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I've just been reading Bill Bryson's monumental A Short History of Nearly Everything.
It is a good summary of most things from the Big Bang to man exterminating flora and fauna, written in a very readable way, with humour. Above all, it relates the human side of the scientists who have discovered this or that (sometimes not very complimentary, at that). There are a few errors in it (as may be expected in a work of this size), but they are generally not of great importance. There is also a large reference section, if you want to know more about a specific subject.
For a popular science book for non-scientists (or even those, as well), covering such a wide range of subjects, it is a remarkable read.
It cost me £10 at amazon.co.uk (hardback, 515 pp)
It is a good summary of most things from the Big Bang to man exterminating flora and fauna, written in a very readable way, with humour. Above all, it relates the human side of the scientists who have discovered this or that (sometimes not very complimentary, at that). There are a few errors in it (as may be expected in a work of this size), but they are generally not of great importance. There is also a large reference section, if you want to know more about a specific subject.
For a popular science book for non-scientists (or even those, as well), covering such a wide range of subjects, it is a remarkable read.
It cost me £10 at amazon.co.uk (hardback, 515 pp)