Rating: 
Summary: Classic Bryson at his best
Review: It's hard to imagine Bill Bryson topping A Walk in the Woods, and perhaps he hasn't - but with A Short History of Nearly Everything, he comes damn close. Undaunted at the prospect of taking on everything in the universe as a topic, Bryson pretty much succeeds in taking us on a journey through his quirky mind with his own insatiable curiosity as a tour guide who both asks and answers questions the rest of us probably never thought to pose.
If you like Bryson, this is a must read. If you've never read him before, well, you'll quickly become a regular reader such as myself, eagerly awaiting each of his books as they come off the press.
Rating: 
Summary: Nearly everything is missing
Review: When I picked up this book, I thought the "everything" in "nearly everything" was everything. In the introduction, the author makes it seem that way too. He fails to mention (anywhere in the book) that his perception of "everything" is just the natural sciences. It is a fun, engaging, acceptably thorough survey of the way mankind first discovered and now views the natural sciences, and for that, it is worth notice. But to say that it is a take on everything is not only wrong, but arrogant and blind.The biggest part of "everything" is man's culture and it is not even regarded except in the findings of science. And even then, it is severely deficient. When it looks at Relativity or Evolution, for example, it passes up the opportunity for really exploring the theories so that the author can spend more time on the scientist's lives and events surrounding the actual science. I guess that's why it's a history, but getting just a taste is painful for those seeking more than just cocktail party anecdotes. The book doesn't even touch on all the sciences--most notably lacking a survey of psychology. Neuroscience is perhaps at the forefront of "everything" and it isn't even hinted at here. Instead, Bryson broadcasts, in the officious, repetitive and sarcastic way so many outside of science do, that man and his culture are insignificant, lucky and dangerous. Amnesia strikes the author several times as he asserts how innovative and creative we have been by examining a few of the great natural philosophers and then abruptly claims how harmful and puny we are. He will claim how vast the earth is and how easily it (or an asteroid) could destroy the insignificant mankind and then notes how we are destroying the earth and are a likely candidate for the most destructive thing in the universe. Bryson sees man's product as shameful and the rest of the universe as brilliant and awesome. The truth of the latter should not necessitate the former. But what else can one expect from someone who thinks "everything" is physical and happens without man's interference? For a good survey of the thought behind science, read "The Dream of Reason" by Anthony Gottlieb. For a great survey of the greatest cultural era in history, read "From Dawn to Decadence" by Jacques Barzun. For insight into the relationship between man, nature and the metaphysical, read "Justice and Equality" by E. Robert Morse.
Rating: 
Summary: Some thoughts
Review: If you want to read a very interesting book about historical roots and cultural influences read "The Golden Milestone: Over 2500 Years of Italian Contributions to Civilization," about very influential Romans, Italians and Italian Americans.
Rating:
Summary: Did Bryson Really Have To Write This Book?
Review: As a biologist I have great problems with Bryson's book. He is certainly able to create interesting analogies that capture the reader's attention. As a matter of fact - the book is filled with them. In terms of content and perspective I find that the book is lacking. I actually have a hard time reading it without feeling nauseous.
How can Bryson take on the task of writing this kind of book? He is trying to encapsulate some of the great discoveries and perspectives within the rapidly growing field of science. I think that perspective is somewhat like a good wine. It takes time to build and to "see" the world with eyes enriched by the vision of science. Bryson took a few years off, read some books and talked to some eminent researchers. As a result we have some kind of "Reader's Digest" science book. Interestingly, people seem to love it. One reader even proposed to use this kind of book as a science text in our schools.
I love art history and the different works made by an amazing array of artists over the last five thousand years. Am I qualified to write a history of art? NO! I certainly could try to transfer my passion for the field, but my perspective would be hampered by a lack of training. I would need decades to ponder the different art forms, the artists and the religious and cultural changes occurring in the world. Would I do the world a favor by transferring my passion about art to the public? Definitely! Should my book be viewed as good introduction to the history of art? Absolutely not!
These kinds of books SHOULD be written by people active in the field. Of course, these scientists will need to have the gift to transform their perspectives into digestible paragraphs. A great example would be Carl Sagan that truly brought astronomy to the public mind. It takes many years to really start to "see" these fields and Bryson continuously sounds like a neophyte as he tramples through the different areas of science. I appreciate his genuine interest in learning about the world around him. The process of learning and discovering is a wonderful journey, but did he really need to publish this book?
Rating:
Summary: He Really Does Cover Nearly Everything
Review: Bill Bryson is one of those rare non-fiction writers who can combine anecdote, humor and actual information, all in one book. Here he covers the history of the earth, starting with the big bang and covering all sorts of ground since then, including why you should be really afraid of meteors (by the time we spot the big one it'll be too late) and why you should think twice about that next visit to Yellowstone (the big one is about due). As with most of his books it's clear he's done a lot of research, and the book is larded with the kind of stories about Famous Scientists that you've probably never heard...but also full of the sort of survey scientific information that will leave you thinking you've learned something really interesting. Definitely worth picking up. Who will like it: lovers of pop science, lovers of Bill Bryson, people willing to read a thick book from start to finish. Who won't like it: people bored by pop science or any science at all.
Rating:
Summary: Lighten up, people.
Review: I give this book my highest rating because I really enjoyed reading it, and that's what I really value you in a book. There are some negative things about the book - some explanations can ramble and get a bit dry. But the book is densely packed with fun facts and history from the perspective of the layman and Bryson's writing style makes it fun to read while maybe learning some things as well. What I don't get are people that slam this book because it's poor science. It's Bill Bryson, not Stephen Hawking! This a common man who went on a quest for knowledge and is sharing what he learned. He doesn't claim to be writing a science textbook here. And I think he does a fair job acknowledging his weaknesses and portraying things in a tone that upholds his goal. However, readers should know that this is not the fun romp of 'A Walk in the Woods'. It's more dense and not as funny, but still funny.
Rating: 
Summary: Moderately Good Read
Review: I found the title of this work somewhat misleading. Perhaps it should have been called A History of the Natural Sciences or maybe even A Short History of Natural History. Nevertheless, science books often do not sell well so I am sure
the idea in titling the book A Short History of Nearly Everything was to attract more of a broad readership. The book itself isn't awful but certainly reads like a survey work. In other words, you won't learn complicated how-tos of scientific
methodology but you will get a good general idea of a lot of different topics. Some of the things discussed are the origin of the universe, the solar system, the arising of life, and of course man himself or homo sapiens. I found it slightly paradoxical that Bryson spends a good portion of the book building up this almost supernatural-like awe in the reader for the amazing position we find ourselves in of being alive and also of the magical wonder of the universe itself. It's enough to make even the most staunched atheist have reverence. In fact, I could see an atheist while reading the book saying that's God doing that! However, towards the end of the book Bryson seems to take the counter view that we are ultimately doomed to extinction and with continued acts of
stuipidity will be just another blip on the evolutionary scale. Despite this the book reads okay for the most part but is interspersed with relative periods of dryness. However, it's difficult to talk about things like algae and lichens and
keep everyone interested at all times. Nevertheless, a pretty good read recommended if you keep in mind that it's a survey book that will help you do well on trivial pursuit but is not going to give you the know-how to usurp the current model of the universe. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: A Short History of Nothing At All
Review: Amazing! A typical C-student's last-minute make-up paper!
Knowing nothing but pretending to know everything. I love you. The right sub-title must be one of the following: 1, For pre-school kids;
2, For high-school drop-out;
3, For those who know English only but absolutely nothing else I wish Amazon whould have negative rating!
Rating:
Summary: Just like on PBS
Review: I like Bill Bryson's writing style. This is a book one wishes they read as a teenager. It really brings science alive. One feels like they are witnessing events as they occur in the first person. I like how Bryson takes scientific topics and makes them simple too understand. Bryson puts numbers in perspective and helps the reader understand the spatial enormity or complexity of the elements, atom, planets, and stars. Its easy to retell a Bryson story because they have good imagination well connect ideas that flow into an interesting story without sounding too intellectual. Like, "What is it like to be inside of an Cell? How do cells work? Who discovered DNA and why?" Question like these. I think reading "A Short History of Nearly Everything" is a great introduction to science, astronomy, biology, and geology. Bryson keeps the narrative down to earth, terminology to a minimum, and brings out interesting viewpoints on the birth of the cosmos, the self-repairing DNA, life on planet earth, and the composition of the earth. Bryson did a job not boring the reader with the mysteries of science. Its entertaining reading and not difficult material to understand. Bryson presents thought provoking material that makes one want to read many other published books by Bryson.
Rating:
Summary: Painfully boring.
Review: Wow. If this CD won't put you to sleep, then you have issues. What a boring and dull CD. I, unfortunately, didn't realize that the author would start at the very, very beginning of time.. right down to atoms and protons. When the author claimed "how we went from there being nothing at all to there being something, and then how a little of that something turned into us, and also what happened in between and since", I was interested. But the CD just dragged on and on. I guess if you're into science, you'd enjoy it but I'll pass on this one.
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