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Bill Bryson A Short History of Nearly Everything

Last updated: July 19, 2019

Bill Bryson A Short History of Nearly Everything
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We looked at the top History Books and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best History Book you should buy.

Overall Take

In our analysis of 60 expert reviews, the Bill Bryson A Short History of Nearly Everything placed 6th when we looked at the top 9 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

Expert Reviews


What experts liked

Bryson renders clear the evolution of continental drift, atomic structure, singularity, the extinction of the dinosaur, and a mighty host of other subjects in self-contained chapters that can be taken at a bite, rather than read wholesale. He delivers the human-interest angle on the scientists, and he keeps the reader laughing and willing to forge ahead, even over their heads. Loads of good explaining.
By the time I'd finished the Prologue, I was running to my husband exclaiming how incredible this book was going to be. I can't vouch for the accuracy of the content, but written the way it is, it undeniably makes learning fun.
Bryson isn’t a scientist, he’s a writer, but he clearly did his homework over the course of the three years he took to put this book together. The writing is clear, entertaining, and never slips into industry jargon – if anything, Bryson underestimates the reader and explains some concepts a little more than he needs to.
I had several good laughs at the factoids about various scientists which seemed to bring a whole new meaning to the phrase, "mad scientist." The author has a great knack for finding all the silly little stories that really make history and science interesting and fun.
I hate science, but thanks to Bill Bryson, I devoured a 500 page book about it. Humorous anecdotes, eccentric scientists, fascinating footnotes, and a delightful way with words and images that engage and amuse. Bryson writes to the reader who comes to the table with no aptitude for science just a desire to learn.
A Short History of Nearly Everything is for everyone who know very little of science but is eager to learn. With a well-written prose, lively and informative concepts, thoughts and wittier lines that will keep the readers intrigued and entertained, A Short History of Nearly Everything is a must-read for all.
This is a truly humbling read. One that’ll knock the hot air out of you – and prepare you to view our universe with awe, respect, and yes, a little fear, too. It’s incredible that Bill Bryson manages to do all of this without drowning a reader in arcane technicality or dull lectures, but instead through the use of gripping personal stories and amusing anecdotes that humanize intellectual giants.
A Short History of Nearly Everything is a must read book for anybody with an interest in history or science. Aimed at the general public, he manages to explain complex theories very fluidly and comprehensively. Being a non scientist himself, A Short History Of Nearly Everything is an excellent effort at educating people about science and how we got here.
The humor that is used to employ learning is not always apparent until after you read a chapter or two. You are always in a learning mode when reading this book. Either to enforce what you already know or dispelling fiction,it is a good read.
A Short History of Everything is a remarkable book, not because it illuminates anything about science which isn’t more or less commonly known. What makes it wonderful is that it is a humanistic book, written so well that by the time the reader puts it down, the impact of science on life as we know it, and don’t yet know it, will become a part of self-awareness.

What experts didn't like

One issue that I had with the book is that subjects were not given equal time. Electricity was given a lot of writing space, but others were not, like evolution.
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