Deep Simplicity really drew me in. Chaos and complexity is something I thought I knew a bit about, in layman's terms at least - I do read Scientific American. But John Gribbon really took the time to explain where the modern science of Chaos and Complexity came from, and what it actually means.
There are many more implications than I had thought of - from the orbits of planets to grains of sand, from earthquakes to the building blocks of life. This is all presented in a very readable style, light on the scientific jargon which could so easily overwhelm a lesser book. Gribbon isn't ashamed to plug his other books, but is fair and gives plenty of references to follow up. This isn't a scientist's book - but it is an enjoyable and rewarding read for the rest of us.