I've been thinking guise, /prog/ has one book that is the total, authoritative, last word on everything having to do with computer science and programming, so why aren't there books like that for other branches of science (or are there)?
Like, is there one book, under 1000 or so pages long, say, that contains the entire combined wisdom of, physics or astronomy or math like SICP does for computer science?
Then whenever anyone asked any question at all about math, we could just all reply "Read XYZT, n00bfag." like they do on /prog/, and we wouldn't have to waste time coming up with thoughtful replies. It would save so much time!
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Anonymous2009-05-11 22:50
Good luck with trying to find "total, authoritative, last word on everything" texts for math, physics, or chemistry.
The Handbook of Chemical Engineering Calculations is another good choice.
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Anonymous2009-05-12 3:31
>>1
The problem is that Physics is such a large field that any one book would have to be several thousand pages long to have any detail.
Astronomy has what we lovingly call Bob (Big orange Book). ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805304029 ). Unfortunately, the book manages to make an exciting and colorful field feel dry and mathematical, so if you really want to know the answer, it's there, if you can stand to read it.
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Anonymous2009-05-12 8:20
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Tough to find a copy.
>>3
Actually looks like a pretty nice book. I'd buy it if I found it on sale for like $20 somewhere. Maybe $25 if there were more color pictures in it. :3
Topos theory actually has such a thing in development, Peter Johnstone's "Sketches of an Elephant". It's planned to be a three-volume set, the first two have already been released. You need a strong background in category theory to read it though. A couple years ago I seem to recall my algebra professor mentioning such a thing in development for finite group theory as well.