Here you will find reviews of books about physics, physicists, or the general study of science. These will mostly be historical or educational in nature, although the occasional fiction or humorous book might slip in, if it's appropriate.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is the story of William Kamkwambe's successful efforts to build a windmill for his village, believing that scientific innovation can usurp mysticism and hopelessness.
The authors of Unscientific America attempt to address the growing disconnect between the scientific community and the rest of American society and present ways that scientists can reach out, to help Americans realize the impact that science has on every aspect of public policy.
These books cover a range of basic physics concepts and are useful as a supplement to an introductory physics course, or to self-teach yourself physics concepts.
Most movies do a very bad job at representing physics, but sometimes a movie or television show can be used to teach real-world physics lessons. The following books are some examples of how to analyze a show to gain such lessons, even if the show itself involves a world where the laws of science are not the most important ones.
Albert Einstein is one of the most compelling figures in all of physics, and there are a wide range of books that explore his life and scientific achievements. This list, by no means comprehensive, demonstrates some intriguing resources for learning more about Albert Einstein.
You learn science by exploring the world around you, and these books offer some structured experiments that help you begin looking through the world. Many of these books are great for kids of various ages, including adults.
In this book, James Trefil - co-author of the
Dictionary of Cultural Literacy - makes a strong case for the need for scientific literacy in American society (and indeed in all societies). At the same time, he puts this need in perspective, making clear parameters about what everyone needs to know, as opposed to turning everyone into miniature scientists.
Alan Lightman is well known for having transitioned from the field of physics to that of literature. His literature is heavily informed, however, by science, as is made clear in this collection of essays ranging from biographical looks at famous physicists to intimate looks at the very personal nature of science itself.
Your faithful Physics Guide reviews the book
Electric Universe: The Shocking True Story of Electricity by David Bodanis, winner of the Royal Society's 2006 Aventis prize for best popular science book.
A review of
Brainteaser Physics: Challenging Physics Puzzlers by Goran Grimvall which ... well, the name pretty much says it all.
