A Universe From Nothing has a catchy and provocative title, which I'm assuming makes many read it, but the content somewhat defies the title, since it seems to rely on the concept / notion that "nothingness", in the way we intuitively think of it, i.e. pure nothingness, doesn't actually exist, and never has, at least that's the jist you get from it. 

So with that <i>colossal</i> axiom moved out of the way, it has the self-liberty to freely  discuss the history of physics and latest advancements, theories, discoveries in particle accelerators et cetera. all which revolve around the notion of anti-nothingness, as if "nothing" is only colloquial in the English vocabulary.

As such, it's a book which never really discusses the central theme implied in the title.  If it was instead titled "A Universe From Foreverness And Anti-Nothingness", then that wouldn't have the same anti-theistic connotations which are part of the driving force in the literature.

Page 142, paraphrased.

"In any case, in a universe with no miracles, when you are faced with a simple underlying order, you can draw two different conclusions.  One, was that order was created by a divine intelligence.  Two, is that the laws themselves are all that exist."

"The laws may be eternal, or they too may have come into existence, again by some yet unknown but possibly purely physical process."

Read the above quotes 5 times and you'll realise this book doesn't give any clear-cut answers at all.

/review

Yes, I would say. The best books likely surpass the best televised episodes with regards to characterization, plot- all that literary jazz. Plus you get to experience the "First War in Heaven", a time war that doesn't involve the cruddy Daleks being the main antagonists. Certain writers are highlighted- Lawrence Miles, Lance Parkin, Simon Butcher-Jones, Daniel Mahoney, to name a few. They also happen to write for the "spin-off" universes such as Iris Wildthyme and Faction Paradox.

Recommendations:

Seventh Doctor (New Adventures, in no order)
- Christmas on a Rational Planet
- The Dying Days
- Just War
- Falls the Shadow

Eighth Doctor (Eighth Doctor Adventures)
- Alien Bodies (likely the best Who novel... ever)
- Interference Books 1 and 2
- The Taking of Planet 5
- Father Time
- The Adventuress of Henrietta Street
- Gallifrey Chronicles

Bernice Summerfield (Virgin New Adventures)
- Dead Romance
- Down

There is technically an over-arching plot between the books within a certain series... just wiki them, each one listed above should have a number. Go in ascending order, if one is inclined. I'd also prioritize the books written by Lawrence Miles and Lance Parkin, personally. To give you an idea of Miles' work, here's his rewrite of a Sherlock Holmes story: http://holmesbestiary.blogspot.com/2011/12/broodmare-for-gloriana.html

And Newton's Sleep by Daniel Mahoney, a part of the Faction Paradox universe (think branching future of Doctor Who not wholly related to the later books and rebooted televised series). Free and legal from the publisher site, the image I posted with "Chapter 3: The Family of Eyes" is an excerpt. http://www.randomstatic.net/newtonssleep.php

Oh, and I'll gladly send drm-free versions (epub, pdf, and mobi) of whatever books I have, if you're interested.

The international edition of "Essential of Statistics" by Triola. I have the fourth edition.

This book is absurdly oversized. What is it with Pearson and making its basic course books unnecessary big and heavy?

Do not get me started on the sheets of unnecessary text...

Thanks for your thoughts.  I think many people picking up the book expect that, I rather read a sciency book than an explanation of Zen Buddhism.