 | The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time and the Texture of Reality (Penguin Press Science) by Brian Greene
Buy new: £7.66 / Used from: £3.44 Brian Greene has written a truly excellent guide to time, space and the texture of reality. A good starting point.
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 | Big Bang: The Most Important Scientific Discovery of All Time and Why You Need to Know About it by Simon Singh
Buy new: £6.46 / Used from: £3.86 The science and the history behind the Big Bang theory. Incredibly well written and enjoyable, it will keep you gripped.
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 | Quantum: A Guide for the Perplexed by Jim al-Khalili
Buy new: £9.22 / Used from: £6.00 A lavish and highly readable guide to quantum mechanics. Jim Al-Khalili takes us through it from scratch. Not only well-written but nicely-presented.
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 | The Magic Furnace by Marcus Chown
Buy new: £6.96 / Used from: £2.90 This one is a comprehensive guide to the origin of atoms and stars. Like Singh's 'Big Bang', this has the science and the history. In my opinion, Chown's best book to date.
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 | Parallel Worlds: The Science of Alternative Universes and Our Future in the Cosmos by Michio Kaku
Buy new: £7.64 / Used from: £4.46 An awe-inspiring read that tackles what must surely be one of the most exciting (albeit speculative) areas of theoretical physics, that of parallel universes.
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 | The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory by Brian Greene
Buy new: £6.69 / Used from: £2.95 Brian Greene's original masterpiece, this one delves into string/M-theory. Quite a hard-going topic if you're a beginner, but Greene is an excellent communicator.
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 | Bang! The Complete History of the Universe by Brian May
Buy new: £8.00 / Used from: £7.59 A superbly put-together complete history of the universe, with stunning photography. Not just good looks though - it's comprehensive and clearly written.
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 | Six Easy Pieces: Fundamentals of Physics Explained (Penguin Press Science) by Richard P Feynman
Buy new: £6.46 / Used from: £4.38 If you're interested in learning about cosmology and/or quantum theory but lack a grounding in physics, this is a good starting point, and one of two Feynman's I'd recommend.
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 | QED - The Strange Theory of Light and Matter (Penguin Press Science) by Richard P Feynman
Buy new: £6.46 / Used from: £3.15 This is the other one. Feynman on his own area of expertise, quantum electrodynamics - how light and electrons interact. One of the rare parts of quantum mechanics that is known for sure.
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 | Quantum: Einstein, Bohr and the Great Debate About the Nature of Reality by Manjit Kumar
Buy new: £6.99 / Used from: £3.50 The story of the conflict between two of the most powerful intellects of their day, Einstein and Bohr.
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