A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson

A Short History of Nearly Everything

By Bill Bryson

  • Release Date: 2003-05-06
  • Genre: World History
Score: 4
4
From 246 Ratings

Description

One of the world’s most beloved writers and New York Times bestselling author of A Walk in the Woods and The Body takes his ultimate journey—into the most intriguing and intractable questions that science seeks to answer.

In A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson trekked the Appalachian Trailwell, most of it. In A Sunburned Country, he confronted some of the most lethal wildlife Australia has to offer. Now, in his biggest book, he confronts his greatest challenge: to understandand, if possible, answerthe oldest, biggest questions we have posed about the universe and ourselves. Taking as territory everything from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization, Bryson seeks to understand how we got from there being nothing at all to there being us. To that end, he has attached himself to a host of the world’s most advanced (and often obsessed) archaeologists, anthropologists, and mathematicians, travelling to their offices, laboratories, and field camps. He has read (or tried to read) their books, pestered them with questions, apprenticed himself to their powerful minds. A Short History of Nearly Everything is the record of this quest, and it is a sometimes profound, sometimes funny, and always supremely clear and entertaining adventure in the realms of human knowledge, as only Bill Bryson can render it. Science has never been more involving or entertaining.

Reviews

  • Great Book

    5
    By B1msudog
    Bryson is a wonderful writer. He makes history live with a human compassion and understanding and makes complex subjects real for the layman. He sprinkles just enough gossip and humor to keep any reader riveted to a brilliant storyline. He educates without preaching and entertains without malice. He funnels genius and opens your thinking, while giving you an appreciation for the work of so many great and not so great people. Read this book you will not regret it.
  • Wow

    5
    By sdrparks
    I cannot believe how well Bryson brings details of history to light while keeping the prose entertaining. This is easily THE best nonfiction piece I have ever encountered. If you have never experienced Bryson's work, start here.
  • Fantastic

    5
    By Gaudzilla
    I've read a LOT of science books and journals, but none since perhaps Carl Sagan's 'Cosmos' was this entertaining -and- informative. A must read!

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