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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
Doesn't real y explain anything, just name dropping
The structure is also quiet chaotic
The structure is also quiet chaotic
“The upshot of all this is that we live in a universe whose age we can't quite compute, surrounded by stars whose distances we don't altogether know, filled with matter we can't identify, operating in conformance with physical laws whose properties we don't truly understand.”
Bill Bryson is able to make concepts that truly are fascinating—the beginnings of our solar system, the atomic world, evolution, the cell—also very entertaining by weaving in funny and interesting anecdotes about the people who have made these discoveries, making a book that deals with the infinitude of the universe resonate on a deeply personal level.
Bill Bryson is able to make concepts that truly are fascinating—the beginnings of our solar system, the atomic world, evolution, the cell—also very entertaining by weaving in funny and interesting anecdotes about the people who have made these discoveries, making a book that deals with the infinitude of the universe resonate on a deeply personal level.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
The title doesn't lie. This is a really impressive overview of, well, the entire history of science and our understanding of our world and our universe. It's all in "layman's terms", though I think most people that would picj up this book in the first place are at least pretty comfortable with a good bit of the concepts and terms involved. Made for great listening while I worked in my art studio.
challenging
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Absolutely fantastic, an entertaining and effective way to learn about science, understand the world around you, and enjoy every second of it. I loved it!
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
A fantastic look at the history of the world. Sad, serious, hilarious, and incredibly informative, this book is absolutely worth the read. The ONLY thing holding it back from the full five stars is that it's now a bit dated and some of the sciences have developed even further.
Simply awe-inspiring. I'm having a hard time coherently formulating just how strongly this book made me feel about the world in which I live, so vast and miraculous, teeming with infinite possibility. It's almost intoxicating. To know what a speck not only one human life is on the grand scale of universal proportions, but of all of mankind as a whole. It's simply ego-crushing.
Some may find these sentiments of their own insignificance disheartening, but I felt strangely comforted by the fact that the universe is definitively indifferent to me, and that any and all seems possible in such a wonderful place. It made me realize how precious life is, and how -for lack of a better word- miraculous it is that any of us is here at all. And that doesn't even scratch the surface of how this book made me feel...
Very likely my particularly minuscule level of knowledge in science and natural history is what caused such a strong reaction, but I suppose no place is as good as this book to start kindling a passion and curiosity for these subjects among many others that are touched upon throughout this book. It's like a knowledge buffet where one has the opportunity to sample much of what the world has to offer, and inspires one to go more in depth with what they've learned once their hunger is awakened. This is certainly what happened to me anyways.
Perhaps those who are much more versed in non-fiction generally won't have such a strong reaction, but I stand by my own. The only reason I couldn't bring myself to give it five stars was because some points where hopelessly technical to me, even in the simplest laymen terms that Bryson laid down certain concept, and I felt myself not fully understanding the magnitude or meaning behind certain brief sections. This is more a comprehension flaw on my part, than on the book or its writing though, but I could not claim 100% enjoyment because I sensed there was something I was failing to grasp.
This lack of understanding on such technical points has led me to endeavor to read more non-fiction and muddle away much of the confusion and misunderstandings I find myself caught in when pondering such subjects. And I am ever grateful to have been so inspired by this book.
Thanks, Bryson.
Some may find these sentiments of their own insignificance disheartening, but I felt strangely comforted by the fact that the universe is definitively indifferent to me, and that any and all seems possible in such a wonderful place. It made me realize how precious life is, and how -for lack of a better word- miraculous it is that any of us is here at all. And that doesn't even scratch the surface of how this book made me feel...
Very likely my particularly minuscule level of knowledge in science and natural history is what caused such a strong reaction, but I suppose no place is as good as this book to start kindling a passion and curiosity for these subjects among many others that are touched upon throughout this book. It's like a knowledge buffet where one has the opportunity to sample much of what the world has to offer, and inspires one to go more in depth with what they've learned once their hunger is awakened. This is certainly what happened to me anyways.
Perhaps those who are much more versed in non-fiction generally won't have such a strong reaction, but I stand by my own. The only reason I couldn't bring myself to give it five stars was because some points where hopelessly technical to me, even in the simplest laymen terms that Bryson laid down certain concept, and I felt myself not fully understanding the magnitude or meaning behind certain brief sections. This is more a comprehension flaw on my part, than on the book or its writing though, but I could not claim 100% enjoyment because I sensed there was something I was failing to grasp.
This lack of understanding on such technical points has led me to endeavor to read more non-fiction and muddle away much of the confusion and misunderstandings I find myself caught in when pondering such subjects. And I am ever grateful to have been so inspired by this book.
Thanks, Bryson.