Particle Physics for Non-Physicists: A Tour of the Microcosm

Ok so this is an audio lecture and not a book but it seems the most likly place to recommend this.

While I consider myself to be fairly grounded in basic science this book was a complete eye opener and it was quite shocking to discover how little I knew about this subject (practically bugger all as it turned out). It is one of those veil from the eyes feeling as a whole new world is opened up. If you have not had the standard model of particle physics explained to you or understood its implications this is a fantastic series of lectures. It takes you from the 1st discoveries of quantum mechanics right up to the expectations of the LHC. The guy presenting it is very engaging and explains it all very well. As well as explaining the science it is as much a history of particle physics outlining the human stories of the countless discoveries and progressions.

10/10

http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/CourseDescLong2.aspx?cid=1247″ onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;

* also available from a piratebay near you