HYDERABAD: Simon Singh, a science writer has several books to his credit like ‘Fermat’s Last Theorem’, ‘Big Bang and Trick or Treatment?’ His latest book is ‘The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets’. He shares his top five reads Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! by Richard Feynman
A series of anecdotes by the physicist and eccentric Richard Feynman. There are very few Nobel Prize winners who could convey the excitement of their research, and Feynman was one of them. This book inspired me as a teenager, and hopefully it will inspire you too.
Bad Science by Ben Goldacre
This book does not celebrate great science, but instead it challenges pseudoscience. This will help you navigate your way past all the bamboozlers and charlatans who will try to sell you quackery.
My Best Mathematical and Logic Puzzles by Martin Gardner
The title explains everything. Everybody who is interested in maths should read Gardner’s books. They are a wonderful mix of playfulness, puzzles and humour.
Flim-Flam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions by James Randi
James Randi (also known as The Amazing Randi) is my hero, and this is one of many books in which he confronts the paranormal. Read this book and learn how to think clearly and debunk nonsense.
What If? by Randall Munroe
Based on the hugely popular (yet cult) blog, this book is a compilation of hypothetical questions and their scientific answers. Learn some science while wearing a grin.