12 Books recommended by Neil deGrasse Tyson
Neil deGrasse Tyson (US: or UK: ;
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Book Recommendations
One Two Three . . . Infinity
One Two Three . . . Infinity
George Gamow
Over 120 delightful pen-and-ink illustrations by the author add another dimension of good-natured charm to these wide-ranging explorations. a mind-expanding volume for the layman and the science-minded. "this is a layman's book as readable as a historical novel, but every chapter bears the solid imprint of authoritative research." — san francisco chronicle.
“The single most influential book on my budding scientific mind.”
Apr 20, 2020 — Source
Gulliver's Travels
Gulliver's Travels
Jonathan Swift,Robert DeMaria Jr.
FictionGulliver's travels describes the four voyages of lemuel gulliver, a ship's surgeon. in lilliput he discovers a world in miniature; towering over the people and their city, he is able to view their society from the viewpoint of a god. however, in brobdingnag, a land of giants, tiny gulliver himself comes under observation, exhibited as a curiosity at markets and fairs. in laputa, a flying island, he encounters a society of speculators and projectors who have lost all grip on everyday reality; while they plan and calculate, their country lies
“to learn, among other satirical lessons, that most of the time humans are Yahoos”
Dec 18, 2011 — Source
An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
Adam Smith,Edwin Cannan
Adam smith's masterpiece, first published in 1776, is the foundation of modern economic thought and remains the single most important account of the rise of, and the principles behind, modern capitalism. written in clear and incisive prose, the wealth of nations articulates the concepts indispensable to an understanding of contemporary society; and robert reich's introduction both clarifies smith's analyses and illuminates his overall relevance to the world in which we live. as reich writes, "smith's mind ranged over issues as fresh and topical today as they were in the late
“to learn that capitalism is an economy of greed, a force of nature unto itself”
Dec 18, 2011 — Source
Ptolemy's Almagest
Ptolemy's Almagest
G.J. Toomer,Hypatia,Owen Gingerich,Ptolemy,Theon of Alexandria
SciencePtolemy's almagest is one of the most influential scientific works in history. a masterpiece of technical exposition, it was the basic textbook of astronomy for more than a thousand years, and still is the main source for our knowledge of ancient astronomy. this translation, based on the standard greek text of heiberg, makes the work accessible to english readers in an intelligible and reliable form. it contains numerous corrections derived from medieval arabic translations and extensive footnotes that take account of the great progress in understanding the work made in
“That title is now the title that we now use for it because that's the form in which it was most remembered. In other words, it was the most widely distributed after it was preserved in Arabic and then re-translated back into Latin and English. Almagest just means the greatest.”
Oct 3, 2019 — Source
Bosnia
Bosnia
Noel Malcolm
MathematicsThis updated edition of noel malcolm's highly-acclaimed bosnia: a short history provides the reader with the most comprehensive narrative history of bosnia in the english language. malcolm examines the different religious and ethnic inhabitants of bosnia, a land of vast cultural upheaval where the empires of rome, charlemagne, the ottomans, and the austro-hungarians overlapped. clarifying the various myths that have clouded the modern understanding of bosnia's past, malcolm brings to light the true causes of the country's destruction. this expanded edition of bosnia includes a new epilogue by the author
“If you're collecting book names, another good book”
Oct 3, 2019 — Source
Ptolemy's Almagest
Ptolemy's Almagest
G.J. Toomer,Hypatia,Owen Gingerich,Ptolemy,Theon of Alexandria
Ptolemy's almagest is one of the most influential scientific works in history. a masterpiece of technical exposition, it was the basic textbook of astronomy for more than a thousand years, and still is the main source for our knowledge of ancient astronomy. this translation, based on the standard greek text of heiberg, makes the work accessible to english readers in an intelligible and reliable form. it contains numerous corrections derived from medieval arabic translations and extensive footnotes that take account of the great progress in understanding the work made in
“If you’re going to be wrong, at least be wrong in a way that stimulates further research, which is what that did.”
Oct 3, 2019 — Source
The Age of Reason
The Age of Reason
Thomas Paine
The age of reason represents the results of years of study and reflection by thomas paine on the place of religion in society.paine wrote: "of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst; every other species of tyranny is limited to the world we live in; but this attempts to stride beyond the grave, and seeks to pursue us into eternity."the cool rationale of paine's the age of reason influenced religious thinking throughout the world; and its pervasieve influence continues to the present day.
“To learn how the power of rational thought is the primary source of freedom in the world”
— Source
The Origin of Species
The Origin of Species
Charles Darwin
ScienceDarwin's theory of natural selection issued a profound challenge to orthodox thought and belief: no being or species has been specifically created; all are locked into a pitiless struggle for existence, with extinction looming for those not fitted for the task. yet the origin of species (1859) is also a humane and inspirational vision of ecological interrelatedness, revealing the complex mutual interdependencies between animal and plant life, climate and physical environment, and—by implication—within the human world. written for the general reader, in a style which combines the rigour of science
“To learn of our kinship with all other life on Earth”
— Source
Bad Science
Bad Science
Ben Goldacre
ScienceFull of spleen, this is a hilarious, invigorating and informative journey through the world of bad science. when dr ben goldacre saw someone on daytime tv dipping her feet in an 'aqua detox' footbath, releasing her toxins into the water, turning it brown, he thought he'd try the same at home. 'like some kind of johnny ball cum witchfinder general', using his girlfriend's barbie doll, he gently passed an electrical current through the warm salt water. it turned brown. in his words: 'before my very eyes, the world's first detox
“If it influenced you as much as you say then I’m going to check it out.”
Oct 3, 2019 — Source
Gödel, Escher, Bach
Gödel, Escher, Bach
Douglas R Hofstadter
PhilosophyDouglas hofstadter's book is concerned directly with the nature of “maps” or links between formal systems. however, according to hofstadter, the formal system that underlies all mental activity transcends the system that supports it. if life can grow out of the formal chemical substrate of the cell, if consciousness can emerge out of a formal system of firing neurons, then so too will computers attain human intelligence. gödel, escher, bach is a wonderful exploration of fascinating ideas at the heart of cognitive science: meaning, reduction, recursion, and much more.
“Good stuff there.”
Jun 4, 2020 — Source
