Looking for Book Recommendation

Hello all. I'm looking for a book recommendation for my mom. She is Catholic, and I'm not trying to convert her to atheism, but I think she might enjoy learning a little more about basic science. I don't think she got much of an education on science at her Catholic schools all those years ago, and yesterday while playing a trivia board game with her, she was shocked and amazed to learn about the length of the human small intestine. I'm looking for a book for adults that presents basic scientific concepts in an interesting and readable way and that stays away from religion. Perhaps something that focuses more on biology. Any ideas? Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Ron V on February 11, 2012 at 12:20pm

The Canon

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Whirligig-Beautiful-Basics-Science/dp/0...

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Permalink Reply by Logicallunatic on February 11, 2012 at 12:32pm

I know!

The Magic of Reality by Richard Dawkins.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Reardon on February 11, 2012 at 3:02pm

Any of Isaac Asimov's science books, entertaining and informative.

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Permalink Reply by Dave G on February 11, 2012 at 3:51pm

Carl Sagan's Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark is a good one for introduction to basic scientific concepts.

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Permalink Reply by James on February 11, 2012 at 8:52pm

I was just about to suggest that one. Great book!

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Permalink Reply by Reg The Fronkey Farmer on February 11, 2012 at 8:21pm

Here is a good one I am reading again. It is not anti religious. Chapter One - How to build a Universe......

Amazon

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Permalink Reply by 52X Max GT on February 12, 2012 at 5:25am

A Brief History of Time, by Stephen Hawking.

The Demon-haunted world and Cosmos, by Carl Sagan.

Unweaving the Rainbow, by Richard Dawkins.

These are not books about atheism, but rather about science, and how the universe works in both micro and macro scales.

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Permalink Reply by Judith van der Roos on February 12, 2012 at 6:28am

Please try A Short History Of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (1 Jun 2004). It is available on Kindle and in audio book form,

Bill brings science to the masses in an entertaining and easy to understand manner. It covers physics, biology, cosomolgy...........oh all of it and in an easy to understand way that just makes you want to learn more.

Regards

Judith vd R

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Permalink Reply by Gary Bergeron on February 12, 2012 at 10:55am

I recommend COSMOS by Carl Sagan. He describes science as more than a body of knowledge, that it's a way thinking and he showcases the scientific method of thinking throughout the ages.

It was my introduction to the universe.

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Permalink Reply by Laura on February 12, 2012 at 11:15am

Thanks for the suggestions, everybody! I'm going to check out A Short History of Nearly Everything and The Canon - I think these sound like exactly what I'm looking for.

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Permalink Reply by Tom on February 12, 2012 at 3:50pm

Joseph Campbell wrote several books on comparative mythology, The Hero with a Thousand Faces comes to mind first. The book mainly deals with what Campbell calls the "Monomyth", and delves into his theories on the "archetypal hero". I recommend it because Campbell, despite writing rather bluntly, doesn't come out and challenge Christian dogma head on (which tends to cause massive cognitive dissonance). Rather he compares world mythology and shows the similarities and patterns between ancient and modern myths. This sets the stage nicely for future, sustained critical thinking. Good luck!

http://www.amazon.com/Hero-Thousand-Faces-Bollingen-No/dp/0691017840