Full review coming soon...but I just wanted to mention how much I enjoyed this. Entertaining, enlightening, and provide plenty of fodder for my creative writing. I'm a huge fan of Bill Bryson and have moved on to his Applacian Trail book.

That was epic! Probably not something one would say about nonfiction, but for me it was one of the best books read this year.
Although the book is 20 years old and contains some outdated info (like Pluto being a planet) it still fascinating to read. Bryson not only manages to present various scientific describes and theories interestingly, but he also links everything together showing us a bigger picture. We can see how humanity's understanding of the universe was changing gradually and how the world we're living in was getting bigger with every generation.
In addition to interesting content, Bryson has great writing style. His ironic comments are really funny. And the way he talks about pity little dramas surrounding science! I couldn't imagine how many of great scientific minds were involved in stupid rivalries, plagiarism or simply were colossal assholes.
The other great thing about this book that it destroys prevailing myth of almighty science - there're actually so many things science is still uncapable to explain, and we haven't even studied our own planet properly.
And last but not least powerful environmental message: how much humans have destroyed during our short existence as a species.

مجهود عظيم وكتاب موسوعي ضخم بياخدك في رحلة طويلة بتحس في آخرها إن نافوخك تمدد. وكل ده بخفة دم وأسلوب خفيف. مشكلتي الأولى معاه مشكلة شخصية ولا تعيب الكتاب، وهي أنه بعض فروع العلوم اللي اهتمامي بيها كان أقل أخذت مساحة أكبر على حساب علوم أخرى كان اهتمامي بها أكبر. مشكلتي التانية إنه الخوض في سير العلماء وحياتهم الشخصية وصراعاتهم، زائد حكايات الكاتب الشخصية في زياراته ومحاوراته للعلماء ومسؤولي المتاحف، أخذوا أكبر من حقهم من صفحات الكتاب. لكن في النهاية أرجع وأقول إنه كتاب عظيم وممتع فعلاً، ورغم مشاكلي دي لكن مستحرم أخصم منه نجمة لأن المهمة اللي كانت على عاتق الكاتب مرعبة وهو نجح فيها بشكل كبير.

A great book, with a little bit of everything.. Bill Bryson articulate it in a very familiar manner and its incredibly simple to read. The book offers different perspectives regarding science and evolution. The impact of religion on the history of modern science, however, has generated a great deal of debate every now and then but i ve learned from this piece .. a handful lessons and as a believer in a high power my self i find it very informative and insightful. There are parts in the book that are hard to swallow but that's the beauty of narration. It puts the study, research, findings and the facts to the table and the golden spoon is on our hand. Overall the book Ignify my curiosity to explore and attain more knowledge and adore science. There is a lot to take in and I recommend it for readers who wants to know more about modern science, thoughts and theories.

There is something just fluid, melodic and soothing about how Bill Bryson covers the gamut of scientific disciplines in an chaste way. This is like a story that one would come to think nature crafted herself. In “A Short History of Nearly Everything” we slowly learn about chemistry, anthropology, botany, taxonomy, paleontology along with zoology, biology, and physics. Humor is added in the mix for retention and the quirkiness of a reverend named Evan having a knack to discern supernovas.

Of the many regalements of historical figures and the idiosyncrasies of Sir Issac Newton like inserting a bodkin (needle) into his eyeball, one comes to learn that poisoning (self-induced) was involved as these symptoms could be commonly associated with Mercury poisoning. Chemists have a hard time at it, as they are surrounded by toxins and use poisons not always on themselves (but on those they know and claim to love). Another case is Madame Curie and the subsequently terminal effects of her research.

"When the poet Paul Valery once asked Albert Einstein if he kept a notebook to record his ideas, Einstein looked at him with mild but genuine surprise. Oh, that's not necessary," he replied . It's so seldom I have one."
---Bill Bryson

Surely one of the most indelible tales is that of Henry Cavendish. He was so averse to human interaction that he corresponded with his housekeeper via letter. Though he was awarded the Copley Medal and was indeed a most substantial Chemist/Physicist---regarded for his discovery of hydrogen and measuring the density of the earth. Those familiar to him, knew he disliked humans and naturally they were forbidden to speak, look or even touch him. Zwicky can attest to this modus operandi.

Truly a delightful read. Erudite use of humor that paints a lucid picture instructing in a method opposite to the red hot iron poker way, and brings a soft, feathery method of erudition that is quite efficacious and preferred as a cooler teaching paradigm. Seems to be such a text of meritorious accord that it was awarded the Aventis Prize for Best General Science Book of the year. This book came highly recommended. Auspicious choice despite quirky sources. Buy, read, and laugh.

The best thing about this book is that it introduces other books you would like. It showed me that I should probably read more about Newton and Einstein, and that astronomy is something that I am still interested in. I did find myself scanning through certain sections because I already understood them well (the vastness of the universe) or I don't think I will ever understand them (complicated aspects of biology). Like all science book, they get outdated fast but this one is still holding up, at least for now.

ভালো। প্রথম একশ পেজে আমারে যেভাবে ধরে রাখছিলো, সেভাবে অবশ্য তার পরের দুইশ পেজ ধরে রাখে নাই। তার পরের দুইশ পেজ, জানি না আসলে।
সেভাবে ধরে রাখে নাই - মানে এই না যে একেবারেই ধরে নাই। ব্রাইসন অন্য কাউরে কোট করার চেয়ে ব্রাইসন কথা বলতেছে পড়তে বেশি ভালো লাগে, এই যা।
এইটা ভালো লাগছে যে বইটা কাউরে সাইন্স শেখায় না, শেখাইতে গিয়ে তরল করে ফেলে না, আক্ষরিক অর্থে পপুলারাইজ করে বইটা।
কীসব অদ্ভূত ইনফর্মেশন যোগাঢ় করছে, পুরা দুনিয়া ঘেটে। সেই লাগছে।
অনেকদিন পর আইকার মত একটা বিজ্ঞান ঘেষা বই হাতে লইলাম।

This wonderful book is multi-layered enough to appeal to all. My niece recommended it to me since she knows I am a physicist wannabe! Bryson's pages contain elements which will entice anyone with curiosity about how things work in the universe.

Using relevant examples and a dynamic tone, the author keeps the reader attentive throughout. This is no small feat since some of the passages can be dense for those of us who are not active in any scientific field. But the rewards and 'A-ha!' moments are worth it. Highly recommended.

من أمتع ما قرأت

Se tem um livro sobre ciência que recomendaria para qualquer leigo interessado, é este. Bill Bryson escreveu muitos livros, principalmente sobre viagens, mas seu tratamento sobre a ciência é muito bom. Como jornalista, ele foi atraído por problemas e situações que os cientistas muitas vezes nem consideram, e que acho que tornam o livro muito mais acessível. Por várias vezes, trata não só da ciência como da vida pessoal dos cientistas envolvidos, com o tipo de "fofoca" que torna a leitura agradável mesmo para quem não tem familiaridade com o tema.

There are some things that make you like a book and some things that put you off. For me, this one had more of the latter. I can understand why Bryson wrote this. A book on science, with the difficulty taken out makes it all the more accessible to the reader. What is traded off to achieve this, is the kind of scientific rigour which makes the subject matter so enticing in the first place. Bryson all too frequently fails to explain statements made or explanations given for scientific phenomena. This leaves me thinking, what is the point?

There is some interesting history and some of the characters are fascinating (hence two stars rather than one). But not enough to make 423 pages interesting to read. This is science 'extra-lite', for those who don't have the desire for knowledge which would drive them to read a scientific book with more substance.

I guess the final conclusion would be that the chapters are disparate, with no clear progression from one to the next. A hodge podge of trivia, which I would defy anyone to remember, is the result.

With so much popular science out there, it is hard to excuse Bill Bryson for penning something that seems to lack everything I would want from a science book. No doubt others would disagree but for me, this one was a bit of a waste of time.

2.5 Stars
This is probably going to make me sound as thick as two short planks but I didn't like it, I knew going into this book that it was going to be a challenge as Science is not really my preferred bedtime reading but I do think its good to try new things but unfortunately yes this was just hard work for me and I struggled through this one.

But on the plus side I did learn some STUFF just dont ASK me to EXPLAIN it to you and it did encourage discussion with my Nerdy other half which cant be a bad thing and there are quite a few amazing facts in the book and some entertaining stories. I will probably tell the other half that I gave it 5 stars :-)

This book is extremely well written and researched and for those interested in science I am sure this is an amazing read as Bill Bryson travels through time and space to explain the world, the universe and everything. I don't regret picking it up this book and giving it a go and my rating only reflects my reaction to the book and certainly not the quality of the information or how it is presented.

I would like to read something else (less challenging) by this author so perhaps I will pick up another one of his books sometime in the future.