Physics has become increasingly popular in recent decades. Physics is still viewed as a hallowed discipline only open to a few of the smartest people among us. But physics fascinates the public, and there is a steady stream of great books aimed at the lay reader. Here are the essentials:
The Whole Shebang
Timothy Ferris
Cosmology
ISBN: 0684838613
The Whole Shebang is an easy introduction to cosmology, covering all the important bases: relativity, quantum physics, large scale structure, and the multiverse.
Origins
Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Donald Goldsmith
Cosmology
ISBN: 0393059928
Another cosmology book, but Origins focuses on cosmic evolution - the unfolding history of the universe. This a companion to a fascinating PBS series of the same name.
Six Easy Pieces
Richard Feynman
Basic Physics
ISBN: 0465023924
Richard Feynman was a key physicist of the 20th century, second only to Einstein in popularity, and for good reason. He was widely considered to be the best teacher of physics. This book, based on an actual lecture, lucidly introduces basic concepts. Live audio recordings are also available.
Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman
James Gleick
Biography
ISBN: 0679747044
Richard Feynman also led an extraordinary life. He was a bit eccentric, and was not content to settle in one field. Gleick ably and lovingly chronicles Feynman's life.
The Cosmic Landscape: String Theory and the Illusion of Intelligent Design
Leonard Susskind
Laws of Physics
ISBN: 0316155799
Supernatural explanations are often invoked to explain things that don't quite make sense, and physics has been no exception. In The Cosmic Landscape, Susskind, a noted string theorist, offers a more lucid perspective.
The Universe in a Nutshell
Stephen Hawking
Cosmology
ISBN: 055380202X
Filled copiously with gorgeous illustrations, The Universe in a Nutshell is the perfect coffee table book for the physics nut. This Hawking book isn't nearly as intimidating as A Brief History of Time.
The Elegant Universe
Brian Greene
ISBN: 0375708111
A fun read, The Elegant Universe is a comprehensive introduction to the still controversial field of string theory. A PBS special based on the book and hosted by the author (who is very entertaining) is also available.
Katharine M. J. Osborne - Ever since I was child I've been asking questions about physics, what is a particle, what is mass, what is the shape of the universe, what ...
