Life, the Universe and Everything by Andy Fletcher

Investigating God and the New Physics

Most book reviews end with either a recommendation or otherwise as to whether you should read/buy the book in question. I'm going to open up by recommending you DO at least read, and (from the authors point of view of course - no, I'm not him) ideally buy a copy.

I started reading with a slight sense of dread, that maybe the book (the author is American) would have an overbearing pro Christian theme and that I'd struggle with the points and conclusions. It doesn't. Anyone can read this book regardless of their personal beliefs and take something useful from it - I know I have.

Andy is evidently an accomplished mathematician, and no stranger to science (although he is quite modest about his prowess when it comes to science). He presents some fascinating facts about the universe we live in. Here's a few things you get to read about:

Relativity. One of my favourite subjects. Many books read on this subject, will never truly understand it though.
Quantum Mechanics. But in a way even I understood, and from an angle I hadn't considered.
Chaos Theory. This one will drive you nuts. Includes some interesting conclusions about:
The Second Law of thermodynamics. Entropy always increases with time. Andy doesn't actually mention Eden, but the implication of this law is that for there to be any order in the universe today (which obviously there is - you're reading this for instance!) then the initial conditions at the beginning of time must have been perfect. Absolute order. Eden.
Complexity. A group of "brainless" larvae arranging themselves to imitate another creature. If that sounds incredible, read the book and see what they do next!

Throughout the book I was reading stuff which I felt I simply wasn't even qualified to have an opinion on (particularly the maths!).

Here's Andy's website. To get a copy of the book, I'd recommend ordering via the net. Waterstones and WH Smith don't appear to stock it, although I am sure either could order it for you if requested. I got my copy through Amazon.
As a footnote, I've had an e-mail from Andy who should be in the UK later this year. I'm very much hoping I'll get the opportunity to meet him (and get my copy of his book signed!).