Hyperspace by Michio Kaku.
Recommend your favorite Science or Technology book.
- Thread starter TerriO
- Start date
I agree with a number of the choices so far, but I'm going to try and list new ones only.
In Search of Schrödinger's Cat and its follow-up, Schrödinger's Kittens, both by John Gribben.
Six Easy Pieces by Richard Feynman
Nature via Nurture and Genome by Matt Ridley
Field Notes from a Catastrophe: A Frontline Report on Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert
Heat: How We Can Stop the Planet Burning by George Monbiot
In Search of Schrödinger's Cat and its follow-up, Schrödinger's Kittens, both by John Gribben.
Six Easy Pieces by Richard Feynman
Nature via Nurture and Genome by Matt Ridley
Field Notes from a Catastrophe: A Frontline Report on Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert
Heat: How We Can Stop the Planet Burning by George Monbiot
I want to thank you guys for recommmending the Sagan books. I just got done reading "The Demon Haunted World" and I loved every minute of it.
Since then, I have gone a little Sagan crazy, and I've bought some more of his books and his series Cosmos on DVD.
He seems to have the exact same philosophy on life as I do.
The book really spoke to me.
Thanks again!
Since then, I have gone a little Sagan crazy, and I've bought some more of his books and his series Cosmos on DVD.
He seems to have the exact same philosophy on life as I do.
The book really spoke to me.
Thanks again!
Why People believe weird things - Michael Shermer (wrote e review on http://www.betz.lu/index.php/b/2007/03/06/why_people_believe_weird_things_michael_
Then there is Mendel in the Kitchen by Nina Fedoroff
Then there is Mendel in the Kitchen by Nina Fedoroff
Thanks for reminding me that I need to bust out Kip Thorne's Black Holes & Time Warps and take another stab at it!
For some reason I just never got around to reading it cover-to-cover, but every now & then I flip through it just to marvel at the wonderful illustrations!
I also love the story about the bet he made with Hawking about whether Cygnus X-1 is a black hole or not.
Another title I like is Fred Alan Wolf's Taking the Quantum Leap.
For some reason I just never got around to reading it cover-to-cover, but every now & then I flip through it just to marvel at the wonderful illustrations!
I also love the story about the bet he made with Hawking about whether Cygnus X-1 is a black hole or not.
Another title I like is Fred Alan Wolf's Taking the Quantum Leap.
If you want a really good book that requires a "little" mathematical understanding, but want to know what this science thing is all about and why we mathematicians don't always agree with our fellow scientists then,
"Foundations of Science" by Henri Poincare is the book you should read. This is a classic in its own right, but if you want to play with the universe, Poincare should be first on your list, because he's the one who invented Topology (well, he didn't invent it, but he certainly defined it). It's because of him that a triangle is looked at as a circle and a coffee cup as a donut.
While I'd also reccommend Riemann, he requires considerable mathematical knowledge to fathom, but if you want to have a fun twist to add to your vision of the universe, then read this book.
Also, now that it is public domain, you can go to google books and get it as pdf. Once you read this book you'll understand somewhat what Einstein was talking about. But Poincare did it first.
"Foundations of Science" by Henri Poincare is the book you should read. This is a classic in its own right, but if you want to play with the universe, Poincare should be first on your list, because he's the one who invented Topology (well, he didn't invent it, but he certainly defined it). It's because of him that a triangle is looked at as a circle and a coffee cup as a donut.
While I'd also reccommend Riemann, he requires considerable mathematical knowledge to fathom, but if you want to have a fun twist to add to your vision of the universe, then read this book.
Also, now that it is public domain, you can go to google books and get it as pdf. Once you read this book you'll understand somewhat what Einstein was talking about. But Poincare did it first.
I'm reading W. David Woods' How Apollo Flew To The Moon, which is a detailed introduction of the physics and engineering of the Apollo program. It discusses every stage of the lunar missions, from inception, via launch, orbit, landing and return to Earth, and also explains the how and why of the decisions made and techniques used. Very interesting.
If anybody is looking for a descriptive history of the personal computer, "Fire in the Valley" by by Paul Freiberger and Michael Swaine. Its a bit outdated (doesn't include the Google-era) but its worth the read.
All Seeing Eye
Admiral
Fraggle Rock: Uncle Travelling Matt goes to Mars by Jim Henson.
Haven't read this one yet but intend to soon because it is facinating to me. I added a bit of a snippet from it as to what it's about but being a history junkie this grabbed my attention. After I read it (likely this month) I'll give my thoughts on it. Just been putting it off because it is pricy.
The Forgotten Revolution: How Science was Born in 300 BC and why it Had to be Reborn - By Lucio Russo
The third and second centuries BC witnessed, in the Greek world, a scientific and technological explosion. Greek culture had reached great heights in art, literature and philosophy already in the earlier classical era, but it was in the age of Archimedes and Euclid that science as we know it was born, and gave rise to sophisticated technology that would not be seen again until the 18th century. This scientific revolution was also accompanied by great changes and a new kind of awareness in many other fields, including art and medicine. What were the landmarks in the meteoric rise of science 2300 years ago? Why are they so little known today, even among scientists, classicists and historians? How do they relate to the post-1500 science that we are familiar with from school? What led to the end of ancient science? These are the questions that this book discusses, in the belief that the answers bear on choices we face today.
The Forgotten Revolution: How Science was Born in 300 BC and why it Had to be Reborn - By Lucio Russo
The third and second centuries BC witnessed, in the Greek world, a scientific and technological explosion. Greek culture had reached great heights in art, literature and philosophy already in the earlier classical era, but it was in the age of Archimedes and Euclid that science as we know it was born, and gave rise to sophisticated technology that would not be seen again until the 18th century. This scientific revolution was also accompanied by great changes and a new kind of awareness in many other fields, including art and medicine. What were the landmarks in the meteoric rise of science 2300 years ago? Why are they so little known today, even among scientists, classicists and historians? How do they relate to the post-1500 science that we are familiar with from school? What led to the end of ancient science? These are the questions that this book discusses, in the belief that the answers bear on choices we face today.
The Giant Leap by Adrian Berry
A great book (in my opinion) on why intersteller travel will happen and why its a good idea.
Moonrush: Improving life on Earth with the Moon's Resources by Dennis Wingo
Another good read on utilizing the moon and asteriods as resources we can use to better life on this planet
These 2 are the most current books ive purchased and read as of late, but from reading this particular threat, theres ALOT more out there. I also have an older Carl Sagan book "The Cosmic Connection" that i 'borrowed' from my mom
A great book (in my opinion) on why intersteller travel will happen and why its a good idea.
Moonrush: Improving life on Earth with the Moon's Resources by Dennis Wingo
Another good read on utilizing the moon and asteriods as resources we can use to better life on this planet
These 2 are the most current books ive purchased and read as of late, but from reading this particular threat, theres ALOT more out there. I also have an older Carl Sagan book "The Cosmic Connection" that i 'borrowed' from my mom
This is mine as well. Much of the conclusions as to the nature of the organisms discussed were overturned not too long after the initial publication, but what he says about the misinterpretations of Darwin's theory and the mechanism of evolution is really good stuff -- as well as the copius illustrations.
Fortey's Trilobite! led me to Gould and is also nicely done.
Coming of Age in the Milky Way (Timothy Ferris)
E=MC2 (David Bodanis)
Zero (Charles Seife)
The Universe and Dr. Einstein (Lincoln Barnett)
The Handy Physics Answer Book (P. Erik Gundersen)
Physics of the Impossible (Michio Kaku)
The Hot Zone (Richard Preston)
E=MC2 (David Bodanis)
Zero (Charles Seife)
The Universe and Dr. Einstein (Lincoln Barnett)
The Handy Physics Answer Book (P. Erik Gundersen)
Physics of the Impossible (Michio Kaku)
The Hot Zone (Richard Preston)
C
cynical dreamer
Guest
I posted this in another thread so I'll just copy and paste it here as well:
They really need to make Carl Sagan's "The Demon Haunted World" mandatory reading for adults and children alike. You shouldn't be allowed out of your home or allowed to own a computer without having read Sagan's book first.
They should make you read it and then take a test on it's content and then issue you a license.....
They really need to make Carl Sagan's "The Demon Haunted World" mandatory reading for adults and children alike. You shouldn't be allowed out of your home or allowed to own a computer without having read Sagan's book first.
They should make you read it and then take a test on it's content and then issue you a license.....
My Inventions
is Nikola Tesla's autobiography. Though not an overly technical read, it is interesting to have a peek at this visionary's 'inner workings,' He was a disturbed man, I think, and given to drama (for the sake of the press) late in his life. But no doubt he was absolutely brilliant.
is Nikola Tesla's autobiography. Though not an overly technical read, it is interesting to have a peek at this visionary's 'inner workings,' He was a disturbed man, I think, and given to drama (for the sake of the press) late in his life. But no doubt he was absolutely brilliant.
Many of my favorites have already been mentioned directly, or at least overlap with those that have. I'll add one that, I'm ashamed to admit, I didn't read until earlier this year.
The Discoverers by Daniel Boorstin provides a chronological framework for advances in technology made over the last 3000 years. Subjects range from clocks and navigation to medicine and the information sciences.
Nothing is covered in tremendous depth, of course, but the variety of topics is great enough that even the most devoted student of the history of technology will learn many new things.
The Discoverers by Daniel Boorstin provides a chronological framework for advances in technology made over the last 3000 years. Subjects range from clocks and navigation to medicine and the information sciences.
Nothing is covered in tremendous depth, of course, but the variety of topics is great enough that even the most devoted student of the history of technology will learn many new things.
