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suzzeb22's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book. Can't remember exactly any of it!! But I loved it anyway and I did learn a great deal, if only for a short, short time. Bryson has outdone himself with this one. The sheer research involved must have been astronomical. Get it? Astronomical? Science for the decidedly un-sciencey.
bubski_mcboo's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
christina_likes_to_read's review against another edition
4.5
What a joyful meander! This book was long and detailed and I wasn’t sure, at first, if I was going to be able to make it through it. But, I did and I really, really enjoyed it. If I had to describe the experience of reading this book I would say it was as if you were at a party and a really smart guy started talking about science but he was adapting his monologue for a lay audience. Bill Bryson meandered his way through the history of science and I enjoyed the trip with him. Honestly, I don’t remember much of what I read. But, I did enjoy it. I found that certain parts of the history of science were more interesting to me than others. But, it was all worth the effort. And I will probably reread this book someday in the hopes that I can absorb more of it the second time around. 4.5 stars
jayseewhy's review against another edition
4.0
This is basically a history of modern scientific understanding and how we came to know what we know. It's both fun and educational (and works well as an audiobook).
againanew's review against another edition
4.0
This was mostly the short history of everything western science, if you are looking for a discussion of the history of human civilization (think Genghis Khan or ancient Sumeria or Henry VIII) look elsewhere. At times I found myself drifting off during this book, mainly when dead white guy after dead white guy and their specific contributions to the history of science were being discussed. This went on for quite some time, but the author was considerate enough to throw in a funny anecdote every now and then to keep you from setting the book down.
That being said, I did find myself laughing out loud during other parts as well as learning new things. I have a deep appreciation for any book/author that can bring science to the masses in an entertaining way, since that is the only way many will read it. And Bryson does this very well (as to be expected from his other books). Everything from the big bang to human evolution is discussed, and done in a conversational and enjoyable format.
That being said, I did find myself laughing out loud during other parts as well as learning new things. I have a deep appreciation for any book/author that can bring science to the masses in an entertaining way, since that is the only way many will read it. And Bryson does this very well (as to be expected from his other books). Everything from the big bang to human evolution is discussed, and done in a conversational and enjoyable format.
saniya18's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
jimbowen0306's review against another edition
4.0
I am quite the fan of Bill Bryson's travel books. They are humorous, and diverting, if not the most profound books you'll read. There's nothing wrong with this, they are enjoyable, and you learn something about places, all the same.
I read Byson's book of American English, and found it harder to work though. Maybe that because while I'm well educated, I'm not sure I'm the sort of person who has a literary bent. That book did, however, put me off Bryson's other non-travel literature, and prevented me from reading this book for a while.
Maybe it's because I'm more scientific, or because i just enjoy geology and older history, I found this book more accessible. It covers the science and our lack knowledge of how the Earth became the Earth, animals were formed, and the evolution of how humans became humans.
It's surprisingly accessible, and enjoyable read. If you want to have a feel of why the Earth looks like it does, and why we look like we do, read this book. It doesn't assume you've any specialist knowledge, but doesn't assume you're an idiot either.
The one warning I would have, is that it's not really a history book, more an explanation of the state of knowledge as it exists when the book was written.
I read Byson's book of American English, and found it harder to work though. Maybe that because while I'm well educated, I'm not sure I'm the sort of person who has a literary bent. That book did, however, put me off Bryson's other non-travel literature, and prevented me from reading this book for a while.
Maybe it's because I'm more scientific, or because i just enjoy geology and older history, I found this book more accessible. It covers the science and our lack knowledge of how the Earth became the Earth, animals were formed, and the evolution of how humans became humans.
It's surprisingly accessible, and enjoyable read. If you want to have a feel of why the Earth looks like it does, and why we look like we do, read this book. It doesn't assume you've any specialist knowledge, but doesn't assume you're an idiot either.
The one warning I would have, is that it's not really a history book, more an explanation of the state of knowledge as it exists when the book was written.