Most of us live in a world of words. We email our feeling and convey out thoughts but the science of physics requires numbers and (shutter) mathematics to be understood. There are popular science works written for the average amateur astronomer, and these works have the math removed. The soul of understanding; the thunderclap of recognition, the (dare I say) religious experience of physics is in the mathematics. Not only that but the word versions of physics leave holes big enough for skeptics to drive a truck through. At age 50 I was unhappy with my knowledge of physics. So I picked up a copy of Richard FeynmanÂs ÂSix Easy PiecesÂ. This was entertaining and informative but not quite there. Next I read ÂSix Not So Easy Pieces and this opened the door a crack and let in the blinding light of understanding. So I read it again. There is enough mathematics here to convey the concepts of Relativity but not enough to scare off college freshmen that are supposed to know some math. There is also discussion of the views of skeptics and why they are wrong. The science of physics is based on experimental evidence that reduces to numbers that plug into the equations that let the math tell you what is going on. The skeptics are cocktail party philosophers who play word games. Richard has been gone now almost twenty years, but his books are still wonderful. They can pry open your skull and give your brain a cold shower. Other popular science works are: Kip S. ThorneÂs ÂBlack Holes and Time WarpsÂ: a good attempt by a physicist but the math is minimal and is banished to the footnotes so as not to scare the horses. Timothy FerrisÂs ÂThe Whole Shebang and ÂSeeing in the DarkÂ: Tim is a journalist and a life long amateur astronomer. He approaches the science with the soul of a poet. ItÂs just words but itÂs words from a competent wordsmith who is on speaking terms with real scientists. Jean MeeusÂs: ÂMathematical Astronomy MorselsÂ, Lots of math about planetary positions. A great book with two sequels ÂMore Mathematical Astronomy Morsels and ÂMathematical Astronomy Morsels IIIÂ. And for the computer programmers, ÂAstronomical AlgorithmsÂ. DT --------------------------------- Sell on Yahoo! Auctions - No fees. Bid on great items.