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A review by book_concierge
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
3.0
3.5***
Well, the title pretty much gives you a synopsis of what this nonfiction work is all about – “nearly” everything.
Bryson allowed his curiosity about scientific discoveries to lead wherever it might take him, and he organized his findings in a somewhat chronological order (hence the “history”). He begins with how the universe came into being, and proceeds through how Earth came to be the rock we call home, the natural disasters / dangers of volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, etc, continues through the formation of life, from the smallest microbeings to, eventually, man (and the way we are destroying the planet on which we reside).
It’s dry in places, and extremely detailed as well. It’s also funny and entertaining occasionally. I found myself reading certain passages aloud to my husband (who, I think, was sorry he asked “What are you reading?”).
Well, the title pretty much gives you a synopsis of what this nonfiction work is all about – “nearly” everything.
Bryson allowed his curiosity about scientific discoveries to lead wherever it might take him, and he organized his findings in a somewhat chronological order (hence the “history”). He begins with how the universe came into being, and proceeds through how Earth came to be the rock we call home, the natural disasters / dangers of volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, etc, continues through the formation of life, from the smallest microbeings to, eventually, man (and the way we are destroying the planet on which we reside).
It’s dry in places, and extremely detailed as well. It’s also funny and entertaining occasionally. I found myself reading certain passages aloud to my husband (who, I think, was sorry he asked “What are you reading?”).