I love science books, or, more specifically, any books that explain the world around me.

I find older knowledge books have a wonderful self-assuredness about them – bordering on smugness.

From You and Atomic Energy:

Big airplanes or ships, using an atomic furnace for power could carry enough fuel to keep running for a hundred years. But, of course, there would be no purpose in carrying so much fuel.

Because that would just be ostentatious.

As the book reassures us, atomic energy is as safe as gasoline (click to view larger and readable image):

These books date from 1949 (You and Atomic Energy) through to 1965 (You and Relativity).