I love books! Here are some of the videos I've made talking about them. If you'd like more bibliophilic action then definitely check out my goodreads profile.
Books for physics students
I recommend 10 books for physics students - 5 popular science books to introduce concepts (including 2 bonus texts), 4 textbooks to bridge the gap from high school to university, and an extra book to make you a better scientist!
Also a good watch if you're stuck for a present idea for the aspiring physicist in your life.
My favourite books
A little old, but still accurate, summary of my favourite reads - including science fictional, biography, fantasy, and non-fiction! I've been making a conscious effort to read more since this was released, so eventually I will need to make an updated version. But for now this still captures my reading preferences!
Books that I would recommend to anyone
As outlined much more fully in the videos above, I have a few books that I would recommend to anyone. These are a mix of non-fiction, scientific and non-scientific, fiction, and textbooks. I'll outline the really top ones here, but I'd encourage you to watch the videos to get my full reviews. Titles and author names are links to the books' Amazon pages.
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari - a wide-ranging, dazzling history of the human race. Not without its flaws, but a breathtaking work of popular non-fiction.
Alex's Adventures in Numberland by Alex Bellos - the book that finally convinced me that I could enjoy maths! Definitely one of the most influential books I've read.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M Pirsig - probably the most influential philosophical text on me, and one that definitely defined my philosophy.
Six Easy Pieces by Richard Feynman - a classic of science communication, arguably the perfect introduction to physics.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - the book that taught me that just because something is logical, it doesn't mean it's right.
Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering by Riley, Hobson, and Bence - the single best maths textbook from my degrees, the one I recommend to all students.
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell - arguably my favourite book of all time, this is an account of the perfect childhood told with a reverence for the natural world.
A discussion of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by a group of potterheads
My spoiler-free review of George RR Martin's A A Song of Ice and Fire series
A review of one of my favourite books, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
Discussion of Kafka's truly strange The Metamorphosis with my housemate Dan. I am truly sorry for that thumbnail
All of my book videos in one handy playlist