As part of my 'Zulu' reading strategy of all things in maths and physics, I have started to read several books, already mentioned, that are often called 'coffee table' books, i.e. easy to understand, maths free, science books; usually involving conceptually difficult subjects such as quantum mechanics, relativity etc...
However, I have discovered, that many of these 'coffee table' books are actually very difficult to get to grips with. Having started to study physics at an undergraduate level, I have already accumulated sufficient maths skills, to understand the basics of subjects such as quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, cosmology etc...
However, when I approach some of these complex subject areas, within a 'coffee table book'; I am often left confused or lacking some fundamental appreciation of the key concepts.
For example, in Brian Cox's E =mc^2 or Hawking's, The Universe in a Nutshell; despite several attempts at reading the chapters that cover warped space-time; I am left feeling rather dissatisfied with the explanation or in some doubt about how these physicists have made the leap, from one concept, to another.
On reflection, I actually think that the problem lies in the fact that these subjects need some maths,(arguably the language of physics), for the reader to intuitively follow the subject matter, with full understanding. Perhaps the 'dumbing down' or removal of maths, from these books, is actually causing them to be more difficult to grasp?
It may be, that some of the concepts, ranging from time-dilation to particle annihilation; are so far outside our concious understanding of the world, that our brain's actually need hard proof, rather than just a scientist's 'say-so', to overcome our instincts on these matters.
By understanding the 'laws of mathematics', through personal use of equations and numbers, real or otherwise; and then using these laws to explain and understand physics concepts; I have found it easier to accept or understand, the more unusual or counter-intuitive phenomenon, such as those found in quantum theory.
I am not sure that 'coffee table' quantum theory / relativity books, will ever be able to achieve anything other than providing an incomplete and unsatisfying introduction to these subjects.
These books are very popular, but I wonder how many a budding scientist, have picked one up, been utterly confused, and left feeling that they will probably never understand the subject?
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