The Instant Physicist: An Illustrated Guide by Richard Muller

This short book follows a long line of other works that have attempted to break down complex science questions into easily consumed bite-sized bits. The cartoons that are on every other page are unique to books of this sort that I have seen, and help make the read more entertaining. The physics in the book and the explanations are more in depth than you would expect. Each entry takes up no more than a page, and in a succinct manner the author is able to convey a healthy dose of science. It was an enjoyable read that accomplished its goal – I now know some useful physics facts. There were many things I liked about the book, as well as some I did not. 

Pros 
* The energy explanations were great. If you want to gather some quick facts about why the electric car is so far behind the gas-guzzler’s, this is a great place to start. 
* The short bit on the carcinogens in organic food . . . 
* In general, the science was well balanced for the casual reader. 
* Timely book – many of the the topics are well suited for today. 

Cons 
* References to scholarly works by the author were out of place in a book like this. 
* Some of the science did not have enough background. In a book of this size, this may be unavoidable, but it would be nice to include some other recommendations to follow up on. 
* Too short. Once you remove the cartoons this book clocks in at under 70 pages. 

If you are an avid non-fiction reader looking for an entertaining book on physics, this book is both timely, helpful, and recommended.