hockeyfan70 Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Anyone have a list? I've been reading Origins by Neil DeGrasse Tyson and it's really good. I've always been interested in this subject, and now I would like to read more books that approach it from a scientific point of view instead of a Christian point of view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator TABA Posted April 25, 2016 Moderator Share Posted April 25, 2016 I really like anything from Professor Brian Cox (an English dude). I bought a couple of his TV series: Wonders of the Solar System and Wonders of the Universe. They're available on iTunes and Amazon Video; not on Netflix yet, unfortunately. They're also in book form. Here's his Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Brian-Cox/e/B001V8J074 The TV shows are very well done, beautiful as well as informative. You probably know that Netflix has a ton of documentaries, and they're always adding stuff. One totally free resource is the boatload of NOVA episodes (currently 140) that you can watch at http://www.pbs.org/show/nova/ or through the PBS smartphone/tablet app. Television doesn't get any better than NOVA, IMHO! Excerpt football of course... You'll probably want to read Stephen Hawking. I read The Grand Design, where he satisfies himself that the universe didn't need a creator. A bit (like, a lot) over my head, but worth reading. I did almost toss it aside when he claimed on page 1 that "Philosophy is Dead", but I stuck with it. Another best-seller (which I have not read yet) is A Universe from Nothing, by Lawrence M. Krauss. That should get you started. I hope you'll share some of your reading/viewing experiences with us all. And I hope you had a good weekend, my friend. I've been under the weather, but I'll survive to avoid Hell for a while longer, I think... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bornagainathiest Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Anyone have a list? I've been reading Origins by Neil DeGrasse Tyson and it's really good. I've always been interested in this subject, and now I would like to read more books that approach it from a scientific point of view instead of a Christian point of view. Good for you, HF! But perhaps you could help us to help you by explaining where your understanding of these things is at right now? That way we can target your needs more specifically. Thanks, BAA. p.s. Btw, please don't begin with Stephen Hawking's, "A Brief History of Time". http://www.amazon.com/Brief-History-Time-Stephen-Hawking/dp/0553380168 I got a great deal out of it, but I had decades of astronomical and cosmological reading already under my belt before I tackled it. The ads claim that it can be easily read by any average joe - but it's also got a reputation for being the most widely purchased popular science book that it's readers have given up on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogueScholar Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 For a lay person interested in the universe, I highly recommend "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson. While the book is a bit dated (2004), most of it is still relevant and it makes for an easy to digest trek through the universe and its components, big and small. I highly recommend the audio format if you do any commuting. http://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Nearly-Everything/dp/076790818X 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator TABA Posted April 25, 2016 Moderator Share Posted April 25, 2016 I definitely second Rogue's recommendation of Bryson's book. It covers a huge range and is very readable if you're at all curious about stuff... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjn Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 For a lay person interested in the universe, I highly recommend "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson. While the book is a bit dated (2004), most of it is still relevant and it makes for an easy to digest trek through the universe and its components, big and small. I highly recommend the audio format if you do any commuting. http://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Nearly-Everything/dp/076790818X I started to read that one years ago but for some reason I put it away, so I haven't finished it. I'll see if I can find it somewhere in the mess I call home and give it another go. Highly recommended for lay people like me. Informative, entertaining and well written. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyfan70 Posted April 25, 2016 Author Share Posted April 25, 2016 My library has it. In related news, I love my library. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdelsolray Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 For astronomy, I would suggest a basic college level Astronomy 101 textbook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
older Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 The original Cosmos by Carl Sagan. And for something a little different, the history of the Palomar telescope: The Perfect Machine, by Ronald Florence. Both of these should be in a good public library. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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