Caroline D. (seventhstar) reviewed on 7/11/2009

I do not, on a regular basis, read science books. Since college, the only science book I can claim to have read was Simon Winchesters A Crack on the Edge of the World, which was one parts history to two parts plate tectonics and I skimmed and skipped over the more technical details. However, since I am very fond of Bill Brysons writing style, I decided to give his A Short History of Nearly Everything a try and I loved it. This is not a dry textbook; it is a narrative. It is just as much a history book as it is a science book, which increase its accessibility.



He begins at the beginning of the universe, and follows the story through to the formation of the earth, the continents and down to the emergence of life. Or rather, it narrates the stories of how scientists think all of this happened, and how they came to a consensus on the theories.



Not only do we get a history of the science of the earth, but we get a history of science itself. Through it all he sprinkles many-an entertaining anecdote about those crazy, oddball scientists who came up with it all. Eccentric, arrogant, endearing intellectuals, they squabbled bitterly over competing ideas and theories, pursued the wrong paths, stole credit from one another, often dying in bizarre ways. The mad scientist and absent-minded professor are cliches that came about for a reason. The reader gets to meet all of their prototypes here. The scientists noble quest for knowledge is given a messy, endearing, human face.



This book is warm, readable, funny, and very interesting. I thoroughly recommend it.

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