The Best Modern Books on Physics

Lighter reading than you might think

Jan 27, 2007

Here are some of the best physics books published in the last few years.

Physics has become increasingly popular in recent decades. Physics is still viewed as a hallowed discipline only open to a few of the smartest people among us. But physics fascinates the public, and there is a steady stream of great books aimed at the lay reader. Here are the essentials:

The Whole Shebang is an easy introduction to cosmology, covering all the important bases: relativity, quantum physics, large scale structure, and the multiverse.

Origins

Another cosmology book, but Origins focuses on cosmic evolution - the unfolding history of the universe. This a companion to a fascinating PBS series of the same name.

Six Easy Pieces

Richard Feynman was a key physicist of the 20th century, second only to Einstein in popularity, and for good reason. He was widely considered to be the best teacher of physics. This book, based on an actual lecture, lucidly introduces basic concepts. Live audio recordings are also available.

Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman

Richard Feynman also led an extraordinary life. He was a bit eccentric, and was not content to settle in one field. Gleick ably and lovingly chronicles Feynman's life.

The Cosmic Landscape: String Theory and the Illusion of Intelligent Design

Supernatural explanations are often invoked to explain things that don't quite make sense, and physics has been no exception. In The Cosmic Landscape, Susskind, a noted string theorist, offers a more lucid perspective.

The Universe in a Nutshell

Filled copiously with gorgeous illustrations, The Universe in a Nutshell is the perfect coffee table book for the physics nut. This Hawking book isn't nearly as intimidating as A Brief History of Time.

The Elegant Universe

A fun read, The Elegant Universe is a comprehensive introduction to the still controversial field of string theory. A PBS special based on the book and hosted by the author (who is very entertaining) is also available.

The copyright of the article The Best Modern Books on Physics in Physics is owned by Katharine M. J. Osborne. Permission to republish The Best Modern Books on Physics in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.