Science non-fiction?

[I, Brian]

Does anyone here read any general science non-fiction - ie, Hawkings, Dawkins, Gould, etc?

I'm curious as to whether people with a general interest in science fiction also tend to read science fact - but also whether people traditionally drawn to fantasy may also have an interest in reading up on space, life, etc.

Simply curious.

[mosaix]

I have an entire book case on astronomy and the Universe. I also get New Scientist every week.

[GOLLUM]

Yep, I'm interested in Physics, Astrology, Astronomy, General Science literature although I'm the opposite as you know in terms of SF literature BUT a HUGE Fantasy fan. Go figure...

I also tend to watch many documentaries on these subjects.

[steve12553]

I've read a Brief History of Time, Cosmos, and a few others and I have kept and occasionally refer to the texts from school where I got my EET degree. Probably true with with many of the mostly Science Fiction fans here.

[chrispenycate]

Um, yes.
But I think one or two of you had guessed that.

[Karsa Orlong]

I read The Selfish Gene a few weeks ago, but honestly, I don't read science fiction in a pursuit of scientific insight.

[Paige Turner]

Yeah, it all started with Carl Sagan, I think. Stephen Hawking is a little beyond me, but I'm keen to keep trying. I also quite enjoy Richard Dawkins.

[Trey Greyjoy]

Physics is fascinating. In Search of Scrhodinger's Cat is a great one. John Gribben has a few others I have read but cant recall the titles now.
Of course A Brief History of Time is a must. The Cosmos series and book by Carl Sagan.
I have bought a couple of books about Richard Feynman that come highly recommended, but havent read yet.

[Morpheus42]

Not books. But I do follow certain forums on technical/science stuff.

[Marya]

I don't really follow Physics, Astronomy, etc. but I do read a lot in the Life Sciences primarily because that's my field so I read journal articles and the occasional book.

I don't read many books on life sciences but some that I've really enjoyed have been Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and The Hot Zone by Richard Preston.

[Silent Speaker]

Another Phys/Astrophys reader (recently did an exam on the topic :P).
Hawkings, Gribben (well, never finished it-Stardust-left it in another place), Davies and intending to purchase some Feynman (when the funds start flowing again)
Attempting to read Robert Penrose's "The road to reality" at the moment

[dwndrgn]

I rarely read actual books on science but I do read a lot of scientific magazines and whatnot. Gould is one of my favorites. I tend to gravitate more towards the nature and animal side rather than physics the like. Physics generally makes my head want to spin around like Linda Blair...

[j. d. worthington]

I do, and I love reading the stuff, but I have such a backlog of other books that I seldom get to spend as much time on this as I'd like...

[Culhwch]

I'm not much of science fiction fan, but I do read a little bit of scientific literature, though generally of the dumbed-down variety. Actually, as a fanatsy fan, I find history more interesting.

[littlemissattitude]

Originally Posted by Paige Turner

Yeah, it all started with Carl Sagan, I think.

Yeah, me too. Seriously, I read the book he co-authored with the Russian guy (sorry, I can't remember his name), Intelligent Life in the Universe, when I was about ten years old. Freaked the library ladies out when I checked it out of the library. Of course, that's been so long ago now that I can't remember much of what it said. I've always liked Gould's stuff, but I have to say that I can only take Dawkins in small doses, as he tends to be just as dogmatic as those who he finds unacceptably dogmatic. But hey, we all have our blind spots, and he has written some interesting stuff.

I've always read more non-fiction, including science, than fiction. My latest acquisition in the area of science is Earth, by Richard Fortey. Haven't gotten around to reading it yet, but my "to read" pile is more crowded than usual after my recent book-buying binge.