A Short History Of Nearly Everything

Bryson is always good. In the past few years he's cranked out a number of books on his travels in his verbose, amiable, delightful style. I've enjoyed every one of them. Even when not travelling geographically, his mental travels (through the English language, through American history, and, here, through Science) are just as enjoyable.

He has also done a hell of a lot of research for this book and, probably mindful of the spanking he got from the likes of The Economist for relying on dodgy sources in previous fact-filled books like Made In America, he documents his sources thoroughly. The result is the best book I've read that attempts to cover any breadth of science (there are plenty of good books on individual fields). It's worth remembering that Bryson isn't a scientist either so this is all the more impressive. It takes him about 400 pages to buzz through 400 years of science, covering all the major breakthroughs, characters and concepts, plus most of the quirky diversions, eccentrics and unsung heroes. It's breezy, undemanding, brilliantly told stuff, informative, thorough and scientifically correct[25].

He's won some prizes for this one and they're well deserved. It wouldn't surprise me to hear that he is receiving hate mail from the scientific literary establishment -- the Dawkinses, Ridleys, Krausses, Hawkingses, and Goulds of the world would do well to write something as good as this. Okay, it isn't deep nor, except in the manner of telling, original but it is a very good book about Science.

A Short History Of Nearly Everything elsewhere

• Guardian review of _A Short History Of Nearly Everything_
• Collected reviews of _A Short History Of Nearly Everything_ on Science Book Review
• _A Short History Of Nearly Everything_'s homepage at Random House
• Official Bill Bryson website