100 Best Optics Books of All Time (Updated for 2026)

1

A Short History of Nearly Everything

Bill Bryson

5.0

In Bryson's biggest book, he confronts his greatest challenge: to understand—and, if possible, answer—the oldest, biggest questions we have posed about the universe and ourselves. Taking as territory everything from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization, Bryson seeks to understand how we got from there being nothing at all to there being us. To that end, he has attached himself to a host of the

Recommended by Amanda Palmer, David Goldberg, and Fabrice Grinda.

Amanda Palmer

Amanda Palmer recommended this book in the book "Tools of Titans". [source]

David Goldberg

What I really liked about A Short History of Nearly Everything is that it gives an excellent account of a lot of the personalities and the interconnectedness of important discoveries in cosmology and elsewhere. He does such a great job of bringing together our understanding of cosmology, evolution, paleontology, and geology in a very, very fluid way. [source]

Fabrice Grinda

I have lots of books to recommend, but they are not related to my career path. The only one that is remotely related is Peter Thiel’s Zero to One. That said here are books I would recommend. [source]

2

The Feynman Lectures on Physics

Richard P. Feynman

4.9

The legendary introduction to physics from the subject's greatest teacher
"The whole thing was basically an experiment," Richard Feynman said late in his career, looking back on the origins of his lectures. The experiment turned out to be hugely successful, spawning a book that has remained a definitive introduction to physics for decades. Ranging from the most basic principles of Newtonian physics

Recommended by Bill Gates and David Bainbridge.

Bill Gates

CEO/Microsoft

You don't have to take a course to learn physics. If you're hardcore, read the Feynman book and do the problems. [source]

David Bainbridge

I think that he is one of the most intelligent people to live in the 20th century. Yet at the same time, surprisingly, he is an amazingly good teacher. This is quite an unusual combination. [source]

3

QED: The Strange Theory of Light & Matter: Alix G. Mautner Memorial Lectures

Richard P. Feynman

4.8

Famous the world over for the creative brilliance of his insights into the physical world, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman also possessed an extraordinary talent for explaining difficult concepts to the nonscientist. QED--the edited version of four lectures on quantum electrodynamics that Feynman gave to the general public at UCLA as part of the Alix G. Mautner Memorial Lecture serie

Recommended by Larry Page, Marcus Chown, and Ryan Shea.

Marcus Chown

When Feynman was at Cal Tech, this wealthy couple who’d grown up in the same New York neighbourhood as he had said, Look, you’ve won this Nobel Prize, now explain to ordinary people what for. And Feynman said, No, it’s too complicated. But eventually he did this series of public lectures, and that was the book. It’s a tiny book and in it he describes the whole of quantum electrodynamics without a single equation. [source]

Ryan Shea

@jaltma @AriannaSimpson Incredible book. Perhaps my favorite physics book. [source]

4

Introduction to Modern Optics

Grant R. Fowles

4.5

This incisive text provides a basic undergraduate-level course in modern optics for students in physics, technology and engineering. The first half of the book deals with classical physical optics; the second principally with the quantum nature of light. Chapters 1 and 2 treat the propagation of light waves, including the concepts of phase and group velocities, and the vectorial nature of light. C

5

Scientific American September 2026

Scientific American

4.3

Scientific American covers the most important and exciting research, ideas and knowledge in science, health, technology, the environment and society. It is committed to sharing trustworthy knowledge and enhancing our understanding of the world .

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6

Principles of Optics: Electromagnetic Theory of Propagation, Interference and Diffraction of Light

Max Born, Emil Wolf, A. B. Bhatia, P. C. Clemmow, D. Gabor, A. R. Stokes, A. M. Taylor, P. A. Wayman, W. L. Wilcock

4.3

Principles of Optics is one of the classic science books of the twentieth century, and probably the most influential book in optics published in the past forty years. This edition has been thoroughly revised and updated, with new material covering the CAT scan, interference with broad-band light and the so-called Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction theory. This edition also details scattering from inh

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7

Vision and Art (Updated and Expanded Edition)

Margaret S. Livingstone, David Hubel

4.3

With the original release of Vision and Art in 2002, Harvard professor Margaret Livingstone successfully bridged the gap between science and art, exploring how great painters fool the brain: why Mona Lisa’s smile seems so mysterious, or Monet’s Poppy Field appears to sway. In the revised and expanded edition, Livingstone presents two new chapters of her latest observations, has substantially expan

Recommended by Jane Jelley.

Jane Jelley

There are many things as an artist you can’t discover or explain by yourself along the way, like how a bright colour can appear to be lighter than it is, or the science behind making your picture look as if something is receding. Margaret Livingstone explains tricks of the eye: questions of luminance, depth and colour; and does so in terms of our vision system. All the time painters have a challenge of expressing something that is three dimensional, on the surface of their canvas, which is flat. [source]

8

Fixing My Gaze: A Scientist's Journey into Seeing in Three Dimensions

Susan R. Barry, Oliver Sacks

4.3

When neuroscientist Susan Barry was fifty years old, she took an unforgettable trip to Manhattan. As she emerged from the dim light of the subway into the sunshine, she saw a view of the city that she had witnessed many times in the past but now saw in an astonishingly new way. Skyscrapers on street corners appeared to loom out toward her like the bows of giant ships. Tree branches projected upwar

9

The Universal One

Walter Russell

4.3

A “must” for the serious student of Russell science and philosophy, The Universal One is Walter Russell’s first expression of his new Cosmogony explaining the Mind-centered electromagnetic universe.

Russell later revised some of the content of The Universal One in The Secret of Light and A New Concept of the Universe. Students of the Russell science should be aware of the historic sequence of Walte

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10

My Trip to the Hospital

Mercer Mayer

4.2

When Little Critter breaks his leg in a soccer game, he has to make his first trip to the hospital. Follow brave Little Critter as he rides in an ambulance, meets the doctor, and gets his first X-ray and his first cast.

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11

Nonlinear Optics

Robert W. Boyd

4.2

Nonlinear Optics, Fourth Edition, is a tutorial-based introduction to nonlinear optics that is suitable for graduate-level courses in electrical and electronic engineering, and for electronic and computer engineering departments, physics departments, and as a reference for industry practitioners of nonlinear optics. It will appeal to a wide audience of optics, physics and electrical and electroni

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12

OpTic Gaming: The True Story of the Making of eSports Greatest Team

H3CZ, NaDeSHot, et al.

4.2

OpTic Gaming, the four-time Call of Duty Major League Gaming Champions and one of the top eSports teams in the world, now takes fans behind the controller—into the game and the minds of the greatest gamers in the world—in this fascinating and unique memoir and insider guide.

Emerging on the scene in 2006, OpTic Gaming has dominated the Call of Duty e-sports arena, thanks to the talents of legendary

13

The Holographic Universe: The Revolutionary Theory of Reality

Michael Talbot

4.2

"Awake-up call to wonder, an adventure in ideas." —Larry Dossey,M.D., author of Space, Time & Medicine

Now witha new foreword by Lynn McTaggart, author of TheField, Michael Talbot’s classic treatise on the latest frontiers of physicsreveals a revolutionary theory of reality, explaining the paranormal abilitiesof the mind, the unsolved riddles of brain and body, and the true nature of theuniverse. L

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14

Optics

Eugene Hecht

4.2

Accurate, authoritative and comprehensive, Optics, Fourth Edition has been revised to provide readers with the most up-to-date coverage of optics. The market leader for over a decade, this book provides a balance of theory and instrumentation, while also including the necessary classical background. The writing style is lively and accessible.

15

Interaction of Color

Josef Albers, Nicholas Fox Weber

4.2

Josef Albers’s Interaction of Color is a masterwork in twentieth-century art education. Conceived as a handbook and teaching aid for artists, instructors, and students, this timeless book presents Albers’s unique ideas of color experimentation in a way that is valuable to specialists as well as to a larger audience.

Originally published by Yale University Press in 1963 as a limited silkscreen editi

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16

The Optics Of Ibn Al Haytham

Ibn Al-Haytham, Professor Abdelhamid I Sabra

4.2

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17

Electromagnetic Principles Of Integrated Optics

Donald L. Lee

4.2

Develops the fundamental electromagnetic concepts and principles of guided wave optics from Maxwell's equations in a unified fashion. Analyzes many important building blocks of integrated optical systems. Discusses 2- and 3-dimensional optical waveguides, optical fibers, prism and dielectric waveguide couplers, waveguide filters, grating reflectors, and spectrum analyzers. The first introductory t

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18

Opticks

Sir Isaac Newton, I. Bernard Cohen, Albert Einstein, Sir Edmund Whittaker

4.2

"Recommended to all scientists." — Journal of Royal Naval Scientific Service
"The publishers do us a service by issuing this reprint." — The Institute of Physics
"An underpinning for the entire edifice of physics." — Scientific American
A comprehensive survey of eighteenth-century knowledge about all aspects of light, Opticks also offers countless scientific insights by its distinguished author. One

Recommended by Sophie Gee.

Sophie Gee

Newton’s a genius whose most obvious contribution to science was to formulate the laws of motion and of gravity and to come up with breakthrough theories about light, colour, vision and so on. But in the Queries to the Opticks he treats these questions as philosophical problems as much as scientific problems. He sees his work not simply as changing the way that scientific inquiry is going to happen for the next 300 years, but also the way that people think about what it means to be human. [source]

19

Vermeer's Camera: Uncovering the Truth Behind the Masterpieces

Philip Steadman

4.2

Art historians have long speculated on how Vermeer achieved the uncanny mixture of detached precision, compositional repose, and perspective accuracy that have drawn many to describe his work as "photographic." Indeed, many wonder if Vermeer employed a camera obscura, a primitive form of camera, to enhance his realistic effects?

In Vermeer's Camera, Philip Steadman traces the development of the cam

Recommended by Jane Jelley.

Jane Jelley

Philip Steadman also took a practical approach in his book Vermeer’s Camera (2001) to determine whether Vermeer used a lens. The reason people think it possible, or even likely, is because Vermeer’s work has qualities that stand out, qualities which are unusual, and which could be related to the use of optics. In particular we see an extraordinary sensitivity to light, and a sense that we are looking at moments frozen in time. There are other unusual features too. There are few lines, mostly just blurry edges; there are changes in focus; and shifts in scale. There are also little highlight dots in his pictures, which are unusual; and in the lowest layer there’s a lack of compositional line, unlike in the underpaintings of other Old Master painters of his day. Vermeer’s painting is composed of shapes, rather than lines. [source]

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20

The Ultimate Optics Guide to Rifle Shooting: A Comprehensive Guide to Using Your Riflescope on the Range and in the Field

CPL. Reginald J.G. Wales

4.2

The Ultimate Optics Guide to Rifle Shooting walks you through each step of the process on how to use your optical rifle scope to its maximum potential. A complete and comprehensive guide to using your rifle scope in the field or on the range. The optical rifle scope has been in use for more than one hundred years, but it's not until now that a book has come along to teach the shooter how to truly

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21

Surface Plasmons On Smooth And Rough Surfaces And On Gratings

Heinz Raether

4.2

The book reviews the properties of surface plasmons that depict electromagnetic surface waves or surface plasma polaritons. Their propagation on smooth and corrugated surfaces (with rough or grating profiles) is considered. In the latter case, the corrugations can cause strong coupling of the surface plasmons with photons leading to resonances with a strong enhancement of the electromagnetic field

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22

Worked Problems in Ophthalmic Lenses

Janney, Tunnacliffe

4.2

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23

Contact Lens Complications E-Book

Richard C.K. Jordan and Michael A.O. Lewi

4.2

Effectively manage even the most challenging contact lens complications with help from Contact Lens Complications, 3rd Edition! Award-winning author, clinician, and researcher Professor Nathan Efron presents a thoroughly up-to-date, clinician-friendly guide to identifying, understanding, and managing ocular response to contact lens wear. Evaluate and manage patients efficiently with an organizatio

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24

The Plane Wave Spectrum Representation of Electromagnetic Fields

P. C. Clemmow

4.2

This is a classic text reissued in the joint IEEE/OUP series. It explains and illustrates a powerful technique for use in electromagnetic waves represented by the superposition of plane waves travelling in diverse directions. There is no other self-contained account of this technique available. This reprint includes a new Foreword by Dr. James Wait and an updated bibliography provided by Professor

25

Catching the Light: The Entwined History of Light and Mind

Arthur Zajonc

4.2

In 1910, the surgeons Moreau and LePrince wrote about their successful operation on an eight-year-old boy who had been blind since birth because of cataracts. When the boy's eyes were healed they removed the bandages and, waving a hand in front of the child's physically perfect eyes, asked him what he saw. "I don't know," was his only reply. What he saw was only a varying brightness in front of hiFrom ancient times to the present, from philosophers to quantum physicists, nothing has so perplexed, so fascinated, so captivated the mind as the elusive definition of light. In Catching the Light, Arthur Zajonc takes us on an epic journey into history, tracing how humans have endeavored to understand the phenomenon of light. Blending mythology, religion, science, literature, and painting, Zajonc reveals in poetic detail the human struggle to identify the vital connection between the outer light of nature and the inner light of the human spirit. He explains the curiousness of the Greeks' blue and green "color blindness": Odysseus gazing longingly at the "wine-dark sea"; the use of chloros (green) as the color of honey in Homer's Odessey; and Euripides' use of the color green to describe the hue of tears and blood. He demonstrates the complexity of perception through the work of Paul Cézanne--the artist standing on the bank of a river, painting the same scene over and over again, the motifs multiplying before his eyes. And Zajonc goes on to show how our quest for an understanding of light, as well as the conclusions we draw, reveals as much about the nature of our own psyche as it does about the nature of light itself. For the ancient Egyptians the nature of light was clear--it simply was the gaze of God. In the hands of the ancient Greeks, light had become the luminous inner fire whose ethereal effluence brought sight. In our contemporary world of modern quantum physics, science plays the greatest part in our theories of light's origin--from scientific perspectives such as Sir Isaac Newton's "corpuscular theory of light" and Michael Faraday's "lines of force" to such revolutionary ideas as Max Planck's "discrete motion of a pendulum" (the basis of quantum mechanics), Albert Einstein's "particles of light" and "theory of relativity," and Niels Bohr's "quantum jumps." Yet the metaphysical aspects of the scientific search, Zajonc shows, still loom large. For the physicist Richard Feynman, a quantum particle travels all paths, eventually distilling to one path whose action is least--the most beautiful path of all. Whatever light is, here is where we will find it.

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26

Laser Material Processing

William M. Steen

4.2

Laser Material Processing is an introductory book on the application of lasers to cutting, welding, and the many new processes in surface treatment. Background information on surface treatment processes is provided to give the reader a real understanding of the process mechanisms, method of application, and industrial potential. Additionally, there are sections on basic optics, theoretical modelli

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27

Understanding Physics for JEE Main & Advanced Optics & Modern Physics

D C Pandey

4.2

•Detailed “theory” is given with the figures to understand the topic well.

•“Sample examples” are given for subject understanding before the text.

•Each topic includes the “introductory exercise” to test the ability.

•“Extra Points” are given to follow the points in brief.

•2 leveled solved examples are given at the end of chapter

•Consist 2 leveled exercise level 1 for AIEEE and level 2 for IIT J

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28

Ophthalmic Prescription Work

Arthur G. Bennett, Simon J.L. Blumlein, S.J.L. Blumlein

4.2

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29

Theoretical Optics: An Introduction

Hartmann Römer

4.2

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30

IR and Raman Spectroscopy: Fundamental Processing

Siegfried Wartewig

4.2

An introduction to practical IR and Raman spectroscopy.
This interactive course shows newcomers the decisive and central steps in IR and Raman spectroscopy, together with their processing. Using the latest version of the packaged BRUKER software, users can manipulate the data to meet their own special requirements for further evaluation, allowing them to do without automatic processing or expert h

31

Scientific American 20th January 2026

Scientific American

4.2

Scientific American covers the most important and exciting research, ideas and knowledge in science, health, technology, the environment and society. It is committed to sharing trustworthy knowledge and enhancing our understanding of the world .

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32

BASIC PHYSICS: PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS

Avijit Lahiri

4.2

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33

Principles of Anatomy and Physiology

Gerard J. Tortora, Bryan H. Derrickson

4.2

34

Introduction to Fourier Optics

Joseph W. Goodman

4.2

Introduction to Fourier Optics is the standard teaching and reference text for Fourier Optics and optical Information processing. Over the years, applications of these principles have been important in diverse fields such as pattern recognition, image processing, displays, sensors, communications, data storage and imaging systems. Previous editions have included updated material on holography and

35

The Universe in 100 Colors: Weird and Wondrous Colors from Science and Nature

Tyler Thrasher, Terry Mudge, and Hank Green

4.2

At the intersection of science, art, nature, and design, this breathtaking coffee table book reveals 100 extraordinary hues you’ve likely never seen before.Created by Instagram sensation Tyler Thrasher and Terry Mudge (creator of the Matter box), with a foreword by Hank Green, The Universe in 100 Colors is a visual and scientific journey through the spectrum of our universe.Each entry features viv

36

The Secret of Light

Walter Russell

4.2

This book explains the nature of Light and proves the existence of God by methods and standards acceptable to science and religion alike. It lays a spiritual foundation under the material one of science; one upon which the current New Age movement is built.

A century and more ahead of his time, Walter Russell, in The Secret of Light presents a unique Cosmogony, that of a universe in which Creator a

37

Scientific American April 2026

Scientific American

4.1

Scientific American covers the most important and exciting research, ideas and knowledge in science, health, technology, the environment and society. It is committed to sharing trustworthy knowledge and enhancing our understanding of the world .

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38

The Optics of Life: A Biologist's Guide to Light in Nature

Sonke Johnsen

4.1

Optics--a field of physics focusing on the study of light--is also central to many areas of biology, including vision, ecology, botany, animal behavior, neurobiology, and molecular biology. The Optics of Life introduces the fundamentals of optics to biologists and nonphysicists, giving them the tools they need to successfully incorporate optical measurements and principles into their research. Sön

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39

Quantum Physics for Beginners: Discover The Most Mind-Blowing Quantum Physics Theories Made Easy to Understand the Secrets and Wonders of the Science that is Changing our Lives

Elliot Berg

4.1

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40

Diffractive Optics: Design, Fabrication, and Test

Donald C. O'Shea, Thomas J. Suleski, et al.

4.1

This work is based on a series of short courses in diffractive optics which provided basic theory on diffractive optics and then allowed participants to progress through a series of exercises on the design, fabrication, and testing of diffractive optical elements (DOEs).

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41

Ross and Wilson Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness

Anne Waugh MSc CertEd SRN RNT FHEA, Allison Grant BSc PhD RGN

4.1

The purpose of the book is reflected in its title, Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness. The text is written in straightforward language and is complemented by extensive clear, full-colour illustrations. Each chapter provides an explanation of the normal structure and functions of the human body and what occurs when disease or illness disrupts the normal processes.
Carefully refined, clear

42

Blue: The Science and Secrets of Nature's Rarest Color

Kai Kupferschmidt

4.1

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43

Optical Communications Essentials

Gerd Keiser

4.1

This tour takes readers through the basics and cutting edge applications of optical communications. Broken into short modules, complete with illustrations and sidebars, the text is suitable for use in the classroom, independent study or corporate training.

44

Modern Classical Physics: Optics, Fluids, Plasmas, Elasticity, Relativity, and Statistical Physics

Kip S. Thorne

4.1

From Nobel Prize winner Kip Thorne and acclaimed physicist Roger Blandford, a groundbreaking textbook on twenty-first-century classical physics

This first-year, graduate-level text and reference book covers the fundamental concepts and twenty-first-century applications of six major areas of classical physics that every masters- or PhD-level physicist should be exposed to, but often isn't: statistic

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45

Speckle Phenomena in Optics: Theory and Applications

Joseph W. Goodman

4.1

Providing a comprehensive discussion of the statistical properties of speckle, Speckle Phenomena in Optics shares detailed coverage of its role in applications such as astronomy, projection display, and optical radar detection.

46

Classical Electrodynamics

John David Jackson

4.1

A revision of the defining book covering the physics and classical mathematics necessary to understand electromagnetic fields in materials and at surfaces and interfaces. The third edition has been revised to address the changes in emphasis and applications that have occurred in the past twenty years.

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47

Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See

Robert Kurson

4.1

The bestselling author of Shadow Divers returns with a riveting story of exploration, mystery, and the discovery of an unknown world--this time about one man's incredible odyssey from blindness into sight.

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48

Light: The Visible Spectrum and Beyond

Megan Watzke

4.1

A visual exploration of the power and behavior of light, across the electromagnetic spectrum, and how it affects life on earth and everything in the Universe. Light allows us to see everything around us, but humans can only see a sliver of all light, known as the electromagnetic spectrum. Here, Kim Arcand and Megan Watzke present the subject of light as never before. Organized along the order of t

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49

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing for Optical Communications

William Shieh

4.1

The first book on optical OFDM by the leading pioneers in the fieldThe only book to cover error correction codes for optical OFDMGives applications of OFDM to free-space communications, optical access networks, and metro and log haul transports show optical OFDM can be implementedContains introductions to signal processing for optical engineers and optical communication fundamentals for wireless e

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50

Dorland's Pocket Medical Index

William Alexander, Newman Dorland

4.1

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51

Photonic Crystals: Molding the Flow of Light - Second Edition

John D. Joannopoulos

4.1

Since it was first published in 1995, Photonic Crystals has remained the definitive text for both undergraduates and researchers on photonic band-gap materials and their use in controlling the propagation of light. This newly expanded and revised edition covers the latest developments in the field, providing the most up-to-date, concise, and comprehensive book available on these novel materials an

52

Special Relativity and Classical Field Theory: The Theoretical Minimum

Leonard Susskind

4.1

A funny, insightful, and self-contained guide to Einstein's relativity theory and classical field theories--including electromagnetism

Physicist Leonard Susskind and data engineer Art Friedman are back. This time, they introduce readers to Einstein's special relativity and Maxwell's classical field theory. Using their typical brand of real math, enlightening drawings, and humor, Susskind and Friedm

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53

Secret Knowledge: Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters

David Hockney

4.1

Join one of the most influential artists of our time as he investigates the painting techniques of the Old Masters. Hockney’s extensive research led him to conclude that artists such as Caravaggio, Velázquez, da Vinci, and other hyperrealists actually used optics and lenses to create their masterpieces.In this passionate yet pithy book, Hockney takes readers on a journey of discovery as he builds

54

Through Two Doors at Once: The Elegant Experiment That Captures the Enigma of Our Quantum Reality

Anil Ananthaswamy

4.1

One of Smithsonian's Favorite Books of 2018
One of Forbes's 2018 Best Books About Astronomy, Physics and Mathematics
One of Kirkus's Best Books of 2018

The intellectual adventure story of the "double-slit" experiment, showing how a sunbeam split into two paths first challenged our understanding of light and then the nature of reality itself--and continues to almost 200 years later.

Many of science's

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55

Introduction to Fiber Optics, Third Edition

John Crisp

4.1

Introduction to Fiber Optics is well established as an introductory text for engineers, managers and students. It meets the needs of systems designers, installation engineers, electronic engineers and anyone else looking to gain a working knowledge of fiber optics with a minimum of maths. Review questions are included in the text to enable the reader to check their understanding as they work throu

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56

Optics Demystified

Stan Gibilisco

4.1

Publisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product.

An enlightening guide to optics

Are you in the dark when it comes to understanding the science of optics? Now there's a glimmer in the gloom! Optics Demystified brings this challenging topic into focus.

Written i

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57

Cite Them Right: The Essential Referencing Guide

Richard Pears, Graham Shields

4.1

This book is renowned as the most comprehensive yet easy-to-use guide to referencing available. Tutors rely on the advice to guide their students in the skills of identifying and referencing information sources and avoiding plagiarism. This new edition has new and expanded content, especially in relation to latest electronic sources.

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58

Optics

A. N. Matveev

4.1

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59

Foa Reference Guide to Fiber Optics: Study Guide to Foa Certification

Jim Hayes

4.1

Updated January 2019.This book is a complete guide to the design, installation, testing and operation of fiber optic networks. It was written with the assistance of many experienced Fiber Optic Association (FOA) instructors in fiber optics as a reference book for classes aimed at FOA CFOT certification as well as a basic reference for anyone working in the field of fiber optics. This book offers e

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60

Alhacen's Theory of Visual Perception (First Three Books of Alhacen's de Aspectibus), Volume One--Introduction and Latin Text

Alhazen and A. Mark Smith

4.1

Sometime between 1028 and 1038, Ibn al-Haytham completed his monumental optical synthesis, Kitab al-Manazir ("Book of Optics"). By no later than 1200, and perhaps somewhat earlier, this treatise appeared in Latin under the title De aspectibus. In that form it was attributed to a certain "Alhacen." These differences in title and authorial designation are indicative of the profound differences betwe

61

Scientific American July/August 2026

Scientific American

4.1

Scientific American covers the most important and exciting research, ideas and knowledge in science, health, technology, the environment and society. It is committed to sharing trustworthy knowledge and enhancing our understanding of the world .

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62

Electromagnetic Fields

Jean G. Van Bladel

4.1

Professor Jean Van Bladel, an eminent researcher and educator in fundamental electromagnetic theory and its application in electrical engineering, has updated and expanded his definitive text and reference on electromagnetic fields to twice its original content. This new edition incorporates the latest methods, theory, formulations, and applications that relate to today's technologies. With an emp

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63

The Ultimate Book of Optical Illusions

Al Seckel

4.1

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64

Plasma Etching: An Introduction

Dennis M. Manos

4.1

Plasma etching plays an essential role in microelectronic circuit manufacturing. Suitable for researchers, process engineers, and graduate students, this book introduces the basic physics and chemistry of electrical discharges and relates them to plasma etching mechanisms. Throughout the volume the authors offer practical examples of process chemistry, equipment design, and production methods.

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65

Laser Physics

Murray Sargent III, Marlan O. Scully, Willis E. Jr." Lamb

4.1

This book treats the interaction of radiation with matter, particular attention being paid to the laser. Knowledge is assumed of the usual half-year introduction of quantum mechanics found in undergraduate physics curricula. The material can be covered in two semesters, or, alternatively, the first part (Chaps 1-13) can be used as a one-semester course in which quantum mechanical aspects of the el

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66

Lasers (Revised)

Anthony E Siegman

4.1

This is both a textbook and general reference on the subject of laser theory and basic laser principles. The book gives a detailed accurate treatment of laser physics which does not require a background in quantum mechanics.

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67

Principles of Nano-Optics

Lukas Novotny, Bert Hecht

4.1

Nano-optics is the study of optical phenomena and techniques on the nanometer scale, that is, near or beyond the diffraction limit of light. It is an emerging field of study, motivated by the rapid advance of nanoscience and nanotechnology which require adequate tools and strategies for fabrication, manipulation and characterization at this scale. In this 2006 text the authors provide a comprehens

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68

Contact Lenses

Anthony J. Phillips MPhil FBOA HD FAAO FBCO FVCO FCLSA DCLP, Lynne Speedwell BSc MSc(Health Psych) DCLP FAAO

4.1

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69

A History of the Photographic Lens

Rudolf Kingslake

4.1

The lens is generally the most expensive and least understood part of any camera. In this book, Rudolf Kingslake traces the historical development of the various types of lenses from Daguerre's invention of photography in 1839 through lenses commonly used today.
From an early lens still being manufactured for use in low-cost cameras to designs made possible through such innovations as lens coating,

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70

A Systems Approach to Lithium-Ion Battery Management

Phillip Weicker

4.1

The advent of lithium ion batteries has brought a significant shift in the area of large format battery systems. This title discusses battery management system (BMS) technology for large format lithium-ion battery packs from a systems perspective. It provides an update on BMS technology, covering software, hardware, integration, testing, and safety.

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71

Electronic Properties of Doped Semiconductors

B.I. Shklovskii

4.1

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72

Optic Nerve

María Gainza and Thomas Bunstead

4.1

The narrator of Optic Nerve is an Argentinian woman whose obsession is art. The story of her life is the story of the paintings, and painters, who matter to her. Her intimate, digressive voice guides us through a gallery of moments that have touched her.

In these pages, El Greco visits the Sistine Chapel and is appalled by Michelangelo’s bodies. The mystery of Rothko’s refusal to finish murals for

73

The Universal One: Walter Russell’s Foundational Mind-Centered Electromagnetic Universe Treatise—Exact Facsimile with Full Illustrations

Walter Russell

4.1

Rediscover Walter Russell’s Visionary TreatiseUnlock the full depth of The Universal One: Original Facsimile Edition, an exact reproduction of Walter Russell’s 1926 landmark work on the Mind-Centered Electromagnetic Universe. Every page, diagram and cosmic mandala appears here in its original form—preserved for collectors, seekers, and students alike.Inside this edition you’ll find:Exact Facsimile

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74

Schaum's Outline of Optics

Eugene Hecht

4.1

Confusing Textbooks? Missed Lectures? Not Enough Time?

Fortunately for you, there's Schaum's Outlines. More than 40 million students have trusted Schaum's to help them succeed in the classroom and on exams. Schaum's is the key to faster learning and higher grades in every subject. Each Outline presents all the essential course information in an easy-to-follow, topic-by-topic format. You also get hu

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75

Zapped: From Infrared to X-rays, the Curious History of Invisible Light

Bob Berman

4.1

How much do you know about the radiation all around you?

Your electronic devices swarm with it; the sun bathes you in it. It's zooming at you from cell towers, microwave ovens, CT scans, mammogram machines, nuclear power plants, deep space, even the walls of your basement. You cannot see, hear, smell or feel it, but there is never a single second when it is not flying through your body. Too much

76

Ways of Being

James Bridle

4.1

Artist, technologist, and philosopher James Bridle’s Ways of Being is a brilliant, searching exploration of different kinds of intelligence―plant, animal, human, artificial―and how they transform our understanding of humans’ place in the cosmos.What does it mean to be intelligent? Is it something unique to humans or shared with other beings―beings of flesh, wood, stone, and silicon? The last few y

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77

Optics

Bruno B. Rossi

4.1

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78

Atom-Photon Interactions: Basic Processes and Applications

Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, Jacques Dupont-Roc, Gilbert Grynberg

4.1

Atom-Photon Interactions: Basic Processes and Applications allows the reader to master various aspects of the physics of the interaction between light and matter. It is devoted to the study of the interactions between photons and atoms in atomic and molecular physics, quantum optics, and laser physics. The elementary processes in which photons are emitted, absorbed, scattered, or exchanged between

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79

Conceptual Physics

Paul G. Hewitt

4.0

80

Essential Calculus-based Physics Study Guide Workbook: Waves, Fluids, Sound, Heat, and Light (Learn Physics with Calculus Step-by-Step Book 3)

Chris McMullen

4.0

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81

Introduction to Lens Design: With Practical Zemax Examples

Joseph M. Geary

4.0

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82

Color and Meaning: Art, Science, and Symbolism

John Gage

4.0

Is color just a physiological reaction, a sensation resulting from different wave lengths of light on receptors in our eyes? Does color have an effect on our feelings? The phenomenon of color is examined in extraordinary new ways in John Gage's latest book. His pioneering study is informed by the conviction that color is a contingent, historical occurrence whose meaning, like language, lies in the

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83

Lightspeed: The Ghostly Aether and the Race to Measure the Speed of Light

John C. H. Spence

4.0

This book tells the human story of one of man's greatest intellectual adventures - how it came to be understood that light travels at a finite speed, so that when we look up at the stars, we are looking back in time. And how the search for a God-given absolute frame of reference in the universe led most improbably to Einstein's most famous equation E=mc2, which represents the energy that powers th

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84

Little Critter: Just a Storybook Collection

Mercer Mayer

4.0

This collection features six of your favorite Little Critter® stories! Join Little Critter as he enters the school science fair, trains for a big race, enjoys a snowy day, spends the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa, and so much more.

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85

Elements of Modern Optical Design

Donald C. O'Shea

4.0

A textbook for elementary optical design that treats lasers, modulators, and scanners as part of the design process. Moves from the simplest concepts in optics to a basic understanding of ray tracing in optical systems, the components of those systems, and the process by which a design is produced. Features numerous problems, examples, and figures.

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86

Fiber Optic Test and Measurement

Dennis Derickson

4.0

This is the most authoritative, complete source of test and measurement information for engineers who design and maintain fiber optic networks. This book presents measurement principles for characterizing all three basic components of a fiber optic communication system: the optical transmitter, fiber medium and optical receiver. It also covers system level measurements, and discusses the principl

87

Understand Physics: Teach Yourself

Jim Breithaupt

4.0

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88

Fundamentals of Optics

Francis A. Jenkins

4.0

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89

Computational Fourier Optics: A MATLAB Tutorial

David G. Voelz

4.0

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90

Modern Optical Engineering: The Design of Optical Systems

Warren Smith

4.0

Publisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product.

The Latest Advances in Optical Engineering and Lens Technology

Long-established as the definitive optics text and reference, Modern Optical Engineering has been completely revised and updated to equip you with a

91

FASTER THAN LIGHT: HOW YOUR SHADOW CAN DO IT BUT YOU CAN'T

Robert J. Nemiroff

4.0

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92

The Contact Lens Manual: A Practical Guide to Fitting

Andrew Gasson FCOptom DCLP FAAO, Judith A. Morris MSc FCOptom FAAO FIACLE

4.0

The Contact Lens Manual continues to meet the needs of a new generation of optometrists, dispensing opticians, contact lens practitioners and students who require clear and reliable information for fitting a complete range of contact lenses.

The fourth edition of this best-selling classic, now in full colour throughout, provides the most up-to-date guidance in all aspects of today's lenses in a pra

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93

The Science of Art: Optical Themes in Western Art from Brunelleschi to Seurat

Martin Kemp

4.0

In this pathbreaking and richly illustrated book, Martin Kemp examines the major optically oriented examples of artistic theory and practice from Brunelleschi’s invention of perspective and its exploitation by Leonardo and Durer to the beginnings of photography. In a discussion of color theory, Kemp traces two main traditions of color science: the Aristotelian tradition of primary colors and Newto

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94

Computational Electrodynamics: The Finite-Difference Time-Domain Method

Allen Taflove, Susan C. Hagness

4.0

This extensively revised and expanded third edition of the Artech House bestseller, Computational Electrodynamics: The Finite-Difference Time-Domain Method, offers engineers the most up-to-date and definitive resource on this critical method for solving Maxwell's equations. The method helps practitioners design antennas, wireless communications devices, high-speed digital and microwave circuits, a

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95

Foundations in Nursing and Health Care - Beginning Reflective Practice (Foundations in Nursing & Health Care)

Melanie Jasper

4.0

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96

Clinical Anatomy Of The Visual System

Lee Ann Remington OD MS FAAO, Denise Goodwin

4.0

This concise source for the clinical anatomy of the visual system covers the clinical anatomy of the eye, its adnexa, and the visual pathways in a well-illustrated, well-referenced format. It balances histologic content of the microscopic anatomy with functional aspects of the eye and visual system. Clear illustrations complement the text and provide clinical information on diseases and disorders

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97

Vintage Neon

Len Davidson

4.0

During the middle of the 20th century, neon signs turned North America's roadside into a luminous wonderland. The most compelling signs were figural: imaginative, cartoon drawings in light. These unforgettable depictions of exploding bowling pins, crashing cars, baton twirling majorettes, and lassoing cowboys were the fodder for legend and lore. Neon designer Len Davidson has captured the magic wi

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98

Modern Introduction to Surface Plasmons: Theory, Mathematica Modeling and Applications

Dror Sarid, William A. Challener

4.0

Introducing graduate students in physics, optics, materials science and electrical engineering to surface plasmons, this book also covers guided modes at planar interfaces of metamaterials with negative refractive index. The physics of localized and propagating surface plasmons, on planar films, gratings, nanowires and nanoparticles, is developed using both analytical and numerical techniques. Gui

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99

Optics

Ajoy Ghatak

4.0

"Optics" gives a comprehensive and balanced account of traditional optics as well as some of the recent developments in this field while meeting the requirements of a course on optics meant for undergraduate students of science and engineering.

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100

The Automated Lighting Programmer's Handbook

Brad Schiller

4.0

This guide helps lighting designers with the creative and operational challenges they face in their rapidly evolving industry. Providing respected and clear coverage of the process of programming automated lighting fixtures, the author brings the designer from basic principles to preproduction preparations. Concepts, procedures, and guidelines to ensure a successful production are covered as well