A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson

This book is a brilliant read for people who would like to know more about the world around them but find it hard to read through serious science publications. Bill Bryson is an entertaining writer and also has a snappy style that makes it possible to read this book in short bursts. So far I am two thirds of the way through 'A Short History of Almost Everything' and that is due to the shear amount of facts that are bursting on every page. I find I can digest the information in this book more easily when I read it ten pages at a time. At this rate it will take me a few months yet as the book is nearly 600 pages, so it is quite an undertaking. The ...  Read the complete review

Bill Bryson is not a scientist. Rather he's a prolific and successful writer of humorous books on travel and English language. Several years ago, whilst on a plane flight, he realised that he didn't know the first thing about the planet below, the only planet he would ever live on. He had no idea, for example, why the oceans are salty but the Great Lakes aren't, whether the oceans were getting saltier, or if this was something he should worry about! He then decided to spend the next three years of his life finding out the answers to these questions and more, and learn all about the marvels of science. This book is the result of his research. As an ...  Read the complete review

I've recently read Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything as part of an online bookclub I sometimes take part in. The book had been on my reading list for ages, and since it's recently out in paperback (on 1 June 2004), it seemed the ideal opportunity to give it a go. I'm familar with Bill Bryson's writing through having read many of the other books he's written, not only the well-known travelogues (Notes from a Small Island, Walk in the Woods etc) but also from his book on the English language, Mother Tongue. So I was aware that ...  Read the complete review

I've always had an amateur interest in science and technology, despite an 'arts' education, and just recently, I've also been having another stab at re-kindling some interest for history, but not that 'kings and queens' stuff they MADE us learn at school. What I have also been doing is combining both of these interests, starting with a reading of Dava Sobel's 'Longitude', concerning Mr Harrison and his search for an accurate clock (ship's chronometer). It's these little vignettes of history that I'm finding so fascinating. After all, without being able to FIND the colonies after discovering them the first time, ...  Read the complete review

I?m a numpty when it comes to science. Really. I have a very limited understanding of the planet I live on, and some Jupiter-sized gaps in my knowledge of how everything works. I only need to tell you one little anecdote to convince you of this fact: Trying to help me get my head around the geography of Edinburgh, a light bulb appeared above my husband?s head when he finally realised what it was that was holding me back from understanding where the Forth Road Bridge was in relation to everything else. It was because I was convinced that North (Never Eat Shredded Wheat) is always in front of you. (It?s true: the whole world really does revolve around me). Only ...  Read the complete review