Atkins P. Galileo's Finger: The Ten Great Ideas of Science

New York: Oxford University, 2003. – 363 p.Atkins presents a breathtaking review of present understanding, Madliox J., Times Literary Supplement. a charming and ambitious book, Nature. It is a testament to [Atkins'] skills as a writer and tutors that, despite the subject matter, it is difficult to get lost. Atkins has a gift for making complex principles very clear. . This book is the perfect guide for the intelligent lay person who has always wanted to understand science more deeply, but has never known where to begin. — Mark Henderson, The Times.Prologue: The Emergence of Understanding
Evolution: The Emergence of Complexity
DNA: The Rationalization of Biology
Energy: The Universalization of Accountancy
Entropy: The Spring of Change
Atoms: The Reduction of Matter
Symmetry: The Quantification of Beauty
Quanta: The Simplification of Understanding
Cosmology: The Globalization of Reality
Spacetime: The Arena of Action
Arithmetic: The Limits of Reason
Epilogue: The Future of Understanding
Further reading
Acknowledgements