Nonfiction authors that write about complex subjects in an easy-to-understand way

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A very general topic, I know, but inspired by the Stephen Jay Gould essays I've been reading. I love reading about things that I know nothing about, but obviously you've got to start at the bottom. So who are some authors who have a deep knowledge of their subject but are able to explain it in a way that almost any moron can understand it?
Another one that comes to mind for me is Stephen Pinker and his books on language.

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Friday, 23 July 2004 15:16 (twenty-one years ago)

If you're at all interested in the complexities of Canada I highly recommend Will Ferguson's non-fiction, Why I Hate Canadians, Bastards and Boneheads: Canada's Glorious Leaders Past and Present and, uh, Canadian History for Dummies. How To Be A Canadian (Even If You Already Are One) is more straight yuks.

― Huck, Friday, 23 July 2004 15:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Bryson A Brief History... was v. accessable.

― Vermont Girl (Vermont Girl), Friday, 23 July 2004 16:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Freud?

― Fred (Fred), Saturday, 24 July 2004 10:44 (twenty-one years ago)

James Gleick, especially "Faster"

― jed_ (jed), Saturday, 24 July 2004 11:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Second V Girl's suggestion...

― Rabin the Cat (Rabin the Cat), Saturday, 24 July 2004 14:05 (twenty-one years ago)

See my "Fifty Nifty" non-fiction list for some easy-to-understand stuff on complex subjects. Not quite words-of-one-syllable, but close.

― pepektheassassin (pepektheassassin), Saturday, 24 July 2004 14:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Also, try "The Dancing Wu Li Masters" by Gary Zulav--quantum physics for the mathematically impaired.

― pepektheassassin (pepektheassassin), Saturday, 24 July 2004 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Plato.

― SRH (Skrik), Saturday, 24 July 2004 14:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Chris Hedges "War Is A Force That Gives Us Meaning" is incredible.

― schmutzie, Saturday, 24 July 2004 17:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I would definitely second the recommendation of Bill Bryson; not only is his a great readable account, but his books on the English Language (particularly "The Mother Tongue") are worth reading.

My other recommendation isn't an author but a series - the "Modern Library Chronicles" series. There a collection of short (about 200 pages each) histories of a variety of subjects: Islam, American law, the Balkans, evolution, and so forth. While not every volume is great, most of them are well-written and informative introductions to their subjects.

― Mark Klobas, Saturday, 24 July 2004 17:47 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

Richard Dawkins - The Selfish Gene

― Matthew S, Monday, 9 August 2004 11:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Second 'The selfish gene' (and 'The blind watchmaker' too.)

The only recent scienece book that's given me that kind of 'Eureka' feeling that Dawkins does is Stephen Johnson's 'Emergence'. It's a look at how complex systems and structures can come about from very simple 'dumb' rules. As soon as you read it you suddenly start seeing these structures everywhere. (Oh, and I guarantee after reading it you'll know a little more about slime moulds, town planning, amazon's book recommendations, ant colonies and the Florentine guild system.)

A quick mention for Sacks' "The man who mistook his wife for a hat', too.

― winterland, Tuesday, 10 August 2004 06:21 (twenty-one years ago)

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