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Showing reviews 16-20 of 785
 a wonderful read January 26, 2010
A. Burns (New York City Area)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
"A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson was a wonderful book to read. Although it has no discernable plot or conflict, but it was still a marvelous way to spend a frigid afternoon perusing through a delicious memoir. The remembrance, (or more likely, Bryson's quest for knowledge) was spawned when the author was taking a science course, and his textbook had a very dry explanation of the earth, simply showing a cutaway then labeling the different layers. The narrative gave no explanation to why they were there in the first place. That's what this extended essay is - Bill Bryson wants to know why things are the way they are, except in a much more interesting, well-written form.
The book is true to its title, starting with "The Big Bang," and goes all the way through to the rise of homo sapiens. It covers that and everything in between in an easy-to-digest, user-friendly style that seems to give the proverbial wink of the eye to the reader from time-to-time. The tome does a very good job at giving credit where it is due. He starts by giving a "short back round" on the person; then, goes on about what important contribution he or she made to the topic that the book is currently discussing. I found everything in this book to be true as far as I could tell. Bryson did not omit any of the facts, even the more confusing stuff. He wrote his narrative in plain English, and used an explanation where it was needed, allowing the average layperson to understand normally challenging parts of the book. For instance, he writes, "To get down to the scale of atoms, you would need to take each of those micron slices and shave it into ten thousand finer widths. That's the scale of an atom: one ten million of a millimeter". - (135) Here is an excellent example of one of Bryson's witty explanations that he uses to help people to understand something that is so unimaginably small. He has many more like that though out the book on different topics that enable the reader to more concretely picture abstract things more precisely.
Bill Bryson has a very interesting way of thinking about things. At the beginning of the book, he makes it very clear that the human race is lucky to be here, if one ratio was different then it is life as we know it could not have existed, and that there are trillions of atoms that have to coexist in order to make up a person. "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 then you realize". - (1) It is in passages like these that I could tell the Bryson enjoyed writing this book, and he was clearly fascinated by what he was learning. He spent three years talking to people knowledgeable on their subjects for the book; I think that he thoroughly enjoyed everyone of his years.
This is one of those few books that I was completely captivated by, and would spend hours on end reading it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and found that the narrative actually opened up my eyes to things I had either not understand or had just taken for granted.
 Clever approach to science January 25, 2010
William J Higgins III (Laramie, Wyoming United States)
Having a degree in the natural sciences, I must admit that I slogged through the first 170 pages of atoms, molecules and quantum physics simply because I have no interest in chemistry, the unseen, the theoretical or hypothetical, however, the remainder of the book was replete with amazing chapters.
Bryson's line of attack to explain nearly every scientific tidbit from time immemorial is a commonsensical way for all to understand.
Take for instance chapters on geology and continental drift, the rise of life, small world, life goes on, Darwinism and the finale with human evolution. Bryson is quite dexterous in presenting his subject.
There is an abundance to learn especially with this twist of writing.
My only misgiving, besides the first 170 pages, was the overall length.
Just about says it January 18, 2010
Neil The Unreel (MD)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Get out your hi-lighter and keep a pen handy to make comments in the margins. This is a good reference book. For what you ask? Read the title again. Not the easiest of reads, but then look at the subject matter. Much easier to understand than Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History Of Time." From the Big Bang to evolution, to ... well nearly everything, Bryson does a magnificent job in trying to explain it all and with a sense of humor. If you don't know anything, or even if you act like you know it all, read this book to make sure. Very good reference book.
A Great Popular Science Book January 13, 2010
Aubrey Mishou
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A Short History of Nearly Everything is highly regarded by several men I admire, including my grandfather, my partner, and his grandfather. Each has read Bryson's book a number of times, gaining new insight each time. They never fail to recommend the book to others, and I picked up the book this month fully prepared to be amazed.
Unfortunately, I am not as enthralled with Bryson's work as my relatives. The general writing of A Short History of Nearly Everything is interesting and easy to follow, and is directed towards a general audience that makes the book approachable as a whole. In terms of its content the book is a general glossing of all scientific studies, focusing largely on the questions of how and why our planet came to be, what keeps it going, and how it all ended up with us. My interest varied with each chapter; passages dedicated to subjects I already find interesting were informative and entertaining, but my attention drifted on subjects I either find dull or simply too outside my area of understanding.
I would recommend A Short History of Nearly Everything to those with an interest in reading general science books, but it may not hold your attention if you're more interested in the humanities.
Bryson January 10, 2010
Heather Carter
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I was very pleased. The book was exactly as described. Additionally, every single person should read this book. Everyone.
Showing reviews 16-20 of 785
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