Smartify Me

Alright kids, I'm feelin' dumb. Anybody out there wanna recommend books that are related to the sciences (eg. math, biology, chemistry...fuck, I'll even take a good history book) without the hard science in it? (Think "A Brief History of Time" or "The Selfish Gene" as the high water mark that I've reached so far)

As added incentive, I'll buy you alcohol if my IQ jumps a point. Sound good? Good!

IQ is not based on accumulation of Knowledge.

Instant Physics by Tony Rothman will teach you everything you will ever need to know about every mechanical science. And it does so with humor, approachability, and in under 300 easy to read pages.

have you considered the "..for dummies" series?

plato's the republic, and aristotle as well, for an argument against some of plato's more aggressive social stances.

Well then I guess it's a good thing that I'm asking this question! So MAKE WITH THE SMARTIFYING ALREDDDY

God, you make me feel Optimustic about the world.

One of my favorites



Also worth a read, Michio Kaku's Hyperspace.

[Edited on Sep 16, 2005 by AceTracer]

I thought you were just trying to be clever and con people with promise of free booze that they could not ever get.

get a grip on physics

i've read it, and enjoyed it.

No no, if I genuinely do become smarter (like, even a little. Just...you know, like I make an intelligent comment or something! Or even something resembling analytical thinking!), then I'll come through on the booze. I need a cheap excuse to visit the States anyways....vacation time is coming up!

A Brief History of Pi by Petr Beckmann.

'Cause the history of pi is the history of mathematics, science, engineering, architecture, and a bunch of other stuff all rolled into one.

Another book that stuck with me for years...

Mathematics, a very short Introduction, by Timothy Gowers.

Gribbin Gribbing is a good demystifier without dumbing stuff down too much.

He has a number of good books.

Edited for spellingtardness.

[Edited on Sep 16, 2005 by TheFuckOffKid]

The Geography of Time

Gribbin's pop sci books can be very hit or miss. Unveiling the Edge of Time sucked.

Same can be said for a number of the people mentioned so far though, and add Paul Davies to that list.

"Guns, Germs and Steel:The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared Diamond. It's supposed to be really good. I need to read it myself.

[Edited on Sep 15, 2005 by kkimberlin79]

[Edited on Sep 16, 2005 by kkimberlin79]

Don't be hatin' on my pi book.

I haven't read that one. Why did it suck?

Try Dava Sobel she is a pretty good Author of Non-Fiction.

[Edited on Sep 15, 2005 by Keith]

The New Brain by Richard M. Restak, MD

I'm a big fan of these sorts of compilations of history. Great if you want to be an educated person, but not necessarily an *expert* in any one specific area. I like to read books that give me the ability to have an informed conversation with pretty much anybody.