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 Like all science book, they get outdated fast but this one is still holding up, at least for now.

I was 17.9 years old when I went on a first date with a PhD student, he proceeded to talk on "the effect of turbine blade cooling on jet engines" as we sat enjoying drinks in a lovely British pub. At the end of the evening when he asked me to go out with him again I paused, then decided to give him a second chance. We have been married for a long time now.........Anyway, my point is that Bill Bryson could talk on any subject & make it interesting. I confess I enjoy his books of a more personal nature that involve traveling or adapting to another culture than this one. Still, I was surprised to find myself enjoying learning something about geology and atoms, oh and genes also.

I loved this book! You don't have to be a scientist to enjoy A Short History of Nearly Everything as part of Bryson's motivation was to make science more accessible to Joe Public, but I have to say that as a scientist this book resonated deeply with me. Bryson delivers the most interesting facts of many of the greatest, and sometimes pretty obscure, men and women in the history of science. Since some scientists can be rather eccentric it makes for some very good stories! It's a remarkably easy read considering the complexity of some of the science and does a wonderful job of showing the evolution of science and the associated politics. This is a must read!!

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)

آیا می‌دانستید ۱% برفکی که روی صفحه‌ی تلویزیونتان ظاهر می‌شود، مربوط به نوری است که حدود ۱۴ میلیارد سال پیش در لحظه‌ی مهبانگ (انفجار بزرگ) و آفرینش این جهان تولید شده است و تازه توانسته است راه طولانی مرز کیهان را تا زمین بپیماید و به ما برسد!؟
آیا می‌دانستید اگر آب بر خلاف تمام مایعات بر اثر جامد شدن (یخ زدن) حجمش افزایش نمی‌یافت، احتمالن زندگی بر روی کره‌ی زمین شکل نمی‌گرفت؟
آیا می‌دانستید فضای کیهان پر است از ملکول‌های پیچیده و آلی نظیر اسیدهای آمینه و قندها و مطمئنن سرچشمه‌ی این ملکول‌ها در این همه کهکشان، زمین کوچک ما نیست!
آیا می‌دانستید ما تنها موجودات هوشمند این جهان نیستیم و احتمالن پنج میلیون سیاره‌ی توانمندِ پرورش زندگیِ انسانی در همین کهکشان راه شیریِ خودمان وجود دارد؟
آیا می‌دانستید کیهان (کائنات) حدودن تهی از مادّه است و فاصله‌ی بین اجرام آسمانی خیلی بیشتر از حدّ تصوّر ماست؟ برای مثال قطرِ خود منظومه‌ی شمسی بیش از دو سال نوری (حدود دو تریلیون کیلومتر) است و میانگین فاصله‌ی سیّاره‌های حاوی موجودات هوشمند، حدود دویست سال نوری از هم؛ و احتمالن به همین دلیل است که هنوز ردّی از انسان‌هایی دیگر در کهکشان راه شیری به‌دست نیاورده‌ایم.
آیا می‌دانستید احتمالاً هنوز ۹۷% گیاهان و جانوران کره‌ی زمین را ندیده‌ایم و کشف نکرده‌ایم؟!
آیا می‌دانستید چه بسیار پیش آمده که کشف و اختراع یک دانشمند را نادیده گرفته‌اند و به نام دانشمندی دیگر ثبت کرده‌اند و دنیای حسادت‌ها و دشمنی‌های میان دانشمندان در کنار فداکاری‌ها و از جان گذشتگی‌های آن‌ها چه دگرگونی‌های پیش‌بینی نشده‌ای در تاریخ علم و پیشرفت بشر بر جای گذاشته است؟ اگر مادر مندلیف نبود، علم شیمی به کدام سو می‌رفت؟
آیا می‌دانستید…

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।

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.

Sorry, Bill Bryson, I think this may be the MOST boring thing I've ever read in my life. I really loved Walk in the Woods..I loved his witty banter and his engaging, story-telling writing style. I'm not sure WHO, if anyone, would actually enjoy this bland book. I love science and history, but this was just excruciating and mind-numbingly boring and tedious. I ended up skimming most of it. Life is too short for boring books!

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.

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.

Take note, science lovers and science-phobes alike!

This time it's not the Appalachians or England.

In A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING, Bill Bryson has taken his readers on an exciting, informative and always entertaining tour of both the history of science and the details of the science itself. Essays covering an eclectic diversity of scientific topics ranging from the Big Bang and quantum physics, to paleontology, geology, biology, pandemics, genetics, evolution, glaciation, plate tectonics, weather patterns, volcanism and beyond are pitched at the perfect level to be accessible to the layman without being patronizing to a reader who happens to be more informed about a particular topic. Even the most esoterically learned science-ready polymath will find at least one or two of the topics set at a level high enough to be challenging as well.

Beautiful illustrations peppered throughout the text, a dash of humour and cynicism plus a wonderful series of amusing anecdotes and side bars make A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING a delicious confection of eye candy and brain candy. The multiplicity and diversity of the ideas covered means that A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING can be read in bite-sized chunks with the interested reader taking a random walk through the book starting at virtually any paragraph on any page. But the intelligent organization of the topics and the chronology that Bryson follows also guarantees a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience for those that want to travel from first page to last in order!

Science-phobes take note! If you've been looking for a way to set your fears aside, A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING just might be the ticket you've been looking for. Highly recommended.

Paul Weiss

What I learned from this book (in no particular order)

1.tPhosphor was accidentally discovered when a scientist tried to turn human urine into gold. The similarity in color seemed to have been a factor in his conviction that this was possible. Like, duh. I’m no scientist, but shouldn’t it be obvious enough?

2.t“In the early 1800s there arose in England a fashion for inhaling nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, after it was discovered that its use ‘ was attended by a highly pleasurable thrilling’. For the next half- century it would be the drug of choice for young people.” How groovy is that?

3.tIf you are an average-sized adult, you contain within you enough potential energy to explode with the force of THIRTY very large hydrogen bombs. Assuming, that is, that you KNOW how to actually do this and REALLY want to make a point. Talk about a monstrous temper tantrum.

4.tWe are each so atomically numerous and so vigorously recycled at death that some of our atoms probably belonged to Shakespeare, Genghis Khan or any other historical figure. But no, you are NOT Elvis or Marilyn Monroe; it takes quite a while for their atoms to get recycled.

5.tWhen you sit in a chair, you are not actually sitting there, but levitating above it at the height of a hundredth millions of a centimeter. Throw away those yoga mats, your ARE already levitating without knowing it.

6.tThe atomic particles that we now know as Quarks were almost named Partons, after you know who. The image of Ms. Parton with her, uh, cosmic mammaries bouncing around the atomic nuclei is VERY unsettling.Thankfully, that scientist guy changed his mind.

7.tThe indigestible parts of a giant squid, in particular their beaks, accumulate in sperm whales’ stomachs into ambergris, which is used as a fixative in perfumes. The next time you spray on Chanel No. 5, you’re dowsing yourself in the distillate of unseen sea monsters. * Note to self: must throw away sea monster perfume collection*

8.tThe ‘maidenhair’ in maidenhair moss does NOT refer to the hair on the maiden’s head.

BUT SERIOUSLY,

this is a fascinating, accessible book on the history of the natural sciences, covering topics as diverse as cosmology, quantum physics, paleontology, chemistry and other subjects that have bedeviled a science dolt like me through high school and beyond. Yes, it’s true, I failed BOTH chemistry and physics in high school. I can't judge how accurate Mr. Bryson represents the sciences in this book, but it surely beats being bogged down in A Brief History of Time and their ilk.