thanks!

 

[KJbushway]

Any real high school library should have those general science books. All you do is just go to a regular library say your child is in high school and ask them for high school science books.