A lot of things in a nutshell type of book

  • Thread starter Thread starter medwatt
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Book Type
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding a book that provides a broad overview of various scientific fields, including physics, mathematics, chemistry, and medicine, without delving into excessive detail. Participants explore the challenges of identifying such a book and share recommendations while debating the feasibility of a single comprehensive resource.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks a book that covers multiple scientific disciplines in an accessible manner.
  • Another suggests "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson, but notes it focuses more on historical aspects rather than contemporary ideas.
  • Some participants argue that a single book covering all requested topics may not exist, while others believe there are many books that could collectively meet the OP's needs.
  • Concerns are raised about the depth of understanding provided by such books, with some asserting that they offer only a superficial overview.
  • Participants mention specific titles like "The World Within The World" by John Barrow and works by George Gamov and John Gribbin as potentially useful resources.
  • There is a discussion about the interpretation of the OP's request, with some believing it implies a desire for one comprehensive book, while others argue it could mean any number of books that cover various topics.
  • Some participants highlight the existence of books that cover broad scientific concepts, such as "The Princeton Companion to Mathematics" and texts on nonlinear dynamics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether a single book can adequately cover the diverse scientific topics requested by the OP. There are competing views on the nature and availability of such resources, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to fulfilling the OP's request.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the depth of knowledge that can be gained from general science books, noting that understanding complex topics often requires more specialized texts. The discussion also reflects differing interpretations of the OP's request, which may affect the recommendations provided.

medwatt
Messages
122
Reaction score
0
Hello,
I have been trying to locate any sort of book which edifies one on different aspects of science without having to go into great detail; a book which anyone from the sciences will be able to read and understand.
I know that there are encyclopedias lying everywhere but you first have to know what you're looking for before you can find it; hence the thread.
A book that has information from physics and maths to chemistry and medicine.
If anyone has ever encountered such a book, please recommend it.
Thank you.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Have you looked at "A short history of nearly everything" by Bill Bryson? Amazon link
 
I've checked the TOC. It seems to concentrate more on "ancient" things rather than contemporary ideas. Most of us are already familiar with origin/formation of the Earth and evolution from popular media content and documentaries.
What I want is a book that contains information from motley fields which are most likely specific to a particular field. Take for example, the butterfly effect which someone from the medical field might not be cognizant of.
 
There are many good "about" science books out there. Try George Gamov and John Gribbin both good reads and very informational.
 
"The World Within The World" by John Barrow
 
No I believe you are mistaken.
It says, and I quote, "...without having to go into great detail...".
To me that means he wants some detail. But to give some detail on a lot of topics, one gets a huge book.

For example in the book they describe the effect of superconductivity. But to understand that fully, you need quite some quantum theory (field or mechanics not sure atm). I mean I've had a very simple undergraduate course in solid state physics where superconductivity was treated but we used so many ad hoc arguments it was hard to grasp some of the essential concepts about the "why?".

I believe that's more or less Evo's take on the question. (Correct me if I'm wrong Evo)
 
I do not think that there is any ONE book that will satisfy the OP. There are however a myriad of books that could help him. You will not learn any real science in these books but can get a historic overview with a fair amount of hand waving.

Evo, I think you did miss the mark on this one.
 
Integral said:
You will not learn any real science in these books

I respectfully disagree. John Barrow's book has in my opinion a great deal of real, hard, empirical science that one could obtain much scientific knowledge about the Universe we live in.
 
  • #10
Integral said:
I do not think that there is any ONE book that will satisfy the OP. There are however a myriad of books that could help him. You will not learn any real science in these books but can get a historic overview with a fair amount of hand waving.

Evo, I think you did miss the mark on this one.
You just agreed with me, there isn't a single book that covers all of those topics. He's asking for ONE book.
 
Last edited:
  • #11
Evo said:
The reason books like that would make no sense is explained in this thread.

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=719282

This sure is an authoritative response, and one that I personally believe is wrong. The OP is looking for "... any sort of book which edifies one on different aspects of science without having to go into great detail...". The OP is not looking for only ONE book which teaches about EVERYTHING, but presumably any or all books which teach one about many things. I am sure there are plenty of books with broad coverage of science, and which go into deep and diverse enough detail to satisfy the OP.

Off the mark indeed. For the sake of this forum, I hope posts are not being deleted simply because a moderator's opinion differs from the poster. I thought physics forums was above this sort of thing.
 
  • #12
ZombieFeynman said:
This sure is an authoritative response, and one that I personally believe is wrong. The OP is looking for "... any sort of book which edifies one on different aspects of science without having to go into great detail...". The OP is not looking for only ONE book which teaches about EVERYTHING, but presumably any or all books which teach one about many things. I am sure there are plenty of books with broad coverage of science, and which go into deep and diverse enough detail to satisfy the OP.

Off the mark indeed. For the sake of this forum, I hope posts are not being deleted simply because a moderator's opinion differs from the poster. I thought physics forums was above this sort of thing.
No, the OP *is* asking for ONE book that covers multiple science categories for people in science, not for laymen.

And no, the member complaining is trolling me because I had deleted their sockpuppet.
 
  • #13
ZombieFeynman said:
This sure is an authoritative response, and one that I personally believe is wrong. The OP is looking for "... any sort of book which edifies one on different aspects of science without having to go into great detail...". The OP is not looking for only ONE book which teaches about EVERYTHING, but presumably any or all books which teach one about many things. I am sure there are plenty of books with broad coverage of science, and which go into deep and diverse enough detail to satisfy the OP.

To be fair, the OP did say "A book" a couple of times in his first post. That can be interpreted as looking for a single book. It would be good if the OP could clarify so that we can focus the discussion better.
 
  • #14
Evo said:
No, the OP *is* asking for ONE book that covers multiple science categories for people in science, not for laymen.

And no, the member complaining is trolling me because I had deleted their sockpuppet.

The OP merely said "that someone from the sciences WILL BE ABLE to read and understand", he did not say that "ONLY that someone from the sciences will be...".

I think you are focusing on semantics and are largely ignoring the more nuanced question at hand.
 
  • #15
These sorts of books *DO* exist in some forms or others. The Princeton Companion to Mathematics authoritatively covers nearly all of modern mathematics in a satisfying level of detail for me (an armchair mathematician). Books like Steven Strogatz's Nonlinear Dynamics text shows how chaos and nonlinear behavior is ubiquitous throughout the sciences. Bryson's aforementioned books are very good. These are off the top of my head and I am confident there are more examples.

In my opinion, the deviation from the ideal "one book for everything" is in degree, not in kind.
 
  • #16
ZombieFeynman said:
The OP merely said "that someone from the sciences WILL BE ABLE to read and understand", he did not say that "ONLY that someone from the sciences will be...".

I think you are focusing on semantics and are largely ignoring the more nuanced question at hand.
Then the Op can clarify if he wants to expand the criteria. I was simply giving an example of how many areas of specialties there are to even one category of science, such as biology. If you read what's discussed in the thread I linked it should be self explanatory of just how much even one field of science covers.
 
Last edited:
  • #17
ZombieFeynman said:
These sorts of books *DO* exist in some forms or others. The Princeton Companion to Mathematics authoritatively covers nearly all of modern mathematics in a satisfying level of detail for me (an armchair mathematician). Books like Steven Strogatz's Nonlinear Dynamics text shows how chaos and nonlinear behavior is ubiquitous throughout the sciences. Bryson's aforementioned books are very good. These are off the top of my head and I am confident there are more examples.

In my opinion, the deviation from the ideal "one book for everything" is in degree, not in kind.
No one is arguing that many great books exist that cover certain areas, that was the point that I was making. That's not what the OP was asking though.
 
  • #18
Rick, please take this off-topic conversation to PMs.
 
  • #19
The thread can be reopened after it's clear it can stay on topic.
 
Last edited:
  • #20
@medwatt -- If you'd like this thread re-opened, please PM me. Thanks.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: 1 person

Similar threads

Suggestions for HS geometry book (proofs)
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
4K
Intro Math A book for a fast introduction to modern math?
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
5K
Quantum Looking for a Quantum Mechanics Book for Non-Physicists?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Book on how to define ideas rigorously
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Other Advice on books for logic puzzle questions for software engineers
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Relativity Studying Modern Physics, need book recommendations
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
6K
Other What are some sources of recommendations for Math books?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Classical Possible error in book (Thermodynamics: An engineering approach)
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
Calculus Differential Equations book recommendations
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
5K
Astronomy Telescope Books: Guide to Different Types & Physical Approach
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K