A Short History of Nearly Everything

By: Bill Bryson

Narrated by: William Roberts

Length: 18 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

A Short History of Nearly Everything is Bill Bryson's quest to understand everything that has happened from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization. He takes subjects that normally bore the pants off most of us, like geology, chemistry, and particle physics, and aims to render them comprehensible to people who have never thought they could be interested in science. In the company of some extraordinary scientists, Bill Bryson reveals the world in a way most of us have never seen it before.

©2003 Bill Bryson (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"To read Bryson is to travel with a memoirist gifted with wry observation and keen insight that shed new light on things we mistake for commonplace. To accompany the author as he travels with the likes of Charles Darwin on the Beagle, Albert Einstein or Isaac Newton is a trip worth taking." (Publishers Weekly)
"Stylish [and] stunningly accurate prose....Brims with strange and amazing facts...destined to become a modern classic of science writing." (The New York Times)

Endlessly fascinating

Would you listen to A Short History of Nearly Everything again? Why?

I went for 'A Short History'... because I have so much enjoyed listening to his later book 'At Home'. I've listened to the latter several times now. Bill Bryson's ability to turn a broad subject into a fascinating narrative, full of wit and personality, and an always evident delight in his subject, made 'At Home' one of my favourite audiobooks. Since my understanding of even quite basic scientific theory is quite woeful, I hoped I might find the same delight in his 'Short History...'. While it might take a few more listens before I really understand a lot of the information, the book had the important effect on me of feeling science is an area of wonder and delight.

I will certainly be listening to the book again - in fact the moment it came to an end the first time round, I went straight back to the beginning!

William Roberts' narration is good - I preferred hearing Bryson narrating his own words on 'At Home', as his dry delivery matches his spoken tone the best, of course. But Roberts interpreted the tone of the books well too.

The best book of everything

This would be one of the best book in Audible

loved it.

Ame tanto la historia como al narrador y me despertó mucha curiosidad por la vida y el universo.

Fascinating and enlightening

A great book that crosses the many spheres of science elegantly. The writer made good research and handed us an entertaining history and a great insight. Thanks Mr. Bryson.

Everything indeed!

What did you love best about A Short History of Nearly Everything?

The shear depth of the knowledge shared...

What did you like best about this story?

The colour brought through the people involved in writing the history... The rewriting!!

Which scene was your favorite?

Periodic table... Did you know where it came from?

TWO WORDS: GET IT

Bryson puts it together in an unbelievably interesting manner. Couldn't have been easy given the breadth and depth of this most difficult of subjects. 10/10

The best science book ever.

If you've ever wondered about life on earth, how we think it got started or how we know what we know; then this is the book to read. Bill Bryson breaks hard to understand concepts into a clear, concise narrative that anyone can understand.
This book is highly recommended for anyone who is curious about science, geology, biology, astronomy or the origins of life.
I would also recommend it as a complimentary read for students.
I have read my hard copy of this book twice and listened to it once. I'll definitely be listening to it again.

Interesting and educational

Have you listened to any of William Roberts’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Its rather more technical than most Bryson but good for non scientists. it seems up to date and a mix of the science of a number of disciplines and background on personalitites involved. I was expecting it to be read by Bryson but narration by Roberts was good.

A short history of nearly everything.

Bryson is awesome - so much information you have to listen many times to absorb its content. He writes in such an easy and enjoyable way - great if your interested in history and like it delivered to you in an entertaining manner. Highly recommended.

Not read by the author, but still worth it

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. It's endlessly fascinating and brilliantly put together. Alas, I first purchased the abridged version, read by the author so this version sounds strange to me. Bill Bryson has a much more pleasant reading voice.

Would you be willing to try another one of William Roberts’s performances?

Perhaps