Thinking Fast and Slow by Kahneman is very good. Lots of thoroughly researched concepts and ways in which our brains work and how we make mistakes because of them, better than that, filled with small ways demonstrating its effects on the reader. This makes it easy to read and convinces besides just informing.
5/5 imo.

I would, if I were inclined to heartily recommend anything, heartily recommend this book.

Thank you, Tao.

The first volume of The World of Mathematics is primarily biographical in nature and I'm about half of the way through it. I've started working into the second volume which is on Mathematics and the Physical World. To give everyone an idea of the contents of this collection, the first five topics in the second volume are as follows:

1. Mathematics of Motion by Galileo Galilei
2. Kinetic Theory of Gases by Daniel Bernoulli
3. The Longitude by Lloyd D. Brown
4. The Discovery of Neptune by Sir Harold Spencer Jones
5. Atomic Numbers by HGJ Moseley

I'm pretty excited to get into these. Anyone with an interest in the foundational mathematics of physics and science should seriously consider looking at this second volume.

The Book of Dead Philosophers, by Simon Critchley.


From the poignant and also mundane eye of how many philosophers met their death, from ancient time to modern, the author explores each philosopher’s attitude toward death and also death itself and the human reactions and relationships to death. This is a very well written exposition on humanities relationship with their mortality. The book is scholarly (in a good way) witty, funny, deep, and a very interesting read. Each philosopher explored has a section in the book from a few short sentences to 4-5 pages.

To philosophize is to learn how to die – Cicero: assassinated by order of Mark Anthony.

A recommended read. Which means it is not a waste of your time.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Dead-...mion+Critchley

I just finished reading Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá. Wow, what an eye-opener. www.sexatdawn.com

Here is a very encouraging review: http://chronicle.com/blogs/brainstor...t-dusk-2/50099

can anyone help me with a college level textbook on probability and statistics? i'd prefer one that explains things as clearly as possible since it's for self studies.

You should probably try posting in the homework thread and asking there. When you do that, you can maybe also expand a bit on what you want. E.g. which college level (undergrad/grad) and what your background in the subject is.

Anyone read Riding Rockets by Mike Mullane (http://www.amazon.com/Riding-Rockets.../dp/0743276833)

or

My Dream of Stars by Anousheh Ansari (http://www.amazon.com/My-Dream-Stars.../dp/0230112218)

they seem like the two most promising books in the space section at the local library. any other suggestions on the same topic?

Schaum's Outline of Probability and Statistics is very good for problem solving. It doesn't go into details theory wise. It explains how to solve different kinds of problems without providing proves.

I've read Mullane's Riding Rockets and thought it was very well written and funny. I don't know the one from Ansari but I can also recommend Carrying the Fire by Michael Collins and A Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin. The 1998 TV Show by Tom Hanks 'From the Earth to the Moon' is in part based on Chaikin's book.

Almost done with Prime Obsession. Might be the best pop-math book I've read so far.

I am about to order some books from Amazon and reviews for Prime Obsession look very good. I think I'll add it to cart. Thanks.

I'm 75% of the through Unknown Quantity: A Real And Imaginary History of Algebra, also by John Derbyshire, the author or Prime Obsession. Very similar type of book. If you have enjoyed or think you might enjoy Prime Obsession, I'd also recommend Unknown Quantity.

Douglas Hofstadter has a new book out, about how learning and discovery take place through the medium of analogy. Cant think of a book I've been more excited to read in the last 5 years.