I'm new here, but I've been lurking around this forum for several weeks, and I finally found a thread where I feel like I can contribute something.
If I understand the subject question correctly, the poster was looking for a concise, easily grasped book that explains scientific concepts in an entertaining way. I would strongly recommend
Asimov's Guide to Earth and Space. Not only does it do all of the above, but it's a great reference to have if your knowledge of science is spotty. Asimov doesn't go into any great depth in any of the subject areas, but he covers the basics well and has a gift for making complex concepts much easier for the layman to understand.