A Handbook to the Universe: Explorations of Matter, Energy, Space, and Time for Beginning Scientific Thinkers

This book is for everyone who ever slammed a physics text shut in frustration, blew up a chemistry experiment, or approached the Periodic Chart as something akin to learning hieroglyphs. In his first book, Paul, an English teacher and modern-day Renaissance man, has written an accessible, thorough and, yes, fun introducton to the physical sciences and notable scientists. In a clear, lively style, each well-organized section explains the principles behind subjects ranging from the basic theories of energy, sound and light to the more sophisticated logic of relativity, nuclear physics and quantum mechanics. Paul imbues the topics with a sense of adventure, turning science into what it is meant to be--a discovery of the world and all its mysteries. Diagrams, lightly sprinkled throughout, help explain concepts discussed in the text. Ages 12-up. (Sept.)