For those wanting to get a youngster interested in science, Isaac Asimov wrote a number of essays back in the day that are excellent reads, if somewhat simplistic from the perspective of a modern college STEM education. They're aimed at 8-15 year olds or adults who lacked that kind of education. Collections of them were published with titles such as Adding A Dimension, The Secret Of The Universe, and so on. Mostly out of print now but great reads.
Connections, by James Burke, is great for a holistic perspective on history, how discoveries build on one another and are driven by local needs. This is the volume that inspired the famous TV series.
If naval history is your thing, I recommend Blind Man's Bluff by Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew, and America's Secret Submarine by Lee Vyborny and Don Davis. These are excellent histories of submarine espionage during the Cold War. Blind Man's Bluff is a great overview and goes into detail on the missions of USS Halibut, while America's Secret Submarine focuses on the construction, sea trials, and missions of the NR-1 and life under Admiral Rickover.
Connections, by James Burke, is great for a holistic perspective on history, how discoveries build on one another and are driven by local needs. This is the volume that inspired the famous TV series.
If naval history is your thing, I recommend Blind Man's Bluff by Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew, and America's Secret Submarine by Lee Vyborny and Don Davis. These are excellent histories of submarine espionage during the Cold War. Blind Man's Bluff is a great overview and goes into detail on the missions of USS Halibut, while America's Secret Submarine focuses on the construction, sea trials, and missions of the NR-1 and life under Admiral Rickover.