Anthony Dhanendran of Computeractive magazine. “Think of it as a replacement for the paperback you’d usually pack.” Ah yes, books. Sadly it’s the reading matter that’s the problem with e-readers. There’s no universal format, so your choice of reading is limited when you opt for a Sony or Kindle or Kool-er (all recommended byComputeractive). But it’s the price of e-books that’s most likely to put you off—they’re no cheaper than on paper, unless you opt for the classics. By downloading out-of-copyright books from gutenberg.org and manybooks.net, you’ll have a thousand years of knowledge at your fingertips for free. Now that is a good deal.

...unlock the secrets of the universe

How to

PUT AWAY A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME.

There’s an even shorter introduction to the universe, 30-Second Theories (Icon, £12.99), which examines science’s Big Ideas in 30 seconds each. And just in case you can’t find 25 minutes to unravel all 50 of them, we’ve asked editor Paul Parsons to pick the best.

1. Theory most often

confused with fact:

gravity. “It’s an observation of a fact—I jump up and then I come down—and anyway there’s more than one theory,” says Parsons. “Isaac Newton’s works fine for apples, but can’t predict the orbits of the planets with 100 per cent accuracy. That had to wait for

Einstein’s general theory of relativity in 1915. Now we need a new theory to explain what happened immediately after the Big Bang.”

2. Theory with

greatest staying power: quantum theory.

“The study of subatomic

players) and promises

many more.” It could even be the theory of everything.

3. Theory everyone

should know: Ockham’s

razor. The idea that

the simplest explanation is usually the best was first put forward by William of

William of Ockham, a 14th-century monk.

4. Theory most

arsons. “Game theory uses maths to analyse decisions and weigh up risks. It was developed during the

during the Cold War by the

particles has

given us nuclear power, computers, mobile phones and lasers (hence DVD

likely to make you rich:

game theory. “As a card player I’m a fan,” says Parsons. “

the US, to help them figure out what to do in a stand- off with the Soviet

viet Union.”

What a shame no one told Bush and Blair. Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24