Rating: 
Summary: A short history of Nothing
Review: The correct title of this book must be "A SHORT history of Nothing" with sub-title "For pre-school kid"A typical C-student's last-minute make-up paper, knowing nothing at all yet pretending to know everything.
Rating: 
Summary: a fascinating story of our world
Review: In all my years of schooling, I never had a science class that I liked. I was bored and confused in every single one of them. Reading this book was the first time in my life that science was interesting to me. While this book might not sound very interesting at first, it really is very fascinating. With his typical humor and wit, Bill Bryson has written a condensed history of why we are here and how it all came to be. This book covers all the bases. Space, stars and planets; geology, earthquakes and volcanoes; dinosaurs; the development of chemistry and physics; climate, weather, our atmosphere and the oceans; how the first life began, evolution, and how humans came to be; microorganisms and bacteria; and of course extinction and the wanton destruction of plants and animals by humans. And he weaves it all together into a fascinating history with a wide range of bizarre characters and events, amazing coincidences, and some missed opportunities, all the while introducing all sorts of interesting facts that I've never heard before. I learned a lot from this book and I enjoyed reading it. Another Bill Bryson classic.
Rating:
Summary: Lay Person's Guide To The Universe
Review: In "A Walk In The Woods", Bill Bryson writes on hiking the Appalachian Trail; a journey with a beginning (Georgia), and an ending (Maine), with interesting side journeys. In "A Short History Of Nearly Everything" the same approach is taken, except the journey is from The Big Bang, to how life arose, to our cells, to how modern humans came to be (and a lot more). And as with "A Walk In The Woods", this worthwhile journey is sprinkled with humor and clashing adjectives. Obscure concepts are consistently translated into human-digestible images, some of which are truly astounding. A great book.
Rating:
Summary: As entertaining as it could be
Review: You never know what to expect from Bryson's books. But on the other hand you are never disappointed. That's the case with this book - it is really great to read, still it gives you so much information about what you always wanted to know.
If you really paid attention during classes at secondary school, do not expect to find revolutionary knowledge in the book (at least this is the case with schools in Poland, where I come from), but the style of presentation is outstanding! This book is so easy to read yet it gives you so much to learn.
And biographies of scientists'... You will feel as you were next to them during their life.
Rating:
Summary: An Uncommon Education
Review: Bryson's exceptional research represents a great tribute to the spirit of pure curiosity. This is a must read for anyone who wants to gain a broader view of the earth and human experience.
Rating:
Summary: Bryson's Best Book Yet
Review: Bryson's attempt to make various fields of science understandable and interesting to the layman has certainly succeeded. His organization and clarity of writing, with his usual witty style, is a joy. This book could be used as a model for good writing. Don't miss this exciting, fascinating, and witty explanation of various scientific fields. It is so great that I didn't want it to end, and I have even started rereading it.
Rating:
Summary: Inventions, history in the making, and the roots of new idea
Review: It's a pleasure to see something contemporary offered in large print which is nonfiction in nature and intellectual yet lively in content. In Short History Of Nearly Everything, Bill Bryson tackles subjects like geology, chemistry and physics and makes them of interest to the non-scientist reader: chapters probe inventions, history in the making, and the roots of new ideas and innovative thinking. A highly recommended title for large print readers seeking something more than novels.
Rating:
Summary: The Best!
Review: If you never have time to read another book, make sure that you read this one!
It is a Feast for the intellect and the soul.
Bill Bryson is at his best.
Well, :-) he usually is.
Rating:
Summary: History for the Layman
Review: This is history for the layman. I myself wouldn't have used the title "Nearly Everything", rather, "of the World" or "of Nearly every Science". Bryson deals mostly with scientific history pertaining to the universe. From the beginning of the universe to stars, planets, matter such as atoms, quarks, our earth, chemicals, geology, astronomy, human evolution, dinosaurs, scientific principles from einstein to newton to darwin, and much more. He covers many bumbling and brilliant scientists along the way, giving special attention to those whose work happened to have the misfortune of not being discovered, laughed at and later proven correct, or their discoveries being credited to others. Unlike any other history book however, Bryson does it with his own unique and interesting style. He presents it all in an easy to digest, though sometimes superficial manner that makes it a very enjoyable read. For those who happen to be looking for more depth, this is still a great read as it presents many many topics and notable names to choose from as a starting point to begin your journeys deeper into the study of the history of our universe. As one who especially appreciates Bryson's sense of humor, I find this book a bit lacking in such, however Bryson does have some good quips interspersed to keep things light. All in all, another fine book from a fine author. P.S., doesn't Bryson know that Elvis isn't dead?, there's a teaser for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Teaser -- in a good way
Review: This is an enjoyable read. Mr. Bryson surveys many different aspects of current scientific thinking in an entertaining, readable manner. He is equally able to convey the broad gist of the ideas under discussion as well as provide many interesting notes on the eccentricities of the people who first had those ideas. It's also interesting to read about the myriad ways that natural cataclysms may wipe out all life on earth, though it may have more emphasis in this book than I'd normally be inclined to read. It feels like a justification by Bryson to the reader for why we should care about what he is telling us. Based on this book, I think I have a new insight into a series of subjects that I've always read about since Bryson approaches everything from the (rarely encountered) angle of a neophyte. It has also spurred me to look to reach beyond the level that this book is able to provide and to start picking up texts in astronomy, DNA biology, dinosaur history and others. Ultimately, that's the mark of a survey book that's done its job well.
|
