is this informative?

What I appreciated most about this book is that it recognizes the lesser-known pioneers of our time. To be more precise, the book in large part, introduces and acknowledges some of the barely known Western scientists (along with the famous ones) that researched, discovered, and in part laid out the foundation for modern astronomy, geology, paleontology, chemistry, physics, biology, but never received the deserved recognition!

The author answers the questions, how and with whom, we arrived at the scientific knowledge we know today, and what those results are. The book very briefly discusses the evolution of the cosmos and our planetary system and in more details the evolution of planet Earth and its living organisms. We also see that the field of science, like in any other field of profession, is full of greed, deceit, and bitterness.

As far as the title and content of the book is concerned, I have my remarks. The book is called A Short History of Nearly Everything and it only covers science and scientists. Not what I expected.

Also, not introducing and discussing, in a history of science book, the Mesopotamian, ancient Egyptians and Greeks, Mesoamerican civilization, the Islamic Golden Age period, and others, deprives the reader from seeing and grasping the whole picture of the chronological development of the study of the physical and natural world.

Lastly, all the short stories revolve around Western European and North American scientists. Which I personally love and appreciate. For example, as far as Asia is concerned, the author dedicated space within the book to inform us that Tokyo could be expecting a devastating earthquake, and the Asian shark finning cruel practice brings in their restaurants up to $100+ per bowl of shark fin soup. But, no mention of Asian scientists, and their achievements.

Therefore, in general the content of the book can be viewed as US-Eurocentric, which in return presents the reader with a short-sighted view of the history of science, all wrapped up in an ambiguous title.

Not to end on a negative note, Bryson is an enjoyable storyteller and the many short stories, along with the science lessons, nicely flow together. Bryson is not a scientist, but he did a fine job.

(3.5/5)

All I have to say is I'm glad I finally finished this book. It took me forever.

It seems unfair to give it two stars because it is well researched and impressively put together - - but three stars would mean "I liked it", and I really can't say I did. I tolerated it. I appreciated the educational value of it. But liked it? Unfortunately no.

The good news though is that in the progression from physics to biology to anthropology, it became increasingly interesting to me, and you could tell that Bryson also had a better grasp on the subject matter. The anthropology section was interesting enough that it makes me want to read a book on that subject alone. I recall touching upon the development of man in school, but clearly the details were lacking. I had no idea there were so many competing theories.

All in all, for the right reader, I can see why this book is beloved. It delivers on the promise of its title. It just seemed to focus too much on the people involved for my taste and really didn't quite explain the science well enough for me to truly grasp it.

I muscled through.

"(...) a vida, mesmo ao nivel mais simples, é, aparentemente, um fim em si mesma".
David Attenborough

Sempre fui uma curiosa da divulgação científica com uma franca predileção por comunicadores que tornam o tema tão legível que, ao terminar os seus livros, nos sentimos instantaneamente mais inteligentes, uma espécie de cientistas de bolso, ou intelectuais de bancada.
Por outro lado, se há coisa que as ciências transmitem, sem exceção, e que é tão benéfica a leigos como a doutos, é a certeza de que a vida na terra é extraordinária - sob todos os pontos de vista. E é impossível não ficar abismado com aquele que é aqui o nosso papel.

"Cada átomo que possuímos já passou com certeza por variadíssimas estrelas e foi parte de milhões de organismos pelo caminho, até se tornar parte de nós. Todos nós somos tão atomicamente numerosos, e tão vigorosamente reciclados no momento da nossa morte, que uma parte significativa dos nossos átomos - até cerca de um bilião para cada um de nós, como já houve quem sugerisse - provavelmente já terá pertencido a Shakespeare.
(...)
Quer isto dizer que somos todos reincarnações - embora de curto prazo. Quando morremos, os nossos átomos desagregam-se e vão à procura de novas utilizações noutro lado - como parte de uma folha, ou de um ser humano, ou de uma gota de orvalho."

Primeiro que tudo, Bill Bryson merece um louvor pela tarefa hercúlea a que mete mãos neste volume. E outro pela motivação que o leva a isso:

"Parecia haver uma conspiração universal entre os autores de livros de estudo no sentido de garantir que a matéria de que tratavam nunca chegasse demasiado perto de algo com um mínimo de interesse, e se mantivesse sempre a uma distância imensa do que fosse francamente interessante."

Em cerca de 500 páginas recuamos consigo à idade do gelo, atravessamos continentes, somos encolhidos à escala atómica...

"Continua a ser uma noção dificil de apreender considerar que os átomos são basicamente espaços vazios, e que a solidez que sentimos à nossa volta é mera ilusão. (...) Se nos sentarmos numa cadeira, não nos estamos a sentar verdadeiramente, mas a levitar sobre ela à altura de um angstrom (um centésimo de milhão de centímetro), já que os nossos electrões e os electrões da cadeira se opõem implacavelmente a uma maior intimidade."

... convivemos com bactérias e germes...

"Se estivermos de boa saúde e formos medianamente cuidadosos com a nossa higiene, teremos uma multidão de cerca de um trilião de bactérias a pastar nas planícies do nosso corpo - cerca de cem mil em cada centímetro quadrado de pele. Elas estão lá para se alimentarem dos cerca de dez biliões de flocos de pele que soltamos todos os dias, além das saborosas gorduras e revigorantes elementos minerais que eliminamos pelos poros e fissuras. Para as bactérias somos um restaurante por excelência, com as vantagens adicionais do calor e da constante mobilidade que o nosso corpo lhes oferece. (...) Cientistas australianos encontraram micróbios conhecidos como Thiobacillus concretivorans que só conseguem viver em concentrações de ácido sulfúrico suficientemente fortes para dissolver metal. Uma espécie chamada Micrococcus radiophilus foi encontrada a viver alegremente nos tanques de resíduos de reactores nucleares, devorando plutónio e tudo o mais que lá encontrava."

... e viajamos pelo cosmos.

"Podemos muito bem ser apenas uma entre milhões de civilizações avançadas. Infelizmente, como o espaço é tão espaçoso, a distância média entre quaisquer duas dessas civilizações deve ser de pelo menos 200 anos-luz, o que é muito mais do que parece à primeira vista. Para começar significa que, se esses seres sabem que aqui estamos e nos conseguem ver com os seus telescópios, estão na realidade a observar luz que já deixou a Terra há 200 anos. Ou seja, não estão a ver-nos, a si nem a mim. Estão a ver a Revolução Francesa, Thomas Jefferson, pessoas com meias de seda e cabeleiras postiças(...). Portanto, mesmo que não estejamos realmente sós, em termos práticos acabamos por estar de facto sós."

O humor de Bryson é contagiante e faz valer a viagem.
É certo que o facto de se ver obrigado a condensar muita e mui variada informação acaba por gerar alguma confusão e ambiguidade em determinados capítulos (em especial naqueles em que a história temporal interfere com a narrativa dos muitos feitos destes homens), mas, de todas as vezes que cruzei a bibliografia com o texto de Bryson, não lhe encontrei erros - há lacunas, claro, e algumas insinuações que não ficam esclarecidas, mas não falácias que manchem grandemente o trabalho. Certamente existirão erros, mas Bryson apenas replica os estudos de outrem...

No entanto, Breve História de Quase Tudo é isso mesmo: um livro breve sobre a história de quase tudo. Não é um livro, como é vendido, de divulgação científica propriamente dita, mas um livro de história das ciências (acho que não nos tentou enganar a esse respeito, afinal, está no título). Mas, em virtude de encarar a história como uma longa lista de nomes, cargos, descobertas e relações entre cientistas, aí por volta da metade ou do último terço do livro, este torna-se repetitivo e maçador - por isso, a partir de determinado ponto, acabei por ir adiando a leitura. Outro defeito (de qualquer livro de divulgação científica ou, como neste caso, de história da ciência) é a rapidez com que tudo se torna rapidamente obsoleto ou, no mínimo, como aqui, desatualizado - mas aí nada a fazer.

No geral é um livro agradável, para conhecer a "história" de quase tudo, mas que fica muito limitado, pela abordagem não científica e pelo distanciamento pessoal entre o domínio científico e o escritor (que é jornalista e escritor de viagens). Para divulgação científica prefiro os nomes tradicionais, mas para uma pequena e divertida aventura pela louca história do universo, é bastante bom.

"(...)se tivéssemos de conceber um organismo destinado a salvaguardar a vida no nosso solitário cosmos, a vigiar a sua evolução e a manter um registo dos sítios por onde passou, o ser humano não seria o mais indicado para essa tarefa.
Mas aqui chegamos a um ponto muito importante: fomos escolhidos, pelo ou pela providência, ou o que lhe quisermos chamar. Tanto quanto sabemos, somos o melhor que há. Talvez sejamos mesmo a única coisa que há. É irritante pensar que talvez sejamos a realização suprema do universo, e ao mesmo tempo o seu pior pesadelo."

Well written as this book definitely has the average reader in mind - as in there's no excessive use of technical language, Bryson sets out to answer some of the big questions of this and earlier ages with the help and/or work of experts. Bryson, whom I would say has been a great representative of the counter forces to the dumb-ing down of the masses movement, with his thoughtful and thought provoking books attempts it again with this, his biggest book yet. I think it is an accessible and interesting read, but not necessarily a book that one sits down and reads over a few days or weeks, it feels more like a very cool reference book that you pop into now and again and never really read all the way through. 6 out of 12.
Author, Bill Bryson

Hands down my favorite science text written by a non-scientist, although I should mention I don't make a habit of seeking out science books written by non-scientists for kicks. Like most (sensible? pragmatic? responsible?) people, I prefer to read about science from people who actually practice science. Bill Bryson is the only exception though because he's an exceptionally gifted writer who just happens to share my sense of humor--that the end is nigh and that maybe is not necessarily such a terrible thing. Terrible for humanity, sure, but not for the planet. We have worn out our welcome about a few thousand years ago, and now we're just too stubborn to admit our time is over. Just kidding...? But... If you don't walk away from this book believing humanity is doomed, because how can we possibly fix all we've ruined, then you are much more optimistic than I am.

I read this book last year and liked it so much that I picked up the audio for a reread.

“If this book has a lesson, it is that we are awfully lucky to be here-and by 'we' I mean every living thing. To attain any kind of life in this universe of ours appears to be quite an achievement. As humans we are doubly lucky, of course: We enjoy not only the privilege of existence but also the singular ability to appreciate it and even, in a multitude of ways, to make it better. It is a talent we have only barely begun to grasp.”
This is a sort of rough guide to science told in the form of a history of the universe, a history of earth and a history of life. Bryson covers the history of science: the theories, debates and speculations about all that he covers from the beginning of the universe onwards. There is a caveat or two. It was written over twenty years ago so it is bound to be out of date and there is so much in here that there are bound to be a few errors. There’s lots about atomic particles and a great deal about life and how it developed.
It's an interesting read and is laced with Bryson’s trademark humour:
“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.”
“In France, a chemist named Pilatre de Rozier tested the flammability of hydrogen by gulping a mouthful and blowing across an open flame, proving at a stroke that hydrogen is indeed explosively combustible and that eyebrows are not necessarily a permanent feature of one's face.”
There are also lots of interesting anecdotes as well. It’s informative without being over complex, but you do have to get on with Bryson’s breezy style.

هذا الكتاب رائعٌ حقًا واستطيع بلا تردد وصفه بواجب القراءة لكل شخص يريد أن يخرج من الأمية العلمية.

منذ البداية يسحرك الكتاب بمقدمته الشاعرية التي تجعلك لا تريد التوقف عن قراءته. ينتقد الكاتب في البداية صعوبة فهم الكتب العلمية وكأن هناك مؤامرة خفية لتنفير الناس عن قراءتها أو فهمها، فهي لا تخبرنا كيف اكتشف العلماء هذه النظرية أو تلك كعمر الأرض أو تكوين طبقاتها وإنما تقدم لنا المعلومات بصورة جافة تحول روعة العلم إلى موضوع ممل

لهذا قرر الكاتب البدء في هذا المشروع الجبار والذي حصر فيه أجزاء كبيرة جدًا من العلوم الطبيعية من علوم الفيزياء والفلك والكونيات إلى الكيمياء والجيولوجيا والبيولوجيا. يقدم الكاتب كل ذلك بطريقة سردية جميلة جدًا ومبسطة بدون معادلات أو مصطلحات معقدة ولكنها دقيقة وعميقة في نفس الوقت.

إذا قررت قراءة هذا الكتاب فاستعد للانبهار بتاريخ الاكتشافات العلمية والاستماع لقصص العلماء وعبقريتهم وأخطائهم القاتلة وبعض الحقائق المضحكة، بل وحتى بعض قصص المنافسة غير الشريفة.

نشر الكتاب في عام 2003 ولذلك فهناك تطورات علمية حصلت اذكر منها التالي:
1. يذكر الكتاب أن عمر الكون هو بين 12 و13.5 مليار سنة، آخر النتائج العلمية تضع عمره في خانة 13.799 مليار سنة مع هامش خطأ بمقدار 21 مليون سنة
2. تم العثور على جسيم هيجز
3. تم العثور على مئات الكواكب
4. بلوتو لم يعد كوكبًا، بل تم اعادة تصنيفه إلى كوكب قزم
5. تنبأ الكتاب بانتشار وباء انفلوزنا الخنازير كما حدث بعد الحرب العالمية الأولى وهذا ما وقع عام 2009 ولكن لحسن الحظ لم يكن بنفس السوء
6. قام الكاتب بالتحذير من مجموعة من الأوبئة ومن ضمنها فيروس إيبولا والذي ازدادت حالات الإصابة به مؤخرًا
7. لم يذكر الكاتب دور "آر إن إي" في الفرضيات التي تتناول ظهور الحياة

A Short History of Goodreads

Surveys show that nearly 40% of all Americans believe the history of literature started in 2007, when Amazon sold the first Kindle; indeed, Amazon Fundamentalists hold it as an article of faith that Jeff Bezos actually wrote all the world's e-books over a period of six days. This is, of course, nonsense. It has been conclusively demonstrated that literature is far older than the Kindle; books already existed thousands of years ago, which were the direct ancestors of today's e-publications. For example, careful examination reveals that The Odyssey and The Gospel according to Saint Mark are primitive versions of Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters and Bared to You. Similar relationships have been shown to obtain for all modern books.

Problems arise, however, from the fact that these archaic protobooks still exist today; indeed, some have adapted to the e-reader environment and begun to thrive there. It is entirely too easy for an unsuspecting internet shopper to purchase a copy of Pride and Prejudice, incorrectly believing that it is part of the Twilight series. From the standpoint of formal literary theory, it is admittedly incorrect to say that Pride and Prejudice is "worse" than Twilight. They are simply different; neither one is "worse" than the other, since they have developed in different environments.

From a practical point of view, however, a person who buys a Jane Austen novel is almost certain to be disappointed. There are no vampires or werewolves; sex is barely even hinted at; most upsettingly of all, the book will be full of long sentences and difficult words. The combination of these factors can only lead to an intensely unpleasant reading experience, which may discourage the reader from making new Amazon purchases for days or even weeks afterwards. Particularly given the fragile state of the US economy, this is evidently not an acceptable state of affairs.

People have always exchanged recommendations and warnings with their friends, but it became clear that a more systematic approach was needed. There had to be a place where book-consumers could post advice and help each other avoid these infuriating mistakes, so that everyone could be sure of reading nothing but up-to-the-minute YA erotic paranormal romances.

Thus was born Goodreads.


This work by Manny is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

If you like science and geology and astronomy and all those other boring (to me) subjects, you'll be mesmerized. But those were never my thing so I had the speed turned up pretty high on the audio just to get to the end. It was pretty dense, and I'm no less dense now for muddling through it.

A really interesting book. Bryson succeeds in explaining some complex topics in such a way that they can be understood by the layman. I enjoyed this one a great deal. If I had one complaint it would be that some of the tangents were allowed to run on a bit too long, to the point where I almost forgot what the author was talking about in the first place.

I must admit that science is not my strong suit -- I've always been more of a Humanities gal. In high school, I had to work harder in my biology and chemistry classes, whereas English, history and social studies always came more easily to me.

Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything" is a good overview of all the science classes I didn't take (or don't remember) in college. It's like Intro to Physics, Chemistry, Geology and Astronomy all in one wonderfully droll book. Since I read very few books about science, this was an enjoyable departure for me.

Here is how the book begins: "Welcome. And congratulations. I am delighted that you could make it. Getting here wasn't easy, I know. In fact, I suspect it was a little tougher than you realize. To begin with, for you to be here now trillions of drifting atoms had somehow to assemble in an intricate and curiously obliging manner to create you. It's an arrangement so specialized and particular that it has never been tried before and will only exist this once. For the next many years (we hope) these tiny particles will uncomplainingly engage in all the billions of deft, co-operative efforts necessary to keep you intact and let you experience this supremely agreeable but generally under-appreciated state known as existence."

Some of my favorite sections were about the Big Bang, the debate about the age of the universe, plate tectonics, Darwin's research, and the extinction of different species. After sharing various stories of how humans have killed off who-knows-how-many species, Bryson interjects: "I mention all this to make the point that if you were designing an organism to look after life in our lonely cosmos, to monitor where it is going and keep a record of where it has been, you wouldn't choose human beings for the job." Sadly true, but also worth a HA!

I listened to this on CD read by the author, and if you've been following my reviews for a while, you'll know that I have a brain crush on Bryson and his narration. Seriously, I wish I could invite him over for tea and scones and just listen to him read all afternoon. (Bryson is from my home state of Iowa, but he's lived in England for so long that he's adopted a charming accent. It's adorable.) I was also able to look through a copy of the special illustrated edition, which includes dozens of photographs and prints. If you can find it, I highly recommend reading the illustrated edition.

"A Short History" was first published in 2003, and at the time, it was a big change from Bryson's previous travelogues. Since then, Bryson seems to have abandoned travel books and has been writing on different topics in history, such as the wonderful "At Home", "Shakespeare" and "One Summer: America 1927." While I enjoy his wry, humorous takes on history, I do miss his travel writing. If you're reading this, Bryson, please, take a trip somewhere. Have an adventure. Jot down a few notes and write another whip-smart travel book. Your fans will love it.