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Comments (35)

What did you think about this title?
1 to 25 of 35 items
May 05, 2023
"This book fostered my love for pop-science. No one distills complex knowledge quite like Bill Bryson, and this book has - well, a little bit of everything. I still think about the chapter on moss almost twenty years later." - Shannon L.
May 04, 2023zipread rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Big. Well illustrated. Details not only the science. IBug also the scientists behind he science. Something we often forget. Reading the whole book would be a kind of marathon. Reading it on the instalment plan would probably be a better…
Oct 28, 2022TheHotChili rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I almost skipped the first chapter. A bit boring, but I’m glad I didn’t. The book was fascinating. I had the paperback version without the pictures and renderings. Read it and loved it. Two weeks after finishing it, I read it again. This…
Nov 07, 2021Schlermie rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
A couple things worth noting: First, Bill Bryson is not a scientist. The content of this book is based on interviews with scientists and research into works about a wide range of sciences. Second, this book is a HISTORY of scientific…
Nov 02, 2021Anita_Dickey rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
I read this book to fulfill the goal read A book from your TBR list you associate with a favorite person, place, or thing-- this one was more complicated than it needed to be. i had lots of books i associated with the category but none of…
Aug 17, 2021morgan_wu_05 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This book was extremely fascinating and knowledgeable. Bryson’s way of describing events as a timeline is very fun to read. Some of the language is difficult but I found myself enjoying the arcs of our world. I enjoyed how Bryson split…
Jun 14, 2021loonylovesgood rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
A fascinating book, but you need lots of time to get through it. It really is like reading a textbook. It's great for nerds like me, who love that sort of thing. But I just didn't have the time to devote to get through the whole thing.…
Apr 08, 2021TEENREVIEWCREW rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A Short History of Nearly Everything is an excellent, educational and thought-provoking book. I recommend this to intellectuals striving for knowledge of the universe, existence, and how it all came to be. This book makes for interesting…
Aug 07, 2020jimg2000 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Read Bryson's The Body just now and it has a broader array of data and information as this book. Unfortunately can't find my review and quotes that I had posted back in 2005. Anyway, excellent read for curious teens and up. For example,…
Jan 22, 2020Serra28 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
It's alright. If delving into the back stories and (mostly) interesting (but not essential to know) personalities and backstories to some of the best discoveries of Western science is your thing, go for it. Wouldn't consider it a must-read…
Apr 03, 2017kaylalgreen rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This was the first book of Bill Bryson's that I have read and I will definitely be reading more of his stuff. I couldn't put this book down! I will re-read this one many times over again.
Jan 06, 2017flygt rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
An excellent read. Bryson covers the history and current state of science very concisely along with his trademark humour. Very informative and entertaining.
Nov 23, 2016ArapahoeLesley rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Bryson is amazing!
Nov 08, 2016ArapahoeRachelB rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This was an absolute delight to read. I was most glad to learn about all the unusual connections between various scientific discoveries. Bryson writes with an easy sense of humor that just makes you want to keep turning the page.
Feb 21, 2016Nkenward rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I've never been a fan of non-fiction books. They just aren't all that fun to read even if its a subject that interests me. This was the very first book that not only interested me, but kept me reading throughout. An extremely ambitious…
Nov 05, 2015SREEDEVI VISWAMBARAN rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Wow...Never thought History would be so interesting. It didn't feel like a non-fic at all. The 'story of us' is even stranger than fiction. How little we know about cosmos and the miracle called life! If I have read this a couple of years…
rb3221
Oct 24, 2015rb3221 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
In Bryson's own words, this book was to "see if it isn't possible to understand and appreciate the wonder and accomplishments of science at a level that isn't too technical or demanding." He then takes us on an amazing journey through the…
hp_library
Aug 27, 2014
Even if you are not into science or technology, you will 'love' this book. Bill Bryson's writing style is incredible and charming, as usual....
KRockstar10
Aug 14, 2013KRockstar10 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
If you want to crack up while reading about cells, get a little worried about volcanic activity, and learn about the many quirks that famous scientists of the past have had, this book is excellent. I giggled and texted quotes to people…
Jul 28, 2013biblioisseur rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
One of my favorite books. It is such a fun read. It is one one of the very few non-reference books I own.
oldhag
Jun 12, 2013oldhag rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This book is neither short, nor does it cover everything, but it is an enjoyable read about developments in different fields of science, and the mad/genius people who did/do populate the scientific arena.
Sep 07, 2012tocch101 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A good read with interesting prospective that anyone can read. Great for an overall history.
AquaSabi
Jul 05, 2012
I basically skimmed through this book and this "A Short History of Nearly Everything" is pretty much a short history of nearly everything in the western world. It does not really explore other milestones, achievements or important facts of…
Sep 29, 2011giddyleu rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
At last, a science book most of us can read and understand. Very witty. He makes you feel the wonder of the world we live in.
May 02, 2011Delta rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
A Short History of Nearly Everything is a fabulous book. A must read for anyone who is interested in the science of how the world works. Read this book, it's mind expanding.