I've recently decided to further my understanding of the hard sciences, primarily biology and physics for now. Less Wrong has a very good post on The Best Textbooks on Every Subjectcache, but unfortunately it mostly covers mathematics, cognitive science and philosophy. Thus it set out to put together my own list, hopefully contributing it back once I have sufficient confidence about my choices.
Physics
My favorite introduction physics so far are definitely The Feynman Lectures on Physicscache, available for free online. While the lectures are quite old at this point - originally published 1964 - the parts about classical physics are of course still accurate today.
There is also the excellent sequence of video lectures, The Theoretical Minimummcache, that I can't leave unmentioned here.
Electrodynamics
Introduction to Electrodynamicscache Modern Electrodynamicscache
Mechanics
Special Relativity
For relativity, Spacetime Physics: Introduction to Special Relativitycache has been recommended to me, though I haven't yet read it.
General Relativity
Quantum Mechanics
From the discussion on redditcache, the most recommend books are, in that order:
- Introduction to Quantum Mechanicscache by Griffiths.
- Principles of Quantum Mechanicscache by Shankar.
- Modern Quantum Mechanics (Revised Edition)cache by Sakurai, only to supplement Griffiths.
- Quantum Mechanicscache by Cohen-Tannoudji.
- A Modern Approach to Quantum Mechanicscache by Townsend.
- Quantum Mechanics: Concepts and Applicationscache by Zettili.
Quantum Field Theory
Quantum Optics
QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Mattercache for general interest.
Quantum Optics: An Introductioncache by Fox
Biology
For molecular biology, The Processes of Life: An Introduction to Molecular Biologycache has been recommended to me. I will update once I've actually read it.
/r/biology also recommends Molecular Biology of the Cell and Molecular Biology of the Genecache, though so far I've read neither of those two. Genomes 3cache recommended by a Googler.