Book Review: [*] A Short History of Nearly Everything
Bryson is neither Scientist nor Historian, which gives him a perspective on both topics to which most of us can relate. In this book, he takes us on a journey starting at the inception of the universe (the inaccurately named “big bang”), and on through to the 20th and 21st centuries. He covers many of the natural sciences, such as Geology, Astronomy, Biology, and Chemistry, but does so in a way that makes sense to someone who is an expert in none of them, peppering it with candid humor.
If you’ve ever wondered how much (or more accurately: how little) we know about life, Earth, and the universe at large, and how that’s changed over time, this book is a perfect fit. Bryson pulls no punches, and is very clear that there are quite a number of areas in science where we still have a lot to learn, but contrasts this criticism by pointing out the amazing discoveries we have already made.
At times, Bryson drags on a little bit with the politics and drama between Scientists, and I wished the coverage was a little bit more in depth in certain areas; Then again, the brevity and broad basis is one reason the book is so readable.
Rating: 4/5