Scientific Literature

[Travis_R]

We have been given an assignment to write a book review for our Physics class, and we have to write about it's relevance to science and the future. I don't want to reread a book, so I was wondering if anyone could recommend a classic that has something to do with science or the future.

Books I have read that have something to do with science or the future:

Brave New World - Huxley
The Doors of Perception - Huxley
1984 - Orwell
Fahrenheit 451

Thanks for any suggestions!

[Virgil]

This is what they assign in Physics class? You ought to sue your teacher for incompetance.

[JuniperWoolf]

I like the assignment. It's a cool way to deal with the history of a science (which is usually the most insanely boring unit).

Frankenstein. As a bio student, I was VERY impressed with her descriptions of anatomy. Also, she talked about the relevence of electricity in the human body BEFORE we had a throrough understanding of nervous function. And, it's short.

[PeterL]

None of those is related to physics. You might pick up a copy of "The Arrow of Time".

[applepie]

Jules Verne wrote about science and what would occur in the future. Try 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. A lot of the science in that novel is now reality.

[ClaesGefvenberg]

Jules Verne wrote about science and what would occur in the future. Try 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. A lot of the science in that novel is now reality....and to continue along those lines: How about The journey to the moon? Talk about Science Fiction turning Science Fact. You could also have a look at Arthur C. Clarke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_C._Clarke), and his ideas about the communications satelite

/Claes

[annatak]

How about HG Wells? The Time Machine or the War of the Worlds or the Invisible Man? I'd also echo Jules Verne as another possibility.

You could also read Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. So many possibilities!

Enjoy!

[OrphanPip]

Haha, I don't think many works of fiction have all that much influence on science. How about Darwin's On The Origins of Species, it has the benefit of being a groundbreaking work of scientific literature and easily understood by the layman.

[Jozanny]

We have been given an assignment to write a book review for our Physics class, and we have to write about it's relevance to science and the future. I don't want to reread a book, so I was wondering if anyone could recommend a classic that has something to do with science or the future.

Books I have read that have something to do with science or the future:

Brave New World - Huxley
The Doors of Perception - Huxley
1984 - Orwell
Fahrenheit 451

Thanks for any suggestions!

As much as I dislike getting involved with threads like this, Einstein wasn't just a scientist, and his work is often metaphorical, and you can download etexts on the Theory of Relativity for free.

I suspect your instructor would be pleased if you read Einstein, who was a physicist, and discussed how accurate he was, like on the existence of black holes.

You can even compare Einstein with Newton; if you make the effort I bet your teacher would be floored.

PS: If it has to be a literary work, none of the titles you listed deal with physics. Huxley and Orwell are dystopian--another member mentioned Wells, and Wells does have a story about Neptune crashing into the sun, but it is only a short story. Your best bet is a work of science fiction that deals with physics. Parts of Dune does deal with space time travel, as does Star Trek; I think you should at least keep the review on topic.

[Travis_R]

Well, though this project is in physics class, we only have to compare the work to science, the world in general and human sustainability. It may not seem like the best assignment for the physics class, however it is very important as it gets us thinking of ways to sustain our lives, a very important topic.

I believe I am going to write a report on Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil and use his views on morality to analyze the current Northern World's view of the South and the issue of aid and support. If anyone has any comments, please share!

[ktm5124]

You should do it on Newton's Principia. I think it would make for a fascinating read - simple enough to be understood, and at the same time revolutionary. Or perhaps you could do it on an Einstein paper, though that would be more abstruse. Special relativity is simple enough, though. I took a class in high school that taught special relativity.

[BienvenuJDC]

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Forensic science.