I'll second this. The book provides some fundamental ideas, sort of first principles, that anyone can use to prove to themselves the workings of evolution, and

I'll second this. The book provides some fundamental ideas, sort of first principles, that anyone can use to prove to themselves the workings of evolution, and perhaps the inevitability. Another is CODE, by Petzold. It explains computers from the ground (literally) up. After reading this, one can go buy some magnets, relays, and wire and proceed to build a rudimentary computer.