Nice reading list. I might also suggest Michael Faraday's Chemical History of a Candle, if you haven't read it already (found at http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1860Faraday-candle.html, if you can't find a book). Its the transcript of several Christmas lectures he gave during the 1850s or 60s, near the end of his life. My favorite quote? "Why does the ice float? Think of that, and philosophize."

Also, the local bookstore had a free box including about 30 Ace doubles, apparently because they had some minor mold problems and the owner didn't want to risk them. I'm ecstatic but well aware of where my reading time will be going over the next few months.