The joy of Hawking is that compared to dozens of other popular science books, he can be very concise, yet at the same time he gets a few profound ideas that matter in there. Despite this there are an enormous number of people that have got somewhere between nowhere and not that far in to the book. On the other hand, some people view his books as a bit clean and sterile philosophically. Talking of which, I'd recommend Kuhn which I think I forgot to say earlier.
100 Greatest Non-Fiction Books?
- Thread starter Flying_Monkey
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
The joy of Hawking is that compared to dozens of other popular science books, he can be very concise, yet at the same time he gets a few profound ideas that matter in there. Despite this there are an enormous number of people that have got somewhere between nowhere and not that far in to the book. On the other hand, some people view his books as a bit clean and sterile philosophically. Talking of which, I'd recommend Kuhn which I think I forgot to say earlier.
Monsieur Remings
Guru
- Location
- Yatton UK
I lost reference points toward the end but some of the first chapters are very well written and so too are some of his smaller essays on baby universes and black 'oles. Food for thought and a grasp, a sort of enthusiasm, for something else. And it's the not the easiest stuff to impart. Hawking is a great man IMO, and profound is the right word.
I don't see much failure on the part of his writing either, it's not the language it's the understanding of the reader. How concise is that first chapter of A Brief History of Time?
Non-fiction eh, I could also mention a few history books which gain from the human angle that Hawking's material fails on; those true stories that nonetheless are stories of people's lives. Most people wouldn't see the unfolding of the universe as a story and therein lies the reason some non-fiction can't be compared to other pieces.
Hawking's work might be more of a guide to a more intelligent species but it's written like it is because that's what it takes to get across all of it. All of that something that most of us don't relate to. That's the brilliance of his and any other work in that field is the bridge they have to cross and so the primary function of his book is the imparting of knowledge, not form or aptitude in grammar or syntax.
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
Hang about! We are all supposed to be destroyed some time soon by some kind of "peer-reviewed" Thermogeddon Scenario. Here we all are contemplating our navels. I think "The Sky is Falling" types are extremely under-represented in that list.
Personally, I blame the Recession.
Personally, I blame the Recession.
The one non-fiction book I spent most time with was as a child:
The Observer's Book Of The Larger British Moths by RLE Ford - Evolution, biology, ecology, how to breed Death's Head Hawkmoths, concise descriptions of species, excellent illustrations, and all explained in words an eleven year old could understand - brilliant.
I should've got this instead of Advice for Young Mothers
