Read more
Get into more detail on the subjects you’ve read about with my recommendations for further reading.
Inevitably there is only so much that can be covered in a compact book. Sometimes you get a taster for a subject and want to read more. These are all books I’ve read and have found helpful in exploring the subject matter in greater depth. They are arranged by topic within chapter. Click the picture to see a detailed review and Amazon links.
If you have any recommendations for further reading, drop me an email at brian@brianclegg.net
If you have any recommendations for further reading, drop me an email at brian@brianclegg.net
A SINGLE HAIR
Human hairlessness
The Eternal Child - theory of how we become more like an infant to be able to survive in large group, resulting in losing much of our body hair.
Atoms
Atom - a good mix of biography and science as we follow the trail to discover just what atoms are.
Atoms
The Fly in the Cathedral - brilliant story of the race to crack open and understand the atomic nucleus.
Temperature
Einstein's Refrigerator - (careful, there's another book of that name, and Segre's book is A Matter of Degrees in the US), it's an excellent exploration of temperature, heat and cold.
Matter and energy
Why does E=mc2 - getting from relativity to this famous equation isn't trivial. A little heavy in places, but very informative.
Antimatter
Antimatter - intriguing guide to antimatter: what it is, how it's made and how it's unlikely to be a serious component of a weapon.
String theory
The Trouble with Physics - exploration of the problems with string theory and how it may not even be science.
LOCKED UP IN A CELL
DNA
The Double Helix - personal account of the discovery of the structure of DNA from one of those involved. A great story, if subjective.
DNA
Genome - excellent exploration of the human genome, each chapter featuring a gene from one of the chromosomes. Very approachable.
Bacteria
Microcosm - fascinating study of the E. coli bacterium with lessons for the understanding of life, and our attitude to human genetic info.
Bacteria
Viruses versus Superbugs - an intriguing look at one alternative to antibiotics: using predatory viruses, to save us from killer bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
Mitochondria
Power, Sex, Suicide - sounds like a political thriller, but it is in fact a fascinating exploration of the role of mitochondria.
Parasites, bacteria
The Wild Life of our Bodies - an exploration of the way predators, parasites and partners have shaped who we are.
Neutrinos
Neutrino - small book on the hunt for these elusive particles that caused major headlines in 2011
THROUGH FRESH EYES
Light
Light Years - the history of humanity's fascination with light from the earliest explanations to the latest theories.
The Big Bang
Big Bang - although a little dated on the alternatives to big bang, an excellent description of the origin of the theory and why it has so much support.
The Big Bang
Before the Big Bang - an exploration of how the universe began, looking at the big bang and alternatives (and if there can be a 'before').
Astronomy
A Grand and Bold Thing - wonderfully told story of the effort to produce the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and how it has transformed astronomy.
Cosmology
The Fabric of the Cosmos - great exploration of the nature of space, time and matter, starting with relativity and quantum theory.
Cosmology
From Eternity to Here - the book A Brief History of Time should have been - really does explore the nature of time in the context of cosmology.
Cosmology
The 4% Universe - a useful and detailed history of the discovery of the existence of dark matter and dark energy, which make up around 96 percent of the universe.
Cosmology
Afterglow of Creation - intriguing detective story, tracking back from the cosmic background radiation to the big bang.
Quantum theory
The Quantum Age - an introduction to quantum physics, intertwined with an exploration of the remarkable ways quantum science has changed our lives from computing to MRI scanners and levitating trains.
Quantum theory
Quantum Theory Cannot Hurt You - called The Quantum Zoo in the US, the best basic explanation of what quantum theory is all about.
Quantum theory
The God Effect - the mind boggling quantum entanglement explained, with plenty on the applications from unbreakable encryption to matter transmitters.
Alien life
Goldilocks and the Water Bears - an exploration of astrobiology. Not without its faults, but worth a look.
MARCHING ON THE STOMACH
Chemistry
The Disappearing Spoon - entertaining romp through the chemical elements. Kean lumps together rwonderful rambling tales of their discovery and use.
Chemistry
30-Second Elements - a tour of the chemical elements in 50 short articles - a mix of good basics and fascinating factoids.
Aspirin
Aspirin - the story of aspirin from quinine substitute to heard medicine. Excellent background and genuinely fascinating.
FEELING DIZZY
Electricity
Electric Universe - excellent as a teen introduction to the wonders of electricity. Some adults may find it a bit gushing, but otherwise fine.
Gravity
Gravity - an in-depth but approachable exploration of gravity, general relativity, quantum gravity, anti-gravity and more.
Time Travel
Build Your Own Time Machine (How to Build a Time Machine in the US) - the real science of time travel explained.
TWO BY TWO
Genetics
The Selfish Gene - although predating many of the discoveries in epigenetics, still an excellent introduction to evolutionary genetics.
Genetics
Not a Chimp - convincing exploration of the very real differences between humans and chimps, overlooked by simply comparing the genes.
Epigenetics
The Epigenetics Revolution - insightful explanation of the way that genes and DNA are just the starting point with epigenetics providing much of what makes us human.
Dogs
If Dogs could Talk - real eye-opener on the nature and sophistication of the mind of a very familiar creature: the dog.
Cloning
After Dolly - excellent combination of a history of Dolly the sheep with an exploration of cloning.
Mutants
Mutants - truly remarkable book that uses human mutation to explain how we are all formed while avoiding the voyeurism of the freak show.
A MIND OF ITS OWN
Probability and statistics
Dice World - a fascinating exploration of the way that probability and randomness has an influence on our everyday lives.
Probability and statistics
The Tiger that Isn't - brilliant excursion into the way we misuse and misunderstand numbers and statistics, and how to see around our probability blindness.
The brain: getting things wrong
The Invisible Gorilla - why perception lets us down, from the devisors of the basketball video, the asking directions experiment and more.
The brain: getting things wrong
A Mind of its Own – short and very readable introduction to the many ways our brains deceive us, illustrated throughout by psychological experiments
The brain: getting things wrong
Brain Bugs - entertaining exploration of the brain, finding out more about it from its failings.
The mind and brain
Incognito - hugely readable exploration of the way our brains handle sensory input and make decisions, showing how (relatively) little influence the conscious mind has.
Artificial intelligence
The Most Human Human - the author examines what makes us human as he becomes one of the test subjects in a human versus computer Turing test.
Memory
In Search of Memory - excellent account of the work of Nobel Prize winner Kandel, putting his studies of the cellular nature of memory in the context of his life.
Placebos and alternative medicine
Trick or Treatment - superb analysis of alternative medicine showing how the early trials often quoted by supporters were often unscientific, and new data prove most to be no different from placebos.
Brain and health
Science for Life - cuts through the vast swathes of claims in the newspapers on whats good and bad for you to present the best scientific evidence, from health and diet to exercise and brain work.
Codes and ciphers
The Code Book - the development of codes and ciphers through the ages with lots of historical context and interest.
MIRROR, MIRROR
Evolution
Written in Stone - excellent exploration of how our understanding of fossils has developed over time and why science thinks the things it does about the development of animals on Earth.
Evolution
The Autobiography - not at all stuffy and Victorian: this short book gives a fascinating insight into Darwin as a human being.
Evolution
Why Evolution is True - a persuasive and plain-spoken summary of the evidence for evolution by natural selection.
Evolution
The Accidental Species - a fascinating and highly readable explanation of the difficulties of tracing the origins of the human species.
