I hope this isn't too "tame" to announce here--
Our little town library lacks any really useful books on science. I am the head of a committe to correct this fault, to recommend books to purchase.
How about recommendations on books that are nearly readable but also thorough in their teaching of science topics? I know a few old books, but nothing new. I am assuming an undergraduate college level reader. Books in modern physics (e.g., quantum) and electricity and magnetism are of particular interest but all topics are welcome.
Ernie Rogers
Pleasant Grove, Utah
MIT OPEN Courseware
Here is an online version of the "Divine Cosmos"...
In my opinion the most amazing book about this topic.
http://www.divinecosmos.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=6&id=20&Itemid=36
These two are on difficult topics explained in an easy to understand way with mostly text and illustrations - no mathematics. Feynman was a master explainer.
"QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter" by Richard P. Feynman
"Six Easy Pieces" by Richard P. Feynman
These are excellent College level physics books, heavy on the math. I usually skip the math and make out just fine with his explanations.
"The Feynman Lectures on Physics" Volumes 1 to 3
These are excellent College level physics textbooks.
"Fundamentals of Physics" Volumes 1 to 3 by David Halliday, Robert Recnick, Jearl Walker
More recent ones...
This one's used a lot by the chip makers in Silicon Valley. College level. Heavy on the mathematics.
"Collective Electrodynamics: Quantum Foundations of Electrodynamics" by Carver A. Mead
This one has some formulas throughout but leaves the bulk of the math to the last third.
"Schrodinger's Universe: Einstein, Waves & the Origin of the Natural Laws" by Milo Wolff
-Steve
http://rimstar.org http://wsminfo.org
Books are like friends: more quality and less quantity. ;)
I prefer to study electricity and related fields from books that don't talk about electricity. For example, now I'm learning some non-orthdox electricity and magnetism from a medicine book.
Electricity is all, so anyone can learn about it in different books. The only things I have learnt about electricity, I read it in very technical books or an easy self-learning electronics book.
Thanks to all for some really great suggestions. :o
Halliday and Resnick now comes in three volumes?--I'm getting out of date. That goes on the purchase list.
Now, a little criticism-- I said science, not just physics (although that's my favorite). How about some suggestions in the flelds that get neglected? Sorry, I would tell you which those are, except I neglected to remember them ;D
And, math too if you have any in mind. In my view, you can't really be a scientist without math. Just for fun, what's the quickest way to prove the Pythagorean theorem? (Hint: use vectors.) Want another puzzle?-- What's the fourth root of minus one? ??? (Same hint.)
Don't bother giving suggestions for dinosaurs, the library already has about 40 books on that topic.
(But not a single book on physics, unless you like Hawking and Sagan.)
Okay, keep the suggestions coming. I need about a hundred books, and I only have around fifty so far. And the contributions here have been really excellent.
I'm still lacking a good suggestion for quantum physics. I like Paul Dirac's book but it is pretty hard. A book that gives a good explanation of the Meissner effect, for example, would be nice.
Ernie Rogers
Part one of many http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzhlfbWBuQ8&feature=PlayList&p=84C10A9CB1D13841&index=0&playnext=1
Physics:
Roger Penrose
The Road to Reality: A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe
ISBN 978-0679776314 (Corrected US Edition 2007)
Zdzislaw Meglicki
Quantum Computing without Magic: Devices
ISBN 978-0262135061 (2008)
Math:
Randall Maddox
A Transition to Abstract Mathematics: Learning Mathematical Thinking and Writing
ISBN 978-0123744807 (2nd Edition 2008)
A few more for you...
"Calculus" by Elliot C. Gootman
I've found it to be a pretty clear book for the beginner in calculus (though I could be wrong since I already understood the basic idea before reading this book.)
And believe it or not "The Cartoon Guide to Physics" and all the other "The Cartoon Guide to..." books by Larry Gonick amd Art Huffman. These are excellent. The go into detail on all the concepts, even include some formulas, and couldn't make it any easier to understand.
-Steve
http://rimstar.org http://wsminfo.org
well maybe http://hackersclub.net/Ernest_Holmes_The_Science_of_Mind_1926.pdf
enjoy :)
Oh, and to prepare for quantum physics:
The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
ISBN 978-0740748479
MAD's Greatest Artists: The Completely MAD Don Martin
ISBN 978-0762430505
The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
ISBN 978-0345453747
[Sorry, couldn't resist... Anything that expands your consciousness...]
well I think the bible was written by Eastop &McConkey, by the name of Applied Thermodynamics
Here’s my contribution to the book fair.
http://1a26.com/pdf/ (http://1a26.com/pdf/)