I've listened to this over and over. I don't think I've ever said "Wow!" or laughed out loud so much when driving by myself. Although he deals with profound and far reaching subjects, from the Big Bang to geology to DNA, he does it in a way that is affable, and very understandable. Bryson is a first-rate writer, and his light English accent has a way of making his understated humor even more entertaining. Listening to this book, I felt, I still feel, profoundly aware of how wonderful it is that there is life at all in the universe, and how absurd we are when we fail to cherish and protect it at all cost. Bravo, Bill! P.S. Also loved "A Walk in the Woods."

If you've listened to Bill Bryson narrate his own writing, you're accustomed to his cadence and well placed pauses which allow his words to sink in and, quite frequently, induce tears of laughter. This effect is lost in the audio version of "A Short History of Nearly Everything." The narrator speaks clearly, there's no problem there, but his speed and delivery don't create the same experience as do Bill's.

I learned more practical, applicable information from this book than possibly any other I can immediately think of.
If you have a single curious bone in your body, you'll find this work extremely satisfying.
If you're full of curious bones, as am I, you're guaranteed to view and appreciate most everything in a new light.

Rambles up and down the history of science in an entertaining and informative way, bringing to life the personalities and human frailties of science celebrities past and present.

I liked this audiobook so much, I'm listening to it again only a month after the first listen. There is a LOT of information presented, so I'm not surprised I'm hearing things I missed the first time around. Highly recommended for anyone with even a casual interest in the sciences.

Don’t let the 3 star rating mislead you. This was an awesome book and I’m certain others will think more highly of it. It is a great introduction for those not into the biography of the universe and the history of science. However, if you watch the Science Channel, History Channel, PBS, etc., then you’ll already know much of what’s covered. It is the true "Once upon a time. . ." story.

As someone with an interest in all things science, I was still impressed with the witty style of the writing and use of analogies to drive home various points. It’s a very entertaining listen and the narrator does an excellent job in reading it.

The most salient point of the book for me was the human paradox of how we are changing the world through our presence but at the same how precarious our existence on it is. A favorite quote from the book for me is, “All life is one, is one of the most profound true statements there is.”

Think about this, for you to get where you are today, all of your ancestors had to survive long enough to find someone willing to pair up with. Not an easy task surviving disease, war, or just being eaten. One break in the chain, one moment sooner or later in the conception process anywhere along the line and you don’t exist. It’s a miracle you’re here. And yet you are despite the odds against it. Just when you think you were meant to be here, you have to remember we could all be wiped out by a meteor strike at any moment.

Humans have been apart of only 0.0001% of Earth’s history and yet we have been chosen. As the author states, “We are the least there is. We may be all there is. We are the living universe’s supreme achievement and its worst nightmare simultaneously.”

One last quote to end with comes from Edward O. Wilson in his book, The Diversity of Live, “One planet, one experiment."

Forget high school science. Just have your kids enjoy this book. Bryson gives a very understandable and thorough overview of astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, geology, etc., in an extremely engaging way. It is like hearing your favorite college professor sit down on a table in front of a group of students and weaving a fascinating story. The human interest aspects of the books were a plus to the scientific explanations. Although this is a tremendously enjoyable read for inquisitive adults, share it with your children and they might actually take up an enduring interest in science. This book is certainly far better than all of my high school science courses combined (and probably college too). Highly recommended.

Near the beginning Bryson states that he knew almost nothing about the only world he would ever inhabit. Most people seem to be in pretty much the same state. If you listen to this you will join him in not being quite so ignorant.

That's great, but what I like best is that while he presents our best current understanding of how our universe works, he also provides a series of wonderful profiles of the very human men and women who have slowly and painfully (and in some cases arrogantly) built up the framework of what we know -- and upon which we will continue to built our understanding. It is an ode to science and scientists. As far as I am concernerned this should be required readling...or listening!

What a great book! I liked it so much I bought the hardback so that I could mark favorite my passages. I highly recommend it for anyone who has the slightest interest in the world around them.

One of the better books I've ever read. Alas if only I could remember even a fraction of those facts. I'd be trivia king of the world. Good mix of fact and humour. Just fascinating and very well done. It is long, so you better enjoy this sort of thing. Even I who loved it, was kinda ready for the end. And what and end, makes me wish I could catch a glimpse into a day 100 years from now.

Excellent material reads like a (long) episode of The Learning Network's show, Connections. Like James Burke, the author takes pleasure in fact-dropping and illuminating interrelationships of people and facts over the course of world history. Well worth the download. Enjoy!