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I hope this is the right forum to post in, since it doesn't really fit anywhere else.
Anyhow, I was looking to pick up a science book or two that was recently (past few yrs, nothing before like '05) published, and I don't want a book that is purely in laymen terms, I can appreciate some good physics to be laid out, but nothing too complex. As a mathematics-turned-accountant major I enjoy to at least see the equations/know what is actually going on and not just being told how it is.
I would like to say that I would probably only want books that relate to astrophysics/particle physics and not so much biology/chemistry. I don't really want a book that is purely laymen, or one that is purely mathematical, I kind of want one that is a mix of both. I don't want like random shit thrown at me either, I would like the book to tie into one big picture and having everything being related that could overshadow something such as what could happen in the future with the current advancements etc.
Thanks
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The Pluto files - Neil Tyson
Death by black hole - Neil Tyson
both amazing books. There are tonnes of really good books from before 05, but you said not to post those
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Pick up "Space and Time in Special Relativity." This book was published a long time ago but lays down all the physics of particle, quantum, and optical mechanics and explains Einstein's theory of relativity to a student. (Written by a physics PhD for use to explain the principals to his students).
In order to know string theory or any modern astrophysics you need to at least comprehend what is going on in this book (though it is very mathematical and made to teach the subject for knowledge rather than for a pure layman who may be interested or not).
Simply put, this book is what turns every other astrophysics or quantum physics book into laymen's terms because you understand where conclusions of expanding universe come from, why we got big bang theory, etc.
This was used in conjunction with the Big Bang to explain astrophysics history as well as theory (black holes, universe nature, etc) in my Optics physics class at university. This book lays out the chemistry you need to understand what we know about the universe because all of the physical laws rely on chemical properties (such as hydrogen's spectra that shows when it is excited etc).
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QED by Richard Feynman
for your request its a must read, get it now =D
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I'm sorry but I think I have to disappoint you. There is no such book that you describe (at least to my knowledge). Pretty much every part of physics nowadays involves some fairly advanced math especially particle physics. There are some books that just tell you how it is but they can't really explain anything in depth because you will not understand the fundamental principles without a fairly good understanding of quantum field theory. If you have to pick up something you might try "Subatomic Physics" by Henley, Garcia. I personally used "Introduction to Elementary Particles" by Griffiths and "Particles and Nuclei: An Introduction to the Physical Concepts" by Povh et al. as an undergrad. The math is not too involved in these books.
Regarding Astrophysics I think you're completely screwed. General Relativity is the absolute basis for everything. And good luck understanding the index massacre from simply skimming through a book. Maybe try "General Relativity: With Applications to Astrophysics" by Straumann. Hope that helps. 
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I liked Lisa Randall's Warped Passages, but there are probably not enough formulae in there for you.
Personally, I find textbooks about General Astronomy quite entertaining. Karttunen is widely used, and requires only basic understanding of algebra and calculus as far as I remember.
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Croatia9519 Posts
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I think it indicative of the times that I clicked on the title, happily preparing to recommend some of my favourites, only to have that notion fall apart when you said "nothing before '05" and I suddenly realized that I have nothing to recommend. I hope I'm correct in my assumption that you made the stipulation because you've already read a lot of the stuff you would ordinarily be told to read, because if you haven't... go read those.
There's so few outstanding science books written these days, and there is still this unfortunate schism between scientists and the general public. Sagan did a lot to bridge the gap, and scientists are finally starting to realize that they have to present science properly to the masses, or it will be presented by those who don't understand it but have an agenda to push. Even still, few of them are skilled popularizers, and none are as eloquent as the ones we've left behind.
But I am digressing hard. Sorry. Uh... read this. It's 2004.
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Italy12246 Posts
QED by Feynman is really good, even though there is no math.
My father (a university physics professor) also recommended me Fly Me to the Moon: An Insider's Guide to the New Science of Space Travel by Edward Belbruno; i personally haven't read it but i hear it's very good.
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I haven't read it myself, but my brother who is really into physics is digging Lisa Randall's new book Knocking on Heaven's Door. It came out this year, so I'm sure the content is as cutting-edge as it gets.
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Thanks for all the recs so far, I'm going to have to dig a little deeper into each one and see which suits me best
On December 29 2011 09:33 surfinbird1 wrote:I'm sorry but I think I have to disappoint you. There is no such book that you describe (at least to my knowledge). Pretty much every part of physics nowadays involves some fairly advanced math especially particle physics. There are some books that just tell you how it is but they can't really explain anything in depth because you will not understand the fundamental principles without a fairly good understanding of quantum field theory. If you have to pick up something you might try "Subatomic Physics" by Henley, Garcia. I personally used "Introduction to Elementary Particles" by Griffiths and "Particles and Nuclei: An Introduction to the Physical Concepts" by Povh et al. as an undergrad. The math is not too involved in these books. Regarding Astrophysics I think you're completely screwed. General Relativity is the absolute basis for everything. And good luck understanding the index massacre from simply skimming through a book. Maybe try "General Relativity: With Applications to Astrophysics" by Straumann. Hope that helps.
with regards to the nothing before '05, i meant with new discoveries. should have made that more clear. not with general physics...i meant with new technologies ^_^
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EPT
