Black Holes & Time Warps: Einstein's Outrageous Legacy
Kip S. Thorne
I love this book. Thorne's writing is understandable and clear (although the self-references sometimes become distracting) and Zimet's illustrations make this introduction to black holes a perfect first-timer. The details and the personal involvement, on the other hand, enrich this history of thought behind the theories surrounding the collapse of stars, particularly the honking huge ones that result in black holes. The real dirt behind the phrase "black hole" is especially funny. For an astronomer. But then, I'm ready to quit my day job and become an astronomer...
