So what's a good book?
Wilgrove
28-11-2006, 01:05
Ok, so I am trying to find the right Astronomy book for my girlfriend. She is studying to be an Astronomer, and I'm looking at Amazon.com and I have no idea which one to buy. I don't want to buy her a kiddies book, I would like to buy her a book that'll hopefully get her more interested in Astronomy and prepare her for what it's going to be like to study the subject. Any suggestion? Yes this is a Christmas present, and yes it's the only thing I can think of.
Curious Inquiry
28-11-2006, 01:07
Ok, so I am trying to find the right Astronomy book for my girlfriend. She is studying to be an Astronomer, and I'm looking at Amazon.com and I have no idea which one to buy. I don't want to buy her a kiddies book, I would like to buy her a book that'll hopefully get her more interested in Astronomy and prepare her for what it's going to be like to study the subject. Any suggestion? Yes this is a Christmas present, and yes it's the only thing I can think of.
Peterson's Field Guide to the Stars, although she probably already has it.
What level of study is she at currently? How technical do you want the book to be (ie, lots of math and theory or more of a layman's book)?
Sumamba Buwhan
28-11-2006, 01:31
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Wilgrove
28-11-2006, 03:02
What level of study is she at currently? How technical do you want the book to be (ie, lots of math and theory or more of a layman's book)?
About Freshman college level.
Curious Inquiry
28-11-2006, 03:04
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
SB may be on to something here . . . shows you have a sense of humour . . . and if you're the one to introduce her to Douglas Adams, you'll always be fondly remembered!
I'd say something by Carl Sagan, but that's probably more of a layman's look at the subject than what you're looking for.
If she doesn't already have a huge stack of them, you could get her an atlas of the stars.
Wilgrove
28-11-2006, 03:22
If she doesn't already have a huge stack of them, you could get her an atlas of the stars.
That could work.
If she would be more interested in the astrophysics side of things, you might consider:
An Invitation to Astrophysics (http://www.amazon.com/Invitation-Astrophysics-Scientific-Aeries-Astronomy/dp/9812566384)
or
The Tapestry of Modern Astrophysics (http://www.amazon.com/Tapestry-Modern-Astrophysics-Steven-Shore/dp/0471168165/sr=8-1/qid=1164680863/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-9160785-1954337?ie=UTF8&s=books)
Wilgrove
28-11-2006, 04:11
If she would be more interested in the astrophysics side of things, you might consider:
An Invitation to Astrophysics (http://www.amazon.com/Invitation-Astrophysics-Scientific-Aeries-Astronomy/dp/9812566384)
or
The Tapestry of Modern Astrophysics (http://www.amazon.com/Tapestry-Modern-Astrophysics-Steven-Shore/dp/0471168165/sr=8-1/qid=1164680863/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-9160785-1954337?ie=UTF8&s=books)
I think she's interested in looking at the stars through the telescope.
Lunatic Goofballs
28-11-2006, 04:13
Ok, so I am trying to find the right Astronomy book for my girlfriend. She is studying to be an Astronomer, and I'm looking at Amazon.com and I have no idea which one to buy. I don't want to buy her a kiddies book, I would like to buy her a book that'll hopefully get her more interested in Astronomy and prepare her for what it's going to be like to study the subject. Any suggestion? Yes this is a Christmas present, and yes it's the only thing I can think of.
Asimov on Astronomy.
:)
I think she's interested in looking at the stars through the telescope.
Ah. In that case, try Nightwatch (http://www.amazon.com/NightWatch-Practical-Guide-Viewing-Universe/dp/155407147X/sr=1-1/qid=1164689459/ref=sr_1_1/104-9160785-1954337?ie=UTF8&s=books).
Does she have a telescope?