First Annals of the Old World, by John McPhee

In one patient, lyrical prose, McPhee takes the reader on a journey through geological United States. This volume was originally published in four books centered respectively on a road trip the author took a geologist, earth observation in the vicinity of major U.S. highways Eisenhower for clues to its geologic history. Annals it – no limits, idealists felt on the road to the kind of geologist I get all the annals occasionally when I’m relaxed when I use for a search good example of writing scientific (but a little more grown up.) literature. We recommend that recommended him as a companion for camping trips, where you can paste it in your backpack.

Second You’re joking, Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman

A series of extracts from Feynman life / career, laugh you want is probably the most popular science book I’ve read through most of the time, not because it is short, but because he is both convincing, sober and full of essential scientific concepts. Richard Feynman has an uncanny ability to digest simple physics, are a testament to his lectures on this topic and you are no exception jokes. The prose is easy to Feynman the reader feel how physics is understood, as if he set up a scheme of the universe on his living room floor – no one is a stranger. It is delicious. Feynman in my top 5 people that I would give my right pinkie to answer to “category.

Third A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

The second volume heavy on the list is a short history of nearly everything packed. It deals with the science behind many things – the beauty, cells, evolution, the universe. Bryson rejects the traditional idea of ??a “hand” with this book, science seems relevant in our daily life and put this knowledge in the context of the universe – in space and time. Detailed grasp the corners where the science often focused and produce the miracle of the broader perspective is a performance – you can enjoy it wherever you can find. Great audio book format.

4th The richness of life, collection of essays by Stephen Jay Gould

The idiosyncratic Gould has written articles on natural history and many other scientific journals for decades and is one of the most widely read authors of modern science. In this collection of articles, Gould is highly intellectual, spiritual, and crisp prose, explains the theory of evolution, racism and baseball through the eyes of a scientist, but in a way that engages the layman. Gould’s dedication to science shows, in each room. Charming.

5th The Canon by Natalie Angier

Someone told the New York office of science, I once again – “Natalie Angier is the queen of the metaphor.” I agree. The Canon is the best example of his witty prose, winding drive through simple scientific questions with answers difficult. This book describes Angier, what they found out that the basic scientific concepts everyone should know: thinking scientifically, probability, calibration, physics, biology, chemistry, molecular biology, astronomy and geology. Phew. I must say – it would have very text book, but is masterful because his writing style. In fact, I had a lot of non-scientific friend recommend this place for me, that’s always a good sign.

6th Universe in a cup of tea, of K.C. Cole

Where can you find a book that successfully weaves discipline of mathematics, the notions of truth and beauty? Universe is such a book; KC volume of popular and groundbreaking in many ways. He uses metaphors pack a punch. His prose is a bit poetic, and in the universe, it proves able to explain things, such as chaos and phase transitions are illuminated – not only to understand because you, after all, a scientific concept, which always seem so dark, but because Cole also They are the new way of thinking about mathematics and the world with your new understanding. (Full disclosure – Cole was my academic mentor)

7th The Code Book by Simon Singh

Packed with information about the history of codes, as you break them, and that was all one has, this book is an appeal to James Bond. Many scientists and politicians as decision-makers and code breakers code from ancient times to act in the present, and the codes are becoming increasingly important in computer technology and national security. The stories behind the codes are so fascinating, I realized that I was the mathematical theory of the code in the process to me.

8th Enduring Love by Ian McEwan

Ok, so not everyone classify this as a popular science book, but there are still sick. Enduring Love is a book of fiction, written primarily from the perspective of a former scientist, but more importantly, it’s an exciting story that allows the author’s attitude toward cleaning up the life of every page. Ian McEwan is a rationalist, that good science is as much a part of culture as something else believes – a position that I am very empathetic. This is a literary narrative, of course, but McEwan comes to scientific ideas about the integration of science and its ways of thinking in the lives of his characters and slowly reveals complex situations to speak. This is a page-turner.

9th The Double Helix by James Watson

Although scientists James Watson, not Stephen Jay Gould’s mastery of language and metaphor is the double helix is ??still a fascinating account of the series of events that lead to the discovery of DNA structure. In the book, scientists Watson, Crick, Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin of colorful characters is in a race to understand what DNA looks like a molecular level. Everyone has their own motives. Each has its own complications. All but Franklin finally got a Nobel Prize for this work (she died before the sentence could be included.) A fast, easy to read.

10th In the Shadow of Man by Jane Goodall

A classic book – easy to read, not jargon. Goodall’s observations of wild chimpanzees in the first selected one of the most recent ancestor of man – the chimpanzee. This book describes some of Goodall’s pioneering research by his own observations about the behavior of chimpanzees. Once absorbed in the book, I could not help thinking – we’re all just monkeys, evolved out of or in connection with each other. Puts things in perspective.