Science books for non-scientists

Chicken #16 · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:44

I remember a magazine by Future Publishing that I really enjoyed. Think it was called Frontiers. It gave the latest science/technology news but in a nice glossy, reader friendly way. But like all their good magazines, they cancelled it.

Might have to dig up my back issues!

edit: err....don't put Frontiers magazine into google

jp_bl_68 · 31 Jan 2011 at 16:53

ARGH!!!! My eyes!!!!

You can't say "don't type that into google" and expect people not to type it into google.

Dirk · 31 Jan 2011 at 18:21

Jokester said:
Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything is an excellent book about many of the key scientific developments in human history and how they came about.

This is THE book for your needs.

oli collett · 31 Jan 2011 at 18:34

Dribbles said:
Ones that I enjoyed, but maybe not the sort you are interested:

Bad Science - Ben Goldacre
Irrationality (changed my outlook on life) - Stuart Sutherland

I'm always recommending these two on here, essential reading, both v amusing too!

Theguy · 1 Feb 2011 at 15:23

Chicken #16 said:
I remember a magazine by Future Publishing that I really enjoyed. Think it was called Frontiers. It gave the latest science/technology news but in a nice glossy, reader friendly way. But like all their good magazines, they cancelled it.

Might have to dig up my back issues!

edit: err....don't put Frontiers magazine into google

Btw, the magazine is called focus

- it comes out every couple of weeks.
Its, one of my favs.

Danny091 · 1 Feb 2011 at 15:29

Wonders of the solar system (Brian Cox) based off the tv series he did.

Chicken #16 · 2 Feb 2011 at 01:19

Theguy said:
Btw, the magazine is called focus - it comes out every couple of weeks.
Its, one of my favs.

nah....it's not.

the one I remember is called Frontiers and it is mentioned here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T3_(magazine)

"the first issue of T3 magazine went on sale around September 1996. The magazine was a spin off of a science magazine eventually launched as Frontiers,"

cornyfeet · 2 Feb 2011 at 02:37

i find michau kaku books pretty good. his books are mainly about astronomy and physics. paralell worlds is good

shahpor · 12 Mar 2011 at 15:47

Sorry for the bump, but just wanted to say that based on what was said here, I bought a copy of Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything.

I have just finished reading it and have to say that it is brilliant.

Even bits that I didn't think I would like, such as Fossils and Taxonomy, he somehow found a way to make interesting.

Even after 600 odd pages, I was still sad that it ended.

So just wanted to say Thanks to those that suggested it.

Also, I noticed that most science books tend to focus on a particular subject (have read 'why does e=mc2' and 'a brief history of time'), but I was wondering if there were any more recommendations for general science books like Bill Bryson's?

p4radox · 12 Mar 2011 at 17:48

Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman - A collection of anecdotes about one of the great thinkers of the 20th century.

Philosophy of Science: A Very Short Introduction - Everyone should read this. Explains in very simple terms the framework in which science operates, and several of the key ideas about the scientific method.

shahpor · 16 Mar 2011 at 17:00

Whoops, forgot to say thanks.

Looks like I will be purchasing both these as well.

Dirk · 16 Mar 2011 at 17:31

Just finished one called 'The Edge Of Physics'. It's main focus is to bring you up to date on Cosmology as it stands today, but from the perspective of the places and people where the research is being conducted.

http://www.edgeofphysics.com/