Asimov’s Guide to Science was first published by Basic Books in 1960 as The Intelligent Man’s Guide to Science and revised multiple times (1965, 1972, 1984), each edition incorporating new discoveries and expanding the scope. The final edition was a two-volume work covering the physical sciences (physics, chemistry, astronomy, earth science) and the biological sciences (biology, biochemistry, genetics, medicine) in clear, engaging prose that assumed no prior scientific knowledge.
Asimov’s gift as a science writer was his ability to explain complex ideas without oversimplifying them. He could make quantum mechanics, organic chemistry, and molecular biology accessible to a general reader without sacrificing accuracy — a skill that depended on his genuine command of the underlying science (he held a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Columbia) and his extraordinary prose clarity.
The book was a publishing phenomenon, selling millions of copies and serving as the standard popular science reference for two generations of readers.
Collecting Asimov’s Guide to Science
First edition (Basic Books, New York, 1960, as The Intelligent Man’s Guide to Science): Two volumes, boards with dust jackets.
Market values:
- First edition (two volumes), fine in jackets: $100–$300
- Very good: $40–$100
- Later revised editions: $10–$30