Favorite Science Magazine/article, Book

Cawchy87

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Mar 8, 2004
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I would have to say that my favorite magazine is Discovery. Pop Sci is interesting but deals with a lot of futuristic ideas and future products which aren't my "cup of tea."

My favorite article was actually about food . It changed what i eat on a day to day basis.

All the science magazines i can think of:
Astronomy
Pop Sci
Discover
American Science

Please add to my list! I want to expand my readings!

My favorite science book is: A brief history of time, By: Stephen Hawking because it is the only one i have read! I am looking for another physics book (for a grade 12 student) to read since i finished that one. I am thinking about reading Brian Green's book "The Elegant Universe" after watching the tv specials. Anyone read this yet? My mom works at a library so i will check out all of your favorites. Can't wait to hear what you guys like to read!
 

Wahsapa

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Jul 2, 2001
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haha

we like to read anandtech :)

i dont subscribe to any science magazines. sorry.

however i really do like any of the science books from carl sagan. if you liked steven hawking, you should definately check him out :thumbsup:
aww i see your a 12th grader, you MUST read carl sagan now.
 

Shalmanese

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Sep 29, 2000
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I read Scientific American and the economist and I occasionally glance through Nature and Science for the important stuff. In terms of books, theres quite a few good ones out there and you really have to say what your interested in before narrowing it down.
 

Falloutboy

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Jan 2, 2003
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I like Scientific American, but also like Popular Science but its often dumbed down quite a bit
 

Cawchy87

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Originally posted by: Shalmanese
I read Scientific American and the economist and I occasionally glance through Nature and Science for the important stuff. In terms of books, theres quite a few good ones out there and you really have to say what your interested in before narrowing it down.

Astro and theoretical physics
 

Shalmanese

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Sep 29, 2000
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Theoretical physics: Try Brian Greene's The Elegant Universe, Hawking's Brief History of Time uh... I don't know any popular books that cover MOND, Quantum gravity or any of the other exotic TOE's but there should be plenty of stuff on the "old" standard model/QM/GR but none that particularly stand out in my mind atm.

Astro: Uh, Cosmos by Carl Sagan, lots of Hawking, I'm not very much into that side of things so I don't have many reccomendations. Lots of articles rather than any comprehensive book knowledge.
 

DrPizza

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Mar 5, 2001
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I don't like pop sci at all... I have to think too much to evaluate what's being written, rather than just take it at face value and believe it...
Pop Sci is more of a sensationalism type of magazine.. they're always over-hyping various technological advances.. Look at a pop sci from 50 yrs ago or 40 or 30 or 20...
they're not very good with their predictions.

Current example: "fry fry it to 200°C, douse it with jet fuel" (indestructable rubber conductor thread)
That statement is intentionally misleading to confuse someone... the "fry fry it to 200°C" has absolutely nothing to do with jet fuel... jet fuel burns at about 1500 degrees F.
 

Smilin

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Mar 4, 2002
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A Brief History of Time was a great book. Hawking is a pretty clever fella.
He also did "The Universe in a Nutshell" and co-authored a few others.

I actually just mentioned this in another post but there is a book I can't recommend enough:

"The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are" by Alan Watts.

My Father recommended it to me. He handed it to me and explained that this book is basically "The Red Pill" - ala Matrix.
 

Wahsapa

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Jul 2, 2001
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Originally posted by: Cawchy87
Cool, i'll check him out. Any specific book?

Carl Sagan:
Contact (what the movie was made after)
Cosmos
Billions and Billions
Dragons of Eden
Brocas Brain
Demon Haunted World
Pale Blue Dot
 

L00PY

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Sep 14, 2001
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The magazine I got hooked on while in college is New Scientist. I don't have easy access to the print versions anymore, but the online news articles works for that quick fix.
 

Cawchy87

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Mar 8, 2004
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Cool, thanks for the suggestions. I am going to finish reading a brief history of time again and then start on a carl sagan or the universe in a nutshell next.

Smiln, have you read and Sigmond Freud books? I read a bit of "The basic writings of Sigmond Freud" and it really blew my mind how he was able to analize his own thoughts and come to a logical conclution. Really good book if you like those type.
 

Smilin

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Mar 4, 2002
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No, I've not read any Freud. Hadn't really though of it until you mentioned it. I bet it's an interesting read.

As excited as I'm sure you are about "universe in a nutshell" after reading a "brief history of time", I would recommend "The Book" first.
 

trexpesto

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Jun 3, 2004
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Social Evolution, by Robert Trivers, just happened to post about it today in off topic.

Edit The Sciences is a nice mag and has an awesome art director. Well written for the layperson.
Also New Scientist, a british rag, very wide ranging.
 

Shalmanese

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Sep 29, 2000
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Freud was smoking crack and obsessed about people's mothers. Virtually none of his theories are accepted as valid in current, mainstream psychology. Psychiatrists still seem awfully fixated on him though :).
 

trexpesto

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Jun 3, 2004
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The man who mistook his wife for a hat by Oliver Sacks is a popular and interesting book. No doubt you can get it used.
Stephen Jay Gould's books are good in general.
John McPhee is an entertaining naturalist, great writer, mostly his books are centered on a particular place. The Pine Barrens was good.
Recently I have enjoyed Mark Kurlansky's books, some are sort of like those Connections shows but he sticks to one topic. Cod was good.
Nathaniel's Nutmeg by Giles Milton is a history of the bloody spice wars fought between the English and Dutch. They thought it was a cure for the plague...
 

Shalmanese

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Sep 29, 2000
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Second Man who mistook his wife for a hat. If were broadening out into general Science, I also reccomend "Guns, Germs & Steel" by Jared Diamond, "The Red Queen" by Matt Ridley, "Unweaving the Rainbow" and "Climbing mount improbable" by Richard Dawkins, "Burgess Shale" by Stephen Jay Gould.
 

Smilin

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Mar 4, 2002
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Originally posted by: Cawchy87
Is it physics based? Or is is psycology based?

Metaphysics. It's a book about the nature of reality. If you are a deeply (Western) religious person it may offend. The author dispenses with God in the first chapter. I contains some Western views of buddism intertwined with physics. I'm not sure how to describe it. It's the red pill.