Non-LOTR, nay, non-fiction rec.

I don't know if y'all have heard of Bill Bryson, but most of his books (best known - A Walk in the Woods) are travel books. But he has also written a sort of overview of science - wait! don't run away! - that is one of the funniest books I've read in forever, plus actually using a rather unique, albeit somewhat skewed, perspective on it all. No math or previous science background required here, folks. For a taste, check this out:

( *A Short History Of Nearly Everything )