Science & Math Books on My Bookshelf

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Discussion Overview

Participants share and discuss the science and mathematics books they have on their bookshelves, covering a wide range of topics including physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and computer science. The discussion includes personal anecdotes about book collections and preferences, as well as specific titles and authors.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants list various science and math books they own, including titles like "Teach Yourself C++," "Chemistry: The Central Science," and "The Character of Physical Law."
  • Others mention large collections of books, with one participant claiming to own around 5,000 books, including hundreds of science/math titles.
  • Several participants express humor and surprise at the size of each other's collections, with comments about the weight of books and the potential for bookshelves to collapse.
  • Some participants discuss the inclusion of non-traditional science books, such as TV repair manuals and older textbooks, questioning what qualifies as a "science book."
  • Specific advanced topics are mentioned, such as mathematical neuroscience and models of neuronal networks, with one participant providing a brief overview of the book "Spiking Neurons."
  • Participants also share their desire to add certain books to their collections, including works by notable authors like Penrose and Hawking.
  • Medical and computer science books are also mentioned, indicating a broad interest in various STEM fields.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no clear consensus on what constitutes a "science book," with differing opinions on the inclusion of various titles. Participants generally agree on the value of their collections but express differing views on the types of books that should be included.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention that many of their books are older editions, which may limit their relevance or applicability in current contexts. There is also a noted diversity in the types of books shared, ranging from textbooks to popular science literature.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in building their own science and mathematics libraries, as well as those looking for recommendations on specific titles or authors in STEM fields.

  • #31
Danger said:
I don't know what the hell happened to it, but I had a book that I absolutely loved called 'Practical Everyday Chemistry'. I think that it was from the late 1800's or very early 1900's, and gave formulae and excellently detailed instructions for making everything from soap through horse medicine to fireworks and electroplating.
Got one of those too.
 
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  • #32
Gokul43201 said:
I've got one of those...it's older than me, and it's got neat cartoon pictures.
I think that the oldest one I have is 'radio and television receiver circuitry and operation' by Alfred A. Ghirardi and J. Richard Johnson (no caps in the title). It was published in '51. Even the newest ones are from the early 60's, and I have 7 or 8 of them.

Gokul43201 said:
Got one of those too.
What's your address? I'm going to come over and rob you.
 
  • #33
Danger said:
What's your address? I'm going to come over and rob you.
Ha ha...you don't even have to work too hard to figure that one out (approximately).
 
  • #34
Gokul43201 said:
Ha ha...you don't even have to work too hard to figure that one out (approximately).
Yes, he obviously lives at 43201 Gokul Avenue. :smile:
 
  • #35
z-component said:
Yes, he obviously lives at 43201 Gokul Avenue. :smile:
Oh... okay. I always thought that he had that number because there were 43200 other Gokuls registered before him.
 
  • #36
Gokul43201 said:
[untruth]Well, there was a Gokul43200 here and I assumed there already were 43199 before him, so ...[/untruth]
I detect a note of facetiousness there. :-p