popular science books

Can anyone recommend a modern popular science book suitable for a beginer?
I am thinking of a book on the level of ‘Asimov’s Guide to Science’ but more up to date.

Could try reading New Scientist & Scientific American -

Originally posted by ptobler
Could try reading New Scientist & Scientific American -

They don't help with the fundamentals, great magazines but not for beginners. I know you don't need a lot of science to read them but there are too many subjects talked about, not focused on basic science.

Here is a link for physics, several answers with different books, like the Feynman lectures for freshmen physics and such;

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/a-good-book-for-basic-physics-for-a-beginner.517281/

For other sciences, here is a list of what they consider the 100 best science books:

http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/100-all-time-greatest-popular-science-books/

Life at the Edge
A primer in quantum biology

The First Three Minutes by Steven Weinberg was written in 1977 and so not up to date, but nevertheless gives a good idea of the issues in Particle Physics and Cosmology and is totally comprehensible to layfolk.

Thank you all for the suggestions.
The book was intended for a birthday gift -28 Sept - so I had already bought a book before your replies.
I managed to find Asimovs book second hand in German translation and bought that.Although it is probably not the best book it is easy to read for a 'layman'.And the one that got me interested all those years ago.