The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey by Spencer Wells. 2002, ISBN 0-691-11532-X. This book is a history of the human race as told by the genetic information sampled from various people around the world. The author describes how he and many other scientists have discovered the migrations of human populations since man started to leave Africa around 50,000 years ago. The book is mostly non-technical in the way it explains the ideas covered. The book explains some basic ideas about how genetics works and how it is involved in the evolution of man. There is a TV series with the same title. Purchased 1-26-2003, from Amazon.com for $20.97.
The Oxford Dictionary of Islam edited by John L. Esposito. 2003, ISBN 978-0-19-512559-7. This is a dictionary, a reference book, and therefore not meant to be read from cover to cover. I have read part of the beginning and will probable continue to read a few pages from time to time. So far I am not enjoying this as much as the Thomas Hughes book. That book is much older and much bigger and not as politically correct, but it was more interesting to read than this book. The entries were usually longer and frequently contain references to the Quran, etc.
Climbing Mount Improbable by Richard Dawkins. 1996, ISBN 978-0-393-31682-7. This book is about the Theory of Evolution or Darwin's idea of Natural Selection. It discusses how generations of individuals are more or less successful at passing their genes on to succeeding generations thus 'selecting' some genes while others are de-selected. This process is impersonal and not directed by anything, it is just the result of the actions of the environment on a population over a period of time. This author discusses how something which seems to be improbable could over many thousand of generations be slowly perfected (to its current observed state.) Excellent book, worth reading more than once. Purchased at Powell's 9-9-2011 for $7.98.
