Book Smart: Five Books for Learning About the World

As someone interested in learning about everything in the world around me, here are my top books, which will educate, excite, and enlighten you!

Physics- The Elegant Universe

This book is so thorough and complete that PBS Nova turned it into a documentary. It provides an explanation for physics from Newton to Einstein then continues into string theory. Greene discusses the problem with uniting general relativity with quantum mechanics then proposes that string theory may be the answer. This book is written for the layman, so anyone interested in physics can grasp the ideas presented.

Psychology- Us and Them

This book focuses on a very unique part of psychology- how humans group other people. These groups include categories such as race, gender, and ethnicity. Barreby describes how it's the tribal mind that leads to these classifications. It requires no technical knowledge of the subject, as Barreby does an impeccable job of explaining the concepts within the book.

Eastern Philosophy- The Art of Happiness

This isn't just a book that will provide insight into modern Buddhism, it's also a book about how to live a peaceful, happy life. It will lift you up and give you perspective on how you deal with everyday situations from relationships to interactions with strangers. This beautiful book written by the Dalai Lama himself is the kind of book you'll want to keep and read over and over again.

Sustainability and Food- The Omnivore's Dilemna

This a great book for someone interested in where their food comes from. While learning about the food industry may not seem interesting, it's one complex field! The idea of sustainability is raised in this book in regard to modern agriculture and food production. Pollan even shows the reader alternative forms of agriculture and gives a history of the "organic" movement.

Climate Change- Field Notes from a Catastrophe

For anyone interested in the topic of climate change, this is an amazing book. It provides an in-depth view at the science behind climate change for both those in the field and the layman. Kolbert goes through all the evidence pointing toward a climatic shift and introduces ideas such as a positive feedback loop and a negative feedback loop. This book is full of facts and evidence delivered in a conversational tone, which is a refreshing deviation from the common alarmist position.