What's a good book for a novice here?

[michaelws]

I came upon this program while browsing for another program that I saw on the TED website.  It looked fascinating so I bought it.  I am 62 and never spent much time studying astronomy or physics...don't even know much about the constellations...so, cosmologically I am an ignoramus.  That probably holds true in many more areas of life for me also...but...

I would like to be able to utilize this program more than just viewing the scenarios included or made by others.

Can anyone recommend a primer on any one, or all (in general), of the aspects that this program encompasses?  And a primer, I must preface, for the rather clueless?

Many thanks for any information...

[Dan Dixon]

While not directly applicable to Universe Sandbox I can recommend Phil Plait's Death from the Skies:

http://www.amazon.com/Death-Skies-These-Ways-World/dp/0670019976

It's entertaining and an easy read.

One reviewer described it this way:
"The book is quite a roller coaster ride that takes you through all the many ways that the universe can kill us. Yet, the author, Dr. Philip Plait masterfully explains the many concepts with wit and humor rarely encountered in todays popular science books."

Phil Plait has a very popular Astronomy Blog, Bad Astronomy:
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/