Physics book: what's worth reading?

[Zad]

Do you mean proper physics or TV "timey wimey" physics that's all "hey wow" cosmology and particle physics, and sitting on a mountain in the Andes saying how amazing it all is?

I would go for an A level text book to start with, and then when you find out what you want to look more into, visit a big bookshop near a university and see what course books they have.

[Pobolycwm]

TheHeretic said:

carmonk said:

QED - Richard Feynman. Sounds boring but is amazing, if short

The Elegant Universe - Brian Greene

On that note, and not a physics book, but by Feynman anyway;

"You must be joking, Mr. Feynman". Superb read!

I was impressed with QED, read " You must be joking ...." to see If I could work out where he was coming from, nope, not a clue apart from him having a penchant for young girls wearing very little and being a tiresome practical joker.........guess I'm probably envious, when he gave his first seminar as a post grad Einstein turned up to listen to him.

The Quantum Story by Jim Baggott gives a good chronological overview

[hairykrishna]

If you really want to get back into learning physics you want a copy of the Feynman lectures. I know they're older than 10 years and it's a lot of material but there really has never been a better undergrad level introduction to physics.

[ILoveMondeo]

I read Particle Physics a very short introduction, it's good, even if I did have to re-read chapters a few times and my brain was hurting!

There several "very short introduction" books, I also read the cosmology one which is just as good.

I enjoyed having my brain fried so much I also got them as audio books for the ipod.

[FeatherZ]

hairykrishna said:

If you really want to get back into learning physics you want a copy of the Feynman lectures. I know they're older than 10 years and it's a lot of material but there really has never been a better undergrad level introduction to physics.

Just been watching some Feynman lectures on youtube, black and white must have been just after WW2.

[andy_s]

I've read Hawkins, 'Brief History of Time' & 'Grand Design'; Cox & Forshaw, 'Why does E=mc2?'; all good.

I'd say the Cox/Forshaw 'E=mc2' is the more accessible but a good primer for going on to more involved and detailed reading. It's a good 'round-up' imo, and gives a taste of the maths involved.

[miss10penceshort]

The Fabric of the Cosmos by Brian Greene is well worth a read imo.

[jbudgie]

Most Marcus Chown or Brian Greene books are worth a read.

[don4l]

I've read a few books. Some of them have been briliant. Feynyam is brilliant.

I bought "Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics". Bloody hell, you really would need a personal tutor to guide you through this book.

I then purchased "In quest of the Universe" by Karl F. Kuhn and Theo Koupelis. This was an easy read. It did give mathemathical formulae, but it put them in seperate boxes. In other words, it explained things in a way that didn't mean that you needed to understand complicated maths.

I would recommend "In Quest of the Universe" to the OP. It is a "Text Book", but it is very easy to read.

If you are interested in astronomy, then I would recommend the Philip's "Complete Guide to Stargazing" by Robin Scagell.

You can find all of these on Amazon.

Don
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[Farmerlad]

Bought a book on Einsteins theory of relativity by signiture press. Very heavy reading but a very good book indeed

[K12beano]

For light reading: Hair of the Dog by Karl Sabbagh

and

Quantum: Einstein, Bohr, and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality by Manjit Kumar - very entertaining read.

[DayTrader]

Tim330 said:

If it's for getting back into it this would be a good introduction

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0750305606/ref=...

I have a signed copy from University in 2001, the author has done a few BBC4 documentaries.

Edited by Tim330 on Tuesday 10th January 20:10

Thanks for the link - may take a look at this one

[Snoggledog]

Thinking Physics: Understandable Practical Reality by Lewis Carroll Epstein
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character) by Richard Feynman

Come to that most of the Feynman books are a good read apart from the 'lectures' which require a degree to understand.

[shoggoth1]

Another Richard P. Feynman:

Six Easy Pieces.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Six-Easy-Pieces-Fundamenta...

[FeatherZ]

I just bought E=mc2 Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw, looks like it will be more mathmatic than A Brief History Of Time which is what I want.

[Simpo Two]

RacerMDR said:

i've heard a guy called I. Newton wrote some good stuff. Might be slightly out of date now.....you should look him up

A copy of Principia would be rather nice to have!

[tank slapper]

If you want to read it, it is here. Not worth quite as much as a first edition though.

[Zad]

If you want to learn more about the history of electrical science:

Michael Faraday's Experimental Researches in Electricity
http://books.google.co.uk/books/reader?id=EfsWAAAA...
(Surprisingly readable in comparison to Newton)

[TheHeretic]

Not books, per say, but the new iTunes U has been released, and looking earlier they have a great deal of free course material from universities all over. Video of lectures, course notes, transcripts, etc. some folks might find it interesting, and useful.

[Schmeeky]

TheHeretic said:

carmonk said:

QED - Richard Feynman. Sounds boring but is amazing, if short

The Elegant Universe - Brian Greene

On that note, and not a physics book, but by Feynman anyway;

"You must be joking, Mr. Feynman". Superb read!

And "What do you care what other people think?" Feynman was an absolutely fascinating person, the anecdotes about him are terrific!

And a big +1 for 'The Elegant Universe'