Recommend me a book

Jack21222

As part of an award I won from my physics department, I get a free physics-related book of my choosing, with a 50 dollar or so maximum price.

I'd like to get a fairly technical book, on the level of a junior or senior physics undergraduate, but not as dry as a textbook.

Some areas of interest are cosmology and astrophysics, particle physics, and atmospheric physics.

While the book has to be under 50 dollars, I'd feel like it was a waste of a freebie if the book is under 20 dollars.

Any books that meet these criteria?

Nano-Passion

Congrats, what was the award based on?

I've read a few books, just my two cents on the book I am reading right now: "The Trouble With Physics," by Lee Smolin is a pretty good book and it opens your eyes to the big problems of modern physics (and how we might be able to overcome it).

Very, very good book.

Jack21222

Given by the department based on criteria such as GPA, being active in the department, etc. Basically a reward for being the biggest teacher's pet.

I can get that book on Amazon for under 10 dollars, so I feel like that'd be a waste of a free book, though I'll consider buying that myself.

I suspect I'm going to end up with a long wishlist of physics books that I can buy myself from this thread and from searching on my own, but I'm hoping to stumble upon a fairly expensive book (in the range of 40-50 dollars) to use my reward on.

I often see books like that in the back section of Physics Today, but I don't have any issues handy.

Nano-Passion

I apologize I meant "The trouble With Physics" not "the end of physics."

Good job and congrats :D, is it personal if I ask what your gpa was to permit you the award. And how were you active in the department, what things did you do?

How far are you in your education?

^^ Just me being curious and interested.

Hmm, I don't know about expensive books because I'm a cheapo myself but maybe this can help you.

http://www.amazon.com/best-physics-b.../13XQ7BUZB1DI3

mathwonk

do you have road to reality?

http://www.amazon.com/Road-Reality-C.../dp/0679454438

Jack21222

Ooh, that looks like a good one. That's at the top of my list currently.