Big Bang by Simon Singh

Merits: Aside from being a bestselling author, Simon Singh is a Ph.D. in particle physics from the University of Cambridge…enough said.

Material: Were we shat into existence? Are we the aftermath of either the universe or God’s choice to have a cigarette and coffee for breakfast? It may sound simple, but there’s a lot more to the ‘bang’ than people might think. This book offers a fun tour of the leading scientific theory of cosmological beginning, traveling through its historical origins on the ride. Strap in and prepare to be humbled.

Grade: The Friz. The cosmos can be an intimidating subject and they are as wacky as they are complex. Fortunately, Simon makes the journey approachable for even just the average star gazer, no Ph.D. required. And being able to watch the genius of famous cosmological philosophers unfold is a blast.