Note: The review below was taken directly from my Goodreads account.

I received a free copy of this book in PDF format from the author. I wasn't explicitly told to give a review in return, but I'm doing it anyway because I figure it's the nice/polite thing to do.

Grand Unification and the New Look of the Atom is actually two short stories that seek to explain concepts of physics ("Grand Unification": E-comets and the universe; "The New Look of the Atom": How atoms are structured).

I had a little trouble actually understanding if this was supposed to be tales describing some process of physics, or if these physics processes were incorporated into science fiction. So that explains something if my shelves are all messed up for this.

I really liked "Grand Unification" and I think Smith did a great job describing the complexity of the universe. I also like the way he sets up and tells this story: through a planetarium scientist, one who is more like a regular non-scientist (in that he's not so great at formal sciences or even physics itself), to us as we go through an exhibit in the planetarium meant to explain the Big Bang and other questions about the creation of the universe. Instead, we get Norbert explaining e-comets, or how the universe is made up of little non-existent pockets (or something; I'm not as great at explaining it, to be honest).

I will admit that the entire "your scientists" bit was a little irritating. Is Norbert an alien? Why is he referring to the scientists of the world as only ours and not his? He also came across as a little condescending at times.

As for "The New Look of the Atom," I found it to be a tad overcomplicated for something I find to be so simple (the structure of an atom). The metaphor was too complicated to fully get the picture until the very end and so I thought it ended up being a wasted learning opportunity. I didn't really enjoy that part.

Overall, I think this book is a short, quick and easy to understand explanation about certain aspects of physics, but if you're more used to scientific articles and in-depth, non-metaphorical, non-fable-styled looks at science, then this book may be too -- I don't want to say juvenile, but that's all I can think of -- for you. I can definitely see people reading it to their kids (not toddlers, of course!) in the hopes of promoting a love for science.

Why pay for a map that's wrong? Some of it is sheer novelty value: a map where California is floating in the middle of the Pacific makes a great conversation piece in an L.A. living room. But it's also a charming memento of human ignorance and imperfection. It reminds us that maps are never completely reliable, should never be mistaken for the actual territory.

- Excerpt from "Elevation" (chapter 5)

p. 83-84

Note: The review below was taken directly from my Goodreads account.

Maphead is about Ken Jennings's love and foray into geography and its many fans: geocachers, Google Maps employees, National Geographic bee nerds, map lovers and more.

Before reading this book, I didn't realize there was so much happening in the nerdy side of geography. I don't necessarily consider myself a geo nerd, but when I was taking geography it was a little hard not to be excited about climate, topography and nunataks. I didn't know that people were as excited about GPS becoming more accurate and planning imaginary road trips. That's actually really awesome.

Fun and interesting book. Jennings has a great wit about him and loves to impart you with little facts here and there outside the bigger picture of the chapter.

Go geography geeks!