***Sci Forum Book Recommendations***

Discussion in 'Sci Reviews' started by Nin', Oct 4, 2008.

  1. Nin' Registered Member

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    90
    Hello,

    I'm looking for some book recommendations as the title of this thread suggests. I would prefer non-fiction books in the categories of Science, Philosophy, Politics, History, or anything that you feel can expand the mind. Any recommendations would be highly appreciated.

    Thanks

    (PS. Sorry if this made it into the wrong section of the forum)
     
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  3. 11parcal Saint of Cynicism Registered Senior Member

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    I would suggest The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins.
     
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  5. Nin' Registered Member

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    90
    Good read, but I've already read that one. I'm currently reading The Selfish Gene and enjoying it. I'll probably end up buying other books by Dawkins as well, since I find his writing style pretty entertaining.
     
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  7. Norsefire Salam Shalom Salom Registered Senior Member

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    11,529
    Except that he's an asshole


    Read "Mein Kampf", I'm going to buy it, it looks very interesting

    Or the Analects of Confucius
     
  8. Nin' Registered Member

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    Yeah, could you demonstrate that for me? I must have missed the parts where Dawkins was an asshole.
     
  9. skaught The field its covered in blood Valued Senior Member

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    I would highly recommend "Hyperspace" by Michio Kaku. Talks a lot about higher dimensions, quantum physics, and how it is easier to come up with a GUT in higher dimensions. Definitely a mind expanding read.
     
  10. Norsefire Salam Shalom Salom Registered Senior Member

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    He's disrespectful


    Skaught, excellent suggestion. I myself am a big fan of Kaku but I haven't read any of his books...definitely picking them up soon
     
  11. skaught The field its covered in blood Valued Senior Member

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    Oh I think you would like them. Hyperspace is probably my favorite. Parellel worlds is also very good. I like his books cause I really am a layman as far as quantum/astro physics is concerned, but he really is good at gearing them towards that kind of croud and making it seem like its something that anyone could learn. Let me know if you read anything by him.
     
  12. Norsefire Salam Shalom Salom Registered Senior Member

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    I agree with you there; I watch many television presentations by him and he is actually easy to understand and effectively communicates the science so that anyone, even a commoner like myself, can understand

    That's why I like him instead of super technical and confusing people

    And yup, I will; which of his books deal with parallel universe and time travel?
     
  13. skaught The field its covered in blood Valued Senior Member

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    Both Hyperspace and parellel worlds deal with time travel. Hyperspace much more so. Parellel Worlds is all about parellel universes. I haven't read any of his other books cover to cover. I would say that so far Hyperspace is his best. It has a lot of refertences to science fiction novels, it has many illustrations, it often shows how physics has influenced the world of art. Great book, I can't talk it up enough. I've read it 4 times!
     
  14. GeoffP Caput gerat lupinum Valued Senior Member

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    It's true, he and his deplorable wife are both utter assholes on it.

    "The Greatest Traitor", by Ian Mortimer - not bad, covers the 1310-1330 period of Edward I-III and Roger Mortimer
     
  15. Challenger78 Valued Senior Member

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    I suggest, some modern current affair reading: Fiasco, by Thomas Ricks

    Or:
    The leader by Guy Walters, Which is an Alternate history thriller.
     
  16. Nin' Registered Member

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    I'm actually pretty surprised that more people haven't jumped on this thread. Come on guys, share your thoughts on some great books you've read.
     
  17. phlogistician Banned Banned

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    Why should he show respect to cruel, anachronistic belief systems?
     
  18. scott3x Banned Banned

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    I greatly admired Richard Dawkins' book "The Selfish Gene" and went back for his last chapter in his second edition (Good guys finish first). However, I believe that when it comes to his views on religion, he actually has an element that is truly ironic. He seems to me to be just as intolerant as some religious fundamentalists; his intolerance isn't to the idea of God as this or that, however, but that God doesn't exist at all. In my view, he is dead set on the idea that God can only exist the way fundamentalists see God and since he can't believe in such a God (neither can I), then God can't exist. Personally, I solve the problem by defining God as everything or Good (it's just an 'o' away after all). Virtually everyone if not everyone believes in everything and ditto for good (Dawkins certainly believes that evolution generally favours good over time especially because certain groups can become isolated at times). To me, I dislike the concept of devil, but I can believe in bad, inneficient things, or 'evil' (removal of the 'd'), which, like Dawkins, I believe are constantly being culled out of things (however, there is just so -many- ways to have inneficient or 'evil' things; deception plays a big part in it).
     
  19. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

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  20. Blandnuts Registered Senior Member

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    I also suggest the Hyperspace book. My other one would be "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance".
     
  21. PsychoticEpisode It is very dry in here today Valued Senior Member

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    Blandnuts? Unusual Username but kind of cool. Like opening a can of Planter's Mixed and finding 99% peanuts.

    Someone should write a book on the psychology of Usernames or has it been done?
     
  22. Challenger78 Valued Senior Member

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    The confessions of an economic hitman.
     
  23. kmguru Staff Member

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    To expand your mind try these two...one is very hard.

    1. How the Mind Works - Steven Pinker
    2. A new kind of science - Stephen Wolfram
     

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