A Short History of Nearly Everything

Rating:
Summary: Bryson is a Master Wordsmith
Review: In "A Short History of Nearly Everything", Bill Bryson, with his mastery of the language and his ease at storytelling, has brought subjects that sometimes baffel the layman into true focus. I have read about nearly every subject he refers to in this book, but none have been put so understandably and interestingly. As a inveterate generalist, I need an understanding of "nearly everything" and if I had Bryson to explain all my reading, perhaps I could then move on to a specialty.

Bill Bryson is simply the best nonfiction author in the English language. With wit and insight, he has taken me with him to Britain, the US, Australia, Europe and now to inner and outer space.

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Summary: Fun and Informative, a bit meandering and preachy
Review: I found the discussions about the origins of the universe and partical physics very interesting and down-to-earth. Bryson has a singular wit and a talent for distilling the complex.

Unfortunately, I found myself skimming over the more mundane details of various scientists' lives. But hey, if you want to know excruciating minutiae about the life and times of Dmitri Mendeleyev, then this book is for you!

Also, I found the smattering of Left-Wing [stuff] a bit disturbing. Bryson takes at face value the insane assertions of the Environmental Wacko crowd and rounds it all out with a self-loathing dissertation on the evils of mankind. I didn't know this, but apparently mankind may actually be the "universe's worst nightmare"! Somehow, I think one more chapter would have been all it would have taken for him to determine that Capitalism was to blame.

Anyhow, with that in mind, it's an interesting read if you want to know more about the history of science and if you don't take the questionable "morality" parts too seriously.

Rating:
Summary: lots of fun
Review: an absolute bargain: riddled with entertaining and educational tidbits that will keep your brain satisfied for hours. While Bryson is decidedly controversial (whether it's for grammatical errors or "inappropriate contentions") in his other works, this one hits a home run. Tons of pages of highly useful information served up with wit and informed perspective. And for a reasonable price.

Great job!

Rating:
Summary: For the conscientious science ignoramus
Review: Mr Bryson has really outdone himself this time, with a book that should be read by all, if only to get the collective public juices flowing over all things science. It's hard to write on this type of topic and still appeal to general public - the 95% of the populace that doesn't usually indulge in non-fiction science - but this title pulls it off well. If you enjoyed this book, you'll also have a great read with "Last Chance to See" (by the late Douglas Adams), and the as yet unpublished "Towards Hannah: an unusual primer in genetics and biotech" (not sure who, but you should be able to google it and read it online).

Rating:
Summary: One Great Book!
Review: Bill Bryson has written a book for the ages, about all ages, for all ages. Bill Bryson takes the reader on an intoxicating journey through the history of science - all science. Beginning at the beginning with the Big Bang, meandering through our world with a discussion about the Earth, exploring the unseen microscopic world within our world, examining the hidden dangers of living on this planet, reveling in the mysteries and complexities of life itself, and wrapping it all up with a discussion of the road to human-kind, Mr. Bryson has explored it all and explained it well. Finally, a writer had the audacity to decipher the science-speak of scientists and let us all in their big secret: science is wonderful, science is awe inspiring, and, for the most part, science is comprehensible.

Mr. Bryson sought out to understand not just the big questions and answers in science, but to understand the scientists themselves and their methods. The book is replete with juicy anecdotes, biographical tidbits, and surprising facts well worthy of repeating to amaze all at water coolers and cocktail parties. Who knew that Pluto was ¼ of one percent the size of the Earth or that the largest volcano in the world is Yellowstone National Park or that Newton wrote the Principia as a result of a wager between Edmond Halley, Robert Hooke, and Christopher Wren? I sure didn't, but I do now.

This book should be required reading by all middle school students across this country. If it were, the shortages scientists would disappear, for a multitude would be captivated and propelled into a career in the sciences. Bravo to Bill Bryson, he succeeded in his mission most brilliantly.

Rating:
Summary: Short History Of Everything
Review: One of the best armchair books on science ever. The author is very fair, setting the record straight wherever he can by giving credit to the smalltime guy where credit is due. Bryson explains things (in this case, science) in a way that is meaningful to everyone. I agree with a previous review I read that says the only other book that accomplishes the same is Remick's "West Point: Character, Leadership, Education, Thomas Jefferson" in which the history-philosophy behind America-West Point (therefore, no way in conflict with Mr. Bryson's book about science) is explained in a way that's for everyone. Mr. Bryson's book is a fascinating and exciting journey through the history of science. If you take the trip, you'll both enjoy it and have a short education on nearly everything. I highly recommend it. You might also want to read Remick's book after you read Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything" to have a "short history of everything".

Rating:
Summary: Simply one of the best books of the year.
Review: This is a fun read! I learned a lot while smiling at the author's humour and ability to link up things and events that I never knew were connected. Don't be mistaken; this is serious stuff. It IS history. It's just not dull and tedious like a lot of "standard" history. PS: I also recommend the new book on Isaac Newton.

Rating:
Summary: Layman's guide to the Earth as we know it
Review: This book was really awesome. I've always had a love of science and although from the foreword it seems my grasp of the topics covered was a bit more thorough than Bryson's was when he started his research, I was still enthralled from cover to cover. If you've ever wondered what a quark or neutrino was, got confused over the different prehistoric species of man, wondered what the earth weighed - and how that might EVER be calculated, you'll probably like this book. I especially liked the anecdotal tone it had most of the time, and really enjoyed the tales of Sir Isaac Newton's decidedly odd experiments, wagers among renowned scientists, interviews with science greats, and learning the oddities - and feuds - of some of the most well known scientific figures.

Rating:
Summary: A close second to Stephen Hawking but still excellent.
Review: For readers or listeners of Stephen W. Hawking's books this one will contain nothing new. Further, it seemed to largely repeat almost every point that Hawking made, but with, perhaps, a smoother tone.

Don't take this as a slap at Bill Bryson. Indeed, I am a fan. I merely wish to warn readers of the duplication so as to prevent deflation and disappointment.

Finally, those geeks among us with a weak science education now have a choice of legible scientific writing - Hawking or Bryson. It's great to be able to learn about how we came into being without first gaining a Phd in zoology, astronomy, geology and all those other ologies!

Now, can somebody please simplify political science and international relations so Condoleeza Rice and George Bush can get on the same page and bring about peace throughout the world without irritating the leaders of France and Germany and without getting too chummy with some latter-day Italian neo-Mussolini?

Where is a writer like T. E. Lawrence when we need him?

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating yet too Expansive
Review: Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything" is a fascinating read. Bryson tackles various scientific topics like the atom, tectonic plates, evolution, and bacteria. Bryson writes well and some of the facts he provides are wonderful to think about.

The book's strength and weakness is that Bryson discusses so many topics. At times it seems like there is little connection between one chapter and the next. He would have done well to expand on a few related topics such as life on the microscopic level (atoms, bacteria, etc.) rather than seek to discuss "nearly everything."