Non-Fiction Book Suggestions

I read this one recently - for anyone who has even a passing interest in computing, it's a fascinating look into what was involved in designing and building a new computer in the late 70s/early 80s. These days I imagine every circuit is designed by another computer, but back then it was done by engineers physically designing and soldering every piece and working through long days and nights of testing and redesigning.





This one is not strictly non-fiction, but it's sort of part novel and part history lesson. At its heart it's a fictional story of four families' involvement in America's space program, but there's a lot of real history and science in it. I found it very enjoyable - although at the start I did wonder when the "space" bit was going to come in! (It begins in WWII, due to covering the main characters' early years and the involvement of German rocket scientists.)




Another one I finished last year, which I don't have a worthwhile photo of, is called "Flight into Space: the Facts, Fancies and Philosophy" by Jonathan Norton Leonard. I have to say it's quite sexist, but it was published in 1953 and times were different then - clearly the idea of a woman going into space was so far-fetched as to be ridiculous, and if one did it would only be to do the housekeeping or provide for certain male needs. If you can look past that, it's an interesting account of the ideas and technology of that time period. A lot of information is very vague, due to constraints on the author caused by the Cold War and the risk of potential sharing of secrets, but reading what thoughts people had back then, before even Sputnik was launched, was fun.


EDIT: Considering you had another astronaut's biography in your OP (I'll have to look for that one!), Chris Hadfield's "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth" was very enjoyable too.

Jon Krakauer is my favorite non-fiction author. I really love everything he writes. Where Men Win Glory is my favorite.

This content has been removed.

Was gifted this book. Excellent read.

Anything by Carl Sagan

CanesGalactica wrote: »

So.. I'm guessing either a lot of people in this forum don't read books.. or they only read fiction. That's a bit of a bummer.

Not true! I have been reading several non-fiction books. One is called the "Hillbilly Elegy" about a man who overcomes his environment to attend an ivy league college and become an attorney.

The one that I am reading now is about Steve Young. I was always curious why he stayed so long in a back-up role behind Joe Montana when he was equally as talented. I am really enjoying it as he is a person of integrity and in this political landscape, I am looking for more stories like his.

Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Very entertaining.

I'm into political science...The Ascendancy of Scientific Dictatorship by Paul & Phillip Collins