Physics for Rock Stars: Making the Laws of the Universe Work for You

Taking a similar approach to Danica McKellar's Math Doesn't Suck, Hiroshi Yuki and Tony Gonzalez's Math Girls, Jennifer Ouelette's The Calculus Diaries, and Orzel's How To Teach Physics to your Dog, McKinley (licensed mechanical engineer and host of the History Channel's Brad Meltzer's Decoded) uses a humorous and breezy style in explaining the basics of physics concepts such as energy, bonding, gravity, friction, momentum, buoyancy, waves, electricity, magnetism, and relativity. Including some semibiographical musings on his past as a reluctant science nerd, McKinley mostly succeeds in making physics and math more accessible to the average YA reader, though some may be turned off by the book's problem sets and lack of images. It's not clear how many rock stars will read this—there's no chapter on acoustics—but the average middle or high school student needing a push to enjoy math and science may find it helpful.