Non-Physics Books for Physicists?

[h0dgey84bc]

As the title says ^...Just trying to get some literary inspiration!

 

[ZapperZ]

"The Double Helix" by Watson and Crick, for historical reason.

"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" - for your own self-exploration

"Devil in the White City" - It is THE best non-fiction book that I've ever read. If you're a Chicagoan, or curious about the city, this is a book for you.

Zz.

 

[physics girl phd]

"The Double Helix" by Watson and Crick, for historical reason.

"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" - for your own self-exploration

"Devil in the White City" - It is THE best non-fiction book that I've ever read. If you're a Chicagoan, or curious about the city, this is a book for you.

Zz.

I second Devil in the White City. (Erik Larson)

About the time I read that I was also on a Simon Winchester kick:
The Professor and the Madman
The Map that Changed the World

 

[Gokul43201]

Not sure exactly what is meant by "non-physics", but you should check out The Second Creation by Crease & Mann - it's a fascinating read.

 

[Riogho]

The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan, if you're interested in fantasy.

If not, a good Grisham novel is always nice :D

 

[Integral]

The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan, if you're interested in fantasy.

If not, a good Grisham novel is always nice :D

Warning: The Wheel of Time series is more of a Romance novel with elements of fantasy. Read the first 3 and call it good.

I am currently working on the Camolud series by Jack Whyte. A bit long but has some good history.

 

[WarPhalange]

Some sort of chemistry or math book perhaps?

 

[bassplayer142]

Read biographies on musicians.

 

[chaoseverlasting]

If youre into fantasy, then check out the Eragon series. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintainence is brilliant. I just bought that book for my mom. Read Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. It THE best book I've read.

 

[Moridin]

Books that are not about physics?! Blasphemy!

Yeah, i like WoT, too bad about the author though.

 

[neu]

Razzle

 

[wolram]

CO2 and the sac by john bunion

 

[asdfggfdsa]

the foundation series is good.

 

[mgb_phys]

Neal stephenson- Cryptomnicon or if you have a spare month , The Baroque Cycle

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

If you've not read it you must read the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series.

 

[ice109]

lol no one reads classical literature anymore?

crime and punishment
david copperfield
pride and prejudice
don quixote

black literature?

black boy
uncle tom's cabin
autobiography malcom x

shakespeare?
dante?
goethe?

classics > *

but if you must read contemporary fiction then read:

lolita by nabokov

but read it very very slowly as the diction is exquisite and is to be savored.

 

[neu]

40+ ebony

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

lol no one reads classical literature anymore?
...
don quixote

I read Don Quixote recently. Not being familiar with the "history of knight errantry", the bible, or much of Spanish history I was unfortunately unable to understand most of the more intellectual material. That left me primarily with the toilet humour and slapstick which I did not much care for. It was tough going with lots of footnotes to read. Not a book I would recommend to anyone less than a bibliophile.

Dumas and Poe are my only real favourite classic writers. I think all of my others lived into the 20th century.

 

[Art]

I read Don Quixote recently. Not being familiar with the "history of knight errantry", the bible, or much of Spanish history I was unfortunately unable to understand most of the more intellectual material. That left me primarily with the toilet humour and slapstick which I did not much care for. It was tough going with lots of footnotes to read. Not a book I would recommend to anyone less than a bibliophile.

Dumas and Poe are my only real favourite classic writers. I think all of my others lived into the 20th century.

IMO the best book of that sort of genre would be John Bunyan's - The Pilgrim's Progress. Although written in the 17th C it is still very readable.

 

[chaoseverlasting]

I tried reading lolita. You're right, the book is brilliant where its prose is concerned, but after a point I just couldn't bring myself to pick it up. The matter it deals with disturbs me in a way I can't quite figure out. The initial parts were all right, but when they start touring america...

 

[ice109]

I tried reading lolita. You're right, the book is brilliant where its prose is concerned, but after a point I just couldn't bring myself to pick it up. The matter it deals with disturbs me in a way I can't quite figure out. The initial parts were all right, but when they start touring america...

you're insane