For any lover of recent astronomy history, or of Fred and his work this is a must.

For those who know little of the enigmatic Yorkshireman's  work both fact and fiction, and wish to get under the skin of a man who for 50 years was at the forefront of British and international astronomy, this is a great starting point.

Never reserved in his views, Fred argued that Diseases came from the sky! The Big Bang never occurred, and the role of the Astronomer Royal should be scrapped.

Fred Hoyle's Universe draws on previously confidential government documents, recently released personal correspondence and interviews with Hoyle's friends, colleagues and critics, as well as with Hoyle himself, to bring you the man, the science, and the scandal behind the genial and genteel facade of the most exciting period in the history of astronomy.

Over 400 fascinating pages., but if you don't like Hoyle and his thought, maybe this isn't for you.

With over 150 alphabetically arranged entries about key scientists, concepts, discoveries, technological innovations, and  institutions, the Oxford Guide to Physics and Astronomy traces the history of physics and astronomy from the middle ages to the present. The guide breaks down the methods and philosophies of physics and astronomy as well as the historical periods from which they emerged. Serving the casual and professional reader  alike, this book can be turned to for the answer to how scientists learned to measure the speed of light, or consulted for neat, careful summaries of topics as complicated as quantum field theory and as vast as the universe. The entries, each written by a noted scholar and edited by J. L. Heilbron,  reflect the most up-to-date research and discuss the applications of the scientific disciplines to the wider world of religion, law, war, art and literature. No other source on these two branches of science is as informative or as inviting. Thoroughly cross-referenced and accented by dozens of black and white illustrations, the Oxford Guide to Physics and Astronomy is the source to turn to for anyone looking for a quick explanation of alchemy, x-rays and any type of matter or energy in between.

A worthy addition to and Bookshelf,

This is a follow up to the superb Discovering the Universe (reviewed on page 1). and designed to be used in conjunction with the aforementioned book.

This book of 23 comprehensive lab activities offers exciting hands-on projects that utilize Starry Night™ Enthusiast and Deep Space Explorer™ software. Features of the projects in this manual include:
  # Clear presentation of ideas at Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels of astronomy
  # Interactive examination of the appearance and behaviour of astronomical objects
  #I Interspersed questions to help students focus their observations on particular concepts or theories
  # Exploration of the universe from locations that are inaccessible to us such as different hemispheres and other planets
  # Incorporates mathematical formulae and graphing to introduce students to the methods and methodology of science
   # Two introductory Tutorial exercises to augment the User's Manuals found on the Starry Night™ Enthusiast and Deep Space Explorer™ CD-ROM and introduce special features that are used throughout the exercises

PLEASE NOTE if you do not have Starry Night Enthusiast, you cannot use this book! so the price rapidly increases! the two books and starry night are not cheap, but make a superb learning aid, and certain universities such as the Langara College (http://www.langara.bc.ca/index.html) offer distance learning with these as the course text books.
 

Isaac Newton rose from a near illiterate family to become one of the towering intellects of science. Now, in this quick-paced, colourful biography, Gale E. Christianson paints an superb portrait of Newton and the times in which he lived.

We journey with Newton from his childhood in to his student days at Cambridge. The book brilliantly describes Newton's creation of the first working model of the reflecting telescope, which brought him to the attention of the Royal Society, and he further covers the eighteen months of intense labour that resulted in his Principia, arguably the most important scientific work ever published!

The book also explores Newton's less pleasant side, including his long, bitter feud with Robert Hooke and the underhanded way that Newton established his priority in the invention of calculus and tarnished Liebniz's reputation.

All in all a really good read, and a must for anyone interested in arguably Britain's finest physicists.

AMAZON, are taking advanced orders for this book.

We ask numerous questions of our expansive universe that would just as soon remain quiet; and patiently, one section at a time, we write our human view of the wonders of nature. It is called science, and it is a book everyone should read.

From subatomic particles to vast galaxies, the universe is ours to explore and to know: its matter, its interactions, its laws, its limitless surprises. Well illustrated with drawings and diagrams--perhaps no other science book for general readers uses diagrams so effectively -- Knowing takes us to the edge of modern science, allowing us to peer in further than we would have dreamed possible.

We Discover how an "unbiased" observer and a fixed speed of light, nothing else, conjure up E=mc2 and four-dimensional space-time. We also discover how Newton's universe of unwavering determination differs, not always, from Heisenberg's quantum universe of hazy uncertainty

This is a Superbly engaging tour covering the whole of modern science, from transgenic crops to quantum tangles, From Dinosaurs to El Nino. Written by one of the most experienced and best known names in science writing, it is also very reliable science. Arranged for convenience and quick reference as a collection of topics in alphabetical order, it is very different from any conventional encyclopaedia. Each topic tells a story, making the book eminently readable, in small chunks. Packed with information, yet carrying its immense learning lightly, this is a book that would appeal to anyone with the slightest interest in how the world works.

I think this book would make a great follow up to Bill Bryson's excellent 'Brief History of Everything' taking the reader on a second journey and expanding on the interest Bryson had stimulated.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this weighty tome!

Again what can I say that hasn't already been said about this best-selling dictionary. It contains over 9,000 entries on all aspects of science. It provides comprehensive coverage of biology (including human biology), chemistry, physics, the earth sciences, and astronomy. The entries are supported by plenty of  clear diagrams and illustrations, and is fully cross-referenced.

 Other features include short biographies of leading scientists, full page illustrated features on subjects such as the Solar System and Genetically Modified Organisms, and chronologies of specific scientific subjects including plastics, electronics, and cell biology.

Both concise and wide-ranging, this dictionary is an ideal handy reference work for students, and a great introduction for non-scientists.

Yet another bookshelf essential.

This fascinating new addition to the 'Oxford Dictionary of..' series  covers the relatively new world of space exploration and the technologies involved.

Containing over 2,500 entries it defines the terminology used in space exploration including such weird and wonderful terms as 'cherry picker' and 'burp firing'. All the entries are fully cross-referenced for ease of use, and important entries, such as the entry on the Apollo missions, are presented as detailed feature articles. In addition to it's main entries and definitions, the book contains links to over 250 websites, and a comprehensive history of space exploration. The entries are supported by over 50 photographs, illustrations and diagrams.

Written by a team of experts, and edited by Dr E. Julius Dasch, former manager of the NASA National Space Grant Program. This authoritative, comprehensive, and readable dictionary is essential reading for anyone interested in astronomy and space exploration.

Yet another bookshelf essential!