A Short History of Nearly Everything

What Textbooks Don't Teach (at least not well) (2010-07-30) : 4/5
Bill Bryson is best known for books like, "Notes From a Small Island" and "I'm a Stranger Here Myself", deftly comic travel memoirs that highlight Bryson's experiences living in England and America. So "A Short History of Nearly Everything" may seem like a surprise from such an author, for it is a book about science, the hows and whys of the universe. What Bryson has admirably done is make some of the most difficult scientific theories and discoveries entirely readable and relatable to non-scientific minds.

"A Short History of Nearly Everything" is just that - a scientific history of nearly everything that science has studied during our existence on Earth and even before that. Bryson leaves no stone unturned, beginning with how the universe was formed, to what can be known about our home planet, to atoms and cells, and finally to animal and human life. It is a lot of territory to cover, even in a book that is nearly 500 pages long. Bryson devotes a chapter to each segment and fills in the background information on all of the theories that have existed, how they came to be, and what scientists believe they know now. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of "A Short History of Nearly Everything" is the attention paid to the fact that those who are known for many of the great scientific discoveries are not the ones who actually made them. As Bryson put it, quoting von Humboldt, "...there are three stages in scientific discovery: first, people deny that it is true; then they deny that it is important; finally they credit the wrong person" (421).

It is obvious that Bryson did his research for this tome and that he himself takes an inordinate amount of pleasure in and wonder at what science has accomplished, and also what scientists have not been able to figure out. Even for those who may not agree with every facet of evolution, it would still be an illuminating read to know just why and how scientists have come to the current conclusions. For fans of Bryson's other works, the author has peppered all this science with his unusual humor, which adds to comparisons that make it easier for non-scientific minds to understand. It is hard to walk away from "A Short History of Nearly Everything" without having learned something and without having some of the same questions that started Bryson's quest in the first place.
A Short History of Nearly Everything You Didn't Want To Know (2010-07-28) : 2/5
Bill Bryson is the quintessintial American writer and pretty much he touches, turns to Gold. But not on this book. I felt as if he spent more time providing a history of *individuals* responsible for the discovery of different things throughout history. Where they were born, what they ate, who they talked to, and what they worked on. Interesting to some, but not to me.

What's worse, is that I really didn't learn anything about History! Probably becaue I didn't finish the book....
Excellent read! (2010-07-28) : 5/5
This book was a good review of a lot of things I learned, but forgotten. It was actually not painful to read about science because the author has lots of anecdotes. Some people are peeved by these side stories about the scientists, but I really enjoy them. Makes the scientist an actual person! I highly recommend this!
Bill Bryson's Short History (2010-07-26) : 5/5
I like this book so much it has become a staple present for all sorts of occasions. (Aside: if you get the audio version, opt for Bryson's reading - he is one of the best readers I have heard on audio books.) You can read it all at once, or just dip in for short sessions. He makes potentially dull facts fascinating with his command of language and narrative.

The seller filled the order in the time window promised, and there were no problems with delivery.
Awesomely entertaining and informative (2010-07-20) : 5/5
This book is just downright entertaining, as well as dreadfully frightening. When you get to the parts about the fragility of the Earth's life-sustaining environment, the apparent inevitability of a catastrophic asteroid collision, or the imminent threat of a super-volcano eruption in a place like Yellowstone National Park, you may wonder if there is anywhere on Earth to safely relocate your family. But Bryson's dry humor and gift for finding and articulating irony had me chuckling out loud every time I sat down to read a chapter or two. He puts a very human (sometimes deflatingly human) face on the amazing advances of the scientific enterprise. The book is also very dense with "history class" type factual information (names, dates, places) that, while flowingly presented in the captivating narrative of a storytelling, are still difficult details to recall just a few hours after reading. Overall, this is a great read, and highly recommended to anyone who ever wished - even secretly - that they understood more about the physical universe, or especially for anyone who wonders about the legitimacy of science as a process for revealing truths.