Freethought & Rationalism Archive

whys one · 07-16-2002, 01:24 PM

Hi. Could someone please recommend good books that explains the origin of the universe, evolution for someone like me who has no education in science.

thanks,

wo

Steven S · 07-16-2002, 04:48 PM

Steven Weinberg's book "The First Three Minutes" gives the clearest discussion of the big bang and nucleosynthesis I've ever read without the math. It's something like twenty years old so it is before the modern epoch of precision cosmology but it is still well worth reading.

Steven S

Friar Bellows · 07-16-2002, 09:42 PM

Along that slightly-out-of-date vein I recommend:

Cosmology: The Science of the Universe by Edward Harrison.

It's more of a textbook than a popular science book, but should be understandable to anyone with a high-school education, and extremely enjoyable to anyone with an ounce of curiosity.

Oolon Colluphid · 07-17-2002, 03:09 AM

John Barrow�s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0465053149/qid=1026903808/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-4809004-3300638" target="_blank">The Origin of the Universe</a>, from 1997 so a bit more recent, should be good. It�s gathering dust on my shelves waiting for me to read it, but the other books in the <a href="http://www.perseusbooksgroup.com/science/series.masters2.html" target="_blank">Science Masters series</a> are very good indeed for newbies to pop science (especially Dawkins -- of course

).

Also likely to be good (I've got an unread copy of the first edition

) is the second (1998) edition of John Gribbin's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140269894/qid=1026904426/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-4809004-3300638" target="_blank">In Search of the Big Bang</a>. (Ref the Amazon reviewer's comments on inflation: Guth is the chap to read on that.)

Incidentally, I gather that the Weinberg book, though being from 1977, now has a substantial extra chapter on �cosmlogy since 1977�, so it may still be useful.

Oolon

whys one · 07-17-2002, 01:22 PM

Thanks so much for the replies, everyone!

Secular Pinoy · 07-18-2002, 02:38 AM

Weinberg's book may be a bit tough for a non-sci person. I'd recommend Timothy Ferris' The Whole Shebang. John Gribbin's various books are quite clear and very entertaining to read. Carl Sagan's Cosmos is decent though it didn't talk about the Big Bang (I think?). As for biological evolution for the non-scientifically inclined, try Steve Jones' Darwin's Ghost. Dawkins' River out of Eden is also easy to read but not as comprehensive and informative as Jones'.

07-16-2002, 01:24 PM	#1
whys one Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: TX Posts: 26	Book recommendation Hi. Could someone please recommend good books that explains the origin of the universe, evolution for someone like me who has no education in science. thanks, wo

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

07-16-2002, 04:48 PM	#2
Steven S Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 167	Steven Weinberg's book "The First Three Minutes" gives the clearest discussion of the big bang and nucleosynthesis I've ever read without the math. It's something like twenty years old so it is before the modern epoch of precision cosmology but it is still well worth reading. Steven S

07-16-2002, 09:42 PM	#3
Friar Bellows Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: arse-end of the world Posts: 2,305	Along that slightly-out-of-date vein I recommend: Cosmology: The Science of the Universe by Edward Harrison. It's more of a textbook than a popular science book, but should be understandable to anyone with a high-school education, and extremely enjoyable to anyone with an ounce of curiosity.

07-17-2002, 03:09 AM	#4
Oolon Colluphid Contributor Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Alibi: ego ipse hinc extermino Posts: 12,591	John Barrow�s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0465053149/qid=1026903808/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-4809004-3300638" target="_blank">The Origin of the Universe</a>, from 1997 so a bit more recent, should be good. It�s gathering dust on my shelves waiting for me to read it, but the other books in the <a href="http://www.perseusbooksgroup.com/science/series.masters2.html" target="_blank">Science Masters series</a> are very good indeed for newbies to pop science (especially Dawkins -- of course ). Also likely to be good (I've got an unread copy of the first edition ) is the second (1998) edition of John Gribbin's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140269894/qid=1026904426/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-4809004-3300638" target="_blank">In Search of the Big Bang</a>. (Ref the Amazon reviewer's comments on inflation: Guth is the chap to read on that.) Incidentally, I gather that the Weinberg book, though being from 1977, now has a substantial extra chapter on �cosmlogy since 1977�, so it may still be useful. Oolon

07-17-2002, 01:22 PM	#5
whys one Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: TX Posts: 26	Thanks so much for the replies, everyone!

07-18-2002, 02:38 AM	#6
Secular Pinoy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Quezon City, Philippines Posts: 1,994	Weinberg's book may be a bit tough for a non-sci person. I'd recommend Timothy Ferris' The Whole Shebang. John Gribbin's various books are quite clear and very entertaining to read. Carl Sagan's Cosmos is decent though it didn't talk about the Big Bang (I think?). As for biological evolution for the non-scientifically inclined, try Steve Jones' Darwin's Ghost. Dawkins' River out of Eden is also easy to read but not as comprehensive and informative as Jones'.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.