Books like Welcome to the Universe by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Stephen Hawking explains the fundamental physics of the universe—space, time, cosmology, black holes, and the Big Bang—in clear, accessible language.

A concise, accessible primer on astrophysics written by Neil deGrasse Tyson, designed for readers of all ages who want to understand how the universe works.

Explains the vision of the universe behind string theory, including new dimensions, black holes, and mysterious phenomena in the cosmos.

A thrilling exploration of the cosmos, brilliantly explained by a popular science master.

Carl Sagan’s Cosmos traces the history of science and the universe’s evolution, from ancient philosophers to modern discoveries, and explores the quest to understand life beyond Earth.

Stephen Hawking explores the cutting edge of theoretical physics in layman’s terms, guiding readers through the mysteries that shape our universe.

Brian Greene unpacks the idea that our universe might be one of many, exploring the scientific theories and philosophical implications of the multiverse.

James B. Kaler guides readers through the subtle and powerful influences of the cosmos on Earth, from lunar tides and solar storms to asteroid threats and cosmic rays that both nurture and challenge life.

Isaac Asimov explores supernovae, weaving current astronomy with their cosmological significance and impact on humanity.

A beautifully illustrated companion to Neil deGrasse Tyson’s popular podcast and National Geographic Channel series, offering an engaging look at astrophysics, cosmology, and earth sciences for curious readers of all ages.

A clear, engaging survey of Earth, the solar system, and the broader cosmos.

The Magic Furnace traces the intertwined history of atoms and stars, revealing how the Big Bang gave rise to matter and how stellar processes forge the elements that build the universe.

This book explains the theory of special and general relativity in detail, without digressions such as information on Einstein's life or the historical background. However, complicated calculations are replaced with figures and thought experiments, the text being formulated in such a way that the reader will be able to understand the gist intuitively. The first part of the book focuses on the essentials of special relativity. Explanations are provided of the famous equivalence between mass and energy and of why Einstein was able to use the theory of electrodynamics as a template for his "electrodynamics of moving bodies", simply because besides the speed of light, the electric charge itself is also absolute, leading to the relativity of other physical quantities. General relativity is then introduced, mainly with the help of thought experiments. Reference is made to the previously introduced special relativity and the equivalence principle and, using many figures, it is explained how space-time is bending under gravity. The climax of the book comes with the Einstein equations of gravity that describe the way in which matter bends space-time. The reader is shown how to obtain the famous Schwarzschild solution. There follows a numerically correct and yet intuitive explanation of the classic effects such as light bending or the movement of the perihelion. The book concludes by explaining the Friedmann model of the big bang and why the theory of gravity does not fit with quantum theory.