100 Or so Books that shaped a Century of Science
10 comments
·February 4, 2025WillAdams
The inclusion of Vonnegut's _Cat's Cradle_ is bizarre --- it posits an impossible substance, with bizarre properties, and examines society in a way I have trouble relating to, and its commentary on science such as it is, is if anything, discouraging.
_Dune_ for its role in inspiring the study of ecology would seem more fitting.
It's unfortunate that a didactic text such as H. Beam Piper's novella "Omnilingual" couldn't be considered instead.
jhbadger
While I agree that the book presents a fairly negative view of science and scientists (it reminds me strongly of Margaret Atwood's more recent Oryx and Crake), the idea of a substance with the properties of ice-9 isn't that ridiculous -- it was actually suggested by Irving Langmuir (Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1932) to H.G. Wells as an idea (although Wells never ended up using it)
Insanity
The field of science is too broad to capture in just 100 books without feeling like something is missing. E.g, one of the most important scientific achievements in my biased view would relate to computing (/ telecommunications) - but I do not immediately spot books related to this.
Edit: I missed one on technology that is listed. Still feels meager in comparison to others. But again I am biased :)
captn3m0
It also lists "The art of computer programming (1968) by Donald Knuth"
WillAdams
Seems very light on math also, with just three texts on it. As much as I respect Bertrand Russell, I'm not sure if _Principia Mathematica_ is the last word on mathematics for the century.
Ironically, Knuth has stated that his idea of _Literate Programming_ is more important than TAoCP.
julienchastang
It looks like an excellent resource. Unfortunately, at present, all the links are broken within the document.
searine
I'm not a physicist but "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" was life-changing. A sweeping view of the baton-passing of ideas over decades that lead to a climatic event.
Both personal, and highly detailed, it is an absolute masterpiece and a must read for anyone pursuing a scientific career.
daniel5uie3
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daniel5uie3
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Surprised Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid isn't in there somewhere...