Popular science books about humanity and the universe
You and I – modern people – are much more fortunate than many generations of predecessors. For us, books about the universe are available for sale in any bookstore, they are not forbidden to read, distribute and discuss. So anyone who wants to learn more about the world around them, can safely buy popular science literature, and learn the secrets of the universe, already solved by brilliant scientists of different times. In this article, we have collected a selection of exciting works, where each book – the history of mankind, shown through the prism of different scientific facts, research and hypotheses. All these publications answer the most exciting questions about the laws and mysteries of the universe.
A Brief History of Time
A Brief History of Time. “A Brief History of Time” is the first work of the famous English cosmologist, astrophysicist, and writer Stephen Hawking. The idea to tell about the structure of the Universe in simple language for ordinary people, Hawking appeared in 1983. And he succeeded! The book made a real sensation, and lasted for 4 years in the bestseller list according to the British newspaper Sunny Days. It has been translated into 35 languages. Since its first publication in 1988, more than 20 million copies have been sold to date.
“A Brief History of Time” tells the origin, development, structure, and possible fate of the universe, in non-technical terms. In the book, Hawking described the basic concepts of cosmology such as:
- time
- space
- gravity
- quarks, the building blocks that make up the universe.
The author also describes in detail the Big Bang theory, the origin and nature of black holes, discusses quantum mechanics and the general theory of relativity. Each page of the publication, skillfully engages the reader in the exciting process of searching for a unifying theory that can consistently describe the history of the universe. This book will be a good introduction to the theoretical foundations of astrophysics, and a fascinating read for curious researchers of any age.
Guns, Germs and Steel
Guns, Germs and Steel. “Guns, Germs and Steel” is a book by American scientist physiologist, evolutionary biologist, and biogeographer – Jared Mason Diamond. Written in the genre of science-pop, and published in 1997, a year later this book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. In addition, the published author himself has also been honored with numerous awards and prizes, for literary and scientific achievements, including: Tyler, Dixon, and Wolff Awards. In 1999, Diamond received the U.S. National Medal of Science, and in 2016, he became the recipient of the honor of Humanist of the Year.
Because Diamond has always been interested in human history, the book Guns, Germs, and Steel was a reflection of his own theory on the influence of biogeographical factors in shaping the shape of the modern world. He clearly showed, and with historical evidence, that societies that gained an advantage in food production were able to move beyond the hunter-gatherer stage. Then they created religion and weapons (including biological weapons), started wars, and traveled across seas and oceans to conquer and destroy pre-written cultures. Even Bill Gates appreciated the book, calling it fascinating, and foundational for anyone who wants to better understand human history.
What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions. “What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions” is perhaps one of the most interesting books in this selection. The first in a trio of literary works by the renowned American cartoonist, engineer, and web developer, Randall Patrick Munroe. Published on September 2, 2014, already on the 21st it took the first line in the list of best-selling books according to the New York Times. A little later, the publication was nominated for the prestigious Goodreads Choice Awards in the Best Non-Fiction category of 2014.
The structure of the book is a collection of hypothetical questions in a “What if…?” format and answers from a scientific perspective. The amazing thing is that Randall didn’t take simple questions that just popped into his head, the questions were sent in by millions of fans of the comic book author from all over the world.